Office of Cultural and Economic Development

The City of Boulder’s Office of Cultural and Economic Development (OCED) serves the community by advancing opportunity, innovation and vibrancy through collaborative partnerships, informed investment and forward-looking policy. OCED brings together arts and culture, business support and economic development to strengthen Boulder’s creative and business ecosystems as interconnected drivers of community well-being.

By integrating cultural and economic strategies, OCED supports a resilient, inclusive and dynamic local economy - one where artists, entrepreneurs, small businesses and established industries can thrive side by side.

We envision a Boulder where creativity and commerce work together to fuel a thriving, equitable and innovative local economy.

The Office of Cultural and Economic Development advances this vision by:

• Promoting equity through an economy that is accessible and inclusive for artists, entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes.
• Building resilience by supporting sustainable practices and long-term economic stability.
• Fostering vibrancy in Boulder’s commercial areas so they remain active, welcoming and culturally rich.
• Encouraging innovation by supporting entrepreneurship, creative industries and emerging opportunities.
• Collaborating with partner organizations to support a healthy, accessible and sustainable economy.

The Office of Cultural and Economic Development leads and coordinates the city’s cultural and economic development efforts across three core areas:

Arts & Culture

We implement Boulder’s Arts Blueprint and support the creative sector as both a cultural asset and an economic engine by:

• Administering the Cultural Grants Program for artists and cultural organizations (including general operating support, project grants and venue fee waivers).
• Managing the Public Art Program, including permanent works and temporary experimental installations.
• Supporting artists, cultural organizations and creative spaces citywide through hosting educational workshops, coordinating artist meetups and conducting arts and culture research.

Business Support

We serve as the primary point of contact for Boulder’s business community, helping businesses start, grow and succeed by:

• Providing information and business assistance.
• Helping businesses navigate city processes and services and connect to business resources.
• Providing technical assistance including workshops, 1:1 advising and other technical assistance to small businesses through the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) serving Boulder County.
• Providing support for business disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
• Leading business retention, attraction and expansion efforts.

Economic Development

We focus on long-term, strategic initiatives that shape Boulder’s economic future by:

• Advancing redevelopment opportunities, including support of the Boulder Urban Renewal Authority, and leading cross-departmental efforts.
• Developing and managing partnerships with regional, state and private-sector partners.
• Conducting incentive analysis and negotiation to support targeted investment.
• Exploring opportunities in innovation and advanced industries.
• Leading planning for special districts, including the potential Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

Together, these functions allow OCED to support Boulder’s creative and business communities, strengthen commercial districts, address vacancies, and invest in initiatives that benefit the entire local economy.