The requests are in: 145 Durango businesses and nonprofits applied to receive the city’s COVID-19 relief grants as of the application deadline Wednesday.
Durango City Council and staff launched the grant fund, totaling $520,000, to help businesses inside city limits cope with the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. As the pandemic continues into the winter months, the grants proved to be a needed resource.
“The program is a great success in terms of the overwhelming response and the funds we will disburse, but it’s difficult to celebrate when businesses are still suffering because of the pandemic,” said Tom Sluis, city spokesman.
The awards will help businesses with pandemic-related costs, such as building modifications, lost revenue, equipment purchases and reopening costs.
The grants come from federal COVID-19 relief money and will equal up to $15,000 for each business. The city will send out the awards Dec. 18.
Since the pandemic began, nonprofits in Southwest Colorado have estimated they will lose $8 million in revenue, according to a June needs assessment by the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado and United Way of Southwest Colorado.
The Colorado Restaurant Association reported that statewide, an estimated 65% of restaurants could close within the next six months under current conditions and if no aid is received.
Some small business owners and their supporters have said businesses may not survive the winter under Level Red public health restrictions meant to curb further spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
In recent weeks, they protested public health orders, either by marching through downtown Durango or staying open for indoor dining in violation of those orders. The city has responded by increasing its enforcement of public health orders.
“Small-business owners typically are a very independent group that prize self-reliance. A government handout is typically pretty low on their list,” Sluis said. “Still, it’s critical that the city does everything it can to ensure the long-term viability of the local economy.”
smullane@durangoherald.com
