The U.S. Census Bureau statistics and other sources indicate that as high as 50 percent of all businesses in the United States are home-based businesses. Additionally, of all businesses reported to the government, 75 percent are self-employed individuals accounting for close to 19.5 million jobs. This accounted for 12 percent of the nation’s workforce in 2004, a 26 percent growth compared to the 1997 statistics. Continuing information indicates that entrepreneurship has become the fastest method of creating new and sustainable jobs for the local economy.

Over the past 20 years Economic Gardening has emerged as an economic development concept that embodies the entrepreneurial spirit.  The concept of Economic Gardening was successfully pioneered by the City of Littleton, Colorado in the late 1980s as a means to offset the loss of local jobs. Economic Gardening is a strategy that focuses on growing the local economy by helping local entrepreneurs succeed.  Economic Gardening services are most effective for businesses that have been established for a few years. This development approach is a complimentary strategy to the traditional business recruitment or economic hunting.

In continued effort to support the Highlands Ranch business community, the Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch and Douglas County are partnering to develop an Economic Gardening pilot program. The program provides assistance to small businesses in the form of competitive analysis and market research, as well as other resource references for legal and financial issues.

NEWS & EVENTS

- Program Application Now Available Online -
COMING IN AUGUST	GREEN THUMB FRIDAYS What to expect: A lunch time seminar where a growing business can learn about the benefits and features of the Economic Gardening program as well as other helpful topics to assist in daily business operations.

 

PRESS

YourHub.com, The Denver Newspaper Agency (16, November 2007)
County hopes to grow local economy

Press Release (01 April 2008)
Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch hires manager to lead new Economic Gardening program

YourHub.com, The Denver Newspaper Agency (25, June 2008)
Libraries energize entrepreneurs

Highlands Ranch Herald, "Soar to Success" chamber section (26, June 2008)
Highlands Ranch Economic Gardening Program represented at International Economic Gardening Gathering in Steamboat Springs, Colorado

BUSINESS RESOURCES

Douglas County Libraries

To be successful, entrepreneurs need good information and help with business research. Trained professionals at the Douglas County libraries offer research tools and resources on how to find answers to specific questions as well as offer programs to train small business owners on how to find the information for themselves using online business research databases. You can contact a business librarian via email at bizlibs@dclibraries.org or call 303-791-READ.

Colorado Small Business Development Centers

Listing of SBDC's in Colorado with contact information, Internet Resources including government offices, organizations on financing programs, minority certification, procurement and a variety of information resources.

SBDCNET
Small Business Development Centers, National Information Clearinghouse

A portal to a comprehensive and practical small business resources. Includes content on business startup, demographics, statistics, company research, inventing, veterans, international trade, home business, small business trends, business plans, marketing, government procurement, franchising, minorities and women, tax information, etc.

BizTookKit (J.J. Hill Reference Library)

BizToolkit features the Web's best business information sources, as selected by the nation's top Business Information Experts at the James J. Hill Reference Library. Need to prepare a business plan for your banker? You'll find what you need in BizToolkit. Looking for tips on how to cost effectively launch your next marketing campaign? You'll find what you need in BizToolkit. Salary surveys, job descriptions, company research sources...you'll find it all in BizToolkit.

PROGRAM CANDIDACY   A business that has been in operations for at least 2 years. AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING A Highlands Ranch business. A Douglas County business that is a member of the Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch. A Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch business, but is located outside Douglas County. A fee-per-service applies.

MARKET RESEARCH - COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS - BUSINESS TOOLS - LOCAL EXPERTS

TO PARTICIPATE IN ECONOMIC GARDENING OR FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact:	Chamber of Commerce of Highlands Ranch 300 W. Plaza Drive Suite 225 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Phone:	303.791.3500
Email:	cchrinfo@highlandsranchchamber.org
Douglas County Economic Gardening website

DOWNLOADS

Program Brochure (PDF)

Economic Gardening Program Application (PDF)
 

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