Fort Collins Launches Campaign to Boost Holiday Shopping at Local Businesses
Fort Collins residents are being encouraged to support neighborhood shops, restaurants and service providers through a new Shop Fort Collins campaign that officially launched November 3, marking a coordinated effort to keep consumer dollars circulating within the local economy during the critical holiday shopping season.
The initiative brings together seven regional organizations including the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, Visit Fort Collins, the Downtown Development Authority, North Fort Collins Business Association, Larimer Small Business Development Center, Larimer County Economic & Workforce Development, and the Better Business Bureau serving Northern Colorado and Wyoming.
Small businesses comprise 96 percent of Fort Collins' business community, according to the city's Economic Health Office. Studies by Civic Economics have found that up to 79 cents of every dollar spent at locally owned businesses stays in the community through wages, local procurement and charitable giving, compared to significantly lower retention rates for chain retailers.
"Shopping locally is one of the most meaningful ways we can care for our community," said SeonAh Kendall, director of the city's Economic Health Office. "Whether it's grabbing coffee from your neighborhood cafe, booking a haircut or hiring a local graphic designer, those dollars support the heart of the city — our people, our culture and the character that makes Fort Collins, Fort Collins."
Multiple Ways to Support Local Economy
The campaign offers residents several straightforward actions to strengthen the local business ecosystem. Suggestions include visiting shops in unfamiliar parts of town, purchasing gift cards for future use or as presents, and leaving positive online reviews after good experiences.
Other recommendations include sharing food from local bakeries or restaurants, buying and displaying branded merchandise from favorite businesses on social media, and choosing local service providers for household needs.
Fort Collins' business landscape includes thousands of small establishments spanning professional and technical services, retail and hospitality, health care, construction, food service and personal services sectors. Most employ fewer than 10 workers.
"From family-run shops to national retailers that employ our neighbors to a trusted service, every local business plays a role in our city's success," said Ann Hutchison, president and CEO of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce. "Choosing to spend locally is a vote for local jobs, and for a Fort Collins that continues to be lively, welcoming, and full of charm."
City Programs Support Business Growth
Fort Collins allocated $4.3 million for economic health and redevelopment in its 2022 budget, representing about 1.9 percent of total General Fund expenditures. The Economic Health Office provides business retention counseling, startup grants, technical assistance with permitting and regulations, and multi-lingual outreach in Spanish, Mandarin and Farsi.
The office works alongside the Larimer Small Business Development Center, which offers free confidential consulting, business planning support and industry-specific training throughout Larimer County. The SBDC receives funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, state sources, Larimer County and private sponsors.
The Shop Fort Collins campaign coordinates with ongoing downtown holiday activities, including the November 7 lighting of more than 65,000 LED lights across 334 trees throughout the downtown district. The holiday lighting display runs through February 14, 2026.
Local spending directly supports municipal services including parks, street maintenance and first responders through sales tax revenue. The seven partner organizations maintain formal coordination through annual agreements and shared economic impact reporting to city and county governments.
More information about Fort Collins business resources and the Economic Health Office is available at fcgov.com/business. Contact Shannon Hein, Economic Health Manager, at 970-416-2294 or [email protected].