City Of Boulder Launches Business Recovery Program

BOULDER, CO — The City of Boulder has launched a business recovery program that aims to help restaurants expand their outdoor seating into public and private areas. The city is following the statewide safer-at-home restaurant order, which allows eateries to open if they follow public health guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Restaurants in Colorado were allowed to open Wednesday with limited occupancy, Gov. Jared Polis announced Monday. Bars are required to remain closed.

Restaurants will have to limit indoor dining to 50 percent of their maximum occupancy or 50 people, whichever is fewer. If a restaurant can expand into the outdoors, they can operate at full capacity or even higher, Polis said during a Tuesday news conference.

>> U.S. Coronavirus Live Blog: 100,000 Dead

Don't miss the latest news updates from Boulder Patch: Free Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook | Twitter

The Boulder Business Recovery Temporary Outdoor Expansion Program streamlines the permitting process for restaurants to expand outdoor seating areas on public and private property until Sept. 30 — a date that officials may choose to extend.

Mary Ann Weideman, interim director of Boulder’s Planning and Development Services Department, said the "first phase recovery actions are directly responsive to the needs expressed by the restaurant industry and their workers, a valued segment of Boulder’s business community."

“It also reflects the importance of our continued focus on community health and safety during the evolving pandemic.”

The city is working with local representatives of the Colorado Restaurant Association, Boulder County Public Health, Boulder Business Response and Recovery Alliance partners to develop the expansion program.

Polis is also encouraging cities to streamline outdoor expansion programs.

"Coloradans value our diverse culinary scene and amazing restaurants, and I'm proud that our state is now providing science-based guidelines on how restaurants can open as safely as reasonably possible for their employees and customers," the governor said in a statement released Monday.

"Diners will have more space between tables and at many restaurants, more opportunities to eat outside. The safest thing anyone can do is stay home whenever possible, but for those who want to shop and dine we want to make sure it can be done as safely as possible."

In June, the state will evaluate whether establishments that don't serve food can reopen.

>> More information about the program and how to start an application can be found here.

Read more:

• 12 Work-From-Home Tips
• How Does The Coronavirus Test Work?
• Why Hasn't My Stimulus Check Arrived? 5 Things To Know
• Coronavirus Stimulus Ripoffs And Other Scams