Durango Business Relief

Bump-Out Program

The Bump-Out program to encourages outdoor dining and business activity in downtown Durango. The city and BID are renewing the program in 2021 with safety and design improvements and a new grants program to support businesses making enhancements to their bump-out structures. Click here for more information.

Utility Bill Relief Credits for businesses and residents in the city of Durango 

The city of Durango was offering up to three months of utility bill credits (water, sewer, trash and recycling) to Durango utilities business and residential customers financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The application date for residents and businesses is closed for this program. 

Residential Utility Bill Relief Credit

Residents must be a Durango utilities customer and meet income requirements to qualify for the credit. 

1. The application date has closed.

2. The date to provide supporting household income documents has closed.

Commercial Utility Bill Relief Credit

Businesses and Nonprofits must be a City of Durango utilities customer and must meet all of the below criteria in order to qualify for the credit:

  • Have experienced 25% loss of revenue from April-December 2020, compared to April-Dec. 2019
  • Was substantially impacted by COVID-19 (e.g., ordered closed or ordered to limit capacity)
  • Be locally owned, operated, or headquartered in Durango
  • Not delinquent with business license and sales tax submissions (a payment plan or deferral is acceptable)
  • Operate legally under local, state and federal laws.

1. The application date has closed. 

2. The date to provide supporting business revenue documents has closed.

Durango Business Relief Fund 

The city of Durango has awarded 218 grants totaling more than $820,000 to La Plata County businesses (including sole proprietors) and nonprofit organizations needing assistance with expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Grants, ranging from $1,100 to $5,700, were released to two rounds of applicants. The second round of relief funding was made available in partnership with La Plata County. Fifty-one grants, totally more than $172,000, went to local nonprofits. 

Round 1:

  • Number of grant applications: 156
  • Number of grants awarded: 154
  • Total funds awarded: $613,209

Round 2: 

  • Number of grant applications: 68
  • Number of grants awarded: 64
  • Total funds awarded: $208,100

Restaurants/bars, coffee shops, retail establishments, tourism-specific businesses, dental and medical offices, massage therapists, salons, gyms and childcare businesses were among those receiving funds. 

The Business Relief Fund was established with CARES Act funding distributed by the state to municipalities, counties and special districts. The fund was created to encourage recovery, resilience and long-term viability of businesses contributing to a strong local economy.

Delivery Fee Reimbursement

The City of Durango is offering restaurants and food establishments utilizing third party delivery services reimbursement of fees exceeding 15 percent Dec. 1, 2020 through Jan. 31, 2021. Food establishments must be small businesses as designated by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to qualify. Reimbursement requests will be accepted through Feb. 28, 2021.

Restaurants seeking reimbursement must submit the following on a monthly basis:

  • Reports from the delivery vendor reflecting transactions and amounts being requested (must exceed 15 percent of delivery fees)
  • Documentation showing the restaurant or food establishment has paid these fees (bank statements correlating with the amount of fee)

Click here for the Delivery Fee Reimbursement Application (PDF) 

For more information, contact Devon Schmidt at Devon.Schmidt@DurangoGov.org or (970) 759-0140