Usually, this time of year, the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce would be gearing up to hold its annual membership celebration gala and award ceremony. But just as the coronavirus pandemic has upended many organizations’ plans, it also has prompted the Chamber to mix things up for its Jubilee, and in the process start a new tradition.
“We decided to make a pretty big strategic shift in the design of this event to kind of make it, COVID-proof,” said Karen Stallard, the Chamber’s membership director.
Chamber planners tried to make sure even if restrictions on gatherings were tightened —as they were recently when Boulder County went to red on the state’s COVID dial dashboard —the Jubilee wouldn’t have to be canceled or postponed, Stallard said. So, this year the event will be held virtually from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and will be streamed on YouTube.
The Chamber also is preparing boxes full of local goodies for the celebration, which must be ordered by Sunday and can be picked up or delivered between Dec. 1 and Dec 3.
The boxes, valued at more than $175, feature over 12 items, all from Longmont businesses. They cost $100 each and can be purchased on the Jubilee order now page. Included is one $50 voucher for a restaurant of member’s choice, including CYCLHOPS Bike CANtina, Sumo Sushi, Longmont Public House and Gondolier Italian Eatery. Most of the items inside the box will be edible.
The boxes enable the public to be part of an event that is typically exclusive to businesses. Stallard said she has personalized over 2,600 gift tags for the boxes.
This year, those who attend the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce's Jubilee also can purchase a gift box chockful of local goodies.(Courtesy photo)The Jubilee will celebrate winners of and nominees for the Chamber’s annual awards, which were announced Nov. 13 on its Facebook page. The nominees by category are:
Business of the Year
A floral design studio that specializes in events, including weddings. It specializes in flowers and sells handmade jewelry, pottery, candles, household gifts and clothing for children and adults.
Rachel Hunter opened A Florae in 2004, joined by MacKenzie Terzian in 2015, who designed flowers for her own wedding.
Tacos, tequila, beer and bikes, oh my. The restaurant's name is a take on two of Oskar Blues’ favorite things — cycling and beer.
According to TripAdvisor, CYCLHOPS is a four-star restaurant known for its food and being a full-service bike shop as well. It rotates between 20 craft beers and sells 43 premium tequilas and makes margaritas, too, and serves appetizers, soups, salads, tacos and desserts ― and bikes. Guests can try or order a REEB bike.
CYCLHOPS also donates meals to frontline workers and people in need. “We provided over 1,800 meals, and this was a combination of matched donations and meals donated directly from us,” it states on its website.
Open since June 2017 to encourage people to use homemade items, The Hidden Treasure 2 is an arts and crafts consignment store and art studio on Main Street. It also hosts an artisan marketplace for local artists to sell their art.
Although its classroom has had to close because of COVID restrictions, Hidden Treasure 2 has been giving back to the community during the pandemic by handing out free masks to those in need. As of Nov. 17, it had given out 42,000 free masks, according to a Facebook post, which stated it was only “200 shy of 43,000.”
The Main Street cafe that opened in 2018 serves coffee, cocktails and food and hosts musicians for live performances. From the fresh pastries to the homemade tagliatelle, this restaurant has a five-star rating on Facebook.
La Vita Bella recently partnered with Boocha, a local farm-to-table company, that uses 100% recycled glass and materials to bottle its beverages.
Emerging Business
The distillery, established in June, is veteran-owned business. Based in Longmont, its bourbon is sold throughout Colorado.
Right now it has two varieties to choose from: a wheated bourbon whiskey, called The Wheater, which was the first spirit to be sold by Copper Sky Distillery, and the 7 Year Single Barrel Series bourbon whiskey.
When visiting the distillery, guests can have cocktails and mocktails, a bite to eat and a tour.
Copper Sky takes pride “in holding to traditional values, yet being innovative in bringing you some of the finest spirits in Colorado,” according to its website.
Longmont Shuttle, owned by Eight Black Cars, offers family and pet-friendly service to and from Denver International Airport
All its drivers go through background screenings and random drug and alcohol screenings and are trained with riders’ safety in mind. All of the shuttles have first aid kits and fire extinguishers on board.
Longmont Shuttle also will be delivering several of the gift boxes purchased for the Jubilee.
Training for Warriors is a fitness center in Longmont whose motto is “lose fat, build muscle, feel good.”
It has a variety of programs, including online, corporate, personal, teen and athletic training. According to its programs page, students typically attend three to four 55-minute classes a week. Students track their progress using their cellphones with the Warrior Tracker app.
It also offers a nutrition program that includes a body composition analysis, a personalized fitness plan, the WarriorTracker app, a customized nutrition plan and a grocery guide.
Legacy Business
A local favorite in business for 63 years and counting, Longmont Theatre Company plays favorite and classic films such as “Beetlejuice,” “Hocus Pocus” and “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The company has three performing troupes, including Standing Room Only, Taste of Shakespeare and its Youth Theater.
Its upcoming production of “Much Ado About Nothing” has been postponed until 2021.
The pandemic has deeply impacted the finances of the theater company, which relies on ticket sales to cover 75% of its overhead. Supporters who wish to help the company can make tax-deductible donations. Learn more here.
The Flower Bin Garden Center and Nursery has been open in Longmont for more 49 years. On 5 acres it offers a variety of plants year-round.
Don and Lee Weakland, owners of the Flower Bin, have developed their business like they have grown their plants — with love and care. The Flower Bin sells annuals, perennials, vegetables, roses and nursery shrubs, cacti, herbs and houseplants. Staff is knowledgeable about the care of gardens from watering, fertilization and pest control.
For upcoming events and seasonal tips, people can check out its e-newsletter and blog.
Woodley’s Fine Furniture is celebrating its 41st anniversary. It is a family-owned business that has six showrooms in Colorado.
The company got its start in 1979, when Mike and Pat Woodley set out to create quality furniture made of wood that people could keep in their families for generations to come.
Artisans build furniture pieces to the customer’s requests using six types of wood and multiple types of stain. All furniture is built with the Colorado climate in mind.
Nonprofit of the Year
Cultivate is a Longmont nonprofit that helps seniors by giving them resources to complete everyday activities that might be challenging as they age.
Its Carry-out Caravan program helps seniors get groceries. VetsGo helps senior veterans and senior family members get to and from medical appointments. The Fix-it program helps seniors maintain their homes and get repairs on their assistive medical devices.
The Snowbusters program connects seniors to volunteers to shovel their walkways, while YardBusters helps them maintain their yards.
People can volunteer to participate or make donations through the Cultivate website.
Forty percent of food in the United States goes to waste, according to the National Resources Defense Council. Longmont Food Rescue’s goal is to reduce such waste. It collects food retailers would otherwise discard and distributes it to hungry, homeless and low-income individuals.
It also hosts Produce in the Park, a pop-up where anybody can show up to get free food. People are encouraged to ride their bikes, walk or take one of the free buses to reduce their environmental impact.
That approach is one the nonprofit embraces by transporting its food via bicycle.
Those who want to get involved in its mission can volunteer to deliver groceries, help with donor relations, or help with website maintenance and social media. To reach out, email [email protected].
Meals on Wheels is a known name for delivering prepared, hot and healthy meals to older adults, people with disabilities and others in need.
Longmont Meals on Wheels delivers more than 400 meals per day to people in need. Its menu consists of healthy and well-rounded meals to ensure participants are getting their nutritional needs satisfied.
Meals on Wheels also provides emergency pet assistance to clients. It helps owners find emergency boarding and care for their furry family. Clients who have pets should request a pet emergency information card so the Longmont Humane Society can be prepared to assist in their pet's needs.
Founded in 2008, PEARL — which stands for Providing, Empowerment and Acceptance through Resources and Love for Single Parents — is a faith-based organization helping single-parent families gain resources and community support.
Single parents who are receiving public assistance, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, receive coaching and support to attain skills to be self-sufficient and “ready to face the world with integrity and a sense of community.”
