Website aims to make opening a business easier for entrepreneurs in Colorado Springs and El Paso County
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Thirteen new businesses have opened in Downtown Colorado Springs in 2021, with six more expected to open in the coming week.
City officials are hopeful the website, COSOpenforBiz, will continue that momentum.
The website launched in 2019, but its newest expansion includes a road map for restaurants and cafes.
Local business owners in Colorado Springs and El Paso County helped create a step-by-step guide to ensure future entrepreneurs don’t encounter the same roadblocks they did.
In addition to the restaurant and cafe roadmap, the site also includes guides for distilleries, food trucks, and general business. Officials said they'll add more industry sectors to the site until they reach their ultimate goal of becoming the number one city in the country to open a business.
"We continue to build on very specific industries," said Chelsea Gaylord, Senior Economic Development Specialist with the City of Colorado Springs. "Each have some specific requirements, or what we consider pitfalls or certain challenges when people go to launch their ideas."
Led by the city, the Colorado Springs Small Business Advancement Team partnered with multiple city and county organizations to bring the website to life. They said it's aided an already booming economy, that didn't slow down during the pandemic. Officials estimate roughly 20 to 30 food trucks opened in El Paso County in 2021 alone.
The website also includes multiple resources for entrepreneurs who need additional assistance in launching their business.
