Local Businesses Poised to Bloom with Economic Gardening Program
Summit County, Colorado - March 13, 2024 — The Summit Economic Partnership (SEP), a steadfast advocate for economic growth in Summit County, is proud to introduce its impactful programs aimed at nurturing local businesses and driving innovation. Among these initiatives, the Economic Gardening Program stands out as a beacon of support for small to medium-sized businesses, empowering Summit business owners to identify new markets and expansion opportunities through strategic management consulting and research services.
"I am honored to lead the Summit Economic Partnership, and look forward to working closely with the board, our partners, and the community,” said Executive Director Thayer Hirsh, who stepped into his role in December 2023, bringing with him a wealth of experience launching and growing Colorado companies. “Together, we will build on the strong foundation laid by SEP to diversify our economy, support our entrepreneurs, and drive innovation in Summit County."
The latest cohort, carefully selected from a pool of promising applications, to benefit from the Economic Gardening Program showcases a dynamic blend of Summit County's entrepreneurial spirit. Among the chosen enterprises are two trailblazers in mountain lifestyle apparel: Buttnski and skyGOAT, both outdoor lifestyle clothing companies carving out unique identities while utilizing Economic Gardening to better identify and target their customer base and increase revenue. Joining them is Di’s Mountain Bagels, a beloved local bagel wholesaler poised to expand her business to neighboring communities, including the Roaring Fork Valley and the Vail Valley.
Also part of this vibrant group are Peak Oxygen, an innovative oxygen rental company, and Summit County Mountain Retreats, a local property management firm. Both aim to expand operations to neighboring counties while maintaining headquarters in Summit County, underscoring their commitment to providing job growth opportunities locally.
Photo: https://basecampvisual.co/
Kelly Mazanti, Co-Founder and CEO of Buttnski, emphasizes the transformative impact of the program for their new brand. “It helped us dig deeper into work that we wouldn’t have the bandwidth, or budgets to pursue at this early stage,” she explains. Mazanti anticipates being able to hire 2-3 new employees in the next twelve months as a direct result of participating in the Summit Economic Gardening Program.
The Summit Economic Partnership (SEP) invites ambitious Summit County businesses to apply for the upcoming spring cohort of Economic Gardening Program participants. Chosen businesses will gain 40 hours of strategic management consulting and research services customized to their growth goals. Eligible businesses must have 5-99 employees and annual sales of $650K to $50M. Applications are now open at www.summitpartnership.org.