The Town of Windsor, Colorado, is a community admired for its residents’ quality of life, which also draws tourists from near and far. This attraction is part of the reason Windsor has grown so rapidly, and why efforts are underway to preserve—and reinforce—the appeal of this Colorado town.
One of the largest draws is that Windsor is a community where outdoor recreation is prime, thanks to features like Hoedown Hill and Raindance National Golf Course, the longest winter tubing hill and longest golf course in the nation, respectively, which attract residents and visitors alike. Certainly, the trails, green spaces, and lifestyles these amenities afford all play their part, but in reality, so much more is going on behind the scenes that contributes to this way of life and community vitality, particularly as the population continues to grow.
From Director of Economic Development Evan Wendlandt’s perspective, “We’ve dealt with a fast-growing community and an opportunity with continued population growth. We’ve done a good job of infrastructure improvement, but we’re at that point where we’re taking ourselves to the next phase,” to ensure that services and amenities keep pace with growth.
To support Windsor’s booming population, the leadership and economic development team is focusing on bolstering these amenities with greater retail, infrastructure, and service delivery offerings. Improving economic diversity and strength will support these efforts, and the plethora of projects underway strongly suggest that this strategy is working.
Developing opportunities
“There’s been a lot of development on the east side of town, around the Windsor-Severance Corridor—the gateway between the two communities,” says Wendlandt of the burgeoning partnership between the two communities. “We have really been the beneficiary of the two growing communities and this development will help serve their community as well as ours,” he shares.
One such development is Hollister Lake Marketplace, a 45-acre King Soopers-anchored commercial development with 14 pad sites due to commence construction early in 2026, which is a welcome addition for both communities.
Business Development Manager Terry Schwindler remarks on the significant potential the site holds: “We’re at that tipping point where we’re big enough to start being seen by national retailers and chain restaurants as a viable community for expansion. Now that we have the available inventory, these pad sites are going to go fast.”
Bolstering local investment
Close to bigger communities like Greeley, Fort Collins, and Loveland, Windsor’s residents have access to all the services and amenities they could want, but that often comes with traffic and congestion. The reality is that they would rather use their buying power to support the local economy. As Schwindler notes, “They’re tired of leaving the community and spending their tax dollars elsewhere,” which is why Windsor is so dedicated to growing its retail base.
The fruits of this labor can be seen all around the community, but specifically at the interchange of Interstate 25 and Highway 392, one of the few interstate exits in Northern Colorado that remain underdeveloped—but not for long.
Further, Martin Lind-backed investments like the Bass Pro Shops under development in Loveland will, as Schwindler notes, “be another catalyst for retail and commercial investment, and we see the opportunity continuing to grow along that corridor.”
Windsor also boasts site availability at two smaller developments: Windsor Villages at Ptarmigan, which is approximately 28 acres in size; and an unnamed potential development adjacent to it at Highway 392 and County Road 5 that offers approximately 17 acres, which is ideal for a number of retail and commercial uses.
As Wendlandt notes, “We’re also committed to diversifying our economy with more manufacturing jobs to help bolster and balance our economy. And while we are somewhat considered a bedroom community because we’re located between three major municipalities, the opportunity for individuals to live, work, and play here is another commitment by our team.”
Wendlandt notes that Windsor is involved in a regional marketing effort through the Northern Colorado Regional Economic Development Initiative (NoCo REDI), which will further advance its economic development goals and strategies. A regional partnership is also underway between Windsor, Greeley, and Johnstown, supported by economic development partners, to conduct a market study and a strategic plan around chip manufacturing and the related supply chain.
To ensure that the town can sustain this growth, efforts are underway to expand wastewater treatment in the community as well as broadband access, which will be welcomed by residents and businesses alike and could open more doors to opportunity.
Room to grow (and ready for it)
One thing that Windsor, Colorado, does have is room to grow, residentially, commercially, and industrially—but the growth must be sustainable and preserve the existing quality of life. Already home to neighborhoods attracting new residents from all walks of life, Windsor is conducting a housing study to determine where, if any, gaps in the market exist, including the provision of services and amenities such as parks, recreation, and infrastructure, which are not only attractive to residents, but prospective investors as well (another area where gaps are being addressed).
There is also a commitment to preserving green space. Earlier this summer, Windsor secured 300 acres for $30 million to preserve open space and establish some development limits around the community, as well as create trails and outdoor spaces for the enjoyment of residents and visitors, making the town a true one-stop shop for recreational tourism.
Wendlandt also has a perspective on the previously proposed community sports complex: “We would like to see the Future Legends Sports Complex come to fruition with the current owner or whatever the next iteration looks like. The pieces are in place; the community is still a partner in it. We want to see its success, and hope to help see it through.”
Navigating uncertainty with grace
Uncertainty is and always has been a part of economic development, but trying to mitigate the challenges it brings will remain a focus of Windsor’s economic development team moving forward as it seeks to secure the economic vitality and community vibrancy that its residents, businesses, and visitors have come to know and love.
For Wendlandt, “It is a major area of focus and opportunity for us to continue to take our small, robust, hometown community, bring it to the next phase, but never lose our flavor and vision of who we want to be.”
And, whether the town grows to 60,000 people or beyond, it has the strategy, the capacity, and the commitment of the community and its leaders to forge ahead with economic development and infrastructure investments that will support its growth long into the future.
