Boulder staff present draft economic vitality strategy, urge council guidance on priorities

Boulder City Council heard a staff presentation on a draft economic vitality strategy that city leaders say is intended to guide economic development actions over the next two to three years.

The strategy, presented by Jennifer Pinsonow, Economic Vitality Manager for the city of Boulder, outlines four focus areas'equity, resilience, vitality and innovation'and proposes expanded support for micro and small businesses, workforce pathways, disaster preparedness, and targeted industry attraction. Assistant City Manager Mark Wolf framed the work as an update to the city's last formal economic-development approach, which staff said was last reviewed in 2013.

City staff said the strategy builds on market research, a community and council forum, outreach to historically excluded entrepreneurs and partnerships with local organizations including the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Boulder Partnership and the Boulder Small Business Development Center.

"The strategy is designed to broadly describe projects and programs for creating a stronger, more resilient economy in a post-pandemic environment," Pinsonow said. She told council the document is intended to inform the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update and department work plans.

In outlining the emphasis on equity, staff said they applied the city's racial equity instrument in shaping actions and plan to use that tool in implementation. The draft lists concrete support measures already under way or planned: expanded operational support for the Boulder SBDC, a Boulder microloan program run with Colorado Enterprise Fund, a pilot grant program for affordable commercial space, procurement efforts to increase city purchases from local small businesses, and workforce partnerships to develop career pathways for historically excluded communities.

Staff also highlighted resilience measures such as a disaster response playbook, programs to encourage business sustainability practices and expanded economic reporting. For vibrancy, planned actions include an update to the citywide retail strategy, a long-term commercial-areas strategy and exploration of a downtown development authority (DDA) and other funding tools. On innovation, the draft calls for work to retain and attract advanced industries and to explore a "chip zone" designation and partnerships with regional coalitions such as Elevate Quantum and the Colorado'Wyoming Climate Resilience Engine.

Council members generally praised the draft but pressed staff for more specifics and for an implementation timeline. Council member Matt asked how the city will show community members that their input from an earlier forum was reflected in actions; Pinsonow said staff will both publish written materials and progressively roll out programs and outreach to raise awareness of existing resources.

Several council members emphasized urgency. Mayor Pro Tem Aaron Brockett said he wants concrete actions that can be rolled out within six to 12 months; other members urged staff to prioritize efforts where the city has direct control'permitting, code simplification and promotion of existing resources.

Council members also raised questions on inclusion of lower-income households in the strategy and on worker-ownership and employee-ownership programs. Pinsonow said the SBDC and the microloan program target a broad range of entrepreneurs, including lower-income individuals, and staff plan to expand awareness and resources on employee ownership options.

Budget and timeline details were not finalized in the draft presented; staff said additional specifics will be developed in department work plans and scopes of work with partners and brought back to council for direction. Pinsonow said the strategy will be finalized after council feedback, posted to the city's website and used to inform the comprehensive-plan update.

The presentation included discussion of ongoing work already funded or underway: staff noted the city has expanded affordable commercial efforts and is working with property owners and brokers on vacancy and attraction, and the city has funded short-term investments such as the lodging business assessment area and other local programs mentioned in staff materials.

Council members asked to see more concrete near-term deliverables and a clearer communications plan so businesses know available resources. Brad Mueller, Director of Planning and Development Services, said his department continues code simplification and process improvements intended to make permitting easier and that staff will increase outreach about recent changes.

Council requested that staff return with more detailed implementation steps, a proposed sequencing for projects, and metrics for measuring the strategy's success.

City staff will incorporate council feedback and continue stakeholder engagement before returning with a revised strategy and implementation guidance.