Building Partnerships and Revitalizing Communities: Highlights from the 2025 TIF Summit
Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) hosted its annual Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Summit in Pueblo, marking five years of collaboration, learning, and innovation among Colorado’s urban renewal authorities, downtown development authorities, and local governments. This annual gathering has become a cornerstone for practitioners who are shaping their communities through creative financing and place-based revitalization.
Learning from Pueblo’s Leadership
The summit opened with a welcome from DCI’s Executive Director, who highlighted Pueblo’s ongoing success as a statewide model for redevelopment. Over the past decade, the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority has demonstrated how TIF can support both large-scale investments and small neighborhood improvements. This year’s sessions emphasized not only the financial mechanisms behind TIF, but also the partnerships, creativity, and perseverance required to make redevelopment work.
One of the featured presentations came from Melissa Cook, Director of Housing and Citizen Services for the City of Pueblo. She shared how Pueblo is using HUD’s Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program in conjunction with TIF revenues to remove blight and rebuild neighborhoods impacted by vacant, unsafe housing. The innovative model allows the city to access up to $7.5 million in resources while aligning urban renewal and housing goals—a demonstration of how federal, local, and community tools can work together for tangible results
A Hands-On Approach to Redevelopment
Participants spent the first afternoon touring key redevelopment sites across Pueblo, seeing firsthand how former industrial properties and underused corridors are being transformed into community assets. The tour showcased a mix of completed and emerging projects—proof that revitalization is a long-term process built on persistence, collaboration, and trust. The evening concluded with a networking dinner in downtown Pueblo, offering time for participants to connect, reflect, and celebrate shared progress.
Exploring Tools, Partnerships, and Peer Learning
Day two opened with peer-to-peer education. Attendees shared stories from across the state, reaffirming that the most powerful lessons often come from fellow practitioners who have faced similar challenges.
Sessions throughout the day showcased a mix of technical expertise, real-world examples, and group dialogue. After opening presentations from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Kansas State University’s Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) Program, participants dove into facilitated discussions exploring how TIF can be used as a public role in private redevelopment, especially in projects involving brownfields or vacant properties.
A major focus of the day was how to extend the impact of TIF beyond the typical 25-year district lifecycle. Panelists and local leaders discussed transitions from Urban Renewal Authorities (URAs) to Downtown Development Authorities (DDAs) and the importance of creating long-term community investment tools. Conversations also touched on bonding strategies, leveraging local matching funds, and expanding partnership rosters to include housing authorities, county governments, and nonprofit partners
Another key theme centered on supporting local small-scale and “accidental developers”—residents who become property investors out of love for their community. DCI shared updates on its upcoming Small Developer Workshop and coaching program, which will help local champions access expertise, capital, and support to make their redevelopment efforts successful and sustainable.
Throughout the day, attendees worked in discussion groups, guided by prompts tailored to beginner and advanced TIF users. Each table shared reflections on barriers to implementation, creative ways to structure public-private partnerships, and strategies for aligning TIF with broader community goals like housing, walkability, and cultural vitality.
The Spirit of Pueblo and the Future of TIF
Throughout the two days, a consistent theme emerged: Pueblo’s “get-it-done” attitude represents what makes TIF work in Colorado. Attendees praised the city’s collaborative culture and its willingness to take creative risks. As one participant put it, Pueblo shows that urban renewal isn’t just a financial mechanism—it’s a tool for building resilience, empowering local leaders, and creating great places for people.
The 2025 TIF Summit concluded with a renewed sense of purpose among Colorado’s redevelopment community: to invest in people, partnerships, and places that reflect local vision and long-term commitment.
Get Involved with DCI’s TIF Network
If you’re interested in learning more about DCI’s TIF programming or would like to become more involved in our urban renewal network, please fill out our short interest form. You can also explore additional TIF resources, case studies, and guidance materials on our website at https://staging.downtowncoloradoinc.org/ura-districts-resource-page/.