Front Range Community College is excited to offer grant funding for manufacturing companies to upskill their employees through a wide range of professional development courses, running August 2025 through April 2026. This funding covers the full cost of training at Front Range Community College, and there’s no out-of-pocket expense for qualifying employers.

Who is eligible?

• Non-governmental institutions with 25 or fewer employees:
  • Schedule a consultation to discuss
• Companies with more than 25 employees:
  • Email Katie at katie.schwind@frontrange.edu to learn about alternative funding options available for your organization.

Each course is designed to help your team work smarter, lead stronger, and solve problems more effectively. Most of these courses are in person at one of our 3 campuses.

If you're ready to invest in your people, at no cost to your business, let’s get started!

Have you done any remodeling or expanding of your business this year? The Small Business Technical Assistance Program is offering mini grants up to $10,000 to support the meaningful and valuable work of small businesses and non-profits who went or are going through the Building and Development Review process.

The Regional Air Quality Council’s Engines Off for Food Trucks program will pay up to 80 % of the price (capped at $20,000) to swap out noisy, polluting generators for battery systems. The catch - for now - is geography: grant funds are limited to the Denver area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson Counties). Larimer and Weld aren’t on the list yet, but a food truck qualifies if it regularly operates (and is licensed) in the Denver area.

Why apply? Early converts report lower fuel bills, less maintenance, and a quieter customer experience. More than 30 trucks are already running fully electric, and the program has budget for roughly 100 more conversions this year.

What you can do now

• If you serve Denver markets—even just summer festivals—check the quick‑apply form at enginesoff.org/food-trucks to see if you’re immediately eligible.
• Larimer County and the City of Fort Collins are exploring options to extend funding north; a show of demand will strengthen our case for funding.

Cleaner air, quieter lines, and lower operating costs are on the table. Let’s bring those benefits home!

Special Opportunity for Food Service Providers!  

Food-serving businesses located in Fort Collins can now apply for a $1,000 grant to switch to eco-friendly takeout containers. This is a great way to reduce waste and show your customers you care about the planet. Apply Today!  

About half of Fort Collins businesses are located inside the state-designated Enterprise Zone—but most don’t know it. The worst part? You could be leaving thousands in tax credits on the table without realizing it.

Everyday activities like buying equipment, hiring and training staff, and offering benefits might qualify for state incentives just by being in the right location. We’ve already helped several Fort Collins businesses unlock unexpected savings.

Want to know if you’re in the zone? Reach out to our office—we’ll help you find out!

Setting out to bring a Sinaloa-style hot dog concept to Fort Collins, Entrepreneur Estafania Lugo had food truck fantasies. The vision was clear; the path from idea to first sale—permits, health approvals, inspections, and timing across agencies—was less so.

For help, Estafania turned to the Multicultural Business and Entrepreneurship Center (MBEC) at the City of Fort Collins. MBEC Business Connector Tommy Meritt began by listening to Estafania’s goals and constraints, then mapped a short, practical plan: a right-order checklist, a realistic timeline with lead times, key contacts, and early clarity on fees. With permits in hand, inspections completed and approvals gained, Estafania traded paperwork for paying customers and El Maviri is now fully open and operational!

Starting a business, or navigating a permitting process doesn’t have to be hard. Whether you’re new to business, or need help with an old form, the Business Connectors with the City of Fort Collins’ Multicultural Business and Entrepreneurship Center can get you on the right path quickly and clearly.

Recently started a business? Make sure you understand sales and use tax to stay compliant and avoid surprises! Sales Tax 101 is a free class designed to give business owners an overview of how sales tax works in Fort Collins.

Learn about:

• Applying for a sales tax license
• What’s taxable (and what’s exempt)
• How to collect and remit sales tax
• Compliance tips to avoid penalties

After a one-hour presentation, our tax experts will be available for one-on-one Q&A time to address your specific business needs.

Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.

Colorado River Room (222 Laporte Ave.)

Gain confidence in handling your business taxes!

Date: September 4th or 5th, 2025

Time: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm

Location: 2650 East 40th Avenue, Denver

Cost: Varies ($300 - $600)

 This full-day, in-person workshop is designed to equip manufacturers, importers, and supply chain professionals with the knowledge and tools to navigate, mitigate, and strategically respond to tariffs in 2025.

Stage 1: Venture Validator 1.0  –  October 23, 2025

The Venture Validator is the starting blocks for your entrepreneurial venture. This cohort-based program takes you through all the steps to get your venture off the ground and figure out if there’s a real opportunity there. The Validator is a 2-week 4 session program where you will:

• Understand who your customer is and what drives their decision making.
• Clarify your value proposition and know exactly what problem you’re solving and how.
• Build out the first half of your Business Model Canvas, identifying all the components needed to have a sustainable business.
• Learn from successful entrepreneurs and mentors as they guide you on your journey.

Stage 2: Venture Validator 2.0  –  November 13, 2025

The Venture Validator 2.0 is a continuation of your customer discovery journey from the Venture Validator 1.0. This cohort-based explored the second half of the BMC to dive deep on if there’s a real opportunity to turn your idea into a business. The Validator 2.0 is a 2-week 4 session program where you will:

• Develop your competitive landscape and see how you differentiate.
• Explore your supply chain and prospective partnerships.
• Build out the second half of your Business Model Canvas, identifying all the components needed to run a sustainable business.
• Learn how to build your Minimum Viable Product/Prototype.
• Learn from successful entrepreneurs and mentors as they guide you on your journey.

Join us at 1 Million Cups every Wednesday morning from 9-10am! This free business group is one of the best ways to access and engage the local entrepreneurial and business support systems in Northern Colorado. We connect aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to the resources they need to start or grow their business.

 Each week, two business owners give 6 minute presentations on funding, new product concepts, or business challenges they are currently facing. The 1MC Community provides knowledgeable feedback that is clear, actionable, and empathetic. 

Starting and running a company can be a lonely endeavor. 1MC is here to help!

 Free coffee and community every Wednesday @ 9am at the Visit Fort Collins Welcome Center 7 Old Town Square - Suite 100, Fort Collins.

When you're running a business, the right connection at the right time can change everything. That’s where we come in.

A Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) visit isn’t just a check-in—it’s a chance to tap into our network.

We know the people, the programs, and the paths to help you:

• Unlock funding or incentives
• Navigate tricky processes
• Get connected to other businesses, partners, or City contacts

Whether you’re facing a challenge or chasing an opportunity, we love playing connector—and we’re good at it!

Let’s make some introductions. Reach out to schedule a visit

Ready to take your business to the next level? The Larimer County Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers expert-led trainings and workshops tailored to help established businesses grow, adapt, and thrive.

Whether you're looking to refine operations, boost marketing efforts, or strengthen your leadership skills, the SBDC has practical resources to support your goals.

The City is resuming construction at the intersection of South College Avenue (U.S. Highway 287) and Trilby Road.  Specific construction impacts will be updated here when available.

The State of Colorado now requires most businesses to offer retirement savings options—and the Colorado SecureSavings program makes it easy to comply. If your business has five or more employees, has been in operation for at least two years, and doesn’t already offer a retirement plan, you're required to register.

The program is state-facilitated, low-cost, and easy to manage, giving your employees access to a Roth IRA through automatic payroll deductions—at no cost to the employer. It’s a simple way to support your team’s financial future and stay compliant with state law.

Deadlines are rolling based on business size—make sure you're registered or exempt.

The Community Resilience Survey is now open for responses from anyone who lives, works, or plays in Larimer County!

We need your input to help improve programs that help the people of Larimer County before, during, and after disasters to meet the needs of the community and to create a more connected and resilient Larimer County!

As part of a research-driven initiative led by NoCo REDI, we’re gathering insights about life and work from people across the Northern Colorado region. Your feedback will inform the development of a people-powered regional brand and support efforts to attract companies and create jobs, retain talent, fill critical roles, and make the case for why Northern Colorado is a great place to build a career, a business, and a life.

Set aside a few thoughtful minutes to share your perspective. Your responses are completely anonymous. So grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and tell us what makes us…us.