Local First Foundation

Local First Foundation fosters local self-reliance, sense of place, and well-being for the people of southwest Colorado. We partner with locally owned, independent businesses and passionate individual localists to build a local economy that values people, the planet, and prosperity for everyone. 

A thriving local economy doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because people choose it. And it happens because organizations like ours are here to connect, advocate, educate, and build strong systems of support. 

We’re asking for your support to help us continue and expand our work to make our local economy resilient. Your contribution directly benefits programs, advocacy, and initiatives that keep our region vibrant and uniquely local. A contribution of any amount that feels meaningful to you helps sustain this work for years to come.

Your gift is an investment in localism and benefits:

• Community events like Noel Night that uplift local independent businesses and nonprofits
• Public education campaigns that inspire our community to choose local
• Advocacy that promotes a resilient, people-centered local economy
• New initiatives to strengthen local self-reliance and well-being

Highlights of Our Work

Promoting Localism: We're raising public awareness of the circular economy by encouraging residents to buy, eat, create, act, and love all things local. Our "Locals Know" Campaign uplifts local outdoor gear retailers and highlights how choosing locally owned shops and services strengthens our local outdoor economy.

Celebrating Localism: Community events like Noel Night and the Stand Up for Local First Comedy Show bring people together to celebrate community, strengthen connections, and foster local economic prosperity.  

Advocating for Localism: We encouraged the Durango-La Plata County Airport Commission to consider the importance of local product placement in concessionaire contracts, which was a prominent feature of the winning bidder’s proposal. 

Saving Money on Healthcare: Our partnership with Peak Health Alliance increases local choice and insurance market competition, reducing premiums and the cost of living for everyone who buys marketplace coverage in southwest Colorado. Our efforts have saved local residents and businesses more than $6 million dollars!

Fostering Business Resilience: More than 50 local small businesses have benefited from our free business resilience training to explore how they can take their business to the next level through new thinking for greater success.

Building a Movement: We collaborate with others to build community capacity and advance joint goals such as sustainable business practices. Our efforts have included establishing the Durango Creative District, which advances the local creative economy, and incubating the Good Food Collective, which uplifts Latinx food business entrepreneurs among other goals.

We invite you to invest in the localist movement in southwest Colorado. 

Thank you for believing in this mission and for investing in the future of our local region. Local First Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Your tax-deductible contribution makes you a Localist member of the Local First Foundation!