{"id":22852,"date":"2025-04-01T00:09:57","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T06:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/what-does-a-resilient-mancos-look-like\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T22:18:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:18:52","slug":"what-does-a-resilient-mancos-look-like","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/what-does-a-resilient-mancos-look-like\/","title":{"rendered":"What does a resilient Mancos look like?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mancos
Mancos in the fall. (Cameryn Cass\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The town of Mancos has an opportunity to fortify its downtown, and it needs community input to do it.<\/p>\n

Mancos is one of 70 aspiring communities in the state with its sights set on becoming what\u2019s called a \u201cMain Street Community\u201d under Colorado\u2019s Main Street Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Zooming out, that program falls under a nationwide one called Main Street America that\u2019s geared toward supporting \u201ccommunity-led downtown revitalization,\u201d according to the state\u2019s Department of Local Affairs website.<\/p>\n

Revitalization under this program preserves historic character while promoting economic growth, which is a major focus of the National Main Street Center, a program affiliate.<\/p>\n

Becoming an official Main Street Community is an attractive opportunity since such communities are eligible for things like \u201ctechnical assistance, training, consulting services and annual mini-grants,\u201d according to the state\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

Plus, \u201cscholarships are available to foster continued growth and development,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

So far, there are 26 official Main Street Communities<\/a> in Colorado.<\/p>\n

Pagosa Springs recently landed the designation, as did Ouray, Silverton, Ridgway and Montrose.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a really good way for local government to work with the community on a project that has the potential to make a positive, lasting impact on the town,\u201d said Jason Armstrong, the town\u2019s community and economic development director.<\/p>\n

Plus, it\u2019s something that\u2019s been in the town\u2019s initiative since 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not saying Mancos needs to be revitalized, but it could use direction and planning,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In April, there are three events scheduled to talk more about this opportunity and what it might look like in action.<\/p>\n

Tuesday, April 8, at Fenceline Cidery from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.<\/div>\n
Wednesday, April 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hand in Hand Bookstore (there will be \u201cheavy apps\u201d from The Boathouse)<\/div>\n
Wednesday, April 9, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mancos Town Hall workshop<\/div>\n

Ayers Associates, Inc.<\/a> of Fort Collins \u2013 which has done work with the Mancos Opera House in the past \u2013 will be at the events, as it is \u201cleading an investigation to discover if the Main Street Program is a good fit for the Mancos community,\u201d and, ideally, develop a shared vision, according to a flyer advertising the events.<\/p>\n