Englewood Downtown Development Authority Awarded Revitalizing Main Streets Grant
ENGLEWOOD- The City of Englewood Downtown Development Authority received a Revitalizing Main Streets grant award of $149,325 from the Colorado Department of Transportation for its Downtown Englewood Crosswalk/Paseo Improvements Project. The project will improve safety, mobility, and access on a mid-block crosswalk on South Broadway Street in Englewood and activate the public spaces on either side. The project will also introduce new elements like higher visibility and durable crosswalk markings as well as improved lighting in the paseos and at each end of the crosswalk.
“Improving safety and reducing congestion are core tenets of the Revitalizing Main Streets grant program and I’m thrilled to see the City of Englewood Downtown Development Authority implement projects that will make it easier and even more fun to visit the local businesses in Englewood that are powering the Colorado Comeback,” said Governor Jared Polis.
“This is a great opportunity to improve safety for pedestrians in downtown Englewood,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “Better and safer connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists provides an option to use other modes of transportation outside of driving, and CDOT is passionate about these important improvements on our state’s main streets.”
The project will enhance access to main street businesses for downtown customers, particularly a growing population of families with young children, older adults and individuals with disabilities, implementing a plan drafted in 2010.
“This grant will fund much-needed improvements in the heart of our main street, making it safer and easier for people of all ages and abilities to visit local businesses that were hit hard during the pandemic,” said Chair of Englewood Downtown Development Authority Board of Directors and Owner of the Englewood Grand Erika Zierke. “Thank you, CDOT!”
The Revitalizing Main Streets grants help localities improve their roadways and community infrastructure, supporting strong economic activity and public safety. The program began last summer in an effort to mitigate the negative economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis. Awarded projects span the entire state, from Denver and Boulder to Hugo and Limon to Frisco and Rifle. A full list of recipients is available here. Highlights include numerous projects facilitating safe pedestrian access to outdoor dining, improved lighting, sidewalk repair, incorporating “parklets” into streetscapes, and much more.
The continuation and expansion of this program was made possible through a $30 million allocation from the state legislature in March 2021 and those funds are currently available for local government competition, with significant anticipated demand. Importantly, the passage of SB-260 further extends this highly successful program beyond the current grant cycle.
Communities can apply for small grants up to $150,000 for multimodal and economic resiliency projects available on a rolling basis; large grant applications of up to $2 million closed on May 14. For more information, visit the Revitalizing Main Streets page.