Forum Series: Improving the Local Business Environment
The Los Alamos Local Business Coalition will host a series of five public forums aimed at fostering economic growth, enhancing collaboration, and addressing key challenges facing the local business environment in Los Alamos. These forums are designed to bring together community members, business owners, and key stakeholders to create actionable strategies for a thriving local economy.
Forum Details
Dates: February – June 2025
Location: SALA Event Center & Online via Zoom
What to Expect
This forum series offers an opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions and develop practical solutions to improve the local business landscape. Each forum will focus on a specific topic, creating a platform for collaboration, education, and actionable outcomes.
Forum Schedule
1. Introduction to the Coalition and Key Players
Date: February 13, 2025 – 5:30 PM
Meet the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition, learn about its mission, and connect with key players in the local economy. This forum will set the stage for future collaboration and dialogue.
2. Analysis of Existing County Plans
Date: March 13, 2025 – 5:30 PM
Dive into county strategies for economic development, tourism, MainStreet, and downtown revitalization. Understand how current plans impact local businesses and identify opportunities for improvement.
On March 13, the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition hosted the second forum in its ongoing series at the SALA Event Center, focused on improving the local business environment. This forum took a deep dive into the County’s many existing plans—plans that are supposed to revitalize our downtown, support local businesses, and move the community forward.
We reviewed ten plans, including the Strategic Leadership Plan, the Comprehensive Plan, the Economic Vitality Plan, the Downtown Master Plan, and others—and examined how these plans are addressing the top five challenges that local businesses face.
Participants engaged in a live interactive survey, sharing their views on how well the plans align with community needs, whether real progress is being made, and where gaps remain. The message was clear: we don’t have a shortage of plans—we have a gap in execution.
A full video of the forum is now available online. The public is also invited to take the same survey used during the event and share their perspective.
This brief survey asks three key questions for each of the five major business challenges:
• How well do the plans themselves actually address the issue?
• How well are the County’s plans being implemented to address this challenge?
• What one action do you believe would have the biggest impact in solving it?
Your input will help the Coalition gather broader community insight and push for the most effective next steps. This is your chance to tell us: Are the plans working—and if not, what needs to change?
Take the survey and share your thoughts: Survey
3. Rules and Interpretations
Date: April 10, 2025 – 5:30 PM
Explore how existing rules, such as anti-donation clauses, influence local economic tools. Discover innovative ways to use resources like the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) to support growth.
Doing business in Los Alamos is tough. Zoning puzzles, code red tape, and restrictive readings of the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) can stall good ideas before they start. In this session we discuss those pain points and explore how a “get‑to‑yes” mindset—pre‑application meetings, clearer guidance, and smart use of LEDA—could turn the rules into tools for growth.
With 77 % of residents ranking a better business climate as a top priority, the conversation couldn’t be timelier. Speakers outline practical fixes—development handbooks, vacancy‑tax incentives, and a culture of collaborative code review—while showing how LEDA can fund expansion without risking public dollars.
Watch the video to see where regulations help, where they hinder, and how teamwork between entrepreneurs, advocates, and county staff can unlock a more vibrant local economy.
4. Tools and Strategies Workshop
Date: May 29, 2025 – 5:30 PM
Participate in hands-on workshops and brainstorming sessions. Gain insights into resources and strategies that can help your business thrive.
5. Summary and Action Planning
Date: June 12, 2025 – 5:30 PM
Review outcomes from previous forums and work together to develop actionable plans for the future. Form working groups to continue the momentum.
Get Involved
We encourage local business owners and managers to participate by making a short presentation (5 minutes or less) at one of the forums. Presenters can address:
- What would help your business grow?
- A success story you’d like to share.
- Challenges or barriers you’re facing.
To volunteer as a presenter, sign up here or contact us directly at coalition@losalamos.com.
About the Los Alamos Local Business Coalition
The Los Alamos Local Business Coalition is a collaborative organization of local business owners and community members dedicated to fostering a thriving business environment in Los Alamos and White Rock.
We advocate for solution-focused policies, structures, and accountability that support our local businesses, working in collaboration with key organizations and incorporating input from the community to address shared priorities for the betterment of the entire Los Alamos area!
Join us in shaping the future of the Los Alamos business community. Together, we can make a difference!
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