LOCAL FIRST LA PLATA

Great news! The city of Durango is opting into Colorado’s Rural Jump-Start program, which offers grants up to $40,000 per new business and up to $5,000 per new hire, to boost economic growth by attracting new businesses to town, according to the Durango Herald. https://lnkd.in/gd8hMcsA

Excited to moderate a panel on “Achieving Success through Environmental Sustainability: Unleashing Innovation in Small Businesses” with Marty Pool, Sustainability Manager for City of Durango, Weylin Ryan, Sustainability & Policy Manager for Visit Durango, and Jenny Hill, Executive Director of Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE)

Mike Loftlis of Homewise says employers can play an important role to encourage homeownership, which can help employees build wealth and wellbeing. At the La Plata Economic Development Alliance Housing Summit.

CEDS Finance in partnership with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), has made funding available to be distributed as grants to underserved small businesses in Colorado. The objective of this program is to address capital accessibility disparities for startup and existing small businesses, aiming to promote economic development in the State with an emphasis on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Grants of $5,000 will be awarded to underserved small businesses based on the eligibility criteria, with a priority on low-income status. Applications will then be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until all grant funds are disbursed. The grant application portal will open on Wednesday, May 1st at 10:00 AM Submit a complete application with documents before May 3, 2024 5:00 PM https://lnkd.in/g3QxcEaq

We're excited and grateful to see this project coming together to provide #affordablehousing for our local workforce. Thank you City of Durango and Project Moxie for this innovative effort to address a critical community need. https://lnkd.in/gaJ2iCRQ Lea este artículo en español en https://lnkd.in/gEha_tGv

Local First Members: Mark your calendars for Local First's Annual Member Celebration! Wednesday, May 29th at 6:00pm at the Powerhouse Science Center. This year, we are excited to feature a famous local as our keynote speaker...Marc Katz. As co-founder, former president and CEO of Mercury Payment Systems, Marc has been actively involved in our business community for 25 years. Come hear Marc speak about his involvement and vision for Durango Mesa Park, which will be instrumental to the future of Durango. We will have yummy local light fare, cash bar, and live music from the Lightweight Travelers, a duo who just won second place at the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown! We will also honor three of our members -- nominated by you -- who represent the best of La Plata County's Local Indie Businesses and Nonprofits for the Local Legend, The Rising Star and the Community Collaborator! Submission deadline is May 13th. Head to our EVENT PAGE to RSVP, nominate your choices, and add to your calendar! https://lnkd.in/gPUj5Hhv

Local First is excited to participate in the SBDC's Small Business Conference on May 8th! Register by April 24th for the earlybird rate! https://lnkd.in/gb9F5QZb

Local First La Plata Independent Business Alliance joins with the Small Business Rising coalition urging Congress to fully fund anti-monopoly enforcement. Small businesses need a level playing field to fairly compete against oligopolies like Amazon that use their market power to unfair advantage. https://lnkd.in/gYeQpeAs

Navigate your business finances with confidence! Small Business Majority offers a FREE Back to Basics course for you to take on-demand, at your own pace! The course will help you get back to the basics of financial wellness, business planning and budgeting. These lessons can help even the most seasoned business owners get out of a financial rut and scale their business. This course consists of an introductory webinar followed by three webinar recordings. Each session is less than an hour long.  LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/gfQ4Nns5

Durango Restaurant Week runs Friday, April 12 through Sunday, April 21. Choose from enticing $15, $25, or $50 pairings thoughtfully crafted by our talented culinary and mixology teams. Discover all the participating restaurants and treat yourself to an unforgettable dining experience! https://lnkd.in/gDQ9ZUky