SMALL BUSINESS’ BIG DAY

Issue: #827 April 16, 2025

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT = BIG RETURNS

Have you ever regretted gaining knowledge that will help your business grow? Be a leader and set aside the time to invest in your company and yourself. The Small Business Development Center’s 13^th Annual SW CO Small Business Conference is happening Wednesday, May 7 at the Sky Ute Casino Event Center in Ignacio. A regional powerhouse of business leaders will be present to help you elevate your business leadership, strategy, and technology across diverse sectors, and the entire event is a golden networking opportunity. Registration fees include breakfast, lunch, and a closing reception. Learn more and register here.

SPRINGING ALONG

BID’s Spring Rewards local spending incentive program is hopping along nicely. As of this morning, there are still 125 rewards up for grabs. Earn local spending money back when you shop, dine, access services, enjoy attractions, stay on a property, or simply spend money at any of more than 350 eligible businesses during the month of April. Once you reach your chosen spending level, submit your receipts at DowntownDurango.org/Spring-Rewards where you will also find all contest details and the list of eligible businesses. In return, BID will buy you a Heart of Durango Dollars gift card. Spring Rewards is presented by Alpine Bank.

A FULL-BODIED WEEKEND

Chardonnay for charity? Cheers to that! The Durango Wine Experience is happening next Friday and Saturday, April 25 and 26. Weekend passes grant access to all ten locations on the Walkabout Durango Tasting as well as the Grand Tasting in Buckley Park. Day tickets are also available. The Durango Wine Experience is brought to you by the Community Foundation Serving Southwest Colorado, and festival proceeds go toward supporting our local nonprofit sector. Check out all the participating vendors, festival locations, and purchase your tickets at DurangoWine.com.

LAKE DAYS AWAIT

Lake Nighthorse opened on April 11 with a new entrance station and more efficient decontamination system ready for the season. From now through May 4, the lake is open to non-motorized recreation from 9 am to 4 pm Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Daily operations begin May 9, and motorized recreation begins May 15. Seasonal job opportunities are available including cashier, lifeguard, and boat inspector positions; view and apply here. For details on purchasing Lake Nighthorse punch passes or season passes, go to DurangoGov.org/LakeNighthorse or swing by the Durango Community Recreation Center during normal business hours to purchase your passes in person.

SUMMER ITCH RELIEF

Does seasonal business promotional planning leave you feeling anxious and depleted? Four out of four local agencies recommend Participating in an Existing City-Wide Seasonal Promotion (PECWSP). With PECWSP, you can exert less time and effort while being a main player on a big stage. You’ll set your sandwich board sign out in front of your shop with a smile fit for a small business credit card commercial knowing that others are promoting the biggest event of the summer for you: Four Days for the Fourth. As a participating Four Days for the Fourth business, you may experience:

Hosting an event or contest
Participating in the parade
Sponsoring a non-profit organization or event so they can participate in the parade
Serving as a scavenger hunt location

Side effects of PECWSP may include increased foot traffic, sales, and brand recognition. Common reactions may occur such as intense dopamine hits from engaging with your community. Talk to your BID Executive Director today to see if PECWSP is right for you. Disclaimer: Four Days for the Fourth participation may not be the cure for every business owner’s burnout, but the City of Durango, BID, the Durango Chamber of Commerce and Visit Durango suggest that it probably is.