Pagosa Springs named Main Street Community of the Year

The Town of Pagosa Springs Main Street program was recognized by peers as Main Street Community of the Year at the recent Colorado Main Street Managers Summit. Pagosa Springs is one of 27 cities and towns in the Department of Local Affairs’ (DOLA) Colorado Main Street Program, which offers support for community-led downtown revitalization and helps communities thrive by providing a customizable framework to focus efforts, energy, and resources to create a more vibrant community.

The Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation hosts the local Main Street program. Pagosa Springs Main Street leveraged its $7,500 in Colorado Main Street mini-grant funds to secure a $250,000 Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Revitalizing Main Street grant to improve accessibility between the Pagosa Springs Middle School and downtown with a new sidewalk, benches, lighting, and landscaping. Pagosa Springs Main Street was also able to secure an AARP sponsorship to improve the accessibility between the Archuleta Senior Center and downtown.

In addition to Main Street improvements, the organization has been working closely with CDOT to ensure Main Street Businesses remain viable and supported through CDOT’s two-year downtown reconstruction project. Through its Cone Zone Care Committee, Pagosa Springs Main Street has installed wayfinding and parking signage, drawing customers downtown through Wine Walks, Sidewalk Sales, and gift cards. These efforts have boosted visibility and raised $12,500 for a Main Street Business Assistance Grant Fund. Colorado Main Street provided consulting services to develop a 3D fly-through rendering of the end product of construction to help the community visualize the end goal of the work.

Pagosa Main Street Manager Kat McFadden was named Main Street Manager of the Year at the summit. More information on work the Colorado Main Street program is doing can be found by visiting the Colorado Main Street and Pagosa Springs Main Street websites.