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Littleton economic development office posts strategic plan, incentives wins and open‑rewards gains
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Summary
Economic development staff reviewed a newly adopted comprehensive economic development strategy, an incentive policy, and a successful open-rewards program that drove local spending in December. Staff also outlined 2025 priorities including arts and culture planning, enterprise zone redesignation and business technical assistance.
Rachel King, Littleton's economic development director, and her team presented a 2024–25 update at a city study session, highlighting adoption of a new economic development strategic plan, a flexible incentive policy, and local programs aimed at boosting small-business activity.
Nut graf: City economic development staff emphasized that the new strategic plan provides a six-pillar framework guiding business attraction, retention and placemaking; staff also reported measurable local results from incentive and revitalization programs and from the Open Rewards shopper program.
Key items presented Rachel King described the comprehensive economic development strategic plan as a community-led effort that Littleton had not updated in about a decade: "This is, as I understand it, Littleton's first sets plan in about 11 years." She also summarized the economic partnership incentive policy adopted by the city, which staff said is designed to be flexible and competitive in attracting investment. The presentation noted two incentive outcomes from 2024 (one project described as "#38" and Mineral Place) and said the city has begun new incentive conversations in 2025.
Revitalization grant and Open Rewards Staff reported that 24 applications were received for the revitalization incentive grant program, with 15 awards made. Private investment associated with those grants was described in the presentation as approximately $900,000 (conservative estimate provided at application time). The Open Rewards shopping program achieved $83,000 in registered shopper spending in December alone and the city reported $7,400 in rewards distributed; staff said the program averages a 16-to-1 return on investment and that roughly half the users come from outside Littleton.
Programs and priorities for 2025 Staff said they will continue Open Rewards campaigns, push arts-and-culture work (including an economic-impact analysis for the museum), pursue enterprise zone redesignation with Arapahoe County, and expand small-business programming and partnerships. The team also cited ongoing project support for Mineral Place, Evergreen River Park and Littleton Village developments.
Ending: King and staff asked council for continued cross-department coordination; the council asked clarifying fiscal and program questions. Staff said a public incentive report has been posted online and that more outreach is planned for 2025.
