The Town of Mancos has been awarded $457,000 from Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Main Street: Open for Business façade and energy improvement grant program (MSOB). The program, enabled by SB 21-252, provides funding to support the rebuilding and revitalization of central business districts based on the traditional assets of each community’s unique architecture, character, and local ownership through façade improvements and energy efficiency upgrades.
Six Mancos downtown business and/or building owner’s applications were chosen to receive funding for costs associated with repair or replacement of windows, doors, façade materials, roofs, solar panels, new awnings or canopies, exterior lighting, exterior painting, and installation of high efficiency water heaters.
The Town of Mancos spearheaded the MSOB grant application and worked with local building and/or business owners during the short application process. The Town will continue to work with the local awardees as the program administrator.
“We are thrilled to be a recipient of this grant. It will have a transformational effect on the downtown with the goal of increasing sales and spurring further investment. The businesses did a great job pulling together their applications in a short time frame and I look forward to working with them as we implement the improvements,” said Rachael Marchbanks, Economic Development Coordinator for the Town of Mancos.
“This once-in-a-generation opportunity to keep Colorado’s main streets open for business provides transformational funding now and into the future,” said DOLA Executive Director Rick M. Garcia. “Along with our partners, we are in a unique position to collectively champion community vision and build stepping stones to business and community recovery.”
Local awardees include Fahrenheit Coffee Roasters, Mancos Inn and Hostel, Mancos Opera House, Bauer Bank Building, Zuma Natural Foods, and Malgosa, LLC.
MSOB received a total of 48 applications for the façade and energy grant program for a total of $21 million requested funding with only $5.97 million available. The Town of Mancos is delighted to be one of the 13 awarded applicants. A general grant round – open to all municipalities, counties and councils of government across Colorado – prioritized communities with multiple projects to improve visual appeal and provide a catalytic ripple-effect of investment in their downtown districts.
