March 2026 | February 2026 | January 2026
March 2026
Fort Collins & Loveland Named Among the Best Places to Live in the West
Fort Collins and Loveland both earned standout spots in Livability’s list of the best places to live in the Western United States. In the latest ranking, Fort Collins claimed the No. 4 position, highlighting its strong quality of life and appeal as a vibrant Colorado community. Just a few spots behind, Loveland ranked No. 7 among the top western cities, underscoring its growing reputation as a desirable place to call home. Overall, the list showcased these Northern Colorado cities as among the region’s most attractive for residents seeking a mix of outdoor access, amenities, and community appeal Click here to read more.
IKEA Coming to Fort Collins
IKEA has officially chosen Fort Collins as the location for a new 64,000-square-foot store, marking the Swedish home furnishings retailer’s first full retail presence in Northern Colorado. The smaller-format store will be located at Front Range Village on Corbett Drive, taking over a former Urban Air space and offering around 3,200 items along with kitchen, bedroom and bathroom planning areas and the brand’s signature food offerings. The announcement follows IKEA’s decision to abandon plans for a store in Broomfield and comes as part of a broader expansion strategy that includes up to 10 new U.S. locations in 2026. Fort Collins officials noted the new store aligns with local retail demand and could help breathe new life into the shopping center. Click here to read more.
USA Today: Postcard Pizza named One of the Best Restaurants of 2026
Postcard Pizza, a Detroit-style pizza spot located inside Equinox Brewing in Fort Collins, has been recognized nationally as one of USA TODAY's Restaurants of the Year for 2026, earning a spot on the publication’s list of the best restaurants in the country. Curated by local food experts, the list highlights standout eateries across the U.S., and Postcard Pizza's creative menu, including specialty pies like banh mi and potato pesto, helped put this Northern Colorado favorite in the national spotlight. Visit postcard.pizza for location & hours.
February 2026
Finish line in sight for Poudre River Trail
Northern Colorado’s 45-mile Poudre River Trail — a decades-long vision dating back to the 1970s — is finally nearing completion with its last remaining segment set to be finished in early 2026. The long journey to connect the trail continuously from Bellvue through Fort Collins to Greeley has involved persistent collaboration among local governments, nonprofits and volunteers. The final mile between Timnath and Windsor represents the culmination of more than 50 years of planning, fundraising and construction, and will fulfill the original regional trail dream once it opens in the coming months. Visit poudretrail.org to explore and plan your next ride!
Colorado Ends 2025 With Stronger Job Market, Northern Colorado Counties Lead the Way
Colorado closed out 2025 with improving job numbers, as its unemployment rate dipped to 3.8% in December—remaining well below the national average of 4.4%. Northern Colorado showed particularly strong performance, with Boulder and Larimer counties posting the lowest local rates, followed closely by Broomfield. Click here to explore data from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
IRES 4th Quarter Report
Information and Real Estate Services (IRES) recently released their Q4 2025 MarketWatch Report. In Larimer County, the median sales price was $575,000 for Q4-2025, a 2% decrease year-over-year. The number of closed sales was down 1.4%, coming in at 1,131. In Weld County, the median sales price was $509,995 for Q4-2025, a 1% decrease year-over-year. The number of closed sales was down 0.2%, coming in at 1,210. In Boulder County, the median sales price was $822,500 for Q4-2025, a 2.7% year-over-year decrease. The number of closed sales was up 2.6%, coming in at 801.
January 2026
Westerly named Community of the Year
Erie's Westerly, an almost 800-acre master-planned community developed by Southern Land Co., was honored as Community of the Year at the Denver Marketing & Merchandising (MAME) Awards, presented by the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, recognizing excellence in overall community marketing and design. The award highlights Westerly’s thoughtful design, integration with its environment, creative use of space and materials, appealing architecture and strong sales performance. In addition to the top community honor, Westerly won a MAME award for Best Video, and two team members received individual accolades for outstanding professional achievements. When complete, the community is expected to include about 3,100 homes and over 290 acres of parks and open space.
A Second Act for Historic Park Theatre
A nonprofit foundation has agreed to lease and manage the historic 112-year-old Park Theatre in downtown Estes Park, planning to lead efforts to renovate and preserve the nearly century-old cinema as a community arts venue. The Park Theatre, one of the oldest movie theaters in the region, will be overseen by the foundation to ensure its continued operation and revitalization for film showings, live performances and other cultural events, marking a new chapter in maintaining this treasured local landmark.
Colorado Labor Market Holds Steady
Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down by one-tenth of a percentage point between August and September in the most recent state labor report from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, even as reporting was delayed by the federal government shutdown. Local jobless rates varied in September, with Broomfield at 3.7% and Weld County at 4.3%, while average weekly hours dipped slightly and average hourly earnings rose above the national average. Click here to read more.
