Boulder Valley chambers coordinate response to businesses impacted by Marshall Fire
BOULDER COUNTY — Chambers of commerce in Louisville, Superior, Broomfield and Boulder are developing a coordinated response to help businesses affected by Thursday’s Marshall Fire in Boulder County access resources.
Officials with a variety of local business groups — including the Northwest Chamber Alliance, Boulder Chamber, Superior Chamber of Commerce, Broomfield Chamber of Commerce, Louisville Chamber of Commerce, Lafayette Chamber, Latino Chamber, LGBTQ Chamber and the Longmont Chamber — gathered via Zoom Friday morning to begin developing support plans, details of which are expected to be released within about a day.
“This is a tragedy that impacts all businesses in our region, and we recognize that it’s important for the chambers to work collectively to address the needs of our businesses, economy and residents,” Boulder Chamber CEO John Tayer said. “We’ve seen the power of that collaborative work in the past, and we stand ready to bring that force to bear in this recovery effort.”
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While details are still being ironed out, Tayer said the chambers will serve as a central information resource for impacted businesses, help to identify the needs of those businesses and provide assistance navigating the bureaucratic process of applying for support.
Whether in the direct line of the fire or not, “we know that all of the businesses in our community are going to be impacted” because of workforce and general business activity disruptions, Tayer said.
Apart from the chambers’ efforts, individual businesses and trade groups are also pitching in to support the community.
Naturally Boulder, the local group that advocates on behalf of the natural and organic products industry, sent an email blast to its members with links to assistance efforts.
Those included a drive by the Conscious Alliance to collect food, bottled water and other helpful products (for more information, contact JL@consciousalliance.org) and a GoFundMe campaign coordinated by Luke’s Circle.
“I know people who have lost their houses, but in the true spirit of humanity, they are all thankful to be alive and take the view that things can be rebuilt, but lives can never be replaced,” Naturally Boulder executive director Bill Capsalis wrote. “Anything you can do to help the people displaced by this fire will be appreciated.”
Boulder-based Elevations Foundation and Elevations Credit Union have committed to $200,000 in matching funds for donations made here.
“Our hearts are broken for our friends and neighbors as we witness the magnitude of this tragedy unfold,” Elevations Foundation board chairman Dennis Paul said in a prepared statement. “In typical fashion, Elevations members and partners are anxious to provide critical support and we hope this fund will provide some relief to our friends, neighbors and the community.”
GoFundMe is leading it’s own fundraiser and has launched an information hub to help donors find verified groups that are raising money.
The Community Foundation Boulder County has also activated the Boulder County Wildfire Fund to help those affected by the Marshall and Middle Fork Fires. Donations can be made here.
This story will be updated as additional relief efforts are announced. If your business or organization is involved in any such efforts, please email details to news@bizwest.com.
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