Join us on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Block One Events for the City of Fort Collins’ annual Business Appreciation Celebration, where business owners, managers, representatives and leaders are celebrated for their contributions to the community. The event will include a panel discussion with local Fort Collins business leaders, including:

• Caitlin Dunnagan, Owner of CC’s Flowers
• Carrie Pelton, Senior Director & Fab Director of Operations at Broadcom
• Jamal Page, Founder & Creative Director of Black Sparrow Media
• Kevin Unger, President & CEO of UCHealth Northern Colorado Region

We’ll also be streaming a short film during the program that features various Fort Collins businesses sharing their authentic experiences as business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs in our community. This year we will be sharing the stories of five businesses including:

• Allan Qualls, CEO of Banner Health Northern Colorado Region
• Erika Saucedo, Owner of Las Catrinas
• Jennifer Henderson, Founder & CEO of Tilt
• RT Custer, Co-Founder & CEO of Vortic Watch Company
• Vanessa Lozano Jimenez, Owner of Frida Azul

Space is limited. Please register early!

You've learned construction is coming, what do you do?

Be pro-active. Communicate. Collaborate.

The Construction Toolkit has been created as a helpful resource for our community based business owners during public or private construction projects.

In the Toolkit you will be able to:

• Get fresh ideas from other businesses who managed successfully through construction projects.

      AND

• Create your success plan for managing construction impacts in your area using the resources found in the Construction Toolkit.

While you are undergoing construction, we want you to be as successful as possible which is why we created this Toolkit, to improve the process for our business partners.

As part of pandemic recovery efforts, the City of Fort Collins is launching the Small Business Grants program to help our local small business community address impacts of the COVID-19 health crisis.  

Eligible small businesses include those with less than 50 employees, revenue is less than $500K along with solopreneurs, artists and musicians.  

Two rounds of funding will be made available to businesses. Round 1 will be open to businesses on August 1 and closes August 30. Round 2 will be open to businesses on October 3 and closes October 31. 

Small Business Grants will be made in increments of up to $2,500 for Workforce & Talent Retention, up to $5,000 for Technical Assistance, and up to $7,500 for Stabilization. For a maximum total of $10,000 per business applicant. 

Read more here. 

Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development is proud to announce the launch of a new tool to help you recruit the best talent. Use the Job Posting Review portal to send us your current job postings and we'll provide feedback based on the best practices in skills-based hiring, competitive wage analysis, and meeting the expectations of skilled candidates.

Get connected, Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development can help you hire the best people.

·        Colorado Climber Loan Fund now providing eligible small businesses with working capital loans between $30,000 - $500,000.  

·        WorkLife Partnership’s Small Dollar Loans Program is an efficient, cost-effective, low-risk alternative to payroll advances and employee loan programs.

·        Skill Advance Colorado Job Training Grant helps businesses and nonprofits create customized job training for employees through industry customized job training reimbursement grants.

·        OEDIT Business Foundations Technical Assistance Grant Program provides technical assistance and small grants to Colorado small businesses to help businesses legally establish themselves.

·        COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Payments were automatically deferred for 30 months from the date of the Note. SBA began approving COVID EIDL applications in Spring 2020. This means we are rapidly approaching the end of the deferment period for those early loans. Business Owners should start preparing to make payments.

·        Hire A Veteran - Hiring candidates who fit your job needs can be difficult, but have you ever considered targeting your search to veterans? Veteran job seekers are frequently overlooked and underrepresented, but are often the strongest of candidates already highly specialized in many areas. Receive a Tax Credit: The Work Opportunity Tax Credit is available when hiring qualified veterans and can reduce employer federal tax liability by as much as $2,400 to $9,600 per new hire.

Upcoming Events:

- 2022 NOCO Women’s Small Business Conference

Join us in celebrating the Unstoppable Women Entrepreneurs of Northern Colorado. We are excited to bring you a day of discovery and connection as the NOCO Women’s Small Business Conference returns for 2022. Listen to 32 + inspirational women presenters explore what makes an entrepreneur unstoppable.

Early Bird registration wraps up on September 22nd, so register now!

- Regional Workforce Symposium Set for September 27

"Solving the Talent Equation" Engage + Empower = Retain

That's the theme of a day full of brainstorming to solve the puzzle facing employers in today's dynamic job market - attracting and retaining top talent. Register now for the early-bird price of just $39!

This regional event is presented in partnership with Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development Program and Employment Services of Weld County.

And for the first time, it will be hosted in Weld County at the beautiful  new Aims Community College Welcome Center!

"Solving the Talent Equation" guarantees a day of learning and networking focused on creative, breakthrough thinking and practical applications for every type and size of business.

You'll discover solutions to today's biggest workforce challenges, including:

• Creative thinking around child care, housing, and employee retention
• The employee / customer journey map of a premier NoCo innovator
• A work-based learning pipeline from school to work and many more topics featuring audience dialogue throughout the day.

Register Today!

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.