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 comply with the City of Durango’s Design Guidelines and applicable land use standards.

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

¿Necesita ayuda en Español? Llamar: 970-764-7135

Durango Impact  & Resiliency Grant: Overview and Purpose

The purpose of the Durango Impact Grant & Resiliency Grant is to encourage community-driven efforts that enhance resilience, advance sustainability goals, and strengthen La Plata County as a socially and environmentally responsible destination to live and visit.   

Projects supported by the grant aim to:

• Positively impact the community-wide sustainability objectives outlined in Destination Management Master Plan and the Consumption & Waste section of Durango's Sustainability Plan.
• Support and enhance ongoing local sustainability initiatives that visitors and residents experience, and develop new sustainable tourism-oriented organizations and businesses.
• Strengthen the community’s resilience to the environmental, social, and economic impacts of climate change as a destination.
• Reduce and prevent negative social and environmental impacts related to the overuse of natural and community resources.
• Reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill from Durango.

Eligible Expenses

This grant is open to Durango-based businesses, community organizations, and non-profits.

Project must either:

• Support destination stewardship and sustainable tourism (protect and conserve environmental and cultural resources), AND/OR
• Reduce material and food waste by improving re-use, recycling, composting, or other landfill diversion efforts.

This is a reimbursement grant: proof of expenses and project progress is required in order to receive payment.

Eligible expenses include: equipment, supplies, materials, fees for services, and contracted labor. Administrative/general operating expenses and staff-time associated with the grant project (a.k.a. indirect or F&A costs) are allowable but cannot exceed 15% of total budget.

Ineligible expenses include: disposable items (e.g. plastic tablecloths, paper decorations, bottled water), alcohol or marijuana, political campaigning, and activities tied to fundraising of any kind.

Projects must comply with all city policies, codes, and ordinances as well as state and federal law.

Grants are funded by local lodgers' taxes collected by the City of Durango as well as the City of Durango Sustainability Fee. As part of the grant review process, funding for projects will be matched to the appropriate funding source, based on the nature of the project and its described impacts.

Available Funding

In order to maximize the impact of limited grant dollars given the variety of proposed projects, partial funding awards for DIRG grants are common.

Typical DIRG grant request amounts range from $2,000-$10,000 for partial to full funding. Funding above $10,000 is allowable for "stretch" requests, up to a maximum of $20,000.

This grant utilizes a tiered application budget system - see application form for more information. Providing tiers allows the applicant to decide how a partial grant is spent, rather than the review group assuming how partial funding may impact your effort.

Scoring Criteria

Projects will be scored by a review working group utilizing the following criteria:

• Alignment with Grant Goals (30%)
• Measurable Impact (30%)
• Feasibility & Timeline (15%)
• Budget, Demonstration of Need, & Matching Funds (15%)
• Potential for Ongoing Impact (10%)

Grant Timeline

• Application period opens: Friday, March 6
• Application period closes (due date): Monday, April 6
• Workgroup reviews and scores applications: mid-April
• Recommendations submitted to City Council: Tuesday, April 28
• City Council reviews and approves awards: Tuesday, May 5
• Notices emailed to applicants, no later than: Friday, May 8
• Interim project check-in meeting August/September
• Final Report and Reimbursement Request, no later than: December 31

Extension requests must be submitted and approved in writing to City of Durango staff. Projects requesting extension into next year are subject to City Council budget appropriations and which may not be guaranteed approval.

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.

The City of Durango and LPEA are committed to promoting the adoption of electric vehicles throughout our region. A key aspect of EV adoption is exploring the most cost-effective way to implement charging infrastructure for residents and businesses. The Level-1 Workplace Charging Grant is seeking interested community partners to explore the viability of level-1 charging in a workplace setting.

Funding amount: $10,000 per applicant site. Applicants may apply for up to two separate sites ($10,000 per site). A minimum of 10% match funding is required, but this requirement may be waived for sites that can demonstrate certain criteria as outlined in the grant application.

What is Level-1 Charging? Level-1 charging consists of providing a basic, standard electrical outlet at a parking space which allows drivers to use their own portable charging cables to plug in. This approach uses much more basic infrastructure compared to the Level-2 pedestal chargers which are also becoming commonplace. While Level-1 charging is not particularly fast, it can still add 20-40 miles of range to a typical EV when plugged in over the course of an entire workday - roughly equivalent to a gallon of gas.

Why Level-1 Charging at Workplaces? As EV charging becomes more commonplace, LPEA faces the challenge of continuing to provide reliable electricity in line with its adopted renewable energy goals. By increasing EV charging during the day, more of the power going to EV charging can be derived from solar PV. Additionally, daytime EV charging shifts electrical load away from peak evening hours – unlike residential charging which adds directly to evening peaks. Furthermore, level-1 charging infrastructure can be installed at a fraction of the cost of Level-2 or DC fast charging.

Additional resources provided through the program: In addition to grant funding, the City of Durango and LPEA staff are available to provide advising on project design and parking management best practices. LPEA will also supply monitoring hardware and assist with its setup to give business owners clear visibility into how much power their chargers are using, independent of the rest of the business's energy consumption.

The Charge Ahead Colorado grant program is a separate EV charging grant program administered by the Colorado Energy Office, focused on Level-2 and Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) charging. City of Durango staff can advise applicants on how these programs may be a consideration for their site.

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.

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.