The Norwood Chamber of Commerce remains committed to beautifying the town, continuing its grant-making tradition for businesses to make improvements. This year, the chamber is also including homeowners in its vision for giving back.
Two years ago, in 2015, the chamber awarded a grant to the Lone Cone Restaurant and Bar for the purpose of updating its main street exterior.
Last year, the chamber sponsored a similar beautification grant award, but Dotson said no business applied for the funds then. Because of the lack of requests, the chamber took some available funds to repair specific sidewalks in the town’s core district.
“We are trying again to spruce up Norwood,” chamber president and pastor of Norwood Christian Church John Dotson said.
Once again, the grant opportunities are available. The chamber is ready to award funds to a local business along with a homeowner, or another local business along Grand Avenue. Dotson said the grant money is for improving the appearance of building exteriors that face the main street and helping to make Norwood look good.
“We at the Chamber are so excited to be able to open up the beautification grant to residents this year as well as to businesses,” board member Carrie Andrew said. “We are so excited to see the efforts that the community is already doing in regards to cleaning up and beautifying their properties and want to provide a little money to help accomplish some of the more expensive projects.”
Grant applications can be obtained on the chamber’s website: http://geazytech.com/bcimedia/norwoodcolorado. Those are due by Aug. 25, 2017.
Grants are available in the amount of $1,000 for a business, and $1,000 for a private residence or a second business.
Dotson said it’s important that grant applications specify how an award would be used to beautify an exterior. He said funds can go toward painting, purchasing siding materials, updating landscaping or for something else. That can also mean main street sidewalk repair.
The chamber’s executive board of directors will convene to determine the grant award winners. The recipients will be announced this month, no later than Aug. 31.
Chamber officials have made it clear in the grant application that the exterior work they select to receive funding should be finished by the end of October this year.
Completed grant applications should be mailed to the Norwood Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 116, Norwood, Colorado 81423.
Anyone with questions should contact Dotson personally. He can be reached by calling 327-0201.
The chamber is also working with the Colorado Department of Transportation to improve the look of the triangle area, the island, at the west end of Grand Avenue. Dotson said officials from CDOT must first approve upgrades there. According to Dotson, gravel will likely go in this year, and next summer the chamber plans to plant a variety of flowers. The chamber will seek grant funding for the landscaping.
“The more attractive our town looks the more travelers passing through want to stop and patronize our businesses,” Andrew said.