Community Center Engagement & Business Plan | Urban Renewal Authority

Collaboratively leading research and community outreach to guide business planning for a multicultural community center

In 2018, when the Fort Collins Urban Renewal Authority (URA) identified a need to gather community input to inform the use of URA funds in its North Fort Collins plan area, they called on IBE and The Family Center/La Familia. Through engagement efforts collaboratively led by IBE and La Familia, the team identified interest in a Hispanic-friendly community center. In response, the URA initiated negotiations to purchase the property of a former Albertsons grocery store and began due diligence to determine property condition and its feasibility to serve as the site for the proposed community center.

In Fall 2024, IBE, La Familia, Mi Voz, and the URA worked together to re-engage the community and potential partners. IBE created and synthesized a bilingual (English/Spanish) online community questionnaire that Mi Voz distributed. IBE facilitated a partnering workshop with potential organizational collaborators to gather inspirations, aspirations, and concerns about the potential community center. IBE also conducted interviews with leaders of three existing community centers across the country to better understand the governance structures and funding mechanisms of similar projects. Using learnings from the research and community, IBE led the team in creating a preliminary business plan for the future community center.