Business Resources
For the most part, Mountain Village is comprised of small businesses and startup businesses (which are often small, too). Both are important, though they have different needs and contribute to the community and its economy in different ways. With that, we have compiled a list of resources for you to tap into to make your venture and its journey as seamless as possible.
Winter Dining Enhancement and Programs
As communities across the country have pivoted countless times this year to respond locally to the effects of COVID-19, The Town of Mountain Village and Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association (TMVOA) are partnering to offer a unique solution to help support businesses this winter.
Outdoor Heating Assistance Fund
In an effort to provide our businesses support during the time of COVID-19, the Town of Mountain Village will provide approved applicants funds for investing in outdoor heating elements to assist with potential dining capacity restrictions.
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Program Highlights:
- Overall pool of funds: $70,000
- Maximum amount to be awarded: Up to $7,000
- Matched funds required: Accepted applicants must provide a 50% match of funds.
- Invoice requirements: All invoices presented to the Town for reimbursement must be dated after the applicant’s approval into the program.
- Term: Applications will be accepted until December 1, 2020, or until funds are exhausted.
Who is Eligible:
- Must be a brick and mortar, street-level restaurant businesses within the Village Center or Market Plaza.
- Must have 25 or fewer full-time employees
- Must have a Plaza License Agreement with the Town of Mountain Village. If heaters will be mounted to buildings applicants will need HOA approval and to submit a Design Review application (fee waived)
- Must have an active Mountain Village business license and generate Mountain Village sales tax.
- Property must be open for business, as allowed by regulations.
How to Participate:
- Step 1: Choose the style/brand of heating elements, can be infrared, propane or electric. Please note that all operation and installation costs will be the responsibility of the business owner.
- Step 2: Create a proposal with renderings of exact heating options, quantity and placement within your plaza license agreement area.
- Step 3: Submit application with proposed budgets.
- Step 4: Submissions will be reviewed by the Business Development Advisory Committee and approved based on heating design and plan.
- Step 5: Apply for an amendment to your active Plaza License Agreement and/or Design Review application as needed.
- Step 6: Accepted applicants will be reimbursed funds for 50% of the submitted invoice.
Who Gets Paid?
The Town of Mountain Village will reimburse for 50% of the invoice for applicable heating element. You will submit your invoice to the Town.
NOTE: Only heaters purchased after application acceptance will be reimbursable.
Who Owns the Heater?
The applicant/business will be the owner of the heater(s) and fully responsible for all operation, maintenance and installation work and costs.
Marketing Assistance Fund
In an effort to provide our businesses promotional support during the time of COVID-19, the Town of Mountain Village will provide approved applicants funds for investing in long-term marketing strategies.
Program Highlights:
- Overall pool of funds: $30,000
- Maximum amount to be awarded: Up to $2,500
- Term: Applications will be accepted until September 1, 2020, or until funds are exhausted.
Who is Eligible:
- Must be a brick and mortar, street-level business within the Village Center or Market Plaza.
- Must have an active Mountain Village business license and generate Mountain Village sales tax.
- Property must be open for business, as allowed by regulations.
How to Participate:
- Step 1: Choose from the list of marketing opportunities:
| Traditional Marketing | Digital Marketing | Search Engine Marketing |
|---|---|---|
| Branding or rebranding efforts and/or logo design | New website creation | Search Engine Optimization |
| Print marketing collateral | Enhance current website | Pay-per-click campaigns i.e. Google Ads |
| Professional photography to utilize on web, print, and social media | Set up an email marketing platform | |
| Video | Email marketing campaign creation | |
| Enhance social media presence through profile optimization. | ||
| Paid social media ad campaign |
- Step 2: Create an executable plan of how you would like to use our funding assistance to help promote your business. Should you need marketing consulting, please utilize the free consulting services provided by the Small Business Development Center.
- Step 3: Submit application with proposed budgets.
- Step 4: Submissions will be reviewed by the Business Development Advisory Committee and funds will be awarded.
Ad/Messaging Design Services:
Before applying to participate in the Marketing Assitance Fund, please note that full graphic design services are not offered by the Town of Mountain Village through this program. Please include details in your application if you plan to acquire design services. Additionally, Canva.com is a free, user-friendly design resource that includes easy templates for designing your own ad. If the business is requesting guidance from the Town of Mountain Village communication staff to develop marketing opportunity recommendations, marketing campaign development will not be provided by the Town staff. Town staff will provide guidance and input, but businesses must develop a plan using outsourced labor if needed. We encourage utilizing the free consulting services provided by the Small Business Development Center.
Who Gets Paid?
The Town of Mountain Village will make direct payments to advertisers, marketing contractors (graphic designers, website specialists, etc) and/or external marketing experts chosen by applicants.
The Town will contact advertiser(s) and expert(s) to coordinate payments. Please note that if you choose a social media ad or other online platforms/software outlets, the businesses will be responsible for making the payment and, after an invoice is sent to said business, the town will issue reimbursement to the business within fourteen business days of receiving an invoice.