DOLA outlines benefits as Woodland Park explores rejoining Colorado Main Street program

Department of Local Affairs officials presented the Colorado Main Street program to Woodland Park city leaders at a 5:30 p.m. work session, pitching free technical assistance, small grant opportunities and training intended to help revitalize downtown and support small businesses.

The presentation, led by Department of Local Affairs staff members Gail Langley and Tracy Stoffel, explained the program’s four-part approach — organization, design, promotion and economic vitality — and outlined services available to designated Main Street communities, including free architectural consulting, mini grants and scholarships for required training.

Gail Langley, Department of Local Affairs staff, told the council the program focuses on rural communities of fewer than 50,000 people and currently serves 27 Colorado communities. “We will be with you every step of this journey,” Langley said, noting the agency can provide a two-page strategic plan, free architect services and help to prepare grant applications.

Tracy Stoffel, Main Street specialist at the Department of Local Affairs, described the program’s data collection and reporting requirements and the rationale behind its small grants and consulting services. “One of the requirements is the quarterly reports… where we ask all of our communities to report on businesses gained and lost, jobs gained and lost, public and private investment in the downtown, events, volunteer hours,” Stoffel said. She explained those reports and outside verification have been used to show how small public investments can leverage private investment.

Officials described examples and outcomes from past statewide work: a $7 million community revitalization award administered by the program supported improvements to about 95 private buildings in 16 communities; the agency said that program showed roughly an $18 public-to-private leverage ratio and reported an average 20% increase in sales for businesses that completed façade or efficiency improvements. Langley said DOLA’s mini grants have historically been about $2,500 for entry communities, and the program offers free consulting and scholarships for required professional development.

Councilmember George Jones, who said he had discussed Main Street with peers behind the scenes, said economic development — not only historic preservation — motivated his interest. “A lot of what spurred this on is more around the economic development,” Jones said.

Presenters described main program activities: design assistance (building façade and place-making concepts), promotional support and data-driven economic vitality work such as building and business inventories to identify vacancies and market opportunities. The presenters highlighted local examples, including Antler Alley and past mini-grant-supported projects, and said DOLA staff will help communities stack grant opportunities from CDOT, GoCo, state historic funds and private foundations.

On funding, presenters said consulting services currently have appropriation in the state budget (the long bill) but some grant programs and scholarships face uncertainty because of state budget shortfalls and recent sweeps to impact funds. Langley said that while the program expects to continue supporting communities, future grant disbursements might be paid in tranches as impact funds are replenished.

No formal action or vote was taken at the work session. City staff member Anita will serve as the local staff liaison if Woodland Park proceeds; presenters encouraged the city to identify a Main Street manager and an active volunteer committee to carry out program work.

The council paused the presentation after roughly 30 minutes of material to open discussion; DOLA staff said they can assist with a local grant application review and have architect services and training scholarships available to communities that join.