Downtown Colorado, Inc.

Organization Description

Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI), established in 1982 as the Colorado Community Revitalization Association, is a nonprofit member organization that supports downtowns, commercial districts and town centers in Colorado by providing technical assistance, education, advocacy and programming. The more than 150 members of DCI represent downtown organizations, local governments, development and improvement districts, consultants, individuals, and others involved in downtown and community development.

DCI is also the statewide coordinator of the Colorado Main Street Program. DCI’s technical assistance activities combine downtown management, marketing, design and economic development and include downtown assessment visits, on-site panel discussions, facilitated discussions, training of trainer (TOT) on-site visits, action-plan implementation visits, and training for energy efficiency tracking and reduction. These visits help communities establish and implement a strategy and vision that takes into account the unique character and culture of the downtown.

As a result of DCI’s workin Lamar, Colorado, population 7,874, the city created an urban renewal authority, became a Colorado Main Street, hired full time Main Street director, undertook a historic and architectural survey of 70 buildings in the downtown district, and hosted the 10-Year-Old Cal Ripken World Series. DCI has worked with 17 communities since 2010 alone and was recently awarded a USDA Rural Community Development Initiative grant that will allow it to expand its activities, working specifically with low-income, rural towns throughout 2012 – 2014.

DCI provides other educational opportunities and events including a Downtown and Improvement Districts forum for members to share information and resources, a Downtown Institute training, and an annual conference. DCI also makes available educational resources through its monthly newsletter, blog (http://downtowncoloradoinc.wordpress.com/), and online library (for members only)