, Colo. – During a meeting held late today (Feb. 27), the Durango Business Improvement District (BID) Board of Directors met with representatives of the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado to adopt a protocol for providing initial relief to those in need following the Feb. 22 fire in the 700 block of Main Ave. in Historic Downtown Durango.

The Community Foundation is a 501( c)(3) non-profit entity designed to serve the local community through various endowment funds and grants. The BID has partnered with the foundation to distribute funds donated to the “700 Main Avenue Disaster Relief Fund” both to preserve the integrity of the process of fund distribution and to provide contributors with a tax deduction.

Since the establishment of the relief fund, donations have been pouring in to both First National Bank of Durango (where the fund is housed) and the BID post office box (PO 1405, Durango, CO 81302). Early in the day the fund had approached $30,000 and expectations are that it will exceed $100,000 within the next 10 days.

In addition to direct donations, merchants throughout Durango are donating a percentage of revenues, plus special fundraising events are being organized. The BID web site, www.downtowndurango.org offers a calendar of upcoming disaster relief events.

The Community Foundation has set up a grant committee, which includes a member of the Foundation board and representatives from United Way, American Red Cross, City of Durango, Colorado Restaurant Association and the La Plata Electric Round-up Foundation.

Those individuals impacted by the fire who need assistance are asked to fill out a simple, one-page application, which is available on the BID web site, or at the BID office, 1199 Main Ave., Suite 210, and return it to the BID office.

BID staff will verify employment at the three businesses affected – Half Price Tees, Seasons Rotisserie & Grill and Le Rendezvous Swiss Bakery & Café – and pass the application on to the committee. The committee will evaluate the need – which could include everything from medical emergencies to rent to any number of needs in between – and determine the grant amount.

Immediately, however, once employment is verified, impacted employees can receive $100 City Market gift cards, to help cover necessities until a full grant can be determined.

As of this writing, 19 applications had been submitted to the BID office, though the number is expected to grow.

This initial protocol is designed to assist with immediate needs. The BID recognizes that as the days and weeks pass, larger issues will become evident. These will be addressed at that time. The disaster relief fund is not, however, designed to be a long-term social services agency. The Colorado Workforce Center, La Plata County and the Community Foundation can assist or direct those impacted by the fire to additional resources.

Donations to the fund will continue to be welcomed. Checks should be made payable to “Community Foundation-700 Main Avenue Disaster Relief Fund.” Credit card donations may also be made via the Community Foundation web site, www.swcommunityfoundation.org.

Establishing this “disaster relief fund” through the Community Foundation will ensure that should such devastating events occur in the future, the infrastructure for immediate response to those impacted will be in place.

The Durango Business Improvement District was formed in 1997 with a goal and mission to support businesses within the District by assisting with special event marketing, providing research on topics of concern to the District (facilities, special events, best practices), planning and development of new facilities, and providing capital budget for equipment that enhances business in the District. Funding is generated by a 1.5 mill levy on property owners within the district, with additional marketing dollars contributed by the City of Durango and Durango Area Tourism Office. BID Board members are John Wells, presiding officer; Bob Allen, Karen Barger, Rod Barker and Tim Wheeler.

#  #  #