Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) provides customized two- and three-day technical assistance assessments to Colorado communities at a low cost. Each technical assistance visit culminates in a public presentation and a detailed custom report and step-by-step action plan with incremental action steps at 1-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-12 months, and 12-plus months.  The sample summaries of these assessment visits below can provide you insight into the recent technical assistance assessments we have conducted. Please visit our technical assistance menu for more details about the kinds of technical assistance we can provide your community.

DCI members can access the full technical assistance reports by signing into our members-only Resource Library.

2012 Technical Assistance Visits

Walsenburg: In Spring of 2012, City of Walsenburg requested a downtown assessment from the Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) for October 22-23, 2012. The purpose of an assessment visit is to bring a team of consultants specializing in downtown and community revitalization to provide tools, insights, and direction to help the host community with its downtown revitalization goals. The team is also tasked with reviewing past reports and comprehensive plans to determine what can be compiled in roadmap to success for the community. In anticipation of this visit, the City of Walsenburg, and a dedicated group of volunteers and business owners who participate on the Walsenburg Downtown Revitalization Committee planned focus groups, and provided background information about the history and status of Walsenburg’s downtown revitalization efforts and the issues facing the community. They promoted the focus groups through local newspapers, traveling door-to-door to invite business owners, and by sending notices with the utility bill.   Upon arrival in the community, team members were given a presentation on the history of downtown, and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) and took a bus tour of town, including areas outside of the core downtown area. Afterward, the team met with the city officials and staff for lunch, and then held four well-attended focus group sessions with community stakeholders and interested citizens. The purpose of the focus groups was to hear directly from citizens about the issues facing the downtown and the community as a whole; and to answer questions team members may have about the perceptions, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities related to Walsenburg’s core commercial district.    On day two, team members gathered to discuss their observations and formulate recommendations. That evening, team members presented their findings in the form of a PowerPoint presentation followed by question and answer session open to the community at large, held at the historic community-owned Fox Theater. The following report provides an overview of the downtown assessment visit, identifies partners and resources to help the community, includes observations from the visit, identifies issue areas, and makes recommendations for actions the community can take to strengthen the downtown. 

Silverton:  In August 2012, the Town of Silverton requested a downtown assessment team visit from Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) for October 15-16, 2012. The purpose of an assessment visit is to bring a team of consultants specializing in downtown and community revitalization to provide tools, insights, and direction to help the host community with its downtown revitalization goals. In anticipation of this visit, the Town of Silverton completed a comprehensive plan, planned focus groups, and provided extensive background information about the history and status of Silverton downtown revitalization efforts and the issues facing the community. Upon arrival in the community, team members were given a presentation on the history of downtown and toured the town. Afterward, the team met with the city staff for lunch, and then held four well-attended focus group sessions with community stakeholders and interested citizens. The purpose of the focus groups was to hear directly from citizens about the issues facing the downtown and the community as a whole; and to answer questions team members may have about the perceptions, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities related to downtown Silverton.  On day two, team members gathered to discuss their observations and formulate recommendations. That evening, team members presented their findings in the form of a PowerPoint presentation followed by question and answer session open to the community at large. The following report provides an overview of the downtown assessment visit, identifies partners and resources to help the community, includes observations from the visit, identifies issue areas, and makes recommendations for actions the community can take to strengthen the downtown.

Trinidad:  In summer of 2012, the City of Trinidad requested a downtown assessment team visit from Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) for October 1-2, 2012. The purpose of an assessment visit is to bring a team of consultants specializing in downtown and community revitalization to provide tools, insights, and direction to help the host community with its downtown revitalization goals. In anticipation of this visit, the City of Trinidad completed a comprehensive plan, planned focus groups, and provided extensive background information about the history and status of Trinidad downtown revitalization efforts and the issues facing the community. Upon arrival in the community, team members were given a presentation on the history of downtown and toured the town. Afterward, the team met with the city staff for lunch, and then held four well-attended focus group sessions with community stakeholders and interested citizens. The purpose of the focus groups was to hear directly from citizens about the issues facing the downtown and the community as a whole; and to answer questions team members may have about the perceptions, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities related to downtown Trinidad.   On day two, team members gathered to discuss their observations and formulate recommendations. That evening, team members presented their findings in the form of a PowerPoint presentation followed by question and answer session open to the community at large. The following report provides an overview of the downtown assessment visit, identifies partners and resources to help the community, includes observations from the visit, identifies issue areas, and makes recommendations for actions the community can take to strengthen the downtown. 

Fruita: Located in Mesa County, off Interstate 70 at exit 19, Fruita is energized by the Colorado River and its breathtaking surroundings and highlighted by the Colorado National Monument. Fruita is a quirky town with a lot of great assets, and have made progress over the past 15 years toward improving and growing their downtown. From its diverse economic base and world-class sports and leisure activities to its bountiful fields of agricultural crops, Fruita’s offerings are abundant.

DCI brought a technical assistance team to Fruita on August 20-21, 2012 to complete a downtown assessment. Upon arrival in the community, team members were given a presentation on the history of downtown and toured the town. Afterward, the team met with the city staff for lunch, and then held four well-attended focus group sessions with community stakeholders and interested citizens.
Common observations gave team members an overwhelming impression that all residents are extremely passionate about their downtown and love to call Fruita home! Residents enjoy the small-town feeling, and seeing familiar faces downtown, and value new residents, and the fresh ideas and energy that young families bring to the community.

Recommendations from the technical assistance team included defining the downtown area, re-evaluating the shop local campaigns, and promoting tourist attractions in Fruita regionally. To accomplish the recommendations, the team presented the need to have a full-time or part-time staffperson or director dedicated to the improvement of the downtown business district. Having staff focused on these efforts helps to create a focused vision for promotional activities and coordinating volunteer efforts. A number of downtown organizations in Colorado have utilized the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) to provide a full-time staff at a low cost.

Using DCI’s technical assistance assessment and subsequent report, Fruita hopes to leverage their assets to encourage their downtown business district to flourish.

Sterling: Located in the northeastern corner of Colorado, Sterling is known as the regional shopping hub and has the largest population of communities in Colorado east of Pueblo (estimated at 13,900). The city’s proximity to Interstate 76, and State Highway 14 provides great potential to bring passers-by to the community.

DCI brought a technical assistance team to Sterling in mid-July. Throughout the assessment, the technical assistance team met with community stakeholder groups to determine the needs of the city. Council members, business owners, community organizations, and residents met in focus groups to update the team on past revitalization efforts, and what they would like to see for the future of their community. Common observations included the need to eliminate one-way streets, improve sidewalks and design, make use of historic buildings, and satisfy the organizational needs to bring all downtown business owners on the same page. Downtown business owners expressed the concern that most of their business came from out of town, and very few Sterling residents go to the downtown district to shop.

Recommendations from the technical assistance team included the need for clean storefronts and to take advantage of vacant spaces by incorporating business incubators, holiday markets, and programs for Northeastern Junior College students and the Small Business Development Center. The team also stressed the importance of promoting downtown businesses both online and through community events to encourage residents to visit and shop at downtown businesses. To accomplish the recommendations, the team presented the need to have a full-time or part-time staff-person or director dedicated to the improvement of the downtown business district. Having staff focused on these efforts helps to create a focused vision for promotional activities, and coordinating volunteer efforts. A number of downtown organizations in Colorado have utilized the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteer in Service to America) to provide a full-time staff at a low cost.

Following the team’s recommendations, the community at-large was ready to make improvements–business owners were spotted cleaning up their windows and sweeping their sidewalks that night!

Idaho Springs: DCI completed a technical assistance visit for the City of Idaho Springs during May 21-22, 2012. This visit was partially funded by the USDA Rural Community Development Initiative to improve conditions in rural communities in Colorado. The City of Idaho Springs has two distinct commercial districts that are often disconnected due to the introduction and development of I-70. The historic west side district, visible from I-70, and the service-oriented east side district which contains most of Idaho Springs’ motel lodgings, having grown up near the eastern exit at I-70.   

Participants in the Downtown Assessment identified Idaho Springs’ attraction as a place to live for workers in the Denver metro area, Central City and Blackhawk, and Summit County.  However, Idaho Springs’ outward growth is largely constrained by topography, and its existing housing stock is described as largely unchanged from the historic period – while this serves the needs of some potential residents, it also constrains the housing supply and diversity available. 

Mancos:  In December 2012, the Town of Mancos requested a downtown assessment team visit from Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) for May 3-4, 2012. This visit was partially funded by the USDA Rural Community Development Initiative. In anticipation of this visit, the Town of Mancos completed a comprehensive plan, planned focus groups, and provided extensive background information about the history and status of Mancos downtown revitalization efforts and the issues facing the community. Mancos has a thriving art community and is the gateway to the archaeological treasures of southwestern Colorado, and rapid growth has led the town to identify key challenges to overcome to ensure its prosperity.

This technical assistance visit was completed with the goals to identify and address concerns from the town and its stakeholders. The first concern of the community relates to how the town can encourage and sustain growth in its arts community. The second concern relates to Mancos’ desire for new strategies to capture revenue potential from tourists who travel around southwestern Colorado and visit Mesa Verde National Park. The purpose of this assessment was to identify concrete ways to bring confidence, vision, and focus back to the downtown, creating a greater sense of community spirit and pride. Specifically, it desires to focus on business development and retention strategies, create appropriate economic incentives, and develop marketing, branding, and promotion strategies for both businesses and events in town.      

Castle Pines: The City of Castle Pines requested Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) facilitate the development of a plan to balance a sense of place in a thriving community with economic prosperity and the ability to grow, without diminishing the quality of life and connection to community values that citizens have come to expect. The community requested a dialogue with stakeholder groups to examine potential courses of action to foster a broad, in-depth, community-driven process for short and long-term community and economic revitalization of the commercial centers to create a thriving environment for small, independent businesses and an attractive, long-term plan for sustaining larger anchor businesses. As a recently incorporated city, the City of Castle Pines is evolving and has a great opportunity to continue to redevelop the community based on the existing image and character as well as incorporating the natural amenities along with the unique qualities that differentiate this community from the surrounding areas. A major focus of this exercise looked at the physical environment of the commercial district as it strives to become a walkable, attractive, gathering place for the community and how to build around the community’s use of this area in a sustainable and financially feasible approach. The ensuing DCI technical assistance visit took place February 28, 29, and March 1, 2012. The team engaged different sectors of the community to better understand what the community would like to work on, areas for further exploration, to provide the community with a variety of options for enhancing the physical environment to be more user- and business-friendly, and to identify four potential funding streams to support the commercial district revitalization efforts.

2010 Technical Assistance Visits

Arvada: In April, the Colorado Main Street Community, Historic Olde Town Arvada received Downtown Colorado, Inc through a technical assistance visit sponsored by the Department of Local Affairs and the State Historical Fund. The visit focused on developing a plan for moving the historic commercial district forward with the light rail that is coming to Olde Town. The lightrail will bring increased exposure, people, and profits; however, the light rail will also bring increased trash, wear and tear on sidewalks, parking issues, and potential vandalism and other crime. The report will assist the community to better understasnd the challenges this district will face and how to preprare and adapt to the changes coming in the not-so-distant future. The team of specialists included: Tracy Barnett, Steamboat Springs MainStreet; Clay Brown, Department of Local Affairs; Katherine Correll, Downtown Colorado, Inc.; Christy Culp, Department of Local Affairs; Fabby Hillyard, Consultant; Anna Jones, Progressive Urban Management Associates; Casey Jones, Place & Plexus Consulting, LLC Rick Kron, Grimshaw & Harring, LLC ; and Jill Mendoza, Progressive Urban Management Associates.

Cedaredge: The Town of Cedaredge contacted DCI and DOLA to conduct a Community Revitalization Partnership (CRP), partially sponsored by State Historical Fund, to look at the downtown by assessing vacant buildings on main street, historic downtown structures, and infrastructure and drainage issues. Cedaredge wants to create and sustain an economically viable business community, while maintaining Cedaredge’s historical integrity, by developing community identity, evaluating design concepts for downtown, and developing a marketing strategy for the community. Cedaredge faces challenges that stem from a large bedroom community, a large retired population that did not grow up in the town and is therefore not tied to the history of the town, and an adverse community reaction to multiple meetings with few visible results.

The team’s recommendations focused primarily on how to move through the process of engaging the community, implementing, evaluating success, and determining next steps. The need for consistent progress and focus on actualizing concepts, whether in design of the streetscape, or creating a brand that saturates the community was the strongest concept the team presented to the community. Cedaredge has a wealth of reports, plans, and recommendations that would build the downtown as an economic drive, but there must be implementation to be successful. The action matrix is geared toward small but meaningful steps to drive this process forward.

Delta: In the last month Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) was fortunate to conduct a Community Revitalization Partnership visit in the City of Delta. These visits are conducted in partnership with and sponsored by the Department of Local Affairs, with partial support from the State Historical Fund and USDA Rural Development. The City of Delta, gateway to the Gunnison River Valley, is located in a wide valley in western Colorado between Grand Junction and Montrose at the confluence of the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers. Delta's geographic location and lush agricultural land has been attracting inhabitants for over millennia. With a population of approximately 8,000 the City of Delta is the largest community in Delta County and boasts an array of recreational and cultural opportunities. Ranching, agriculture and mineral extraction are the biggest industries in the region.

The City of Delta took the initiative to request technical assistance to look at a number of events that are impacting or will potentially impact the community and the economy. Team members included representatives from Colorado Center for Community Development (CCCD), Colorado Rural Health, Department of Local Affairs, Downtown Colorado, Inc., Studio Bridge, and USDA Rural Development with technical support from a University of Colorado at Denver Intern. One major issue on the table is that Delta's main street is a highway. It is no new story, but noise, grime, and danger caused by thousands of trucks each day truly limit the ability of this community to utilize the main street to its full potential. The community has been working with CDOT to plan an alternative truck route, but as those plans evolve, the community is concerned with building in support to make sure there aren't negative impacts on main street businesses. Other issues this community is facing include a lack of communication processes, a need for consistent leadership in planning and implementation, and a strong champion to drive collaboration with stakeholders and business owners.

Certainly, many communities may identify with the issues of Delta. This community and the issues they are facing are not new or remarkable based on experiences we have seen in DCI member communities throughout the state. However, aside from the fabulous second hand coat I bought in Delta, I will never forget one aspect of this community. During the community meetings there was clearly a need for businesses to air their issues. And as is usually the case where communications have broken down, there was one business owner who was most vocal and most disappointed with the economy, the community, and the status of their businesses. But in Delta following the presentation of the plan for the community, we witnessed a complete turn around with this most negative business owner stating publicly that this is a viable plan to address the needs of the community. This was a truly inspiring moment for me, and I hope the community will work with this vocal business owner to focus his renewed belief in the community to drive home their efforts.

Fort Morgan: The City of Fort Morgan requested technical assistance in the form of a Community Revitalization Partnership (CRP) visit conducted by DCI and partially sponsored by the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and State Historical Fund. The purpose was to assess the downtown Historic Business District and identify projects achievable with existing resources and means for increasing funds available to downtown. The team included specialists such from the City of Arvada, LM Consultants, Colorado Brownfields Foundation, CSU/DOLA Community Technical Assistance Program, Department of Local Affairs and DCI.
Recommendations centered around formalizing an organization to develop and manage resources for downtown, increasing density and revenue for downtown real estate, and how to link diverse populations into community life and the local economy.

Haxtun: The peaceful little Town of Haxtun on the eastern plains contacted DCI and DOLA to request a technical assistance visit geared towards creating and sustaining an economically viable business community in a difficult economy.
The team focused on increasing usage of vacant buildings and historic structures on Main Street, how best to address infrastructure and drainage issues, and creating a balance between maintaining community character and maintaining a healthy business community. The town was also interested in the popular trend of Shop Local initiatives and how best to develop a successful campaign.
The team’s recommendations were very well received leaving the town with recommendations for how best to focus their efforts to achieve the greatest impact. The consultant team also left town happy having discovered the fabulous Haxtun Locker Plant Beef Jerky!

Julesburg: The town of Julesburg contacted DCI and DOLA to conduct a Community Revitalization Partnership (CRP), partially sponsored by State Historical Fund, to look at the downtown, particularly how to create and sustain an economically viable business community which would look at vacant buildings, infrastructure, lighting, streets, sidewalks, curb and gutter. The request was made to create and sustain an economically viable business community through community identity and marketing plan, building and strengthening support for local businesses and infrastructure improvements.

The team included specialists from Colorado Rural Health Center, Colorado Small Business Development Center, DOLA and DCI that focused on recommendations to increase support for local businesses, improve infrastructure, increase employment opportunities, and create a sustainable downtown. The action matrix breaks each recommendation down into small steps to help accomplish all of the goals set forth in the report.

Lamar: At the Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) annual conference, DCI had the pleasure of announcing Lamar, Colorado as the newest Colorado Main Street Community. Lamar received a DCI technical assistance visit in July of 2008, with the sponsorship of the Department of Local Affairs and partial support from the State Historical Fund. The community has moved forward with implementation at an amazing pace. In addition to forming an urban renewal authority, hiring a downtown manager, and linking to a strong community of partner organizations in town, Lamar completed the Colorado Main Street Program application process (no small thing).

Following acceptance into the Colorado Main Street Program, Lamar became eligible for a Main Street Resource Team visit with the sponsorship of the Department of Local Affairs and partial support from the State Historical Fund and USDA Rural Development. This visit was geared toward getting committees and a board of directors up and running. The three days included five training session in addition to focus groups that allowed the resource team to compile a to do list to guide the community through implementation of the next few years for the downtown commercial corridor. Team members included representatives from Colorado Center for Community Development (CCCD), Department of Local Affairs, Downtown Colorado, Inc., Nolte Engineering, and Ricker Cunningham. DCI is proud to welcome Lamar into our community and congratulates Lamar on their successful initiatives and bright future!

Silt: A town of close to 2000 population, Silt is situated in a lovely Colorado setting with Rifle, Parachute, and Glenwood Springs as some of the neighboring communities. With the support of the traditional energy economy, the town has experienced growth and development with a series of housing and commercial projects in addition to annexations that have expanded the town limits significantly. The town of Silt requested a downtown assessment following the adoption of a new comprehensive plan in the hopes that the visit might provide additional guidance for moving forward with the well though out and written plan. Some of the issues facing the community include how to spur economic growth in a down economy, how to revitalize a traditional historic downtown with numerous vacant buildings and a thriving business/tech center just on the other side of the roundabout, determining the viability of attracting a grocery store or bank, and how to energize the town to move forward in tight economic times. The assessment team held focus groups and meetings from 7am-7pm on day one.

The presentation to the community on day two, reiterated what the community had conveyed by looking at how different actors in the community might pool their time, energy, and resources to improve the towns marketing, communications, overall image, and work to attract the investment and buy in to the historic downtown core. The community appeared to be energized following the meeting and response from community leaders was positive. The town will have a report and final action matrix to guide them through the process of downtown revitalization by mid-March.

Victor: In June, DCI led a technical assistance team to the enchanting town of Victor, Colorado. Victor is a gorgeous little town about six miles from Cripple Creek that boasts a population around five hundred, fabulous historic building stock, one of the few working gold mines in the state, the Victor Lowell Thomas Museum, the Rocky Mountain Soccer Camps training facility, a beautifully rehabilitated historic hotel with a birdcage elevator and a charming ghost named Eddie, and so much more.
The team included specialists from Nolte Engineering, McCool Development Solutions, Lake City DIRT, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, DOLA, and DCI who looked at issues of filling empty storefronts, encouraging preservation of the fabulous historic building stock, signage and way finding, marketing and branding, and basic management of resources of the town for maximum benefit to the community. The visit yielded many useful recommendations including ideas for identifying resources to bring in full time volunteers, increase tourism, and identify low-cost, high-visibility projects that the community can implement without outside funding sources.

Victor: In November 2010 DCI and the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) met with about 75 people to talk about downtown Victor, a town of only 350 people. The purpose of the visit was to guide community leaders through the process of implementing recommendations formulated in the Community Revitalization Partnership (CRP) visit held in June of 2010, partially sponsored by DOLA and State Historical Fund. The CRP visit is the first step in a revitalization process, but to be successful stakeholders must step up to the challenge of creating and maintaining the community that they hope to have. After receiving the final report, Victor’s leadership jumped into planning the next steps and requested continued assistance from DCI. The large turn-out demonstrates the efforts of leaders in planning this visit to support Victor’s Downtown Revitalization and Economic Acceleration Movement (DREAM).

The facilitated training focused on the concept of downtown revitalization, working through the tools provided in the CRP report action plan, forming committees with assigned tasks, and identifying deadlines and future meeting dates to continuing moving the process forward. The community responded enthusiastically to the process and has mobilized an incredible group to drive their process. One community member stated, "I thought you were just going to tell us what to do, but you showed us how to do it for ourselves."

The November training proved to be an inspirational visit to participants and trainers alike and the movement in Victor is gaining momentum. This small town with significant challenges is showing the rest of our state that the old Margaret Mead quote is true, "A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. However, perhaps the trainers’ favorite quote of the day was, "[this training] was better than Christmas morning, and I love Christmas."

Westcliffe and Silver Cliff: Westcliffe and Silver Cliff are located in south-central Colorado nestled between the Wet and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges. Westcliffe is the County seat for Custer County. Situated in the Wet Mountain Valley (Sierra Mojada) at the intersection of two state highways, the Town of Westcliffe presently covers approximately 1.1 square miles of land area and Silver Cliff, at the base of the cliffs to the east is 14.7 square miles.

Westcliffe has a vibrant tourist and summer resident based economy from May to September, however, the winter brings a slow down that, for some businesses, is too much to survive. Silver Cliff suffers much of the same, but is also hampered by the fact there is no visually identifiable, economically viable "main street” where citizens and visitors can congregate, shop or celebrate. The two communities worked together to host a downtown assessment visit sponsored by both towns and DOLA to look at the downtown and particularly how to create and sustain an economically viable business community which would look at: business mix, attraction, and retention, appearance of vacant buildings on main street, historic downtown structures while maintaining historical integrity, infrastructure and drainage issues.
Both communities, Westcliffe and Silver Cliff (collectively, "the Cliffs”) are filled with dedicated and passionate residents, organizations and elected officials that are striving to make each town a wonderful place to live, work and play. However, they struggle with an inconsistent year-round economy, which make living and working a challenge. The towns and county must create a clear plan for needs and desired mix of sales tax and job creating business development for the purpose of creating a 12-month economy.

The team recommendations provide a road map to guide the communities to work together to address these issues and create an economically viable downtown. Thank you to these two wonderful communities for embarking on downtown revitalization issues. Thank you to the highly skilled volunteer team of Downtown Colorado, Inc. staff, members, and partners including Colorado Brownfield Foundation, DOLA, CSU, Lake City DIRT, McCool Development Solutions, and Nolte Engineering.

2009 Technical Assistance Visits