Hope Jordan, Nederland. On November 17, 2020, the Nederland Downtown Development Authority (NDDA) will present a request for funds to the Board of Trustees to borrow from the Town of Nederland’s Water Fund to support projects within Nederland’s downtown district. The request for funds will provide the necessary means for the development of parking along Big Springs, the creation of a Financial Investment Policy, and the fulfillment of Coronavirus Relief Funds for NDDA district small businesses.  

For the past few months the NDDA Parking Committee worked with Town Engineers to plan dedicated parking spaces along Big Springs. To accommodate the parking design, a drainage system along the south side of Big Spring and a pedestrian walkway will also be developed. These improvements support the Town’s need for parking and improve the Town’s drainage systems.

Due to the effects of COVID, NDDA unencumbered funds are not earning as much interest as in the past. In the hope of increasing assets appropriately, the NDDA board agreed to develop a Financial Investment policy to guide board members on investment best practices and standards. Financial Consultant Dana Edwards agreed to create the policy via extensive information gathering. 

Supporting Nederland small businesses is key to the NDDA. Recently the NDDA received Coronavirus Relief Reimbursable funds from the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) https://cdola.colorado.gov/. The Fund Committee called local business owners last week to be sure their COVID related expenditures met criteria required by the DOLA grantors. NDDA District business owners should check their email on November 18th for the fund application and have their receipts ready to turn in before December 9, 2020. 

Other NDDA projects that are in the works include the development of a Public Art Plan. If you have not already, consider responding to the Public Art Survey  https://forms.gle/eWtbUTYkXFLbDefZ9 . The survey is only available until mid December. A Public Art committee made up of community members and NDDA board members are working together with Mandy Vink to create a plan that will guide art installations throughout the Town. Mandy Vink is well versed in public installations and interested in bringing public art to rural mountain towns. The NDDA board recognizes the many benefits to area businesses if Nederland is considered as a Creative Destination. 

The NDDA is constantly looking for funding for district businesses and are very grateful to Town leadership for passing information along to the board. Most recently the NDDA sent out an email resource for local artists, as well as information on the Colorado Restaurant Fund to assist business owners with winterizing expenditures. 

The NDDA is always interested in your considerations of downtown Nederland. Please join us Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 4 p.m. via WebX for our next scheduled meeting. 

If you have any questions regarding NDDA projects, are a district business owner or if you seek further information or understanding, please contact Executive Director Hope Jordan at ndda.ed@gmail.com

(Originally published in the November 5, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)