Four Localities Receive Revitalizing Main Streets Grants as the Program Awards More Than 100 Grants, and Boulder Celebrates Downtown Vitality
STATEWIDE- As local businesses in Boulder and across the state enter the next phase of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the City of Boulder came together on Thursday to recognize the positive impacts and enduring community value stemming from the Revitalizing Main Streets Program projects awarded and completed in Boulder. In 2020, Boulder received three Revitalizing Main Streets grants to support the City’s response to COVID-19 and implement transportation-related projects that improve safety and mobility in the community. Two grants piloted shared streets in several Boulder neighborhoods during fall of 2020. The third grant was for infrastructure upgrades for the West Pearl and University Hill Event Street closures, put in place for businesses to expand outdoors during the pandemic, which have been extended through the end of October, 2021.
“Colorado is a state full of great people and great ideas. As a longtime Boulder resident, I couldn’t be prouder to see my hometown developing creative programs including expanded outdoor dining and walkability areas along Pearl Street in Boulder, that attract both residents and tourists alike to our businesses,” said Governor Jared Polis. “Our streets are shared spaces and Colorado thrives on the multi-modal approach.”
“In an unconventional year, this program has awarded close to $6M across the state to help communities create active outdoor spaces and make walking and biking safer and more accessible,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew. “These innovative transportation-related solutions have helped local businesses stay afloat while ensuring safety and comfortability for residents and visitors to access these spots during the pandemic.”
CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew, City of Boulder Mayor Sam Weaver, Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office Will Toor, and staff from City of Boulder Transportation & Mobility and Community Vitality departments stand along the area of Pearl Street currently closed to vehicles
Concrete barriers are a part of the infrastructure upgrades to better serve the need for expanded outdoor dining and walkability areas along Pearl Street in Boulder
Meanwhile, four new Revitalizing Main Streets grants were awarded this week to the Town of Lyons, Town of Georgetown, Town of Springfield, and the Town of Wellington. The four new awards this week brings the total Revitalizing Main Streets grant awards to 101 projects statewide and growing. 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.
This week’s awards are as follows:
Town of Lyons- Award | $149,999.00
Project: Lyons Main Street (US-36) Lighting Improvements
Activate the Main Street and 4th Avenue corridor with bollard lighting to improve safety, bike/ped mobility, engage the community and enhance the local economy. In addition to new bollard lighting, ambient string lighting will help activate the businesses by providing more access and opportunities for businesses that have outdoor seating and sidewalk displays.
Town of Georgetown- Award | $100,000.00
Project: Georgetown Streetscape Project
Activate public park space in the Historic Commercial District by adding tables, chairs and a public restroom. The park amenities will be open for outdoor dining and relaxing. No public restrooms currently exist in this area, so adding the restroom will make the downtown space more user-friendly and hygienic for those shopping, dining, and enjoying Georgetown.
Town of Springfield- Award | $54,200.00
Project: Pedestrian Streetscape
Advance Springfield's Main Street Vision by adding streetscape to US 287, including planters, benches, trash cans, bike racks, and tables/chairs to the downtown area to help slow traffic, increase safety and encourage more bike and pedestrian users. These measures will welcome locals while also encouraging thru traffic to stop and shop in Springfield.
"As Mayor, I am beyond grateful to CDOT for awarding the Town of Springfield a Revitalizing Main Streets Grant! Recently, Springfield applied to become an Affiliate of the Colorado Main Street Program. This grant gives the Town the perfect opportunity to kick off our application to become a candidate of the program and to start revitalizing our Main Street,” said Town of Springfield Mayor Tyler Gibson. “The streetscape this grant will help purchase will be the beginning of a journey into a brighter future for Springfield's Main Street. On behalf of the Town of Springfield: THANK YOU to CDOT!"
Town of Wellington- Award | $149,999.00
Project: Downtown Wellington Improvement and Pedestrian Safety Initiative
Purchase and install a series of equipment to address pedestrian safety, accessibility, and the health of visitors and residents in downtown Wellington. Improvements include directional lighting, waste bins, park benches, tables, bottle-filling stations, and bike racks.
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. 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.