During a recent government meeting, Rachel King, Deputy Director of Economic Vitality and Development, provided an update on the Enhanced Broomfield program, which has evolved significantly since its inception. Initially focused on facade improvements, the program has shifted its emphasis to support businesses in maintaining operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and now aims to facilitate expansion activities as the community stabilizes.

King highlighted that the program is currently prioritizing grants for businesses looking to expand their physical space, increase service offerings, and hire additional employees, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality sectors. A proposal is in the works to allocate an additional $100,000 to support this expansion, with the criteria for applications being refined to align with community goals, equity initiatives, and sustainability efforts.

The application process for the program is structured to accommodate the complexities involved in expansion projects. Businesses have a two-month window to submit detailed applications, which include construction documents and equipment proposals. Following this, there is a month dedicated to technical and internal reviews before awards are announced the subsequent month.

King expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming cohort of awards, emphasizing the program's commitment to fostering growth in key industries and providing necessary technical assistance to business owners navigating the application process.