a note from our CEO
November 11, 2020
With El Paso County entering SAFE AT HOME LEVEL 3 beginning 5 pm Friday, November 13, 2020, the impact of this on Downtown businesses is serious – but you can help. Downtown Partnership implores you to lean in to supporting our small businesses and independent restaurants like never before.
What Safe At Home Level 3 means:
- Indoor seating at restaurants dips to 25 percent capacity, maximum 50 people. Outdoor seating, with proper social distancing, continues.
- Retail shops also dip to 25 percent capacity.
- Learn more from the EL PASO COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
How you can help:
- Order takeout this weekend. Restaurants have food inventory that was intended for serving greater capacities – so ordering takeout in the next few days is especially helpful.
- Continue ordering takeout in the weeks ahead. With these capacity limits, it’s nearly impossible for restaurants to cover their overhead, so every order helps. And, for those who are comfortable with the option, limited indoor dining capacity remains.
- Outdoor dining continues – so dress warmer, bring a wrap or blanket (purchase one of our Downtown/Switchbacks fleece dining blankets for only $10), and perhaps choose to enjoy lunch or brunch outdoors instead of dinner to take advantage of our great Colorado sun.
- For retail shops, most shopping in our unique Downtown boutiques can continue at 25 percent capacity. Consider shopping during less busy days and hours, such as weekday afternoons.
- Explore our updated web directory of more than 60 shops; to search those that offer online shopping just enter the tag “online” in the search field.
- Allow us to serve you! There are 16 curbside pickup parking spaces throughout Downtown, for easy pickup of retail and meal orders. Simply pull in the space, call the store or restaurant, remain in your vehicle, and your order will be brought safely to you.
- Wear a mask while in public. The small act of wearing a mask makes a big impact. And, please, continue to practice social distancing and regular washing of hands.
- Be patient and be kind. Our restaurateurs and shopkeepers are doing their very best to survive these difficult times and to serve you. Call ahead before visiting a restaurant, tip generously, share a smile.
- Make a personal or family pledge for how you will consistently support our Downtown small businesses in these weeks and months ahead – whether it’s committing to a certain night every week for takeout or visiting our shops on a quiet weekday afternoon.
Thank you for believing in our Downtown and renewing your efforts to help our small businesses through this latest rough patch.
Susan Edmondson, President & CEO
Information for downtown businesses
OUTDOOR DINING UPDATE
OCTOBER 23, 2020
The importance of alternative dining options for our city’s physical and economic health is imperative, especially as we move into winter temperatures and elements. To provide patrons and employees with warm and safe dining experiences, guidance on meeting fire, zoning, and El Paso County Public Health’s code requirements specific to temporary dining can be found HERE.
Click any of the following to be taken to specific websites.
Funding
- ENERGIZE COLORADO GAP FUND
- PPE, small biz funding, mental health services and more, from State Office of Economic Development and International Trade
- Artist Recovery Fund for El Paso and Teller Counties
- Downtown DDA Small Business Relief Grants from the Downtown DDA
Government entities
- COLORADO.GOV
Executive orders, information, FAQs, how to apply for business exemption, and more - CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL
- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICE of the City of Colorado Springs
- COMMUNITY RESOURCES El Paso County Public Health
Organizations and Associations
SMALL BUSINESS COVID-19 DISASTER HOTLINE (303) 860-5881
- SMALL BUSINESS COVID-19 RESOURCES AND RESPONSE from the SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER
- COLORADO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
Helpful tips
- Download the State mandated “MASKS REQUIRED” sign
Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs is committed to working on behalf of our stakeholders to provide up-to-date information from reliable sources as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
We are working with local, state, and federal agencies to provide resources to help our small business owners ride out the storm of COVID-19. As new information becomes available, we will post this to this page and via our social media platforms.