Downtown Fort Collins businesses have a new sponsorship opportunity through the Downtown Business Association.

The DBA has begun offering businesses the opportunity to become annual sponsors of the association, affording them co-marketing with the DBA and branding opportunities at DBA events.

Four businesses have signed on for the program so far, according to DBA Executive Director Michael Short: First National Bank, Dellenbach, American Eagle Distributors and the Eye Center of Northern Colorado.

Exact sponsorship amounts aren’t being revealed, Short said, but they range between $15,000 and $30,000 per year, and the DBA is “very selective” about those businesses with which it partners.

The DBA plays host to more than 70 events downtown in most years, Short said, and only two of those, the Colorado Brewers’ Festival and First Night Fort Collins, charge admission. Admittance to the rest of the events is free.

The DBA will use the new revenues it derives from the sponsorships to develop its business in a few ways. One of those is by launching new events, such as FORToberfest, brand-new to Fort Collins this year.

The event will be held Sept. 21-22 in