Community Emergency Fund opened for affected Newman fire employees

DURANGO, Colo. – In the wake of the Newman building fire in Downtown Durango, the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado will open the Community Emergency Fund to assist those employees affected by the temporary closure of fire-damaged businesses.

Employees of, but not limited to, Joel’s, Colorado Pongas and Smelter’s Coal Room, who have not secured new employment, are asked to visit the Durango Business Improvement District (BID) office, 1199 Main Ave., Suite 210, Tuesdays or Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for applications to receive financial assistance from the fund.

The Emergency Fund was established by the Durango Business Improvement District (BID), and placed with the Community Foundation of Southwest Colorado, following the 2008 fire in the 700 block of Main Ave. It originally amassed in excess of $100,000, with more than $30,000 remaining after support of employees affected by the 2008 fire.

“The purpose of the fund is to assist with immediate needs in the wake of a community disaster, and the Foundation board of directors has deemed assisting employees affected by the Newman building fire as appropriate,” said Lon Erwin, Foundation executive director. “The employees of these businesses are, in essence, now unemployed and may need assistance with living expenses and necessities over the next several months until their places of employment re-open.”

Once approved, applicants will receive assistance on a weekly basis, for a maximum of three months, to cover food, gasoline and pharmacy needs in the form of gift cards or vouchers, as no actual dollars will be distributed. A one-time payment to assist with rent or home loans is also available.

“We are currently verifying employment of the affected businesses,” said Bob Kunkel, the City’s Downtown business specialist who assists the BID on a variety of projects. “We hope the displaced employees can find new positions as the fund is not a permanent ‘fix.’ We are, though, happy to be able to help.”

For further information regarding the application process and specifics of support, contact Pam Glasco in the BID office, 375.5067.

To help sustain the fund for future emergencies, tax-deductible donations of any amount are welcomed. Checks should be made payable to “Community Foundation-Community Emergency Fund” and mailed to the Community Foundation, PO Box 1673, Durango, Colo., 81302. Credit card donations may also be made via the Foundation web site, www.swcommunityfoundation.org.

The Community Foundation is a 501( c)(3) non-profit entity designed to serve the local community through various endowment funds and grants. The BID originally partnered with the Foundation to distribute funds donated to the 700 Main Avenue Disaster Relief Fund both to preserve the integrity of the process of fund distribution and to provide contributors with a tax deduction.

 

 

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