{"id":23527,"date":"2025-02-13T13:42:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T20:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/new-program-offers-incentives-for-businesses-to-clean-up-graffiti-in-cortez\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T04:37:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:37:37","slug":"new-program-offers-incentives-for-businesses-to-clean-up-graffiti-in-cortez","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/new-program-offers-incentives-for-businesses-to-clean-up-graffiti-in-cortez\/","title":{"rendered":"New program offers incentives for businesses to clean up graffiti in Cortez"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Graffiti
Graffiti in the alley behind Cortez businesses on Main Street have Cortez police on alert for suspects. Volunteers helped to paint over the damage.<\/span>Courtesy photo<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The city of Cortez launched a new grant program to help small businesses and nonprofits curb costs of cleaning up graffiti on their property.<\/p>\n

To be eligible, businesses must first file a police report and then clean up the graffiti within 10 days of filing the report.<\/p>\n

Be sure to save all receipts detailing costs of the cleanup, and then apply for the Cortez Graffiti Cleanup Grant.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a one-to-one match, up to $500 in reimbursable expenses.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike other grants from the city of Cortez, the Graffiti Cleanup grant application does not need to be approved prior to graffiti removal,\u201d according to a news release.<\/p>\n

In fact, \u201cbusinesses are encouraged to complete the grant application after cleanup is complete,\u201d since that 10-day cleanup window isn\u2019t random: It\u2019s city code<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe city\u2019s Community & Economic Development Department set aside a small portion of its Beautification Fund to help provide this assistance,\u201d said Community & Economic Development Specialist Helen West in an email.<\/p>\n

The goal, then, is \u201cto create a positive and aesthetically pleasing environment,\u201d according to the press release.<\/p>\n

Questions about specific grant programs can be directed to Helen West, (970) 331 \u2013 0213 or hwest@cortezco.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n