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County outlines pilots for small‑business support: manufacturing assistance, community loan pool and façade grants
Summary
County staff described four tools to support local businesses: a proposed manufacturing assistance pilot (delivered by a contracted nonprofit), an update on the county’s Colorado Enterprise Fund revolving loan pool, a pilot construction wayfinding grant to help businesses during roadworks, and a CDBG‑funded façade/matching grant for Federal Boulevard.
Economic development staff presented a set of incentive and support programs aimed at retaining and expanding local businesses and supporting corridor revitalization.
Manufacturing assistance pilot Staff proposed testing a manufacturing assistance program modeled on a program used by other Colorado communities. The county would competitively select a nonprofit service provider (for example, Manufacturers Edge or a similar organization) to deliver technical assistance and cost‑sharing to small manufacturers (typically firms with 25 or fewer employees under similar programs). Staff suggested funding the pilot using residual, unclaimed rebate dollars that the county already budgets for incentive agreements; the board expressed support for piloting a program and asked staff to return with specific program parameters and an open competitive procurement approach.
Community loan pool (Colorado Enterprise Fund) Staff reported on the county’s existing revolving loan pool managed by Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF). The pooled fund (total $4.2 million including county and municipal matches) has supported 211 loans since 2016, with roughly 101 active loans today and more than $12 million cycled through Adams County businesses. The program serves startups and small businesses with loans typically averaging about $57,000, paired with coaching through a Small Business Development Center. Staff said outcomes include job creation/retention and business stabilization in lower‑income and minority‑owned firms.
Construction wayfinding pilot To help businesses affected by nearby road projects, staff launched a small construction wayfinding grant pilot. The program reimburses eligible businesses up to $2,500 for signs, communications or wayfinding that direct customers to open entrances during construction. Staff said seven businesses have received grants so far and the pilot aims to preserve visibility and sales while county crews work nearby.
Federal Boulevard façade/matching grant (CDBG pilot) As part of a coordinated effort with housing and community development, staff described a CDBG‑funded, targeted façade and exterior improvement matching program for the Federal Boulevard corridor. The pilot uses $100,000 in CDBG funds to provide 1:1 matching grants up to $20,000 per project for exterior repairs, ADA access improvements and lighting. The program includes Davis‑Bacon wage requirements for construction paid with federal funds and requires applications to be reviewed by an interdepartmental committee before reimbursement.
Board response and next steps Commissioners welcomed pilots but asked for clear performance metrics, return‑on‑investment measures and comparisons to peer programs. The board asked staff to bring back fine‑grained parameters and procurement language for the manufacturing assistance pilot, to continue tracking loan program outcomes and to provide before/after documentation for façade projects. Staff said they will return with formal program rules, NOFA language (for the manufacturing pilot) and a report on CEF loan performance later this year.
