March 25, 2021
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
GoldenTranscript.net
VOLUME 155 | ISSUE 16
Polis comes to Golden to sign first bill in state stimulus package Bill will provide $30 million in funding for main street improvements, including new lights in Golden’s Miners Alley
Organizers cite size of event in decision
BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
On Friday, March 19, Governor Jared Polis came to Golden to sign a bill that will provide funding for a purpose that is (quite literally) close to the city’s heart: main streets. Senate Bill 21-110, or the Fund Safe Revitalization of Main Streets bill, will provide $30 million in state stimulus funding to two statewide programs that provide funds to communities to revitalize their main streets and make them safer. Polis signed the bill in Miners Alley, which is set to receive new hanging lights that will be paid for with dollars from those programs. Cities will be able to use the funds for everything from creating spaces for kids and families to installing stages and structures for gatherings and cultural events that will attract people to main streets, he said. “We know how important our main streets are and right here in Miners Alley this is going to be an example of a project Golden residents and those who visit Golden are going to be so proud of,” he said. “It helps attract even more business to our downtown areas and you are going to see these kinds of projects all over Colorado.” The bill is the first in a series of several proposed bills that would provide a total of $700 million in stimulus funding for Colorado to be signed into law.
With status of summer still cloudy, Buffalo Bill Days canceled BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Gov. Jared Polis signs SB 21-110 in Golden on March 19 in Golden.
“It’s official,” said Polis upon signing the bill. “And it’s special to be the first, isn’t it?” Polis was joined at the ceremony by several of the state senators who sponsored the bill. Among those sponsors was State Senator Tammy Story, whose district is centered on Golden. “I am delighted that Golden has an opportunity to utilize some of this $30 million dollars to help revitalize their main street here,” said Story. “The opportunities and possibilities for the summer and beyond are just endless.” Brandon Narva, the owner of Goozell Yogurt and Coffee on Washington Avenue, thanked Polis and the legislature for passing the bill. “As so many of us need assistance right now, our community here in Golden is honored and thankful
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with this being just one wonderful step in what will be a great revitalization for us and main streets across the state,” said Narva, who is also member of the Golden Downtown Development Authority board. Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg said she is looking forward to the fun space the new lights will create in Miner’s Alley. “Many of our businesses do have storefronts on Miner’s Alley and the opportunity to add some overhead lighting that is both interesting and attractive and provides that safe environment will allow people to come to Golden and have a great evening here,” she said. “So we look forward to you coming back once the lights are up and hopefully having a great night here in our city.”
Buffalo Bill will have to keep his hat on the shelf another year; organizers say COVID-19 concerns have led them to cancel his namesake celebration again. FOR UPDATES Buffalo Bill Days Inc. ofUpdates about ficially decided the Buffalo Bill to pull the plug Days virtual on the beloved marketplace, golf summer festival, tournament and typically held at other possible the end of July, festivities will be for the second published on bufstraight year last falobilldays.com month, citing the unlikelihood of being able to safely bring together the large crowd the festival attracts this summer. “We attract between 30,000 and 40,000 people over the weekend and we could think of no way to control the crowd size, without it costing a bunch of money,” said Joy Bauman, the president of Buffalo Bill Days, Inc. “And I know things are opening up but we just weren’t sure they would be opened up that much,” she added. But while Bauman said she and her team are “all bummed,” she said she expects the festival to be SEE BUFFALO BILL, P21
CELEBRATE A SAFE SPRING
Tips for staying safe while getting out P14