Site search
sponsored by
News
Community
Renovation of the Ute Theater, development of a Health and Wellness Center at the former Valley Lumber site and formation of a combined revolving loan fund and downtown business incubator to improve and promote the downtown area are three of the top projects whittled down from a list of nine potential projects in Rifle that could be completed by December 2010 through the state Sustainable Main Street Initiative program.
The program, which is being headed up by the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), was announced by Gov. Bill Ritter in May and Rifle was chosen as one of four other Colorado communities to participate in the pilot program.
About 16 people from a variety of state and local agencies, including DOLA, the city of Rifle, the Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Development Authority, Grand River Hospital District. The Rifle Economic Development Corporation and the New Ute Theater Society (NUTS) met on Wednesday, June 9 for a two-hour brainstorming session.
The city of Rifle has already met with Gov. Bill Ritter and DOLA to discuss the program.
“When we started this discussion in April, what I took out of it was that we don't want to just focus on a project or projects,” said Elyse Ackerman, regional manager for DOLA. “We want to focus on an outcome. What we need to do is to start action on what we're going to work on.”
A list of 14 possible outcomes were identified with the top ones including achieving more infill and mixed land uses, affordable housing options in the downtown area; reducing the number of vacant storefronts downtown; and increasing private investment in downtown redevelopment.
Other possible outcomes listed were increasing the community's access to Colorado-grown food projects; improving energy efficiency and use of renewables in the downtown area; preservation of historic structures; improving pedestrian friendliness on Main Street and transportation choices; more effective water conservation in the community; access to faster broadband internet services for business, residential and government entities; and increasing the volunteer opportunities in the community that assist job seekers to expand their experience and become a more competitive job applicant.
The outcomes could be accomplished through a number of possible city projects.
“For example, increasing the investment in the downtown through a downtown business incubator could help start-up businesses share resources,” said Mike Braaten, government affairs coordinator for the city of Rifle. “They could get training and assistance for starting their business.”
The Sustainable Main Initiative is modeled after a program that has been in place in Oregon for the past 15 years.
Renovation of the Ute Theater on East Fourth Street is currently being spearheaded by the New Ute Theater Society (NUTS), a non-profit group that has raised more than $30,000 in memberships and contributions to kick-start the project. The theater, owned by the city of Rifle, is slated to be used as a community/events center for education, events and entertainment.
A Health and Wellness Center and other commercial businesses is planned for the former Valley Lumber site on West Second Street, now owned by both the city of Rifle and the REDC. The REDC has already received a $1 million financial donation to move forward with the center.
Money for a revolving loan fund for downtown facade improvements is currently limited, but creation of a revolving loan fund could encourage necessary improvements to downtown facilities.
“If our Main Street is repainted and decorated, this is a big welcome sign,” said Gil Frontella, president of the DDA.
“I want to really try to find the outcomes that we're looking for, Ackerman stressed. “Part of the reason why Rifle was chosen is that you have so many things going on that are connected to each other. By prioritizing, it gives me the ability to go to state agencies and getting commitments on how we can help you.”
Annick Pruett, president and CEO of the Rifle Chamber of Commerce, said she hopes the program will give a shot in the arm to the downtown area and local businesses.
“The chamber feels that the proposed Ute Theater renovation and restoration is an important component to the overall sustainability and cultural climate of the downtown and the community as a whole,” Pruett said. “It opens the door for the possibility of bringing more musical artists, comedians and stage performances here. Productions such as these will attract visitors from outlying areas and will hopefully encourage residents to stay in town for their entertainment needs. It is also our hope that this will encourage additional business activity for the retail and restaurant merchants in Rifle.”
The group will have another meeting on June 30.
“The state would like to see us get started on these projects by December,” Braaten said. “It's not a speedy process. But it's a process to get everyone on the same page and moving in the same direction.”
The program, which is being headed up by the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), was announced by Gov. Bill Ritter in May and Rifle was chosen as one of four other Colorado communities to participate in the pilot program.
About 16 people from a variety of state and local agencies, including DOLA, the city of Rifle, the Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Development Authority, Grand River Hospital District. The Rifle Economic Development Corporation and the New Ute Theater Society (NUTS) met on Wednesday, June 9 for a two-hour brainstorming session.
The city of Rifle has already met with Gov. Bill Ritter and DOLA to discuss the program.
“When we started this discussion in April, what I took out of it was that we don't want to just focus on a project or projects,” said Elyse Ackerman, regional manager for DOLA. “We want to focus on an outcome. What we need to do is to start action on what we're going to work on.”
A list of 14 possible outcomes were identified with the top ones including achieving more infill and mixed land uses, affordable housing options in the downtown area; reducing the number of vacant storefronts downtown; and increasing private investment in downtown redevelopment.
Other possible outcomes listed were increasing the community's access to Colorado-grown food projects; improving energy efficiency and use of renewables in the downtown area; preservation of historic structures; improving pedestrian friendliness on Main Street and transportation choices; more effective water conservation in the community; access to faster broadband internet services for business, residential and government entities; and increasing the volunteer opportunities in the community that assist job seekers to expand their experience and become a more competitive job applicant.
The outcomes could be accomplished through a number of possible city projects.
“For example, increasing the investment in the downtown through a downtown business incubator could help start-up businesses share resources,” said Mike Braaten, government affairs coordinator for the city of Rifle. “They could get training and assistance for starting their business.”
The Sustainable Main Initiative is modeled after a program that has been in place in Oregon for the past 15 years.
Renovation of the Ute Theater on East Fourth Street is currently being spearheaded by the New Ute Theater Society (NUTS), a non-profit group that has raised more than $30,000 in memberships and contributions to kick-start the project. The theater, owned by the city of Rifle, is slated to be used as a community/events center for education, events and entertainment.
A Health and Wellness Center and other commercial businesses is planned for the former Valley Lumber site on West Second Street, now owned by both the city of Rifle and the REDC. The REDC has already received a $1 million financial donation to move forward with the center.
Money for a revolving loan fund for downtown facade improvements is currently limited, but creation of a revolving loan fund could encourage necessary improvements to downtown facilities.
“If our Main Street is repainted and decorated, this is a big welcome sign,” said Gil Frontella, president of the DDA.
“I want to really try to find the outcomes that we're looking for, Ackerman stressed. “Part of the reason why Rifle was chosen is that you have so many things going on that are connected to each other. By prioritizing, it gives me the ability to go to state agencies and getting commitments on how we can help you.”
Annick Pruett, president and CEO of the Rifle Chamber of Commerce, said she hopes the program will give a shot in the arm to the downtown area and local businesses.
“The chamber feels that the proposed Ute Theater renovation and restoration is an important component to the overall sustainability and cultural climate of the downtown and the community as a whole,” Pruett said. “It opens the door for the possibility of bringing more musical artists, comedians and stage performances here. Productions such as these will attract visitors from outlying areas and will hopefully encourage residents to stay in town for their entertainment needs. It is also our hope that this will encourage additional business activity for the retail and restaurant merchants in Rifle.”
The group will have another meeting on June 30.
“The state would like to see us get started on these projects by December,” Braaten said. “It's not a speedy process. But it's a process to get everyone on the same page and moving in the same direction.”
