Competitive Position

Of the 50 comparable metropolitan areas to Fort Collins, Fort Collins has the third strongest employment concentration and the fourth highest absolute employment in the Uniquely Fort Collins industry cluster. The top ten metropolitan areas in the Uniquely Fort Collins cluster by employment concentration can be found on the Unique Metro Areas page.

Locational Attributes

Identifying factors important to Unique businesses as they make location decision can provide insight into how the industry cluster can grow through retention and expansion efforts. The Unique cluster relies on the following locational attributes to operate successful businesses:

• Outdoor lifestyle
• High quality of life
• Proximity to revenue-generating customer base

Industry Cluster Opportunities

Connection to Higher Education

27,500 students are enrolled in Colorado State University and Front Range Community College, supplying research facilities, a large labor force, and a large consumer base to local industries. The Uniquely Fort Collins cluster attracts students and professors to the University.

Inter-Industry Support

The Uniquely Fort Collins cluster attracts potential employees, new businesses, and new clients to the region, while visitors to other clusters support the Unique cluster.

Quality of Life

Fort Collins is attractive to employers and employees because of the active outdoor lifestyle enjoyed by residents, quality schools, and balance between large city amenities and small town comfort.

Industry Cluster Challenges

Lack of Knowledge

Many Fort Collins residents are unaware of the businesses involved in the cluster and the cultural amenities they offer. One research report indicated that a majority of residents in the Harmony Road corridor have never heard of the Lincoln Center in Old Town. Efforts should be made to expand the Uniquely Fort Collins cluster into southern parts of the city while advertising established cluster businesses to unknowing residents.

Identity

Fort Collins has yet to develop a direct and marketable identity, leaving potential visitors unaware of what to find in the City.

Retail Leakage

While retail businesses form only a part of the Unique cluster, attractive retail amenities certainly help to draw visitors to a region, or encourage residents to do their shopping locally – in which case they may be more likely to patronize businesses in the Unique cluster. Therefore, retail leakage – the loss of shopping revenues to retail sites outside the City – is cause for concern.

Opportunities for Growth

Cluster Status

There already exists in Fort Collins a healthy core of associations emphasizing this cluster or downtown retail and cultural health. The City’s support for these groups and their activities is well documented and serves to render the needed information relative to support for the Uniquely Fort Collins cluster.

Downtown jobs base

While the Unique cluster is certainly not limited to downtown, most of this cluster’s businesses are located in the City’s downtown area. The vitality of this cluster, then, can be enhanced by increasing the numbers of people who either live or work downtown.

• Pursue a significant employer (or employers) for downtown Fort Collins locations, using the Downtown Development Authority, Enterprise Zone, and other means at the City’s disposal. Develop and publicize an enhanced, performance-based incentive package for primary employers who choose a downtown location. Pursue reputable private developers who specialize in downtown environments to assemble and potentially redevelop properties to be attractive to employers.

PDF Downloads

Download the "Uniquely Fort Collins" Section of the Target Industry Report (PDF 446KB).
Download the entire Target Industry Report (PDF 8MB).