Council approves $90,000 downtown loan for new Cresco coffee shop

The Cresco City Council approved a low-interest downtown loan to help finance a new coffee shop and upstairs apartment project.

Kyle, an applicant for the loan, told the council he is seeking $90,000 from the CUSB historic downtown revolving loan fund to complete interior work on the coffee shop and an upstairs apartment. "Overall, I think it's gonna cost about $200,000," Kyle said, and he added his bank (CUSB Bank & Trust) has committed roughly $110,000.

The council considered the loan and voted to approve the loan agreement for Kyle and Adrian Courtney, doing business as The Blonde, The Beard, and The Brew. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with affirmative votes from council members present.

The loan was presented as part of routine administration of the downtown revolving loan fund. Administration noted the fund had no loans in fiscal 2026 and approximately $105,000 available to lend excluding this approved loan. Council members and the applicant discussed practical details such as stair access and exterior work needed before opening; Kyle said volunteers and community members had already contributed to restoration and fundraising.

Council members welcomed the investment in downtown business activity. "Thanks for investing in Cresco," the Chair told Kyle after the vote.

The approval authorizes city staff to finalize the loan agreement and complete any remaining administrative steps required by the revolving loan fund. The council did not specify further loan terms on the record; those will be reflected in the executed agreement and loan documents.