Nominations are open through August 31 for Littleton’s 2026 Cutting-Edge Awards!  

Residents and business owners are encouraged to nominate businesses located in the Littleton city limits that demonstrate characteristics such as creativity, economic growth, community engagement, and sustainability.   

Littleton’s thriving arts and culture sector is also an economic powerhouse supporting hundreds of jobs and significant annual economic output, according to an Arts and Culture Economic Impact Report presented to city council July 28. 

The arts and culture sector drives $48.2 million in annual output, the report found, and supports 420 local jobs.  

The sector also represents a sort of “economic flywheel” effect, with arts and culture visitors representing 5 to 10% of Littleton’s annual lodging tax revenues — funds which are then used to support further arts, culture and tourism efforts. 

Arts and culture grants through the City of Littleton effectively pay for themselves, with 15% to 20% of distributed grant dollars directly recouped by the city via lodging taxes alone. 

Major arts and culture anchors like Hudson Gardens and Town Hall Arts Center serve as the catalysts for surrounding downtown restaurant, retail, and late-evening hospitality spending. 

Littleton's arts and culture sector contributes 0.92% to the City of Littleton’s gross domestic product, significantly beating the national average of 0.50% and the statewide average of 0.35%. 

The report recommended that Littleton should pursue a formal Creative District Designation via the Colorado Office of Economic Development, which could unlock state-level marketing and technical resources, compounding the city's current economic advantage. 

The report concluded that active municipal stewardship of these cultural assets will stabilize the local tax base while ensuring Littleton remains a vibrant, premier destination to live, work, and visit. 

The City of Littleton is developing a plan to guide the future of Littleton Boulevard, an important corridor that serves as a gateway into Downtown Littleton and a key connector for residents and visitors. Through Blueprint Boulevard, the project team is working with the community to create a shared vision and recommendations that: 

• Celebrate and strengthen the corridor’s historic character and identity; 

• Support local businesses; 

• Improve multimodal safety, comfort, and accessibility; 

• Enhance ecological sustainability and resiliency; 

• Create welcoming spaces for people to live, work, and visit. 

The project team is planning to conduct stakeholder listening sessions with businesses in the project study area in September to better understand their experience along Littleton Boulevard today and where they see opportunities for the future. Be on the lookout for communication from the project team for this engagement opportunity. This feedback will help shape the direction of the plan as it moves forward.  

Littleton Mayor Kyle Schlachter joined fellow regional leaders to talk economic development and local collaboration at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 State of the Cities event July 29.  

Schlachter, who is also chair of the Metro Mayors Caucus, discussed challenges and opportunities alongside fellow panelists Greeley Mayor Dale Hall, Lone Tree Mayor Marissa Harmon, and Golden Mayor Laura Weinberg.  

“A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the importance of strong partnerships between local governments and the business community,” according to the Denver Gazette.