9 minute read
COMMUNITY
BUILDING A COMMUNITY: Keeping a small-town Feel despite B I G
GROWTH
BY KRISTEN M. WHITE
Utilities. Roads. Leaders. Businesses. Residents. These are some of the many necessary components of a town or city.
But what makes a community? It’ s more than these tangible things.And to make a great community takes so much more.
This idea of “ more ”is something that the Town of Windsor seems to have figured out. The town is growing by leaps and bounds in terms of things like population numbers and construction. But it seems to be growing smartly, in a way that is pleasing to both newcomers and rooted residents.
“I really think that in creating a great community like Windsor, people have worked together. It’ s the commitment of the people who have lived here for years and the commitment of the people coming in, ” said Sandi Squicquero, owner of Medical Hypnosis,a long-time Windsor business. “It’ s the commitment to establish roots and a partnership with the community, either starting a new business or supporting those already here. ”
The question of how to build a great community,it seems, can be answered simply.Over and over,this idea of belonging and togetherness keeps surfacing with varied members of the community.
“The leadership and elected officials in Windsor have been so supportive of moving Windsor forward in a smart way, ” explained Stacy Miller, Windsor Economic Development Director.
Shane Hale,Windsor Town Manager,agreed.
“At its core, Windsor remains a place that feels like a small town – you still run into your neighbors at the grocery store or walking around Windsor Lake,and people here are genuinely friendly and kind, ”Hale said.
Harnessing that small town spirit and managing to hold on as the town grows is what seems to be the secret sauce. And,it appears to be something Windsor has accomplished thus far.
BOOMING NUMBERS
There ’ s no doubt about it, Windsor has been one of the fastest growing communities in Colorado during the past decade.The 2010 U.S.Census showed the town ’ s population at 18,644.Just shy of a decade later,the U.S.Census Bureau ’ s “ population estimate ” as of July 1,2019,accounted for more than 30,000 people in the town and steadily growing.[2020 U.S.Census population numbers are not yet available.]
Of that population,more than 70 percent of residents are 18 to 64 years old, and about 13 percent are over 65 years of age.
Coincidentally (or not?) the Town of Windsor started its Economic Development Department in April of 2011, and no doubt it’ s had a hand in helping drive growth in the community.
There were three different assessments by multiple groups, and together the three priorities for the Windsor Economic Development Department were created – attract and retain primary employment; attract and retain retail development; and be an advocate for all businesses through all municipal
processes.
“I started hitting the streets and screaming Windsor ’ s name all over, ” said Windsor Economic Development Director Stacy Miller with a laugh. “I was definitely out there,trying to promoteWindsor all the time,in various ways and with different organizations.I was speaking wherever I could.They called me the cheerleader of Windsor. ”
Miller pointed to the main reason she thinks Windsor ’ s growth as a town has been so successful – many developers are proactive and involved.There are 14 business parks,three commercial areas and about 7,000 acres of commercial land that can be developed in Windsor.In fact,the town ’ s land use comp plan is set up to support growth to 100,000 residents.
ALEX MCINTYRE
Signs promoting Windsor hang from streetlights in the downtown business district in Windsor May 25, 2021.
Perhaps one of the reasons Windsor has been an attractive location for growth is its location. Hale called it the “bulls eye ” because the town is situated between Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley. And with Northern Colorado a destination for many people to move to, Windsor has its doors open to newcomers.
Windsor offers the benefits of small-town living but close proximity to just about any amenity desirable.The rural feel and lifestyle of Weld County is combined with city living and easy interstate access of Larimer County.For many,it seems like the perfect combination.
“The Town Board has been very proactive in its approach to strategic planning, ”Hale said. “We talk about Windsor in the year 2045 (25 years into the future),what it is that we love about the community, and imagine all of today ’ s problems have been solved. From there, we have worked backward to determine what we need to do to manifest that reality. ”
That includes lots of work in different focus areas. The town ’ s strategic plan includes everything from sustainable infrastructure to establishing open space to potentially implementing a public art program.
Miller noted that the Town ’ s leadership and elected officials have been extremely supportive of moving Windsor forward in a smart way. She said they welcomed her efforts in attracting and retaining employers. Smartly developed infrastructure goes hand-in-hand with bringing more people in, so the town has kept a careful eye on that,too.
“People and businesses are moving here,so we need to be able to get the people in and out to do their jobs,get the goods and services,the workforce in and out, ”Miller said. “Planning for roads,water and sewer, that’ s really a huge success for us. ” LOCAL SUPPORT
In the end, it all seems to come full circle, back to the idea of people supporting one another to make a true community. Residents support their local businesses, businesses support the community on different levels,and theTown leadership keeps things running seamlessly.
Consider this example,explained by Ashley Boothe, marketing director for Poudre Pet & Feed Supply.
“Poudre Pet & Feed Supply has partnered with the Humane Society ofWeld County to host an adoptable cat in our downtown Windsor store, ” said Boothe. “We look forward to things like bringing the Poudre Feed Treat Truck to the town ’ s monthly Yappy Hour events at Windsor Lake.
“Community involvement like this mutually benefits everyone – families, their animals and the businesses. Small businesses like Poudre Feed need the support of local patrons to be successful, so they can then in turn be able to support and sponsor the charities whose services help the community. ”
Hale said he believes Windsor is large enough now that entrepreneurs will really begin identifying gaps – known as retail leakage – in town.
“For example, it seems as though my family buys a pair of shoes every month!” he said. “Whether it’ s for a new sport,
ALEX MCINTYRE
A bicycle rack in the shape of a cyclist frames traffic in the downtown business district in Windsor May 25, 2021.
a growing kid or to replace a running shoe. But despite this demand and a similar one for many Windsor families, there aren ’t retailers that sell shoes in the Town limits, so that’ s a potential business opportunity,and so many others. ”
Based on how much residents in Windsor seem to support their local businesses,filling in these “ retail leaks ” appears only a matter of time. Squicquero said she sees this community support in action all the time.
“I can ’t tell you how many times I ask people where they get their hair done or their favorite restaurant and so many of them say, ‘We try to support Windsor, ’” she said. “Creating a business is somebody ’ s dream for the future, so supporting those businesses is supporting someone ’ s dream. And the willingness of Windsor people to support my business for 15 years has been amazing. ”
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