Energize Colorado Gap Fund Grant Funding

The Energize Colorado Gap Fund program was announced in July 2020, as a combined effort between public funding from the CARES Act and private funding from Colorado donors. The intent of the program is to help sole proprietors, businesses, and nonprofits in support of tourism industries, with fewer than 25 full time employees by offering grants up to $15,000 and loans up to $20,000. Thousands of applications were submitted state-wide, with over 600 applicants from the northwest Colorado region. Within that portion of Colorado, the Northwest Loan Fund (NLF), a 501c6 that makes business loans in the NW quarter of the State, was asked to score and verify applications, and administer funds for NW Colorado. During the first round of applications, $545,748 in grant funding was awarded, with $1,128,246 awarded in the second round accounting for grant funding being granted to over 20% of the applicants. Here is a testimonial from a happy recipient:

"I would like to extend my profuse gratitude for the Energize CO Grant. As a small business in ski country, the effects of COVID 19 to our business have been extreme. Small businesses rarely have access to the capital to modify their spaces the way large corporations do. This grant will allow my small business to adapt our outdoor seating for winter, update our HVAC system with MERV+13 filters, and provide a small closure buffer. Thank you very much for this award." -Erin Young, Owner Red Buffalo Coffee & Tea, Silverthorne, CO
Snowmass Condominium Building to be 100% Powered by Renewable Energy

East West Partners, developer of the $50 million Electric Pass Lodge condominium building in Snowmass Village said that the building will be completely powered by a rooftop solar array and other renewable sources of electricity available through Holy Cross Electric. East West officials say the building will go beyond the requirements of the planned $600 million Snowmass Base Village, which will be entirely LEED-certified. One design feature that will boost the building’s efficiency but also enhance COVID-19 safety protocols is a mechanical system that continuously cycles fresh air into each unit, using tubes that pass through the earth and heat transfer technology to heat and cool the condo units while also continuously ventilating them. Source: Denver Post, 1.28.21
Town of Breckenridge Opens Applications for Business Rent Relief

The Breckenridge Town Council has launched a grant application program that is designed to help local businesses cover January and February rent. The rent relief will be tiered in terms of the grant amounts, based on the percentage of decline in sales for the period March to November 2020 compared with the corresponding time in 2019. The grants will range from $3,000 to businesses in the 20 percent-decline category to $5,000 for businesses in the 40 percent and above category. Source: Summit Daily News, 12.30.2020
Northwest Colorado Council of Governments
Economic Development District | www.nwccog.org/edd