Affordable housing is a critical need in communities throughout Colorado. A variety of influences make affordable housing projects challenging to realize, such as construction and labor costs, an increase in second home and investment purchases, lack of housing supply, and, of course, land values. While addressing affordable housing is no easy task, Community Builders works … Continued
In the wide open spaces of the west, cities are often defined by their quaint downtowns and the routes that connect them to the next urban area. State highways and defunct rail lines crisscross the cities, dividing the neighborhoods and commercial districts that grew in the in-between spaces. Hamilton, Montana, on the edge of the … Continued
This is the first year I’ve had enough yard for a garden. It’s also the first year that the focus of my work has been economic development. Initially, I didn’t think these two things were related, but as I learned about how to foster a healthy and thriving garden, I in turn learned about how … Continued
River surfers enjoy twilight at Eagle River Park. The park was dreamed up during a river master planning process led by Community Builders. When local leaders from the Town of Eagle attended Community Builders’ Leadership Training in 2015, they were searching for ways to improve downtown connectivity and revitalize the community’s post-recession economy. Though the … Continued
As a Colorado based organization, we’ve always held a soft spot for the communities of the Centennial State. And while we continue our work across the larger Rocky Mountain region, our new Colorado Mountain and Rural Places Project reflects an even stronger commitment to the social, environmental and economic well-being of Colorado’s cherished mountain and … Continued
The Glenwood Springs Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Committee, a diverse group of community stakeholders, meets in 2022. The committee was convened to re-envision the future of affordable housing in the City. Here at Community Builders, we often talk about capacity building – in fact, we think of it as one of our core capacities. … Continued
The positive response to the recent New York Times article about the Compass Project in Silverton has been humbling and exciting. Many have asked to learn more, so we’re sharing the project film, which we completed with Tucker Cocchiarella (@travelswithtucker on Instagram) to help share the story of the project.
Like many mountain communities, the Town of Silverton is facing pressures stemming from tourism and development. Silverton is known for its remote location, rugged winters, and tight community of just 700 residents. The mountain town of Silverton, Colorado is known for its remote location, rugged winters, tight community of 700 or so, and short but … Continued
At Community Builders, we empower communities who are faced with a variety of challenges and opportunities—but, we know this can’t be done without an engaged and educated community. Our approach to assistance is heavily focused on local leadership for this reason—to creatively engage the public and build the strategic partnerships and leadership necessary for creating lasting change. As part of … Continued
Building Better Places Training March 6-8 Five communities from across Colorado’s mountain and rural towns will participate in our upcoming Building Better Places (BBP) training in Glenwood Springs. BBP engages teams of community leaders in an intensive, three-day workshop that combines practical learning, leadership development, and facilitated strategic planning to find common ground on key … Continued
Get the latest updates about how communities in the West are developing realistic–and innovative–solutions to changing economies and populations.
