Can you believe that the Fourth of July is just around the summer-time corner? Snow is still visible on the horizon, but the deadline to be a sponsor of the City of Montrose 2023 July 4th Spectacular at the Rotary Pavilion in Cerise Park is coming soon. June 15 is the last day to commit to be a sponsor at any level—from a Community/In-Kind Sponsor for $250 all the way up to a Presenting Sponsor for $3,000. There are also Concert Sponsorship levels available, Fireworks Sponsors, and Parade and Kids’ Zone sponsorships, too. Each level comes with a different degree of visibility and advertising and each level has a limited number of sponsor slots available. A very nifty flyer is available and can be e-mailed to you if you email Michelle at DART first!

The DART arts committee is active, and you’re invited to join! There’s discussion around where to put a public piano, how to repurpose the statues outside City Hall (did you know that City Hall is being sold? You would have if you came to DART meetings), and ongoing talk about a mural program for the City, among other topics. You don’t have to be an artist, just someone who wants to have a voice in developing our public art — there are already some very familiar names participating and you can, too. The committee’s mission is to invigorate all art including festivals and events; not just downtown, but everywhere in Montrose. Email Michelle (see bottom) to let her know you’re interested in the arts committee.

If you haven’t yet gotten your passport, do so now! We’re talking about the Montrose Downtown Summer Passport (read more at linktr.ee/montrosedowntownpassport). Participating businesses will stamp your passport when you visit on Thursdays and if you collect five stamps, you will earn a prize donated by one of the businesses. Click the link to learn more — better yet go visit a Downtown store and pick up your passport today!

One of DART’s main focuses is improving the façades of businesses in Montrose. And they’ve got a program for that! The façade program will financially support renovations to buildings by offsetting the cost. If your building needs paint, stucco, siding, roofing or structural help, email Michelle for more information. Contributions by DART to match both private and public investment in upgrading façades are available.

If you have a business located on Main Street or a block off in either direction, did you know you have a block captain working for you? The guys and gals are there to help spread word about the goings-on downtown and all around Montrose. DART developed a very cool, color-coded map that shows who has stepped up to volunteer and which blocks they serve. If you email Michelle and ask her for one, I am sure she’ll be glad to send it to you.

Finally, do you know of a business that’s moving out or moving in? Let us know! Email Michelle and we’ll include news like that right here in this column.

Tune in again next week for more DART news and keep an eye out for the upcoming email newsletter. If you’re not already signed up, do so here:

DART (the Montrose Development and Revitalization Team) is designed to help Montrose businesses grow and prosper.

DART meets at 8 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at The Community Room in the Public Safety Complex at 434 S. 1st Street. The meeting is open to the public, so come one, come all! Tuesday, June 6, will be the next DART meeting. Mark it on the calendar (we’ll be reminding you again next week).

Michelle Wingfield is the DART and grant coordinator for the City of Montrose. You can reach out to her at mwingfield@cityofmontrose.org.