Downtown Longmont Certified as Creative District
Downtown Longmont Certified as Creative District
The Downtown Longmont Creative District has been announced for certification by the Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade and the Boettcher Foundation.
“Our community has worked very hard over the past three years to achieve this designation,” said Kimberlee McKee, executive director of the Longmont Downtown Development Authority. “It is an honor to be recognized by the state for all the hard work put forth by our volunteers, artists, business owners, creative partners and City government.”
Longmont joins other certified Colorado Creative Districts: 40 West Arts District – Lakewood, Corazon de Trinidad, Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, Downtown Colorado Springs, Greeley Creative District, North Fork Valley Creative District, Pueblo Creative Corridor, Ridgway Creative District, RiNo Art District – Denver, Salida Creative District and Telluride Arts District.
“The 2014 certified creative districts are great examples of how the arts create exciting places for people to visit and live,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “These districts not only increase quality of life, they also help with economic vitality of the area and attract people from all over Colorado and the country.”
The certified districts have been working toward certification standards since 2012. A review panel evaluated certification applications and conducted site visits. Evaluation was based on three foundational elements:
• A Certified Creative District must capture its unique story and reflect that story
• A Certified Creative District must be integrated with other community systems such as planning, economic development, tourism, transportation, urban renewal, safety and public gathering spaces
• A Certified Creative District must have local government endorsement.
Longmont had previously applied for certification in June. The panel identified a few project that were near completion, such as a sustainability plan for the future, that they would like to see finalized. The district worked with the state to conclude these projects and resubmitted in September.
“The goal of this program is to help Colorado Creative Districts achieve the administrative structure, funding streams, community engagement process, strategic plan and staff structure that provide both opportunities to grow the creative economy,” said Margaret Hunt, director of Colorado Creative Industries.
“The state’s newly designated Creative Districts are capitalizing on Colorado’s creative assets to grow their local economy and to improve the quality of life for their residents,” said Tim Schultz, president and executive director of the Boettcher Foundation. “We want to help them be successful and sustainable over the long-term, and we look forward to the Boettcher Creative District Leadership Awards taking them even further along the road to success.”
About the Downtown Longmont Creative District
In 2011, the Longmont Downtown Development Authority adopted the Arts and Entertainment District Strategic Plan and a resolution was passed by City of Longmont City Council in 2012. They were named a prospective Colorado Creative District in 2012. For the past three years, artists, community members, arts organizations, business owners and local government have worked together to implement this plan. In 2014, the district became known as the Downtown Longmont Creative District. Successes include:
• Redevelopment: Completed Roosevelt Park Apartments, a mixed-use development with residential, restaurants, spa and art studios (future incubator);and phase one of our alleyscape and breezeway project (new gathering places)
• Retail attraction: Opened 4 new galleries on Main St and art education center, as well as almost 20 new creative retail businesses/restaurants
• Artist collaboration: Completed phase one of the outdoor gallery, including a mural painted by local, nationally recognized artist Gamma Acosta – Longmont’s Story—a pictorial representation of Longmont’s history; three artistic benches and three lending libraries (partnership with artist & primary employers)
• Sustainability: Created Downtown Longmont Community Ventures (donor advised fund via the Longmont Community Foundation) and used Peer Advisory Network consulting hours via the State for future financial and management sustainability
• Inclusiveness: Celebrate cultural diversity via partnership with Longmont Museum’s Day of the Dead celebration, featuring altars in downtown businesses; Latino music stage at Festival on Main; MAY (Music, Art & Youth) Second Friday
About the Colorado Creative Districts program
In 2011, the Colorado General Assembly passed HB11-1031, encouraging the formation of Creative Districts in communities, neighborhoods or contiguous geographic areas. Administered by Colorado Creative Industries, the Creative District Program encourages the formation of creative districts in neighborhoods and contiguous geographic areas for the purpose of:
• Attracting artists and creative entrepreneurs to a community
• Enhancing economic and civic capital of Colorado communities
• Creating hubs and clusters of economic activity
• Enhancing areas as appealing places to live, conduct businesses and attract visitors
• Serving as an economic strategy and magnet
• Revitalizing and beautifying
• Promoting a community’s unique identity
• Showcasing cultural and artistic events and amenities
About Colorado Creative Industries
Colorado Creative Industries is Colorado’s state arts agency and is a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Established to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to enhance economic growth in Colorado, the mission of CCI is to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive the state’s economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life.
About the Boettcher Foundation
Founded by the Boettcher Family in 1937 to effectively assist, encourage and promote a better quality of life for the citizens of Colorado, the Boettcher Foundation invests in Colorado through “minds and mortar.” The Foundation funds Scholarships, biomedical research and teacher training, as well as capital grants for nonprofits. For more information, visit www.BoettcherFoundation.org.
For more information, contact Kimberlee McKee, Longmont Downtown Development Authority: 303-651-8483 or Deana Miller, Colorado Creative Industries: 303.844.3707
“Our community has worked very hard over the past three years to achieve this designation,” said Kimberlee McKee, executive director of the Longmont Downtown Development Authority. “It is an honor to be recognized by the state for all the hard work put forth by our volunteers, artists, business owners, creative partners and City government.”
Longmont joins other certified Colorado Creative Districts: 40 West Arts District – Lakewood, Corazon de Trinidad, Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, Downtown Colorado Springs, Greeley Creative District, North Fork Valley Creative District, Pueblo Creative Corridor, Ridgway Creative District, RiNo Art District – Denver, Salida Creative District and Telluride Arts District.
“The 2014 certified creative districts are great examples of how the arts create exciting places for people to visit and live,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “These districts not only increase quality of life, they also help with economic vitality of the area and attract people from all over Colorado and the country.”
The certified districts have been working toward certification standards since 2012. A review panel evaluated certification applications and conducted site visits. Evaluation was based on three foundational elements:
• A Certified Creative District must capture its unique story and reflect that story
• A Certified Creative District must be integrated with other community systems such as planning, economic development, tourism, transportation, urban renewal, safety and public gathering spaces
• A Certified Creative District must have local government endorsement.
Longmont had previously applied for certification in June. The panel identified a few project that were near completion, such as a sustainability plan for the future, that they would like to see finalized. The district worked with the state to conclude these projects and resubmitted in September.
“The goal of this program is to help Colorado Creative Districts achieve the administrative structure, funding streams, community engagement process, strategic plan and staff structure that provide both opportunities to grow the creative economy,” said Margaret Hunt, director of Colorado Creative Industries.
“The state’s newly designated Creative Districts are capitalizing on Colorado’s creative assets to grow their local economy and to improve the quality of life for their residents,” said Tim Schultz, president and executive director of the Boettcher Foundation. “We want to help them be successful and sustainable over the long-term, and we look forward to the Boettcher Creative District Leadership Awards taking them even further along the road to success.”
About the Downtown Longmont Creative District
In 2011, the Longmont Downtown Development Authority adopted the Arts and Entertainment District Strategic Plan and a resolution was passed by City of Longmont City Council in 2012. They were named a prospective Colorado Creative District in 2012. For the past three years, artists, community members, arts organizations, business owners and local government have worked together to implement this plan. In 2014, the district became known as the Downtown Longmont Creative District. Successes include:
• Redevelopment: Completed Roosevelt Park Apartments, a mixed-use development with residential, restaurants, spa and art studios (future incubator);and phase one of our alleyscape and breezeway project (new gathering places)
• Retail attraction: Opened 4 new galleries on Main St and art education center, as well as almost 20 new creative retail businesses/restaurants
• Artist collaboration: Completed phase one of the outdoor gallery, including a mural painted by local, nationally recognized artist Gamma Acosta – Longmont’s Story—a pictorial representation of Longmont’s history; three artistic benches and three lending libraries (partnership with artist & primary employers)
• Sustainability: Created Downtown Longmont Community Ventures (donor advised fund via the Longmont Community Foundation) and used Peer Advisory Network consulting hours via the State for future financial and management sustainability
• Inclusiveness: Celebrate cultural diversity via partnership with Longmont Museum’s Day of the Dead celebration, featuring altars in downtown businesses; Latino music stage at Festival on Main; MAY (Music, Art & Youth) Second Friday
About the Colorado Creative Districts program
In 2011, the Colorado General Assembly passed HB11-1031, encouraging the formation of Creative Districts in communities, neighborhoods or contiguous geographic areas. Administered by Colorado Creative Industries, the Creative District Program encourages the formation of creative districts in neighborhoods and contiguous geographic areas for the purpose of:
• Attracting artists and creative entrepreneurs to a community
• Enhancing economic and civic capital of Colorado communities
• Creating hubs and clusters of economic activity
• Enhancing areas as appealing places to live, conduct businesses and attract visitors
• Serving as an economic strategy and magnet
• Revitalizing and beautifying
• Promoting a community’s unique identity
• Showcasing cultural and artistic events and amenities
About Colorado Creative Industries
Colorado Creative Industries is Colorado’s state arts agency and is a division of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Established to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to enhance economic growth in Colorado, the mission of CCI is to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive the state’s economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life.
About the Boettcher Foundation
Founded by the Boettcher Family in 1937 to effectively assist, encourage and promote a better quality of life for the citizens of Colorado, the Boettcher Foundation invests in Colorado through “minds and mortar.” The Foundation funds Scholarships, biomedical research and teacher training, as well as capital grants for nonprofits. For more information, visit www.BoettcherFoundation.org.
For more information, contact Kimberlee McKee, Longmont Downtown Development Authority: 303-651-8483 or Deana Miller, Colorado Creative Industries: 303.844.3707
