Collaboration and making connections is at the heart of any strong local economy. This is especially true for our smaller businesses. Farmers rely on any number of customers, from the family at the Farmer’s Market, or the neighborhood market down the street, to the local value-added producers that turn their bounty into new flavors. Beyond this, the creative potential for entrepreneurs coming together is endless. But small businesses are busy. Sometimes finding these connections are difficult. Sometimes it takes a community connector to bring all these folks together, whether directly or by chance.
Every project or event Fortified Collaborations tackles includes a non-profit organization, local businesses and local farmers whenever possible (if there’s food involved). There is an amazing power in bringing these different groups together to work on a shared project or event. Bringing in members of the community to participate, support or engage is the icing on the cake. When neighbors and business owners and community leaders come together to share food and drink, magic really happens. We can’t even know all the wonderful things that have come out of Fortified’s events, but we know a few.
The obvious connections are at the dinners themselves where guests are introduced to a myriad of local businesses from the sponsors, to the farmers that provide the food, to the chefs that turn that local flavor into an exceptionally delicious experience, and the non-profits that benefit from the events. Then there are the breweries, the distilleries, the wine makers and the local tea houses. These introductions have countless ripples into the community. Sometimes its as simple as bringing in new customers, or connecting businesses that will create new partnerships within the community.
Then there are the not so obvious connections that strengthen our community. One example is The Growing Project (TGP). As a result of their inclusion as a supported non-profit, TGP was able to connect with the great folks at Hope Farm. This connection led to TGP moving their home base garden to Hope Farm where they continue to grow food for underserved members of our community.
TGP was also introduced to several local restaurants and now provides produce to six local restaurants, which in turn improves their organizations sustainability. They were also introduced to Odell, and now have a growing garden at the brewery!
Then there is Blush Gardens on the Vine who provide the lovely bouquets for the events. They have increased their floral business after enamoring many a guest with their beauty.
If you have ever been to a Fortified Collaborations event you well know the numerous opportunities to partake in the local libations. When you introduce farmers and fruit growers to brewers and distillers, well, let’s just say the collaborations can be endless. That was very evident at the Heart of Summer dinner (which also raised over $1000 for The Vegetable Connection). Verboten Brewing had numerous specialty brews that incorporated the seasonal flavors of local farmers. A favorite was the strawberry rhubarb wheat using local fruit. These beverage makers have coordinated with each other and local restaurants on numerous partnerships, are now offered in many local eateries, and the potential for more collaborations are endless.
If you have a great idea for a community partnership or collaboration, or need a community connector for your business, non-profit or community centric vision, Northern Colorado has a plethora of talent, especially the folks at Fortified Collaborations. In case you didn’t know, their work and skill set goes well beyond that of the Farm Dinner Series. They are the make it happeners for so many of our wonderful events in NoCo.
Here’s to more inspiration and connection!