Local Entrepreneurs, Lasting Impact: Meet Village Barbershop and Nourish Mind and Body

When local entrepreneurs grow, the whole community benefits. Through Elevar, Eagle Valley Community Foundation supports emerging business owners with bilingual education, mentorship, coaching, and startup resources that help turn ideas into sustainable businesses. But the impact of Elevar does not stop at graduation.

This summer, two Elevar graduate businesses, Village Barbershop and Nourish Mind and Body, partnered with MIRA to bring health, wellness, and connection directly to community members.

Village Barbershop joined MIRA as part of an effort to engage more men and families in conversations about health. By offering haircuts and creating a welcoming space for connection, Village Barbershop helped make outreach feel approachable, familiar, and community-centered. For many men, a trusted barbershop is more than a place for a haircut. It is a place where conversations happen, relationships are built, and people feel seen. Through this partnership, Village Barbershop helped open the door to important conversations about preventive care, mental health, family support, and local resources.

Nourish Mind and Body is also partnering with MIRA by offering monthly fitness classes for community members. These classes create an accessible space for movement, wellness, and connection, helping participants care for their physical and emotional well-being in a supportive environment. By bringing fitness directly into a trusted community setting, Nourish Mind and Body helps remove barriers and encourages families to build healthy habits in ways that feel welcoming and sustainable.

Together, these partnerships show what is possible when EVCF programs work across the organization. Elevar invests in local entrepreneurs. MIRA connects families to health, wellness, and resources. When these programs come together, small businesses have the opportunity to grow while also helping meet real community needs.

This is the power of community-based economic mobility. When entrepreneurs are supported, they are able to reinvest their talents back into the place they call home. They create jobs, build trust, strengthen local networks, and provide services that reflect the culture, language, and lived experiences of the community.

Village Barbershop and Nourish Mind and Body are examples of entrepreneurs using their businesses as vehicles for impact. Their partnership with MIRA reminds us that local businesses are essential partners in building a healthier, more connected Eagle County.

Elevar graduates are not only building businesses. They are building belonging, opportunity, and lasting community change.