The way we’ve been building communities and local economies is broken. Outdated policies and paradigms underpin a model of development that leaves too many people behind, exacerbates division and inequality, and shapes places that aren’t good for people, the environment, or the economy.
Fortunately, a growing number of communities and local leaders see this and want to fix it. We work with local partners to identify and solve local challenges, and come together around a shared vision for the future. In addition to technical and policy solutions, we help them strengthen community engagement, expand community leadership, and learn to collaborate effectively so they can build the civic capacity and political will needed to advance real solutions and sustain progress over the long-term.
The West End is a rural region in southwest Colorado working to sustain its ranching heritage and the vitality of its communities as it transitions away from coal and uranium mining. While attending our 
Nestled above 10,000 feet, the Leadville and Lake County community is home to stunning scenery, a deep mining history, and a diverse population. Long thought of as a working class community, in recent years, the City and County have faced rising cost of living, workforce housing challenges, environmental impacts of growth and tourism, and cultural division. After attending our Building Better Places Training, leaders from City and County applied for our assistance to build a community vision for the future and to develop a roadmap to get there. The 
