Kelly Sage, President and CEO of the Longmont Economic Development Partnership (LEDP), recently detailed her strategic vision for the city’s growth. With a career spanning Northern Colorado’s most influential economic roles, Sage emphasized that a thriving community depends on primary jobs—employers like Smucker’s and Seagate that bring fresh revenue into the local economy from the outside.
The "CARE" Strategy
Sage summarized the LEDP’s mission through the acronym CARE:
- Creation of new opportunities.
- Attraction of high-value industries like Aerospace and Bioscience.
- Retention of existing businesses (comprising 80% of their work).
- Expansion of local staples.
Current Landscape & Future Outlook
While Longmont boasts a high local workforce retention rate of 41%, Sage noted critical challenges, including a median housing price that strains affordability and a million square feet of vacant industrial space. She highlighted a specific need to modernize aging facilities to meet the "clear height" demands of advanced manufacturing.
Looking ahead, Sage is preparing for the massive $2 billion projected impact of the Sundance Film Festival in 2027 and advocating for a "3.0" economic plan to ensure Longmont remains competitive against regional neighbors while preserving its unique quality of life.