MidTown Peak Grant Application

The MidTown Peak Grant is a grant for impactful improvements located in the MidTown neighborhood of Durango. Funded by the Durango Renewal Partnership, this program supports projects that positively contribute to the conditions and character of the neighborhood with the intent of increasing property values and the overall attractiveness of the area.

Program Summary & Eligibility

• Improvements must positively contribute to the character and conditions of the MidTown neighborhood.
• This is a reimbursement grant and payments will be made after the work is completed.
• Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
• MidTown Peak Grant funds cannot be used for projects that have already occurred.
• Applications are reviewed by City staff and the final decision is made by the Urban Renewal Authority Board.

Evaluation Guidelines

Staff and the Urban Renewal Authority Board will evaluate applications based on:

• Overall impact
• Potential for increasing property value
• Visible from public right of way and public benefit
• Blighting eligibility factors addressed
• Impact on climate resilience
• Additional matching funds provided
• Positive impact on property resale and reuse

Eligible Participants

• Commercial and mixed-use property owners in the MidTown neighborhood.
• Business owners with written approval from the property owner.

Examples of Eligible Projects

• Façade improvements such as awnings, windows, and adding appropriate exterior materials;
• New or updated signage;
• Outdoor seating areas, performance venues, plazas, and other gathering spaces;
• Sidewalks, curbs, gutters, ADA compliant ramps;
• Landscaping including street trees;
• Exterior painting and murals, creative art projects;
• Paving of parking lots and alleyways;
• Projects that are visible from the public right of way; Can a pedestrian see these improvements walking down the sidewalk?
• All projects must be in compliance with the City of Durango's Land Use & Development Code and City of Durango Design Guidelines and applicable land use standards.
• Businesses must have a valid City of Durango business license and be in good standing with the City of Durango.

How does the application process work?

1. Pre-application meeting to determine eligibility
2. Business or property owner submits an application
3. Staff reviews the application for eligibility and completeness
4. Durango Renewal Partnership Board reviews and determines funding
5. Business or property owner completes the project
6. Business or property owner requests reimbursement by providing receipts and photos of completed work
7. Staff reviews and processes the reimbursement request. Reimbursements can take up to 30 days

Additional Questions?

Email: tommy.crosby@durangoco.gov or call 970-375-4855

Local Event Marketing Grant Application

Welcome to the Local Event Marketing Grant (LEMG) application! This form is hosted on Submittable, which allows you to create a free account, save your progress, invite collaborators, and return later to finish your submission at your own pace. If you experience any technical issues, please visit Submittable’s Help Center.

The Local Event Marketing Grant (LEMG) program is funded by Durango’s lodgers’ tax, as approved by voters through the following ballot language of Resolution No. R-2022-37:

SHALL CITY OF DURANGO INCREASE… THE CITY LODGERS’ TAX FROM 2% TO 5.25%... FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MARKETING, INCLUDING ADVERTISING AND ATTRACTING CONFERENCES, CONVENTIONS, AND MEETINGS;"

The purpose of this grant is to support the incubation and expansion of local events, bolster year-round programming, stimulate the local economy, and promote a vibrant community by providing grant funds for increased marketing and promotional efforts..

Please review the rubric and supporting materials to ensure your application meets these goals. If you have any questions, feel free to call Staff at 970-375-4770.

Please remember that an organization can only be awarded once per calendar year. 

Rubric

Your application will be judged on the following criteria:

1. 40% - Quality of Marketing Plan for the Expenditure of Grant Dollars
2. 20% - Feasibility of the Event
3. 20% - Measurable Outcomes
4. 20% - Community Engagement and Benefit   

Timeline:

• Application Opens: Friday, May 1
• Application Closes: Monday, May 31
• Award Notifications:  Wednesday, July 8

Events taking place from July to December will be prioritized this round. Review the grant website for the dates of future funding rounds.   

Before You Begin

Review the grant webpage, especially the FAQ section, before starting your application. We recommend reading through all questions in advance to gather any required documents or information.

Be sure to select either “Seed” or “Growth” in the first question, as this choice determines which version of the application you will see.

If you would like assistance, you may schedule a consultation appointment with City staff before or after submitting.

After submission, you can track your application status and respond to any follow-up requests through your Submittable account.

We look forward to learning about your event and the impact it will bring to Durango!

Please enter your organization's Legal name, EIN, or UEI below. This will link your application to your organization's IRS or SAM.gov portal. If you prefer, you can also click "Skip" to proceed directly to the application.

This program incentivizes local residents, businesses, and organizations to replace turf grass with native and natural landscaping in order to help conserve water. The program is designed to help existing properties align with City of Durango design guidelines and state legislation regarding right-of-way landscaping as well as support state-wide efforts to track and better understand the outcomes of turf grass replacement.

This form must be submitted and your application must receive approval BEFORE your begin your project! Rebates cannot be put towards any costs incurred before approval.

Re:New Grant Application

The Re:New Grant is a 1:1 matching reimbursement grant of up to $5,000 offered by the City of Durango to support visible improvements to commercial and mixed-use properties. The program is designed to help business and property owners invest in upgrades that strengthen Durango’s Character Districts while leveraging private investment.

Eligible projects must be visible from the public right-of-way, meaning a pedestrian can clearly see the improvements from the sidewalk or street. This is a reimbursement grant, so applicants must pay for the work up front and are reimbursed after the project is completed and approved.

The Re:New Grant supports projects that enhance the visual character of Durango, support local businesses, and help catalyze economic activity while strengthening the community’s tax base.

Full program details, design guidelines, and examples of eligible projects are available at: https://www.durangoco.gov/1670/ReNew-Grant

Key Program Details

Grant amount: 1:1 match, up to a maximum City contribution of $5,000

Eligibility:

• Commercial and mixed-use property owners
• Business owners with at least two years remaining on their lease and written property owner approval

Project visibility: Improvements must be visible from the public right-of-way

Project status: New projects only. Applications must be submitted before work begins

Funding type: Reimbursement only. Payments are made after project completion  

Application Timeline and Review

Applications accepted: January 1 through October 1, or until funds are exhausted

Monthly deadline: Applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on the 15th of the month to be considered for the following months City Council meeting

Project completion deadline: All projects must be completed by December 1st

Review process: 

• Applications are reviewed by City staff for eligibility and completeness
• Final funding decisions are made by Durango City Council

Reimbursement timing: Reimbursement requests are due within 90 days of award or by December 1st, whichever comes first. Once received, reimbursements may take up to 30 days to process.  

How Applications Are Evaluated

Applications are evaluated based on:

• Overall impact
• Compatibility with and advancement of the City’s Design Guidelines
• Visual impact from the public right-of-way
• Quality and clarity of the proposal  

Before You Apply

Applicants are encouraged to schedule a pre-application meeting with City staff to confirm eligibility and readiness. All projects must comply with the City of Durango’s Commercial Design Guidelines and applicable land use standards.

Additional questions?

Email: tommy.crosby@durangoco.gov or call 970-375-4855 

Please enter your organization's Legal name, EIN, or UEI below. This will link your application to your organization's IRS or SAM.gov portal. If you prefer, you can also click "Skip" to proceed directly to the application.

2026 Lodgers' Tax: Arts and Culture Grant Application

The LTAC program exists to invigorate the creative economy while also building community cultural identity and supporting year-round programming.

A note on Round 2 funding

Round 2 of the 2026 LTAC: Arts and Culture grant has $80,000 available to distribute. This is the smallest funding pool we have offered in any LTAC round to date, and we expect this round to be highly competitive.

Before you apply, a few things to keep in mind:

• Funding requests should be sized realistically against the available pool. Reasonable, well-scoped asks have a stronger path to funding.
• We will not be able to fund every qualified application this round. Strong projects may go unfunded simply because of the math.

Welcome to the City of Durango Lodgers' Tax: Arts and Culture Grant Application. This grant is funded by a portion of the City's lodgers' tax to support arts, culture, and heritage initiatives that enrich our community and benefit residents and visitors. Grant awards are strictly reimbursement-based and must be used within the approved project timeline. Please complete each section thoroughly.

Evaluation Criteria

1. Community Benefit (35%)
2. Local Economic Impact (30%)
3. Innovation & Feasibility (15%)
4. Path to Independence (10%)
5. Off-Season Impact or Year-Round Benefit (10%)

Application Checklist:

• Approval and/or permits for location and activities (design review, liquor, special event, etc.). All mural and public art is required to set up a consultation with the Durango Creative District, director@durangocreativedistrict.org
• Detailed budget with other sources of income of resources.
• Visuals to help understand the project.
• Detailed Timeline.
• Bios of lead applicant and team members.

Visit the LTAC Grant page on the City's website for FAQ's, resources, tips, and more! 

Enter your organization's Legal name, EIN, or UEI below. This will link your application to your organization's IRS or SAM.gov portal. If you prefer, you can also click "Skip" to proceed directly to the application.