Durango City Council approved two Re:New grants last week totaling $4,537 for improvements to two Durango businesses with expectations to deplete remaining grant funds within the coming month or two.
Councilor Kip Koso said he isn’t convinced some projects – namely parking lot improvements – should be eligible for the grants.
After May grant awards, the city had a remaining 2026 Re:New Grant program budget of $11,116 that Tommy Crosby, economic opportunity manager for the city, said he expects to exhaust soon.
After the grant awards last week, the Re:New Grant budget had dwindled to $6,579.
“I imagine we’ll probably exhaust all of our Re:New Grant funding in July, maybe August based on some of the interest we’re receiving,” he said at a study session before City Council’s regular meeting last week.
Crosby said Re:New grants are smaller than other grants the city offers and they require a shorter, more straightforward review process that sends recommendations straight to City Council.
“These are lower dollar. We try to turn these around quickly intentionally for our small business community,” he said.
The city describes Re:New grants as matching reimbursement grants up to $5,000 for commercial and mixed-use property improvements visible from the public right-of-way. The program’s purpose is to help businesses and properties make improvements that “strengthen the visual appeal of Durango’s streetscapes, reduce barriers to reinvestment” and “incentivize private investment” in line with Durango’s economy and character.
The two grants approved on June 2 were for Mountain Bike Specialists at 949 Main Ave. and Sage Fresh Eats at 3101 Main Ave.
Mountain Bike Specialists received $1,637 for a project to renew a customer parking lot through crack filling, patching, sealcoating, asphalt removal and replacement and re-striping, according to the City Council meeting agenda.
Sage Fresh Eats received a grant for $2,900 for a project to cover a deteriorating mural and peeling paint with a fresh coat on a “highly visible wall at the north entrance to Durango’s commercial corridor,” as described by the city.
Koso said he doesn’t understand how parking lot improvements are applicable for Re:New grants.
Crosby said the Re:New Grant is marketed for building improvement projects, which includes sidewalk repairs, landscaping and parking lot repaving and restriping.
He said the Strater Hotel, for example, previously received a Re:New grant to pave a gravel lot.
“We do try to leave the door open for the entire property being eligible as long as it’s visible from the public right-of-way,” Crosby said.
Koso briefly raised the issue during the regular meeting following the study session.
“I just disagree that the grant funding should be used in parking lots and surface parking. I think it should be something that’s more visible from Main Avenue,” he said.
Mayor Dave Woodruff said he sees Koso’s point, but a cracked driveway or parking lot full of weeds does make the space less appealing.
Koso didn’t press the issue, although he voted alone against approving the grants.
cburney@durangoherald.com
