Broomfield could soon be getting a face-lift as the City Council moved last week to establish an improvement plan for commercial and industrial buildings and centers around the city.
The council approved $100,000 for the Enhance Broomfield program’s first year. The money comes from the Asset Protection Reserve Fund, which receives money from sales and use tax collections.
There currently is more than $4 million in the fund, said city and county manager Charles Ozaki.
“Broomfield has worked to facilitate new businesses,” Ozaki said. “The question is what can Broomfield do to help existing businesses.”
Enhance Broomfield is aimed at assisting small-business owners who employ fewer than 50 full-time employees to redevelop outdated and underutilized buildings with hopes of reducing vacancies and increasing commercial and industrial property values.
Grants of up to $25,000 will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. They will require matching contributions from business owners.
The awards must be used to improve the exterior appearance of a building, for parking area repairs and improvements, sign age, handicapped-accessibility enhancements, landscaping, painting or other external improvements needed to bring a building up to code.
