Parachute officials are seeking $600,000 from Garfield County to help fund a long-planned reconstruction of the town’s downtown corridor, a project they hope will improve aging infrastructure and attract new businesses.

Parachute Town Manager Travis Elliott and Mayor Tom Rugaard presented the request to Garfield County commissioners during their Oct. 5 meeting, outlining plans for the first phase of the $10.7 million Parachute MOVES project.

The project would reconstruct First Street from Green Street, near the Interstate 70 rest area, to Billiter Avenue near the pedestrian bridge. Improvements would include replacing deteriorating roadways, upgrading drainage systems, installing sidewalks and improving accessibility, lighting and landscaping.

Elliott said the project represents more than a road reconstruction effort, describing it as an opportunity to establish a downtown destination for residents, businesses and travelers.

“As you know, I-70, when it was built, split the town in two, went right through town and also took out what was kind of our historic Main Street and downtown core,” Elliott said during the meeting.

The revitalization effort has been a longstanding priority for the town, which adopted a downtown development plan in 2023 and established an urban renewal authority in 2024.

Elliott said the existing corridor lacks basic infrastructure, with inadequate drainage frequently leaving standing water along First Street.

Beyond addressing those deficiencies, town officials hope the improvements will encourage Interstate 70 travelers to spend more time and money in Parachute.

According to Elliott, more than 70,000 people use the town’s interstate rest area restrooms annually, while additional data indicates approximately 184,000 people travel through the corridor each year.

Currently, many visitors exit the interstate, stop at the rest area and return to the highway without entering downtown.

“We think with the reconfiguration of the rest area and some of these improvements, we can actually tap into a lot more of that potential by attracting visitors downtown, making it a much more inviting place to stay, do business, spend a little bit of time instead of getting right back on I-70,” Elliott said.

The town has already secured $3 million in federal Congressionally Directed Spending funding for the project and committed $600,000 of its own money. However, the federal funding must be spent within two years, creating urgency to secure the remaining money.

Parachute is pursuing several additional funding opportunities, including grants through the Federal Mineral Lease District and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The town also planned to request approximately $5 million through a federal PROTECT grant, with an application deadline of Friday, Oct. 9.

Elliott acknowledged the grant would be difficult to secure because of competition for federal transportation dollars. Even if successful, the town would need to provide approximately $1.8 million in matching funds, which could include contributions from Garfield County.

Commissioners expressed support for the revitalization effort but did not approve the requested $600,000. Instead, the board agreed to consider the request during its upcoming budget discussions Oct. 14.

Commissioners also agreed to move forward with a letter supporting the town’s federal grant application ahead of the Oct. 9 deadline.

During the discussion, commissioners spoke positively about Parachute’s potential for economic growth, pointing to its location along Interstate 70, existing industrial operations and proximity to Battlement Mesa.

Rugaard said improving downtown could help attract businesses and strengthen the local economy.

“If we don’t do anything to make a downtown, we’re never going to invite the businesses in,” Rugaard said. “So it’s kind of like the field of dreams. If you build it, they will come. But if we don’t build it, nobody’s ever going to come.”

Elliott said the town hopes to move forward with construction in 2027 if sufficient funding can be secured.

For now, the county’s potential $600,000 contribution remains under consideration as commissioners continue reviewing funding requests for the upcoming budget.