Local First Foundation

The Local First Foundation partners with and supports the Local First Independent Business Alliance to serve as the catalyst advocating for and amplifying the collective voices of local independent businesses and the greater community. We envision a thriving equitable and sustainable economy that prioritizes the triple bottom line: valuing people, planet, and prosperity for everyone across southwest Colorado. 

We take an innovative approach to fund and deliver programs that support our 265+ local independent businesses and their workforce. Our holistic approach to promoting community well-being includes a three prong strategy that advocates for inclusive, affordable, and accessible healthcare, affordable workforce housing, and collective solutions for livable wages. 

In 2019, Local First partnered to bring more affordable health insurance options to southwest Colorado and helped local businesses and residents get better coverage for less. Together, we recirculated almost $4 million in savings back into our local economy. We are delighted to introduce the nonprofit Elevate Health Plans to southwest Colorado in 2024.

We are also committed to our Livability Coalition and our efforts to collectively work through policy changes and grassroots efforts to promote the protection and development of affordable workforce housing. This work builds on the contributions local businesses made through the 1% La Plata Impact Fund to support the purchase of the Westside Mobile Home Park in 2022.

As we continue to work tirelessly to promote the Love Local movement, we are confident our efforts to promote shop local, act local, and eat local campaigns will continue to pave the way for community celebration and resilience for generations to come.

Support the localist movement in southwest Colorado! 

Being a localist means believing that you make a difference right here in the community that you live in, with the money that you spend and the choices you make. As a localist you realize the powerful impact your decisions can have, and you use that power to make our home the best place it can be! An investment to our organization, is an investment to the localist movement itself. Your gift is a vote for a sustainable, thriving local independent economy and we will ensure to serve as the catalyst for change making with community at the center of our work. 

Thank you for giving today!