A newly announced grant will bolster a cohort of local businesses in downtown and southeast Colorado Springs both looking to expand and rebuild.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade announced Monday afternoon that 12 local businesses and their nonprofit fiscal sponsors will receive a total of $372,000 to aid in their respective business operations.

“Our small businesses drive our economic success….as well as define our community’s identity,” he said during the grant announcement.

A Fresh Move, Felipe’s 109, Leave it at Your Door, Luxe Daquiri Lounge, Viva Marketing and Consulting and The Lighthouse Early Childcare and Education Cooperation received a total of $190,000 in partnership with the nonprofit Thrive Networks for their commitment to improving individuals’ health through healthy food, clean living spaces, access to child care, and protecting cultural customs.

Downtown Ventures was awarded $182,000 to support six businesses that enrich the creative district through music, art, design, food and welcoming spaces. These businesses include the Auric Art Gallery, Bosky Studio, ICONS nightclub, Ladyfingers Letterpress, Shuga’s restaurant and Yobel boutique shop.

The idea for the grant program grew out of the recognition that smaller, community-minded businesses have faced greater economic challenges recovering from the pandemic.

Downtown Ventures Executive Director Michelle Winchell explained that the grants are also intended to not only foster the growth the individual businesses, but their entire geographic region.

“Many of these business owners are locals who are committed to our community,” she said. “And part of the application process is demonstrating what these businesses have done to give back and support them over the years.”

Each business will receive up to $30,000 to go toward upgraded or new equipment, increase efficiency, improve property or relocation costs. Their respective nonprofit will receive $10,000 to assist each of their recipient businesses for long-term success.

For the restaurant Felipe’s 109, owner Felipe Velasquez said he plans to open a new location in Old Colorado City after road construction and the temporary closure of South Academy Boulevard posed challenges to the business. He plans to use the funds to financially support new employees in addition to purchasing new equipment and relocation costs.

Velasquez said that an initiative like this would serve to increase overall exposure for all the businesses and their neighboring businesses.

“This will really help us foster peace,” Felipe said. “A lot of people share these roads and I think this will help us grow and thrive so we can be there to support each other.”

For other recipients, this funding means getting the chance to start their business anew.

Yobel, known for its ethically-sourced products and sustainable business approach, has been closed since early December due the devastating structure fire in December that wiped out their entire inventory and closed neighboring businesses that shared the building.

Owner Emily Ross says their plan is to move into a new location and continue supporting the community her family has lived in for the past 30 years.

“It just feels so good to have the opportunity to stay here and lay our (own) roots,” she said. “We’re hoping that wherever we move into will be our forever home.”