Recent Articles from Ali Longwell
Businesses step up for the arts
Colorado Business Committee for the Arts (CBCA) brought a new sense of accessibility, creativity and purpose to its annual Business for the Arts Awards. As the state’s art industry grapples with the devastating effects of COVID-19, the virtual event celebrates the resiliency of the arts community and the businesses that continued to lift the community.
Adaptability key for restaurants amid COVID-19 obstacles
Restaurants able to take advantage of a patio expansion for more seating and those with significant takeout and delivery operations before COVID-19 have fared better. But with winter approaching, restaurants that found success in the summer will face a new set of challenges.
Best for Colorado: Business for good, in the face of the unknown
Best for Colorado celebrates companies that are leveraging the power of business to do better in Colorado. In a year shrouded in uncertainty, Best for Colorado not only reminds businesses that resiliency is possible, but that they have a responsibility to their communities—a commitment worth celebrating.
Breweries remain ‘Colorado Strong’ amid COVID-19 disruptions
The beer, Colorado Strong Pale Ale, was initially started by the Colorado Brewer’s Guild and the Left Hand Brewing Foundation as a way to support the local supply chain, small independent breweries and raise money for the Colorado Strong Fund.
Protein-Packed Doughnuts find new home in RiNo
After landing a $300,000 investment on Shark Tank and filing for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, The Dough Bar is back on its feet with the reopening of its Fort Collins location and the grand opening of its RiNo shop.
Luna Gourmet rebuilds and restores after fire, COVID-19
Not only is Luna Gourmet Coffee and Tea (which also owns Boyer’s Coffee) recovering from business disruptions due to COVID-19 closures, but they’re rebuilding after a fire took out their historic coffee roastery in North Denver. From lessons learned, to small victories achieved, here’s what the company’s owners, the Barrow brothers, are taking forward.
Mesa County breweries start to reopen and recover
After months of shutdown, initial Mesa County public health variances prevented breweries in the region from re-opening, causing sales to plummet even further than they already had. Now able to reopen, here is the story of how two Mesa County Breweries are dealing with the process of recovery.
Pop-up garden markets fulfill new demand brought on by quarantine
Initially prompted by the closure of several independent garden centers, Plum Creek Garden Market planned to expand its pop-up markets in 2020. And as stay-at-home orders went into effect, the markets were perfectly poised to help serve a well-established but growing hobby in the state — gardening.
Spark Grills aims to disrupt grilling with new funding round
Three years after its inception, Spark Grills is launching its sleek charcoal grill, app, and proprietary wood and charcoal Briqs system, which was invented by food and biomass scientists in Boulder. The startup’s system is meant to bring new precision and ease to charcoal grilling.
How a Boulder nonprofit served throughout the pandemic
While some businesses were able to shift business models and have their employees work from home following the COVID-19 outbreak, nonprofit organizations, in particular, had to adapt quickly and creatively in order to continue serving the communities whose livelihood relies on their programs and services.