Niwot Business Association

The nonprofit organization that promotes Niwot's commercial district, preserves the historic downtown, and serves as the voice of local business.

Mission

The Niwot Business Association (NBA) is a nonprofit organized to promote the economic and commercial well-being of businesses in the Niwot Business Area, encourage preservation of the Niwot Historic District, and contribute positively to the community.

The NBA works closely with the Local Improvement District (LID), which provides funding for downtown beautification, marketing, and events through a 1% sales tax on businesses within the district.

Leadership

Role in the Minimum Wage Fight

When Boulder County passed its $25/hour minimum wage ordinance in 2023, the NBA became one of the primary organizations through which Niwot business owners organized their response. Jim Schaefer began building a working group through the NBA, which grew into the Boulder County Farms and Jobs Alliance.

It was through the NBA that Nicholas Little was invited to present to the Niwot Future League in June 2025 — the meeting where the group voted to investigate incorporation.

Role in the Incorporation Effort

The NBA as an organization has not taken a formal position on incorporation. Individual NBA members and leaders participate in the incorporation effort in their personal capacities. Deborah Fowler, the current NBA president, also serves as Community Engagement Lead for the Incorporation Committee.

The relationship between the NBA, the LID, and a potential town government is one of the questions the incorporation effort is working through. The LID is currently a Boulder County entity — if Niwot incorporates, the new town government would likely assume the rights and obligations of the LID.