HAPPY AUTUMN EQUINOX

We hope this newsletter finds you well.

It has been a crazy six months since coronavirus turned our lives upside down. This newsletter is just a way to say hi, summarize what has been happening at Third Street Center since March, and share what we hope to accomplish in the coming months.

The Stay at Home Order from Governor Polis in March and the ongoing challenges relating to the coronavirus have challenged everyone in innumerable ways. Despite limiting building access to tenants and losing revenue from canceled room rentals and events, we have been fortunate to be able to pull together the funds to complete some necessary repairs over the last 6 months.  

Big thank yous to our Tenant/Partners, a grant from the Town of Carbondale for sewer line repairs, the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program, and Alpine Bank for their loan deferral program.

1. Host a Drive-Thru Emergency Food Pick Up (Big Shout out to LIFTUP)


Neither rain, nor snow, or fire has prevented LIFTUP staff and volunteers from getting food to people in need. 

2. Fix and line your sewer ✓ (Big Shout Out to All Valley Resource!)

When cast iron sewer lines fail it’s not pretty. The initial failure in one small line had us scrambling all winter to figure out how to repair and protect 50-year-old + sewer lines and how to pay for the work. Enter All Valley Resource and Carbondale Elementary School Alum Forrest Faulkner. He not only had the tools and technologies to fix our sewer lines without digging them up, but also lining them to extend their life span another 25 years. The price was amazing as well. All we can say is "Wow" and "Thank You." Big thanks also to Third Street Center tenants who matched a grant from the Town of Carbondale to finance the work.

3. Install new exterior doors in the Calaway Room✓

The Sun is Colorado is a powerful force.  Throw in 40-degree daily temperature swings and the south-facing exterior doors in the Calaway Room have been hammered for a decade, ultimately warping them to the point they couldn't open close anymore (kind of the definition of a door). So this spring, we were able to get some new better-insulated doors to keep the room cool during the summer and warm in the winter.  Next up: Our main front doors.

4. Dig up and repair broken irrigation lines ✓

The problem with irrigation lines is you never really know there is a problem until water starts bubbling up in your parking lot.  Fortunately, the break was near a tree well so it was fairly accessible.  Mark just needed to dig a big hole in the mud (always fun) to get to the leak.

5. Install aluminum flashing around the roof edge to protect old wood ✓

Colorado's Sun not only wears out exterior doors, it will also wears out exposed wood, even if it is painted. Aluminum flashing around the edge of the building will preserve the wood and eliminate the need for painting.

6. Host a CSA ✓

When supply lines started to get stressed, we were excited to get fresh fruit and veggies locally.  This was our second year as a drop-off/pick-up site for Mountain Freshies CSA.

We have to agree with author Lewis Grizzard who wrote, "It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown [or local] tomato." 

7. Hand out masks and Practice social distancing ✓

It has been relatively quiet at Third Street Center with no events, workshops, and celebrations.  Although many tenants have still been working in their offices, that is difficult to see when access to the building is limited.  We look forward to a time, hopefully next Spring/Summer, when we can invite the whole community to celebrate Third Street Center's 10th birthday (birthday video link).

8. Buy more hand sanitizer ✓

Masks and social distancing are the best tools to slow the spread of the virus, but we have lots of hand sanitizer (and masks) for everyone coming to the building. Our hands have never been so clean.

9. Pump a lot of solar electricity onto the grid ✓
Since April 1, Third Street Center has pumped an average of 7,000 KWH of solar produced electricity onto the grid each month. In addition to covering the electrical needs of the Third Street Center (albeit in a pandemic), this is enough renewable energy to:

• Cover the electrical needs of 8 homes for a full month
• Fully charge a Nissan Leaf Electic Car 175 times
• Keep a 50 inch LED TV on for 50 years :)

It is good to see that some things work, even in a pandemic.

Check out the Building Energy Navigator for building energy use by public buildings throughout Garfield County.

10. Install air source heat pumps in the Calaway & Board Rooms to move fresh and filtered air into community meeting rooms

COVID-19
EMERGENCY BRIDGE FUNDING AVAILABLE
0% INTEREST

Third Street Center is the coordinator of the Carbondale Revolving Loan Fund.

The Town of Carbondale (Town) developed the Revolving Loan Fund (CRLF) to enhance the ability of business owners to secure the necessary capital to finance start-ups, operations, or expansion.

CRLF now offers 0% bridge loans to help Carbondale businesses navigate the impacts of the pandemic.

Learn More about CRLF >>>


The CRLF Loan Committee will also help review grant applications to the Town's COVID Cares Act Fund.  Carbondale CARES Act funding must be utilized for COVID related business expenses (not revenue replacement). Grant applications of $7,500 or less will be accepted until all the funding is committed.



Apply to the COVID Cares Act Fund >>>

Third Street Center - More than a Building