I love that Longmont has multi-generational families and that adult children who go away for school or work often return to raise their families in their hometown. Those aspects of Longmont create a rich fabric of community that helps make so many people feel at home here.

Young children need good schools, safe parks, recreational and cultural activities, and lots of space to roam, explore, and learn. Young adults need places to work, socialize, and live that fit their tight budgets and still allow them to grow. Employers need a supportive government that values their contributions and partners with them to find and maintain business locations that permit them to grow and evolve with the community. Parents need affordable, safe housing for families of all types and sizes and jobs to provide for them. And seniors need entertainment and gathering places along with services and housing options that help them age gracefully without being forced to leave a hometown they love and have roots in.

Serving all of those segments of our community might sound daunting, but it is absolutely doable with thoughtful funding, zoning, building, and services policies. Longmont’s current popularity is a testament to its past success in navigating these decisions, and our future depends on our ability to continue to maintain those balances.

A community is a delicate ecosystem of people, places, and activities. When we hit the right balance, together we can create a vibrant, dynamic, and supportive home for everyone.