Colorado has extended safer-at-home protocols until the end of June. In the process, Gov. Jared Polis has asked municipalities to submit feedback on policies around reopening team sports and pools..
As the cCity of Longmont looks to provide such feedback to the state, it also is looking at budget numbers. The city is already facing a budget deficit because of the impacts of COVID-19 on the local economy and the decrease of patrons allowed to visit pools and recreation centers has the potential to increase the deficit and impact the decision to reopen facilities.
Safer-at-home protocol has loosened the restrictions on restaurants, though, with eateries being allowed to open at reduced capacity for dine-in service. To help them do so, Longmont has created a procedure by which restaurants can expand their outdoor seating capacity. City Manager Harold Dominguez in a report to city council Tuesday night said the effort is going well, with nine businesses having entered the process and at least four having completed it. Some municipalities have yet to see any businesses get through their similar processes and said he feels that Longmont is ahead of the curve.
As a part of the city manager’s report, Eric Hozempa, executive director of the Longmont Community Foundation (LCF) presented an update on the #strongmont campaign and its impact on the local business community.
Since the campaign was launched in early May, nearly $275,000 has been raised in the community to address business needs. The foundation received 179 applications for help, requesting around $1.6 million in assistance.
Twenty-three grants totaling $230,000 have been approved so far and will be awarded in the next few weeks for qualifying businesses, Hozempa said.
