Estes Park EDC Updates
2020 has proven to be one of the most challenging years in recent history, creating the need to call upon our community’s most notable strength: resiliency. Our community has not only endured business closures, health risks and social restrictions due to COVID-19, but we have survived two of the largest wildfires in Colorado recorded history. In light of these events, the Estes Park EDC joined the newly created Estes Valley Resiliency Committee (EVRC) made up of public, private and nonprofit partners who are working on economic resiliency and overall community health in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The EVRC is focused on sharing resources with each other and the community, and on strategizing specific, actionable ways to support a more robust economic recovery.
The Estes Park EDC worked closely with the town to develop the Embrace the Views program which resulted in businesses expanding their outdoor patio services, allowing for increased overall occupancy levels due to COVID-19. With cold winter months upon us, focus has shifted to the Embrace the Seasons program which supports winterization efforts to address limitations and restrictions placed on indoor dining. Recently, the Town of Estes Park received $50,000 to support outdoor winterization efforts. The Colorado Restaurant Foundation is still accepting applications for their Colorado Outdoor Winter Dining Grant with awards up to $10,000 to assist with winterization efforts as well.
On December 7th, the Colorado General Assembly adjourned the 2020 special session. Seven key policy issues were the focus of the Governor’s call of the special session: small business relief; child care support; housing and direct rental assistance; increasing broadband access for P-12; food insecurity; utilities assistance; and public health response. The bills that were adopted are shown below.
· HB20B-1001 — Grants to Improve Internet Access in P-12 Education — The bill creates the Colorado Students Grant Program to provide $20M in grants to local education providers to use in providing broadband services and other technology for increased access for students, educators and other staff.
· HB20B-1002 — Emergency Relief for Child Care Sector — The bill creates two grant programs to support child care in the state and appropriates $45M for these programs.
· HB20B-1003 — Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program — The bill makes changes to the Food Pantry Assistance Grant Program and appropriates $5M for the program.
· HB20B-1004 — Qualified Retailer Retain Sales Tax For Assistance — The bill allows qualifying retailers to temporarily deduct up to $70,000 in net taxable sales from their monthly state sales tax return and retain the resulting sales tax revenue for sales made in November and December 2020 and in January and February 2021. Applies to retailers in the alcoholic beverage, restaurant, and the mobile food services industries.
· HB20B-1005 — Local Authority to Impose Food Delivery Fee Restrictions — The bill allows municipalities and counties to limit the fee that a third-party food delivery service may charge to a retail food establishment and place other restrictions on delivery services.
· HB20B-1006 — Insurance Premium Tax Payments and Credits — The bill makes changes to how insurance premium estimated taxes are paid, including adjusting how calendar quarter estimates are calculated and allowing each calendar quarterly estimate payment to include adjustments for any previous calendar quarter estimates of taxes including tax credits.
· SB20B-001 — COVID-19 Relief Small and Minority Business Arts Organizations — The bill provides relief to small businesses, arts and cultural organizations, and minority-owned businesses. It appropriates $57.1M for these purposes.
· SB20B-002 — Housing and Direct COVID Emergency Assistance — The bill creates the Emergency Direct Assistance Grant Program in DOLA to support housing assistance programs. It transfers $60M from the General Fund for these purposes.
· SB20B-003 — Money for Energy Utility Bill Payment Assistance — The bill transfers $5M from the General Fund to the Energy Outreach Colorado Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund to provide direct energy bill payment assistance to low-income households.
· SB20B-004 — Transfer to Make Money Available for COVID-19 Emergency — The bill transfers $100M from the General Fund to the Controlled Maintenance Trust Fund and allows the
The Entrepreneurial Center (E-Center) is currently in the midst of its 2020 B.A.S.E program. At the halfway stage of the program, the businesses have taken part in three trainings covering Business Models, Value Propositions, Purpose Statements and much more. The education sessions have been world class and participating businesses are attributing a 30% increase in revenue (2020 over 2019) which given the country's economic status is a wonderful testimonial for the program. Outside of this, the E-Center is involved in the EVRC Winter Task Force and County Level-Up program. The E-Center’s purpose remains simple: to passionately help any business in the Estes Valley, who needs assistance to maximize their learning, understanding and business outputs, to succeed in their objectives.
The Estes Park EDC also welcomed new Board Chair Jim McGibney in January 2020. McGibney spoke with the Trail Gazette about his positive views on the economic future of Estes Park. To read what he had to say, visit the Estes Park Trail Gazette here.
Overall, the Estes Park EDC worked tirelessly to support business and community leaders in 2020, serving 400 businesses with 800 employees. With help from the Estes Park EDC, five new businesses, two business pivots, two new product lines and two new non-profits were created. They assisted in raising $35 million dollars in PPP funds in Estes Valley businesses. In addition, the Estes Park EDC, in cooperation with the Estes park Chamber of Commerce, helped to distribute $300,000 in business relief funds to small businesses in the Estes Valley. For further information on Estes Park EDC activities, visit www.estesparkedc.com/blog/2020.