The tabulations have been completed and once the special checks are in hand in the next week, Estes Chamber of Commerce President Colleen DePasquale has her pen primed and is ready to fill in the blanks.
According to DePasquale, 63 businesses will share $200,000 provided for Direct Impact Grants that the Town of Estes Park allocated during its June 11 meeting.
Amounts allocated for each business were based on a percentage of net sales loss compared to the total net sales loss by all applicants.
Construction along E. Elkhorn has disrupted the sidewalks making it challenging for visitors to navigate the main thoroughfare. While the end results promise to be great, downtown businesses have struggled through the disruption. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice 
The main intersection in downtown Estes Park is disrupted by the ongoing construction of the Estes Loop, a project which began in January 2023. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice 
Oranfe traffic posts on Moraine Avenue near Piccalilli Square direct traffic during ongoing construction of the Estes Loop. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice 
Molly B’s, a restaurant at 200 Moraine Ave. near the intersection of Elkhorn and Moraine Avenues, was founded in 1985. Molly B’s and the other Gaslight Square businesses are struggling because foot traffic is obstructed due to Estes Loop construction. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice 
Vehicle and pedestrian traffic have been significantly disrupted on Moraine Avenue in front of The Groovy Moose due to ongoing Estes Loop construction. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice 
Construction equipment is parked along a stretch of Moraine Avenue limiting pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic to businesses. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice 
Road construction in front Snowy Peaks Winery and Tasting Room has made it challenging for customers to access the establishment which opened in 2005. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Boice 
Estes Loop construction in front of Piccalilli Square has made it difficult on business as vehicles have had a hard time getting into and out of the parking lot since construction began in January 2023. Credit: Patti Brown / Estes Valley Voice
Businesses accessed by Crags Drive were to compare sales losses incurred during the calendar year 2022 to calendar year 2023. The remaining businesses used the time period between September 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023 compared to September 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024.
Businesses had until June 28 to submit applications for the impact grants.
The grant program was initiated as an outgrowth of comments during the May 28 Town Board meeting when trustees related concerns about the negative impacts to businesses related to Loop construction they had been hearing.
As a result, during the board meeting held on June 11 the trustees approved a supplement budget appropriation to provide construction relief funds to pay businesses for the $200,000 in Direct Impact Grants as well as $200,000 in Matching Marketing Grant Funds.
The board also determined that the Estes Chamber would be the appropriate agency to administer the funding for both grants.
Businesses have until July 31 to apply for Matching Marketing Grant funds. Required documentation to accompany the application must be received by the Estes Chamber no later than August 31.
Construction Marketing Matching Grants provide a 75 percent reimbursement for up to $2,500 for money spent on marketing between May 1 and July 31 on a first-come, first-served basis.
According to DePasquale nearly 60 applications for Matching Grant funds had been received by July 17.
More information about the grants program is available from the Estes Chamber.
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