Communities
LOR works with small towns in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
We work with communities that have between about 1,500 and 8,000 residents. In rural areas like these, limited services and support mean that local leadership is not just valuable, it’s essential. In the seven towns where we currently provide funding, that leadership is on display every day, with regular people coming up with and leading projects that help their communities. The challenges in each place might be unique, but the imagination, resilience, and collaboration of the locals coming together to create solutions remains consistent.
Buffalo, Wyoming
Johnson County (pop. 4,415)
27 projects and $133K 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.
Weiser, Idaho
Washington County (pop. 5,803)
193 locally led projects and $1.5M+ invested since 2023
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.
Questa, New Mexico
Taos County (pop. 2,112)
231 locally led projects and $1.9M+ since 2023
Officially settled in 1842, many families living in this agricultural village at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains trace their roots back to the 17th century. Over those four centuries, they’ve witnessed wars, wildfires, and economic whim (Chevron mined molybdenum here for more than 60 years before shuttering operations in 2014). Through it all, Questa has met each challenge with an indomitable community spirit born of centuries of generational grit. You can see that legacy reflected in some of Questa’s central buildings, like St. Anthony’s Catholic church, an 1800s-era adobe structure that partially collapsed in 2008 and was restored over the course of five years by locals who spent more than 41,000 volunteer hours and donated nearly $1 million. Today Questa’s resilient residents are turning their attention to things like preserving the area’s agricultural history while expanding economic opportunities for youth, particularly the growing outdoor recreation and tourism sector.
Monte Vista, Colorado
Rio Grande County (pop. 4,178)
244 projects and $1.9M+ 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.
Libby, Montana
Lincoln County (pop. 2,948)
348 locally led projects and $3.1M+ invested since 2022
Tucked in the mountain valleys of northwest Montana, Libby’s rich natural resources continue to shape the community. A longtime logging, mining, and manufacturing community, Libby is surrounded by the Kootenai River, Cabinet Mountains, and many public lands that offer new economic opportunities. This dynamic community is also leading the way in rural Montana when it comes to creating strong local workforce pipelines and mental health programs that reach youth and vulnerable residents. For example, after one Libby local launched a hospitality workforce training program, it proved so successful that the Montana Department of Labor & Industry expanded it to seven other rural communities across the state.
Taos, New Mexico
Taos County (pop. 6,468)
444 locally led projects and $4.3M+ since 2020
Artists and snow sports enthusiasts have been flocking to the Land of Enchantment for decades, but they’re the newcomers. The Taos Pueblo has been continuously inhabited for nearly 1,000 years; the Spanish followed, and then Mexico and the U.S. Today the tides of history are visible along Taos’ winding alleys and outlying open space—on its adobe buildings, in the quiet ripples of its acequia system, in the vibrant hues of the galleries lining the plaza, and, of course, in the powder stashes of Taos Ski Valley. While great wealth and great poverty both exist in this town, the community collectively is rich in imagination, resilience, and collaboration—and it’s passionate about protecting its legacy and its people: More than 100 nonprofits serving everything from the arts to agriculture call Taos home, and the town recently commissioned cultural asset map to ensure the the tides of modern history don’t erase the legacy upon which Taos was built.
Cortez, Colorado
Montezuma County (pop. 8,898)
476 projects and $3.8M+ 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.
Lander, Wyoming
Fremont County (pop. 7,546)
500+ projects and $3.7M+ invested since 2020
Tucked along the base of the Wind River Range in central Wyoming, Lander is a renowned outdoor recreation destination, home to world-class rock climbing in Sinks Canyon and hundreds of miles of hikeable, fishable, campable wilderness. Before it was an adventure travel destination, though, Lander’s economy centered largely on agriculture and mining. U.S. Steel closed its iron ore mine in 1983, but agriculture still plays a critical role in the community along with health care and education. The Wind River Indian Reservation borders Lander to the north and plays an important cultural role in the larger Lander community, where 10% of residents are Native American. Like many rural Western towns, Lander struggles with affordable housing, food security, and mental health care access, but according to a 2025 survey of Lander residents, 95% think that life in Lander is “excellent” or “good.” What’s more, 85% of Lander residents believe they can make a positive impact in their community—and that shows: During LOR’s six-year tenure in Lander, locals led more than 500 projects to improve quality of life.