The Estes Park
Urban Renewal Authority (EPURA) offers grants for individuals to improve the facades of business properties
within the Urban Renewal Area (URA) of Estes Park. See the
attached
map of the Urban Renewal Area. The goal is to improve
the appearance of individual buildings, as well as the overall
look of business areas.
Grants are available for up to $900.00 of the total cost of an
improvement project and must be matched by the applicant.
Grants are for exterior improvements only and may be applied to
a front, side, or rear façade, provided said façade faces a
public street, public pedestrian way, or public parking area.
Grants are awarded based on the availability of funds. This is
a pilot project of the Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority, based
on a total allocation of $90,000.00. This program is not
retroactive. Façade improvements made prior to approval of an
application will not be funded by this program.
Matching Requirement
The grant program requires the applicant to match at least 50%
of the total project cost. Matching funds may be cash or
in-kind contributions. In-kind matches may include services,
materials and/or equipment documented in a letter from the donor
and submitted with the grant application.
Eligible applicants
Commercial and non-profit property owners or tenants within the URA may apply for matching grants. Tenants are required to have
written approval from property owners to participate in the
program.
Application Process
Application forms are available in the office of the Director
of the Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority at the Estes Park
Convention & Visitors Bureau, 500 Big Thompson Ave., P.O. Box 1200, Estes
Park, CO 80517. When an application is submitted and includes
all of the required information as determined by the EPURA
Director, the application will be processed by staff within ten
(10) business days. In the event the proposal requires Board
interpretation, it will be presented to the EPURA Board for
consideration at its next regular meeting. The EPURA Board
conducts regular monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of each
month at 8:00 a.m. in the Board Room in Town Hall. The
applicant will receive immediate notice of the grant award upon
approval of the EPURA Board.
Approval of an EPURA grant in no way substitutes for the normal
building permitting process of the Town of Estes Park. A
building permit from the Town Building Department may be
required.
Project Time Period
Applicant must submit a detailed project schedule with the
grant application.
Eligible Activities
Eligible projects are confined to improvements made to the
exterior of any building or shop in the URA. Roofing is not
eligible. Storefronts on the interior of multi-tenant malls are
considered exteriors for the purposes of this program. Eligible
improvements include:
Exterior painting (Colors appropriate to Estes Park)
Restoring or improving exterior finishes, including masonry and
wood
Exterior door repair or replacement
Window repair or replacement
New or repaired signage
New or repaired gutters and downspouts
New or improved outdoor seating
Repair of exterior cracks
New or repaired external lighting
New or repaired flower boxes or pots
Awnings
Landscape materials, where applicable
If any proposed improvement is deemed inappropriate (loud or
garish colors, inconsistent with public safely, offensive or in
bad taste) EPURA reserves the right to disapprove any such
application.
Additional Requirements
While not a historic preservation program per se, the
administration of this program will be in cognizance of historic
values and applicants will be expected to propose projects
consistent with the historical integrity of the buildings
occupied by the applicants.
Disbursement of Grant Funds
Disbursement of grant funds will be made upon completion of the
project and submission of all receipts to the EPURA Director and
approval thereof.
For more information, please contact:
Wil Smith, Executive Director
Estes Park Urban Renewal Authority
P.O. Box 1200
Estes Park, CO 80517
970-577-3704
