Small business center slates grand opening

A Thornton business center open to all Adams County small businesses will celebrate its grand opening with food trucks, games and cash prizes Saturday, June 12.

The city opened the Alliance/Alianza Business Assistance Center, 550 E. Thornton Parkway. in October but postponed the grand opening due to COVD-19.

The grand opening celebration is now set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 12 inside and outside of the center.

Equal parts co-working space and business counseling, the center is free to use for small and home-based businesses in Adams County. It offers free programs and consulting to both Spanish and English-speaking business owners and individuals looking to start a business.

The office also has four different work areas with multiple desks. That includes socially distanced meeting spaces and multiple large flat-screen monitors linked to cameras, specially designed for hosting or attending virtual meetings, like the Zoom or Go to Meeting platforms.

The center also has 20 laptop computers that can be used in the building.

“The city of Thornton is excited to offer free co-working and meeting space, unique counseling opportunities and new workshop content in English and Spanish, all provided by the best business service providers in Colorado,” Alliance Center Manager Robin Martinez said in a written statement.

It’s funded jointly by the city’s federal CARES Act allocation by the Colorado Small Business Development Center, Mi Casa Resource Center and SCORE, a federal non-profit that pairs entrepreneurs with small business counselors.

Business counseling will be a big part of the Alliance Center’s offerings, Martinez said. The list of events is available at thealliancebusinesscenter.com under the “Events”.

The grand opening day’s activities will include a Mayoral Proclamation and ribbon cutting with Thornton City Council members at 10 a.m.

This event will also feature food trucks and drink vendors, a cornhole tournament with $600 in cash prizes, entertainment, a DJ and tours of the center. Moose Sports will sponsor and organize the cornhole tournament. To pre-pay and register for the tournament, contact Tony Romo at 720-243-3627. Tournament proceeds benefit a local family in need.

This is a free community event, and everyone is welcome. For more information, call 720-674-3547 or visit TheAllianceBusinessCenter.com.