Hie Montrose Development and Revitalization Team (or DART for short) is here to help Montrose businesses grow and be more prosperous — those are words directly from the website, which you can visit to learn more at bit.ly/3LWC9zC, or you can just scan the QR code on this page.
This column will be a Montrose Business Times weekly feature to spread the news that DART has to share. Of course, you can hear about it firsthand at the monthly DART meetings.
DART meets at 8 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at Hie Community Room in the Public Safety Complex at 434 S. 1st St.
The meeting is open to the public, there’s no charge (in fact, there’s free coffee!), and DART welcomes your input! Tuesday, June 6 will be the next DART meeting.
Mark it on the calendar (and we’ll remind you again next week!)
Michelle Wingfield is the DART and Grant Coordinator. You can reach out to her at mwingfield@cityofmontrose. org.
There were a few notes worth mentioning from the May 2 meeting.
Celebrate art and memories
Six DART members and local business leaders traveled to Loveland, Colorado, on April 10 to attend DCI, Downtown Colorado Incorporated (downtowncoloradoinc. org). These folks saw what that town is doing so successfully for their public arts program and brought back ideas to incorporate into our little town. DART is developing a mural program, for instance, to share art with the public.
And Montrose is also part of the Colorado Main Street Program (cdola.colorado. gov/main-street), which is for all of Montrose, not just for Main Street, despite the name. DART wants to help businesses and the public be thoughtful and intentional about public art and how it can be merged with our unique and precious history.
Speaking of Main Street and histoiy, did you know that you can help Celebrate Main Street? Send DART your memories and stories about Montrose.
For artists
DART invites you to join the Arts Committee. You don’t have to be an artist, just someone who wants to have a voice in developing our public art. The committee’s mission is to invigorate all art including festivals and events; not just downtown, but everywhere in Montrose. Email Michelle at mwingfield@ cityofmontrose.org to let her know you’re interested in the Arts Committee.
Facade improvement
One of DART’s main focuses is improving the façades of businesses in Montrose. And there’s a program for that! The façade program will financially support renovations to buildings by offsetting the cost. If your building needs paint, stucco, siding, roofing or structural help, email Michelle for more information.
Contributions by DART to match both private and public investment in upgrading façades are available.
Talk to us
Finally, do you know of a business that’s moving out or moving in? Let us know! Email Michelle and we’ll include news like that right here in this column.
Tune in again next week for more DART news and keep an eye out for the upcoming email newsletter.
If you’re not already signed up, do so online at bit.ly/3ntEuZg
Michelle Wingfield is the DART and grant coordinator for the City of Montrose. And Kevin Clay is co-owner of Mela Environmental Services, who also writes and edits.
Colorado Main Street and your local Main Street want you to share your Main Street story.
Favorite destination? local product? bit of history?
Results will be added to a statewide map of Main Street communities!
