Be sure to follow ARUS Consulting on LinkedIn!

Interview with Parker Lahti, Founder, CEO, Senior Efficiency Advisor and Jaime Joseph, Operations Manager, Content Manager, Virtual Advisor of ARUS Consulting.  

Who is ARUS Consulting?   

We are your local energy efficiency testing and advising team. We are unbiased, certified building science experts who are helping achieve community climate goals one household at a time! 

This type of work keeps us directly connected to the community – the advisors go into homes every day and our customer care specialists start developing relationships with homeowners from the first moment of contact. This level of customer-centric advising keeps our admin team very connected to our field team and the customers we serve.   

Read the full interview with ARUS Consulting here!

In celebration of Women's History Month, join the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) free, virtual Women’s Business Summit on Tuesday, March 29 – Wednesday, March 30, 2022. The free event will include power-packed panels, inspirational fireside chats, and 'Ask an Expert' workshops to help you build, scale, and grow your business. Panels and discussion topics include: 

• Innovation and Investment
• Building an Equitable Recovery Framework for Women Entrepreneurs
• From Essential Worker to Essential Entrepreneur: CARE Economy Entrepreneurship Opportunities
• The $100B Marketplace: Contracting Opportunities for Women-led Firms
• Exporting & E-Commerce

The Changing Landscape for Entertainment and Hospitality Industries 

Click here to see other resources for women-owned businesses from the US Small Business Association:

From now until the end of March, FC Moves have opened an online mapping exercise and small survey. We invite each of you to participate in the map, which features a draft bikeway network. You’re welcome to place pins and add comments in support of what we propose as well as identify things not yet included.

• Access the survey by visiting www.fcgov.com/WalkBikePlan. Then, look for the box on that page mentioning “Active Modes Plan engagement opportunity”. Click the “provide feedback” link and the survey/map will launch.
• Instructions are included once you complete the short survey.
• The survey will show first once you access the map. You only need to take it once (it’s entirely optional), and if you go back later to add more comments, you can skip the survey.
• The survey and map close March 30, 2022.
• Also, you may find the visual glossary at this link helpful; this is also included on the map instructions. 

The Aims Center for Workforce Development and Innovation is helping businesses in Northern Colorado train and retain employees through a series of public seminars and courses beginning this spring. Training topics are focused on in-demand skills that support growing industries in our region. Upcoming seminars include:

• Lean Seminar Series
• Project Management
• Basics of Employment Law
• Lockout-Tagout Training
• Fire Extinguisher Hands-on Training
• OSHA 30-Hour for Construction Course

Anyone interested in participating in workforce development seminars can learn more and enroll by visiting aims.co/workforce-development. 

• The Larimer County Emergency Rent & Utility Assistance (ERAP) funds can help individuals stay in their homes by paying back rent and utilities, and more. 
• WorkLife Partnership’s Small Dollar Loans Program is an efficient, cost-effective, low-risk alternative to payroll advances and employee loan programs. 
• Colorado Climber Loan Fund now providing eligible small businesses with working capital loans between $30,000 - $500,000.  
• Free De-escalation Training for Businesses During COVID-19 – Watch videos now 
• Small Business Tax Credit Programs are available 
• Skill Advance Colorado Training Reimbursement Grants available - around $1,200 – $1,400 per employee. The application period opens July 1, 2021 - March 31, 2022. 
• Request Onsite COVID Vaccine clinic - If you're interested in hosting an onsite vaccination clinic for your employees or for the general public at your business or facility, please send a request to the Larimer County Department of Health & Environment. There is no charge, and the Health Department coordinates staffing, logistics, and vaccine supplies. 

Upcoming Events: 

• Business Q&A with Larimer’s Health Department - All businesses are invited to join the County on the fourth Thursday of each month. Join the 1-hour session on Thursday, March 24 at  2 p.m via Zoom. To help make this session as informative and helpful as possible, please submit your questions in advance.

Sign up for weekly updates from the City of Fort Collins Emergency Preparedness and Security COVID-19 newsletter at fcgov.com/eps/coronavirus

Check out ForFortCollins.com for tools and resources created to help your business reopen safely and strongly while gaining support from loyal customers and community members.