Cost-Benefit Analysis Shows Investing in Our Future Pays Off
A study completed after the first two years of implementing the Climate Smart Future Ready (CSFR) initiative in Larimer County indicates that YES, there is a benefit being realized in our community through the implementation of this initiative.
Across the full portfolio of projects in CSFR, the County and its partners collectively invested just over $4 million, plus $13.4 million in grants and $28.4 million from the voter-approved open space land preservation tax, for a total of $45.7 million. In return, CSFR produced an estimated $68 million to $321 million in community benefits. This translates to a conservative program-level social return on investment (SROI) between 2.5:1 and 7:1, meaning every $1 invested today is generating at least $2.50 to $7.00 in value for residents and businesses.
The report shows that many of CSFR’s impacts lie in laying the groundwork for future returns. CSFR also delivers significant indirect benefits that do not show up in traditional ROI calculations but are essential to Larimer County’s long-term resilience as a region. CSFR strengthens the County and partners’ capacity to secure external funding by preparing required plans and increasing local alignment and readiness to implement large-scale projects. To find out more, read the report or view the summary presentation.
