Putting local, first, since 2008!

Local First Foundation brings together 200+ local businesses and nonprofit organizations, as well as passionate community members we call Localists. Our vision is a thriving, equitable, and sustainable economy that values the triple bottom line: people, the planet, and prosperity for everyone across southwest Colorado.

In 2026, we consolidated our work under the umbrella of the Local First Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to build local self-reliance, sense of place, and well-being for the residents of La Plata County and southwest Colorado.

Anyone who has visited southwest Colorado can recognize that it’s a unique place. What makes it possible for so many people to thrive in our rural region is our strong community of local, independent businesses that attract tourists, provide jobs, and recirculate dollars into the local economy. Local First works hard to support our local independent business community so our region can flourish for years to come.

But why does local AND independent matter?

“Local” means that the business physically resides in La Plata County. Rather than representing businesses with national or Front Range presences, our Foundation supports businesses that address our community’s challenges and contribute to the solution.

“Independent” matters because it means that the owners also live in La Plata County and are not part of a national chain, giving these owners full authority to make decisions relevant to the people who live here. We ask that people use our members first, not “local only” or “local or nothing”.