The fertile triangle: Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland blossom into dynamic communities.

• Author: Couch, Jan
• Position: Northern Colorado Regional Advertising Report

The plains of north central Colorado are rich in Western history, agricultural roots and gritty work ethics. The wide expanses of fertile soils, spreading out from the banks of the Platte, Cache la Poudre, Big Thompson and St. Vrain rivers, almost guaranteed that the region would someday become one of the country's most prolific food producers. Today, ranching and farming continue to define the area's commerce and industry, but that original frontier spirit has mushroomed into something much bigger. The bustling cities of Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley are consistently rated among the best medium-sized communities in the United States, providing a well-educated and dependable workforce, an exceptional lifestyle, excellent educational resources and cultural amenities that rival those of major metropolitan areas. No wonder accolades and opportunities are measured by the acres, if not square miles!

Fort Collins: From Outpost to "In" Post

Fort Collins, named in honor of Col. William Collins, grew out of a Civil War outpost, which guarded the Overland Stage Route. More than a century later, Fort Collins has become one of the most popular communities in Colorado, with its beautiful subdivisions, exceptional parks and recreational amenities, strong corporate presence and varied retail markets. The first-class lifestyle is enhanced by the presence of Colorado State University, one of the state's premier academic posts known nationally for its veterinary medicine, climatology, biotechnology and civil engineering programs.

For some observers, the question might be, "What's to improve?"

"In terms of Fort Collins' evolution, we're moving into a stage of enhancing our community," says Assistant City Manager Frank Bruno. "We've got a great university, a great business community, and a wonderful cultural arts environment, but even with all that, we can still work to enhance those areas."

For instance, Bruno is working hard to see that the city builds a new performing arts complex, a larger venue than the current Lincoln Center, that would attract larger and more varied attractions to Fort Collins. Construction of a new cultural arts facility would enhance an already vibrant downtown and Old Town community, he says.

At the same time, Corporate America is thriving in other areas of the city, with thousands of residents heading off to work at Hewlett-Packard, Woodward Governor, Teledyne-Water Pik and Anheuser Busch.

"Still, we can't rest on their laurels," said Bruno, who inspired the creation of the Fort Collins Virtual...