Weiser, Idaho
Washington County — Population 5,803
183 locally led projects and $1.4M+ invested since 2024
Where the northern Treasure Valley meets the Snake River, Weiser embodies the many intersections of the modern-day West. Home to generational farms, orchards, and ranches, Weiser also hosts vibrant arts, budding outdoor recreation, and a growing number of residents investing in a downtown revival. Led by strong local institutions, Weiser is still a place where people volunteer with their churches, gather at the library, and bond over high school football. And those who call it home are invested: When surveyed, nearly three in four said they had helped their neighbors or the Weiser community at least once in the past year.
Monte Vista, Colorado
Rio Grande County — Population 4,178
238 projects and $1.8M+ invested since 2022
Nestled in the heart of the San Luis Valley, Monte Vista wears its agricultural history on its sleeve: Center pivots water alfalfa, barley, and potato fields adjacent to the municipal limits and farm-equipment suppliers and processing facilities skirt town, where 69% of residents are Hispanic. A full calendar of community festivals reflect the Monte Vista’s rich and varied cultural assets: the San Luis Valley Potato Festival in September, the Crane Festival in March, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and the boisterous Ski Hi Stampede rodeo, anchored by an $8.5 million rodeo ground and convention center that the community came together to raise funds for in 2020. Monte Vista’s historic buildings continue to see upgrades, too. A new hotel is coming in late 2026, the historic railroad depot is being renovated, and an unused church has been transformed into a community art space.
Buffalo, Wyoming
Johnson County — Population 4,415
16 projects and $75,000 invested since 2026
Situated on the eastern edge of the Bighorn Mountains, and the western edge of the country’s largest coal mining basin, three iconically Western themes intersect in Buffalo: mountains, mining, and ranching. When it comes to getting things done Buffalo has more moxie than you might expect of a town its size. The town boasts 17 nonprofits, a unique senior citizen district that provides services for the nearly 30% of residents over the age of 65, and a multi-generational legacy of showing up for each other. To wit: When the House Draw Fire of 2024 burned more than 174,000 acres of cattle and sheep ranchland, the community raised $81,000 in relief in a single night at the Ashes to Table dinner.
Cortez, Colorado
Montezuma County — Population 8,898
468 projects and $3.7M+ invested since 2021
Located in the Four Corners region, in the shadow of Mesa Verde, Cortez’s remote location inspires self-sufficiency and connection. It’s why Cortez serves as a beacon for both innovation and community engagement. Residents here have developed creative projects addressing food security, the arts, mental health, and dozens of other areas. For example, Cortez locals have launched a makerspace devoted to entrepreneurship and workforce development, and are raising a bison herd to supply protein to local food pantries. Even young residents are involved in solving community problems: LOR has supported nearly a dozen community projects led by local youth, some as young as the fifth grade.