Posted for Nancy Yearout
RE/MAX Properties of the Summit, Breckenridge, Colorado
nyearout@colorado.net
http://www.realestate-breckenridge.net
#Breckenridge, Colorado
The Silverthorne Town Council and the Silverthorne Economic Development Advisory
Committee (EDAC) have announced the second year of the Silverthorne Business
Grant Program.
Introduced in 2012, the two-track program offers “site
enhancement” grants to Silverthorne businesses for traditional improvements such
as façade improvements or architectural upgrades, and “economic development”
grants for capital improvements that would bring new jobs or other positive
economic impact to the community.
The grants are funded from the Town
Council budget, which awarded $43,000 to a total of six businesses in 2012.
Interest in the grant program was high even at its beginning, with more than 20
applicants representing funding requests totaling $223,881. The application
process is competitive and each request is reviewed by EDAC, a community-based
advisory group formed by the council to aid economic development decisions.
Grants are open to any commercial business within Silverthorne.
“It was
very successful,” said Eddie O'Brien, EDAC chair, of the program last year. “The
success is based on two things — one, if it improves the business, the income to
the business, and number two is, of course, will it increase the number of
people that work in that business.”
Vista Auto Group, for example, with
the funds granted for economic development, purchased the machinery and
equipment needed to open a new oil change operation in the building. This led to
the hiring of several more employees.
From the site improvement side of
things, Red Buffalo Coffee and Tea received a grant to put in a patio with
tables and chairs behind the shop, connecting it with the Blue River Trail and
recpath.
“We constantly get compliments on it,” said owner Erin Young of
the new patio. “People come to enjoy a cup of coffee or a pot of tea by the
river.”
Increasing clients and customer flow is one of the goals of the
grant program, O'Brien said.
“We want that economic impact. We're getting
ready to go again this year,” he said. “Everyone has had a success story with
it.”
According to Young, the grant program is a much-appreciated show of
support from the town.
“I think it's amazing. Over the past three years
I've noticed a significant increase in the level of support form the town
council and the town of Silverthorne in general for small businesses,” she said.
“It's such a nice way for them to show their support.
“A lot of the
little guys are really appreciating it,” she added.
Both EDAC and the
council are looking forward to the next round of applications in 2013, said Ryan
Hyland, assistant town manager.
“It's just one of the programs that we
have in our economic development menu that helps the town to help our local
businesses be successful,” he said. “At the end of the day, the town can only be
as successful as our businesses are.”
The 2013 Silverthorne Business
Grant Program application deadline is 5 p.m. on May 8. Complete program details
and applications are available at www.silverthorne.org and Town Hall, 601 Center Circle,
Silverthorne.
Courtesy of the Summit Daily News
