Local First

📻 Support local radio. Support local voices. Support KDUR Community Radio!

Local First member KDUR Community Radio is kicking off its Fall Membership Drive this October! From Oct. 2–10, tune in, show your support, and help keep independent, community-powered radio thriving in Southwest Colorado.

KDUR brings local voices, eclectic music, community programming, and the kind of independent radio that makes our region a more vibrant place to live. Their membership drive is a chance to directly support that work and keep local radio strong.

📅 October 2–10, 2026
📻 91.9 & 93.9 FM
🌎 Listen and pledge at KDUR.org

Keep it local. Keep it independent. Keep KDUR on the air! ❤️📻

We were honored to present Local First's Healthcare Performance Dashboard to the Durango City Council, highlighting both local strengths and gaps to close. A key finding: 19% average improvement across 24 measures would put La Plata County on par with the best-performing rural resort counties in Colorado. How do we get there? The way is paved by collaboration. Local First stands ready to facilitate the journey toward more affordable, equitable, high-quality healthcare for everyone in southwest Colorado.

Watch the presentation on YouTube (starting at 1:11:15): https://www.youtube.com/live/57Z5wpxZ-F4?t=4279s
Learn more and download the Dashboard here: https://local-first.org/healthcare-performance-dashboard-lpc/

Many thanks to our partner Peak Health Alliance and funders of this work: City of Durango - Government, La Plata County Government, La Plata Electric Association (LPEA), Rocky Mountain Health Foundation, Ballantine Family Fund, and Local First Foundation.

Join us in celebrating Local First member Leland House | Lola’s | Gather Room at their Open House! 🎉

Come check out the beautiful new event space: The Gather Room, tour hotel rooms, and enjoy live music, complimentary food and beverages, and good company.

📅 Tuesday, September 15
⏰ 5–8 PM
✂️ Chamber Ribbon Cutting at 5:15 PM

Come celebrate this exciting new chapter for The Leland House. 💛

Fresh produce. Handmade goods. Friendly faces.

There's nothing quite like spending a morning at the local farmers market. Every purchase supports local growers, makers, and entrepreneurs while keeping more dollars right here in our community.

What's the first thing you look for when you visit the market?

📣 We’re hiring: Executive Director!

Local First Foundation is looking for a collaborative, resourceful, community-minded leader to help us strengthen Southwest Colorado’s local economy and support the independent businesses and organizations that make our region thrive.

Our next Executive Director will work alongside our Board, local businesses, nonprofits, and community partners to lead Local First’s programs, grow our network, and build meaningful partnerships.

✨ Part-time: 25–30 hours/week
🏡 Work from home
💰 $30–$40/hour, depending on experience

We’re looking for someone who loves wearing many hats, builds relationships naturally, and is passionate about local economic development and community-building.

Sound like you—or someone you know? We’d love to hear from you!

👉 Learn more and apply:

Hiring Now - Local First Join the Local First team as an Administrative and Program Assistant.

🎉 Celebrate local ownership with Local First member Natural Foods Co-op at their Annual Harvest Fest!

Join DNF on August 22 from 2–7 PM at Rotary Park for an afternoon of live music, family-friendly activities and games, local vendors, and food and beverages available for purchase.

The event is free and open to everyone—no Co-op membership required. Come out, celebrate community, and support a longtime locally owned business! 🌱💚

👉 Find out more: https://www.durangonaturalfoods.coop/harvestfest2026

Did you know Local First offers free memberships to new businesses?

Thanks to the generosity of the Michael & Elaine Moravan Foundation, qualifying startups can receive a Local First membership at no cost for up to three years through our Startup Membership Scholarship.

As a scholarship recipient, you'll gain access to:
✨ Marketing opportunities to promote your business
🤝 Networking events and educational workshops
🎟️ Discounts on programs like the Be Local Coupon Book and Noel Night
📣 Advocacy for locally owned businesses
💚 A community of more than 220 local businesses and nonprofits

If you're launching a new business in La Plata County, we'd love to help you grow.

Apply today: https://bit.ly/startup-membership-application

Rivergate Pharmacy and Compounding Center combines personalized, locally owned healthcare with environmentally responsible practices, including a medication bottle recycling program that helps keep plastic out of landfills while serving the Durango community.

Locally made. Community loved.
This week's member spotlight is Luv Tempeh, creating delicious, locally crafted foods right here in our region.
Choosing locally made products supports small-scale producers, encourages innovation, and helps build a stronger local food system.
Have you tried Luv Tempeh? Share your favorite way to enjoy it in the comments!

📊 Building a healthier La Plata County starts with understanding our community's health.

Local First Foundation is excited to share our new Healthcare Performance Dashboard, a powerful tool that gives our community a clearer picture of where we're thriving and where we have opportunities to improve.

The dashboard compares La Plata County to Colorado, the nation, and similar rural communities across 24 key measures, including healthcare access, affordability, outcomes, prevention, workforce capacity, and the social factors that shape our health.

It highlights where we're doing well, such as life expectancy, childhood immunizations, and healthcare workforce capacity. It also identifies opportunities to improve in areas like dental care, cancer screenings, mental health, and healthcare affordability.

This isn't just about healthcare. It's about using data to inform decisions, strengthen partnerships, and build a healthier future for everyone in La Plata County.

🔗 Explore the dashboard and see how we're doing: https://local-first.org/healthcare-performance-dashboard-lpc/

Local First Foundation is grateful for the financial support of:
⭐Rocky Mountain Health Foundation
⭐Ballantine Family Fund
⭐La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) Roundup Foundation
⭐City of Durango - Government Community Support Funding
⭐La Plata County American Rescue Plan Act Funding

The dashboard was prepared by Doug McCarthy, Health Advisor to Local First Foundation, with input from members of the La Plata Healthcare Improvement Coalition.