CSI modeled five relocation scenarios ranging from 500 to 2,600 new USDA employees in Fort Collins. Under the full 2,600-person relocation:
Business output would rise by $1.4 billion
Colorado’s GDP would grow by $854 million
Employment would increase by 6,386 jobs
Personal income could grow by $608 million, with $514 million in disposable personal income
Even in the most conservative scenario (500 movers), Colorado still gains:
Ripple Effects Beyond Government Jobs: More than half of the projected job growth is expected to occur in the private sector. With 2,600 relocators, private non-farm employment would increase by 3,571 jobs, signaling robust spillover benefits across industries.
Strategic Location: Fort Collins offers access to Colorado State University—ranked among the top 25 agriculture science programs nationally—and proximity to nearly 200,000 agriculture-related jobs statewide. The USDA’s relocation is designed to streamline operations, decentralize decision-making, and improve connections with agricultural communities.
