Latest Forbes blog article by: Dawn Thilmany
Latest REDI Reports
- October 2026
- Jayna Mallon, Dawn Thilmany
- Case studies, Food Systems, Local Food
- The USDA Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Food Business Center was established in 2023 to connect and coordinate technical assistance for post-harvest farm, ranch, and food business development in Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming.
- The Center delivered $2.2 million in grants to small- and mid-scale food businesses between 2024 and 2026, and evaluated ripple effects including increased sales, newly created jobs, and access to new markets.
- September 2026
- Nafisa Nawar Aava, Willie Wilkins, Dawn Thilmany
- Sustainable redevelopment
- Redevelopment efforts should be careful to separate governance from operations.
- Planning for diversified revenue streams is more realistic than relying solely on participant fees in public-private partnerships and community programs.
- Recognize that program intensity drives cost. Incubator initiatives that combine technical assistance, workforce training, and community programming require more staffing and external support than a straightforward lease-based model.
- August 2026
- Sabina Regmi, Dawn Thilmany, Rebecca Hill
- Green Industry, Jobs, Labor
- Colorado’s allied Green industry generated between $6.54 billion and $11.29 billion in total economic activity in 2024, including $3.74 billion to $6.42 billion in direct industry output.
- The industry supported between 39,890 and 68,279 jobs statewide, generated $2.45–4.23 billion in labor income, and contributed $4.21–7.10 billion in value added to Colorado’s economy.
- Colorado’s 2021 Agricultural Labor Rights and Responsibilities Act (ALRRA) guarantees farmworkers access to healthcare providers but does not specify funding.
- In Colorado, 63% of primary care shortage areas are rural (HRSA, 2025) and spending on emergency room visits translates into an estimated $800 million a year in avoidable costs (CIVHC, 2015).