About Us
Uplifting & Preserving
This is the other side of Colorado, where small towns mean big culture. The North Fork Valley, consisting of Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Crawford, has become home to something special — a thriving community of visionary artists, organic and regenerative farms, bold creative businesses, and a quality of life that's hard to find anywhere else. The North Fork Valley Creative Coalition, a nonprofit, was conceived to uplift and preserve this unique culture and help the local economy thrive through a series of important initiatives.
We proudly manage the Paonia Creative District as a state-certified district in the Colorado Creative Industries Creative District Program, host the free community events of Mountain Harvest Festival, Paonia Holiday Festival, Pickin’ in the Park, Paonia Final Friday Art Walk, and Hotchkiss Second Fridays, facilitate a business growth program, fiscally sponsor Paonia Clayworks, and spearhead destination marketing for the region.
Our vision is to grow the valley’s economy by:
Supporting artists and creative entrepreneurs to prosper through skill development, network building, and accountability structures
Revitalizing and beautifying our community through wayfinding, placemaking, and public art commissions
Produce high quality events that uplift local culture and bring economic infusion to local business and creators
Thoughtfully attracting more visitors to learn about our way of life
What We Offer Members
The North Fork Valley isn't just a place to make art. It's a place to live it.
As an NFVCC member, you plug into a living, breathing creative ecosystem with real resources, real spaces, and real people behind you.
Business Growth Program Access
We recently launched our full-fledged business growth program! Members will have access to monthly business skills development class, co-working space in Downtown Paonia and monthly accountability and networking groups.
Marketing and Visibility
Members enjoy being listed in our online Creative Directory, amplification and promotion on our social media channels including North Fork Valley Creative Coalition and Visit North Fork Valley, CO, and in our twice monthly newsletter.
Vendor Perks
Receive priority selection and discounts for vending fees at our signature events: Pickin’ in the Park, Mountain Harvest Festival, and Paonia Holiday Festival.
Your membership also supports our work to…
Advance our community’s unique culture at the intersection of arts and agriculture
Promote sustainable tourism and economic development in the North Fork Valley, including a central events calendar for our community
Keeping community events like Mountain Harvest Festival, Pickin in the Park, and Paonia Holiday Festival free to the public
Placemaking, wayfinding, and public art commissions
Monthly events like Paonia Final Friday Art Walks and Hotchkiss Second Fridays
Cultivate relationships with town, state, local entities, and external stakeholders to improve funding, resource opportunities, and collaborative programming for Delta County
Meet Our Team
History & Heritage
From the Ground Up
The North Fork Valley Creative Coalition was born in 2012 from a simple question: how do we uplift the creatives, artists, farmers, and makers of this Valley?
From that spark, Paonia became a state-certified Creative District that same year, and the work began. Over the next decade the organization grew steadily, commissioning public art, taking on legacy events in the Valley, and amplifying a membership of creatives who call this valley home.
In 2022 the NFVCC took over the beloved Mountain Harvest Festival, keeping one of the Valley's most treasured traditions alive. In 2026 we're expanding into a business support program to bring more stability to our entrepreneurial community.
Today we're in our second decade—evolving, growing, and more connected to this community than ever.
Our Valley Home
Tucked into Colorado's Western Slope, the North Fork Valley has been home to ranchers, orchardists, farmers, and coal miners since the 1880s. The unique terrior, paired with pristine snowmelt waters, and Certified Dark Skies, creates ideal growing conditions for fruit trees and grapes, making this Colorado’s Organic Food & Wine Region.
Today roughly 9,000 people spread across Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Crawford choose this valley intentionally. Artists and growers, vintners and old-timers, newcomers who discovered what generations before them already knew: this place is beautiful, isolated, challenging, and absolutely worth it.
You won’t forget the peaches or the people.
The Fine Print
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The North Fork Valley Creative Coalition is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (EIN: 46-2288267). All donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for contributions unless otherwise noted. You will receive a receipt for your records upon completing your donation.
The NFVCC is registered to solicit charitable contributions in the state of Colorado. Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the Colorado Secretary of State's office.
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Last updated: 2026
The North Fork Valley Creative Coalition ("NFVCC") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you visit our website or interact with our organization.
What We Collect We may collect your name, email address, mailing address, and payment information when you donate, become a member, sign up for our newsletter, or register for an event.
How We Use It We use your information only to process transactions, communicate with you about NFVCC news and events, and improve our programs and services. We do not sell, trade, or share your personal information with third parties except as required to process payments or comply with the law.
Payments All donations and membership payments are processed through secure third-party payment processors. NFVCC does not store your credit card information.
Email Communications If you subscribe to our newsletter you may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email or by contacting us directly.
Cookies Our website may use cookies to improve your browsing experience. You can instruct your browser to refuse cookies at any time.
Contact Us Questions about this policy can be directed to: North Fork Valley Creative Coalition PO Box 143, Paonia, CO 81428 nfvcreativecoalition@gmail.com
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Last updated: 2026
The North Fork Valley Creative Coalition is committed to creating an inclusive, welcoming community for everyone. We believe that creativity flourishes when all people feel seen, respected, and valued.
Our Commitment The NFVCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, veteran status, socioeconomic background, or any other characteristic protected by law. This applies to membership, volunteering, event participation, employment, and all programs and services we offer.
Our Events and Programs All NFVCC events, festivals, workshops, and programs are open and welcoming to every member of our community. We are committed to making our spaces and experiences as accessible as possible for people of all abilities.
Our Members and Partners We expect the same spirit of inclusion from our members, volunteers, sponsors, and partners. Discriminatory behavior of any kind at NFVCC events or within NFVCC spaces will not be tolerated.
Accessibility We are actively working to ensure our website, events, and programs are accessible to people with disabilities. If you need an accommodation or have an accessibility concern please contact us and we will do our best to help.
Reporting a Concern If you experience or witness discriminatory behavior in connection with the NFVCC please contact us directly. All concerns will be taken seriously and handled with care and confidentiality.
North Fork Valley Creative Coalition PO Box 143, Paonia, CO 81428 nfvcreativecoalition@gmail.com
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The North Fork Valley Creative Coalition is an approved Contribution Project in Colorado’s Enterprise Zone Tax Credits Program. Donations over $250 are eligible for tax credits if there is a Colorado state tax liability. You can find out more about the benefits to donors here.
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You can find our organization’s tax returns (990 forms) for the last 3 years here: