In 1987 the City of Fountain established an Economic Development Commission to advise the City Council on matters that affect the City's economy and job base as provided by the City's Charter Article IV Section 4.5. Ordinance No. 751 was added to the Municipal Code Chapter 2.17 to establish the Committee.Chapter 2.17 defines the purpose, membership, eligibility, terms, organization and duties of the Committee. Economic development is also cited in the City's Comprehensive Development Plan and Strategic Downtown Plan.

The Commission's purpose is to provide for the orderly, progressive and diversified growth of economic base. Their duties are to:

• formulate goals and objectives,
• adopt economic development plans,
• implement the economic development plan through strategies,
• promote economic development,
• encourage development for current and future residents,
• diversify the economy for a stable base,
• fundraise, and
• perform other economic development activities.

The Commission reports to the Council monthly, through presentations, updates, meeting minutes and materials provided to the Council in their Council packets.

The Council set up the advisory group with 3 to 7 members, all City residents. They meet on the second Monday of every month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The committee currently has 7 members, with a Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. Activities are governed by the Economic Development Committee Bylaws and the Municipal Code. In 2003 the city hired for the first time an economic development director to work with the Economic Development Commission.

Current activities include:

• revitalization of key gateways to the city to upgrade Fountain's image as a community of quality, desirable to employers
• assembling packages to attract new business to Fountain, targeting specific businesses
• relationships with other agencies and commercial brokers, like the Colorado Springs EDC and Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, to maintain business prospecting and funding networks
• maintain current data critical to attracting businesses to Fountain and making it accessible and easy to use for site selectors and brokers
• ombudsman role with the business community, partnering with the Fountain Valley Chamber of Commerce
• conduit for community input regarding jobs and businesses desired
• retail marketing and promotion, including a signage program and interstate monuments
• FortCarson expansion and Highway 16 upgrade
• retention and expansion of key employers
• update economic development plan
• review best practices for economic incentive packages and recommend to City Council appropriate criteria by which to grant incentives to new and expanding businesses to Fountain.Screen requests for assistance to recommend Council action.