Longmont has become the first city in the United States to be named a United Nations Resilience Hub. This international recognition honors the city’s strong leadership in preparing for disasters and building a stronger, safer community.
The award comes from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) through its Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) program. It highlights Longmont’s big-picture approach to protecting people, property, and the environment. The city’s planning, investment in safer infrastructure, and focus on long-term benefits helped it stand out.
“Longmont is proud to be recognized as a Resilience Hub by the United Nations,” said City Manager Harold Dominguez. “This honor reflects years of innovative planning, teamwork across all levels of government, and a steady focus on protecting our community’s future.”
Longmont received the highest level of recognition in the MCR2030 program – Stage C – which is given to cities that use advanced strategies to reduce risk and recover from disasters. Longmont now joins a global network of Resilience Hubs that includes cities like Dubai, Venice, Mexico City, and Incheon. This shows that even mid-sized cities can lead the way in resilience.
One major reason Longmont earned this honor is the Resilient St. Vrain Project, which reduces flood risk and works to protect neighborhoods from flooding. This project uses natural features, is financially sound, and gained international attention. The city also works on wildfire planning and climate change adaptation as part of its “whole community” approach to resilience.
Longmont also works closely with partner organizations through its Sister Cities program and other partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels. These efforts helped show that Longmont is a model for resilience that other cities can learn from. As a Resilience Hub, Longmont will now help other communities improve their own disaster planning and recovery.
“This recognition isn’t just about what we’ve done,” said Peter Gibbons, Recovery Officer. “It’s also a promise to keep learning, leading, and supporting others as we build a more resilient world.”
To learn more about Longmont, visit: longmontcolorado.gov
To learn more about the Making Cities Resilient 2030 program, visit: mcr2030.undrr.org
