The communities of the West End — Nucla, Naturita and Norwood — began a journey to create a shared roadmap for managing growth and creating prosperity: the West End Sustainability Plan. With support from the West End Economic Development Corporation (WEEDC) and Community Builders, a Colorado nonprofit, the communities will engage citizens to develop a plan that will identify strategies that help preserve what makes the West End special while looking ahead to new opportunities.
"We are incredibly excited to get this process started within the community,” said Makayla Gordon, WEEDC’s leader. “When I stepped into the executive director role at WEEDC, it was evident the three towns needed a shared path forward. With the outside pressures our community has faced, West End leaders are taking this opportunity to capture what the community really wants to see long into the future — what’s important to them … How do we ensure that the West End stays a place that we all want to live, work and play? The West End Sustainability Plan will capture all of this through robust community engagement. In this case, we want you to tell us how you really feel.”
The plan process has just begun and is expected to be completed by late 2025. Community engagement is key and will be fully guided by the residents and leaders of the West End. Citizens are invited and encouraged to attend the community kick-off event, Thursday, Sept. 5, from 6-8 p.m. at the Naturita Community Center. Folks from all across the West End are invited to talk about the plan’s goals and process and the core values of the West End community. Community input is requested, and snacks and a kid-friendly activity will be provided.
Additionally, there are more opportunities the first week of September, including West End Farm & Craft Market, the Norwood Farmer’s Market and the Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering. There will also be small group “Community Conversations” and drop-boxes to capture additional feedback. Visit bit.ly/WE-Convos for more information and to register for a local Community Conversation on Sept. 5, 6 or 7.
Why a regional plan?
The communities of the West End are accustomed to facing adversity, and representatives said the ability to navigate the changes and challenges ahead relies on the ability to work together. The power of three communities voicing a common goal, and the efficiency gained by the towns working together, will help create a plan that represents the community, responds to outside pressures, empowers local leaders and guides how we navigate future challenges.
Who’s guiding the Sustainability Plan?
The West End Sustainability project working group is made up of representatives from WEEDC, each of the three towns, and Montrose County. The team came together through a Building Better Places training and partnered to apply for assistance through Community Builders’ community assistance program. This group will take on the day-to-day project management, but the plan will be fully guided by volunteers. In order to best engage citizens, the West End Sustainability Plan team is seeking members to participate in the Project Ambassador Team, a group of community volunteers who will help steward the process and assist with outreach and engagement.
How is the plan being funded?
Currently, half of the project funding is from local sources (WEEDC, fundraising and contributions from each of the West End communities and counties); half is from the project partner, Community Builders (through Colorado-based foundations).
Community Builders assistance projects are rooted in a unique partnership that leverages philanthropic resources raised by them, with local funding contributed by project partners, usually around a 1:1 match. In this way, Community Builders isn’t acting as a “consultant” that is “hired” by partner communities. Instead, all parties agree to work together based on shared goals, responsibility and resources.
What is the BRECC Action Challenge?
In addition to the West End Sustainability Plan, the West End communities are also part of the Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities Action Challenge. Supported by the U.S. Economic Development Administration, this program helps coal communities strengthen and diversify their economies. WEEDC applied for this program and was one of seven other communities across the country to receive a year of technical assistance from economic development experts. This assistance is also provided by Community Builders.
While BRECC and the West End Sustainability Plan have separate funding and areas of focus, they share project teams and partners to ensure that the two efforts are in alignment and will feed into a shared vision for the West End’s future.
Want to get more involved?
For more details on how to get involved in the West End Sustainability Plan, contact Gordon at 970-417-1976 or Mackinzi Taylor mackinzi@communitybuilders.org. All may learn more about the West End Sustainability Plan at bit.ly/WestEndPlanFB.
