Economic Development Week is an international campaign to increase awareness of local programs that create jobs, advance career development opportunities and improve the quality of life in communities all over the world.
The Economic Development Council of Colorado has partnered with Downtown Colorado, Inc. to host events and opportunities for businesses and economic development partners across the state to learn about the resources offered by economic developers. The Economic Development Council of Colorado and Downtown Colorado, Inc. have also developed a #ShopLocalColorado toolkit for the Colorado community to share about these events and programs with their provided social media copy.
Our office is proud to contribute to the state’s economic development, leading Colorado to be the #2 economy in the US. Through five expansion and relocation projects, we have brought more than 2,300 new jobs to Colorado in the month of April alone. In the first quarter of 2021, we have seen 44,740 new business filings.
For us, Economic Development Week is an opportunity to celebrate the progress we’ve made as a community, commend small businesses supporting their community and identify ways we can continue to strengthen our statewide economy.
Communities and businesses across the state are dedicated to supporting their local businesses by telling their own Shop Local stories.
Burlington, Colorado
The Burlington Chamber of Commerce organizes a Shop Local effort and manages a directory of businesses that visitors and local shoppers can explore. They highlight all of the benefits of shopping locally that most people wouldn’t consider or realize as they shop.
Shopping local businesses conserves tax dollars in the local community rather than sales tax spent online. Shopping locally also creates more choice as community shops can provide more of the products and services that local shoppers and visitors are showing demand for, rather than large chains that might not be able to adjust their products based on shoppers at that location.
The next time you travel to a new town in Colorado, check out the town’s local chamber or Shop Local project. They frequently have a list of businesses and local shops that you can support as you pass through or stay for a while.
Leadvelo Bicicasa
Leadvelo Bicicasa is a bike shop based in Leadville, owned and operated by Rafael Millan-Garcia. On a journey north from Mexico, Millan-Garcia found a home in Colorado and a community of fellow bikers. The mission of the shop is to not only be inclusive of all kinds of bikes, but to be inclusive of all bikers.
Leadvelo Bicicasa has highlighted not only the unique quality of their service, story and mission, but they also nod to other businesses in the area on their website. “Not only do we have the best location in town, we also have the best neighbors! Cookies With Altitude bakery for our coffee and sweet treat addictions. Melanzana across the street to keep us warm, and The Mule Kick vintage to keep us looking cool.”
As you join in the messaging for Shop Local and Economic Development Week, be sure to tag #ShopLocalColorado and #EDW2021 so that others can find and share your posts.