Weekly Resource Blog – August 17th

COVID-19 Updates

For the latest COVID-19 updates please see the Larimer County COVID-19 website from the Department of Health and Environment. 

• Larimer County COVID-19 Data Dashboard 

• COVID-19 Vaccine Information 

Larimer County Health Officials Strongly Recommend Residents Wear Masks in Indoor Settings as COVID-19 Increases 

Due to the rapidly increasing threat of the Delta variant, primarily among unvaccinated people, Larimer County Health officials are calling on unvaccinated residents to make the decision to get vaccinated without delay. Additionally, officials are strongly recommending that all community members, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear masks in public indoor settings to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Larimer County vaccine clinic dates and times can be found at www.larimer.org/covidvaccine or by calling 970-498-5500 during the week. COVID-19 vaccines are free and available to anyone 12 years old and older. Walgreens locations throughout Colorado also offer free testing in most of their locations.

Information about COVID-19 is constantly changing, and the public health response adjusts as more is learned about this virus. LCDHE is encouraging Larimer County residents to view the latest credible information on COVID-19 at www.larimer.org/covid19  or www.CDC.gov/coronavirus. Additionally, residents are encouraged to follow LCDHE’s Facebook and Twitter accounts at @LarimerHealth

• In Larimer County 70.6% residents age 16+ have received at least one one dose of the COVID vaccine.

FREE Testing is available:

• Mondays:  Larimer County Health Department, 200 Peridot Ave, Loveland    
  • 9:00am – 11:00am, appointments and walk-ins available
• Tuesdays and Wednesdays: Larimer County Health Department, 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins    
  • 9:00am – 11:00am, appointments and walk-ins available

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics:

Opportunity to Request COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at your Organization 

If your organization (or business) has not yet had the opportunity to have a mobile vaccine clinic (LCDHE/Health District/other) and you feel like it would be a good fit to offer a clinic to your clientele/event/families/etc, please fill out this form: https://form.jotform.com/211374714104042

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COVID-19 Recovery Resources

Community Support Resources

We know times are tough, and you may need a little bit of extra help. . .

In Larimer County, there are many agencies working hard to provide food and financial assistance and emotional support. We have put together some links to help make your search for assistance a little bit easier.

• Link to Larimer County Human Services COVID-19 
• Link to Individual & Family Assistance resource

Emergency Broadband Benefit:

The Federal Communications Commission is proving the Emergency Broadband Benefit as a program for families and households who are having a difficult time affording internet service due to COVID-19.

• Discount up to $50 per month for internet service or a one time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop or tablet.

• Eligible households must apply at https://getemergencybroadband.org/ and contact a participating internet service provider (Full list of internet service providers in Colorado).

• Other local internet service providers: Xfinity, CenturyLink, Loveland Pulse.

Emergency Connectivity Fund:

The Emergency Connectivity Fund Program will reimburse schools and libraries for the reasonable costs of eligible equipment and broadband connections used to help students, staff, and patrons who otherwise lack access to be able to engage in remote learning.

• Who’s Eligible: Schools and Libraries including primary and secondary schools that provided offsite broadband service and connected devices to students, and patrons who would otherwise lack access during the COVID-19 health emergency.

• What’s Covered: The fund will reimburse reasonable costs of eligible equipment such as Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, devices that combine a modem and router, connected devices, and eligible broadband connections.

Rent & Mortgage Assistance

Emergency Rent Assistance Program:

• • Due to COVID-19 pandemic, many people in our community are facing uncertainty with paying rent.

Neighbor to Neighbor is here to help. English and Spanish Flyer. 

Link to Emotional Support & Mental Health resource page.

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• FEMA Funeral Support : Under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

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Business & Workforce Support

Larimer County Small Business Development Center 

• Buying or Selling a Business
  • Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
• Components of Soulful Sales Conversation
  • Friday, September 10, 2021, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
• Instagram for Small Business
  • Friday, September 24, 2021, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Register today!

SBA Disaster Loans Available to CO Businesses

• • U.S. Small Business Administration is providing funding programs for COVID-19 relief options. For more COVID-19 relief options.

Colorado’s Economic Recovery Programs for Businesses

The Colorado legislature passed 12 bills that appropriated $228 million in funding to support economic recovery efforts. As program details are finalized you can access updates at the COVID-19 Business and Nonprofit Resources page.

Programs with open applications:

• CLIMBER Loan Fund

Applications are open.

The Colorado Loans for Increasing Mainstreet Business and Economic Recovery (CLIMBER) fund provides $250 million to small businesses with working capital loans between $30,000 and $500,000. Below-market interest rates and a 1-year deferred payment option make the program a secure recovery option for small businesses.

• Colorado Revolving Loan Fund

Applications are open.

This fund provides loans that help small to medium-sized Colorado businesses negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These loans range from $5,000 to $750,000. The loans are intended to provide startup and working capital that will help create and retain jobs across Colorado.

Programs with upcoming applications:

• Colorado Community Revitalization Grant

Applications will open in July or August 2021.

This program provides $65 million in gap funding for mixed use projects in creative districts, historic districts, main streets or neighborhood commercial centers.

• Colorado Arts Relief Grant

Applications will open in August 2021.

This program provides $15.5 million in a second round of funding to support arts, cultural and entertainment artists, crew members, and organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program already provided $7.5 million in early 2021 in its first round of funding.

• Rural Jump-Start Zone Grants

Applications will open in August 2021.

Businesses that establish new operations in specified Rural Jump-Start communities will be eligible to receive up to $40,000, or up to $5,000 per new hire.

• Disproportionately Impacted Business Relief Grants

Applications will open in August 2021.

This program provides $1.79 million for grants to small businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Small Business Accelerated Growth Program

Applications will open in September 2021.

This program, also known as Economic Gardening, will provide $1.35 million for technical development support to businesses with 19 or fewer employees.

• Colorado Cannabis (Marijuana) Entrepreneur Program

Applications will open in fall 2021.

This program provides $4 million in funding for grants and loans as well as technical assistance for entrepreneurs in the cannabis space.

• Colorado Startup Loan Program

Applications will open at the end of 2021.

This program provides $40 million to small businesses seeking capital to start, restart, or restructure a business. Loans and small grants will be made available through a host of lenders that work in communities throughout the state. OEDIT will work with community partners to reach underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses owners.

• Disproportionately Impacted Business Technical Assistance

Applications will open in late 2021.

This program provides $900,000 to support technical assistance for businesses that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• State Small Business Credit Initiative

Applications will open in early 2022.

As a part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the federal government passed the SSBCI bill to fund small business credit support and investment programs. OEDIT will submit its application to receive these funds in December 2021 to increase capacity of existing programs that provide access to capital for new and growing businesses.

Municipal Recovery Resources:

• Town of Berthoud 
• Town of Estes Park 
• City of Fort Collins 
• Town of Johnstown 
• City of Loveland 
• Town of Timnath
• Town of Wellington
• Town of Windsor

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2020 Wildfires Recovery Resources

Get Assistance:

Larimer County – Long-Term Recovery Group: Formed and working with Larimer County officials to rebuild, recover, and repair utilizing skilled case managers, identifies and assists fire survivors who do not have adequate personal resources for basic needs and recovery.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – Arapahoe & Roosevelt National Forests Pawnee National Grassland 

• Fire Recovery Information 

Cameron Peak Fire Area – Weekly Recovery Activities – Weekly Recovery Update 8.16.2021

Hazardous Tree Removal

Big Thompson Watershed Coalition Community Activities

Sandbags

Thanks to Americorps

Community Meetings

Weather Update from National Weather Service