Local First receives $150,000 to offer support services for Durango businesses. Local First is grateful to an anonymous local donor for their generous gift through the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado. This contribution will directly support our efforts to promote local self-resiliency and well-being. Read the full Durango Herald Article below! Local [...]
City of Durango and The United Way of the Southwest Colorado award 2023 Community Support Funds. Thanks to the City of Durango for supporting Local First's work in shaping a thriving, self-reliant Durango through the Community Support Fund! With $250,000 awarded to 28 local non-profits, Local First Foundation is grateful to be included [...]
LOCAL FIRST FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT SOUTHWEST COLORADO COMMUNITIES FOLLOWING BRIGHT HEALTHCARE’S EXIT FROM COLORADO’S INSURANCE MARKET Communities in southwest Colorado have benefitted from the partnership between Local First Foundation and Peak Health Alliance to bring more affordable health insurance options to local residents and businesses, saving almost $4 million in premiums for southwest Colorado [...]
Our View: Rooting for Westside to purchase property Originally published in Durango Herald Editorial Board, March 26th, 2022. It’s not often that we see La Plata County staff members and, in particular, a county commissioner become teary during a meeting. A moment passed over county Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton when her face changed [...]
Local First Foundation announces $535,000 support for Westside Mobile Home Park Residents and community groups have raised thousands to support a second offer for the Durango property. Originally published in Durango Herald, March 24th, 2022. Written by By Aedan Hannon Residents of Westside Mobile Home Park have rallied the Durango community as they [...]
The Energy Transition is about People Power This article was originally published by clean energy nonprofit Generation180. Illustration credit to Alllie Sullberg. (https://www.alliesullberg.com/) By now, you might have a pretty good sense of what the clean energy future looks like, at least from a technological standpoint. Maybe your neighbors are installing [...]
A win-win in Southwestern Colorado Article originally published on 2/17/22 at BigPivots.com, written by Allen Best Why La Plata Electric thinks splitting only one sheet with Tri-State Generation and Transmission is the best way forward Tim Wheeler may have had the best line among the directors of La Plata Electric Association [...]
LOCAL FIRST FOUNDATION HIRES SARAH TOBER AS NEXT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Local First Foundation is excited to announce Sarah Tober as its next Executive Director. Tober will succeed Monique DiGiorgio, who has spearheaded Local First programs addressing affordable healthcare, the creative economy, and local clean energy, as well as initiatives aiding frontline [...]
Printed in the Durango Herald April 18, 2020 The Covid Mandate: Adapt and Survive The theme song that appears to be emerging from the COVID-19 health crisis is “adapt and survive.” As thousands of businesses come to a screeching halt, we are all scrambling to reinvent ourselves and adapt to the new normal. Online [...]
Printed in the Durango Herald February 22, 2020 Centura Backs out of Southwest Health Alliance In response to the growing support of the Southwest Health Alliance, a community-based health insurance cooperative in affiliation with the Peak Health Alliance, Centura Health announced today a “new plan” to lower the cost of hospital services by 20%. [...]