The Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) Board of Directors approved two grants during a regular, virtual meeting on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, at 6 p.m. The Board also approved using grant funds from the Boulder County Economic Vitality Grant and a laptop and printer for the NDDA executive director.

Executive Director Kate Masingale introduced a resolution for a Special Event Grant Program.

During the 2021 budget process, special event funding was approved by the NDDA Board and the Nederland Board of Trustees. The resolution is needed to authorize the funding and make it available for a grant that for Teens, Inc.

This item is returning this month due to a discrepancy in the amount listed in the resolution. The amounts now have been confirmed with Town staff, and Masingale requested that the Board support the continued funding of the Special Event Grant Program. The Board approved a motion to continue funding the Program.

Masingale introduced a resolution for the Safer Main Streets Grant Funding. The Board previously had approved providing matching funds of $70,000 to the Town of Nederland for the Safer Main Streets grant. The Town received the grant and now needs to access the funding. The resolution is for the provision of those matching funds for the grant.

This item is returning this month due to a discrepancy in the amount listed in the resolution. The amounts now have been confirmed, and the Board approved the Safer Main Streets grant with a cap of $75,000.

The Board moved two discussion items to action items and then approved them.

In 2021, the NDDA received a $6,000 Boulder County Economic Vitality Grant to distribute in the Peak-to-Peak region of Boulder County. These funds must be expended in 2021.

Applications for funding were received by the Women Entrepreneurs & Business Owners of Greater Nederland for $1,063 and the Discover Nederland Visitors Guide for $1,100. There is an option to consider the bulk purchase of cleaning supplies, COVID tests, and gloves for local businesses.

Board members agreed that the visitor center guide and women’s group would be wonderful funding, along with PPE resources and testing. The Board approved moving it to an action item and then approved a motion to use the funds as requested with an emphasis on PPE and COVID testing.

Executive Director Masingale said she has been using her personal equipment for the job, so she wanted to request purchasing a laptop and printer. If approved, it would need to be moved to action.

Board members said it makes sense and seems appropriate. They moved it to an action item and then approved an amount of up to $2,000 for a laptop computer and a printer.

Masingale said the interests of new members should be addressed regarding their roles in NDDA committees now that the Board has full membership. NDDA Committees include Beautification Committee, Big Springs Committee, Communications Committee, Performance Space Committee, Public Art Committee and a Wayfinding Committee.

Next week, Masingale will send out a survey for Board members to consider if they wish to join any current committees, and asking if they wish to remove any committees or add any committees. She will then bring this feedback as an Action Item in January.

Board Vice Chair Andrew Dewart provided an update for the Big Springs Committee. The current plan has a bit of sidewalk and a shared driveway by the Black Forest building and has five or six parking spots on the street. NDDA Treasurer Ron Mitchell said they picked up four parking spaces because two owners were willing to give up a parking space.

Bids have been sent from JVA, the town’s on-call engineering firm, and on December 17 they will post the open bids. The bids will be closed on January 20, and the Board can review the bids at the February Nederland Board of Trustees meeting, when they have selected a contractor who could start in April.

For the Public Art Committee, Board Member Danielle Crouse said they anticipate the completion of a Town mural by Greg Marquez early next year. The 2-foot by 4-foot mural is in scale for the Business Connection. Crouse said: “Our mural by Greg is looking beautiful. It is a prime example of tending to timing, as the Holiday Markets are in full swing and his work on it has been going slowly according to his professional commitments.”

They will have it finished with two coats to protect the paint, with UV blocking coating on top. They will put on the initial coat and put on the UV coating while it is outdoors. It holds up for years.

While they hope to reinstall this mural as soon as they can, Wild Bear is comfortable with letting it stay at their Eco-Arts Lounge as long as needed, Crouse stated.

The Committee has several sites to look at for this coming year’s projects. The goal is to have a pretty solid plan before they put out a call for artists. “We are looking at traditional murals moving forward unless a similar historic site comes up,” Crouse said.

The next meeting of the NDDA will be on Wednesday January 12, 2022, at 6 p.m. For more information, go to https://nederlandco.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=434.