HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) is a Loveland, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conserves native plants, restores 275 acres of habitat in the Centerra community, runs a native plant nursery selling 180+ species, and delivers environmental education programs to homeowners, HOAs, schools, and developers in Northern Colorado.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersLoveland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER does
High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2001 and headquartered at 2698 Bluestem Willow Drive in Loveland, Colorado, with a 15-person staff operating three integrated pillars — Conservation, Education, and Restoration — under a registered guiding philosophy called SUBURBITAT (suburb + habitat). The organization manages 275 acres of restored native open space and 3.5 miles of public trails within the 3,000-acre Centerra master-planned community developed by McWhinney, while an affiliated entity, the High Plains Foundation, owns and maintains the underlying land and assets.
HPEC's core products include (1) a Native Plant Nursery selling 180+ species of Rocky Mountain-region native plants through a square.site online storefront with on-site pickup during an April–September sales window, using 5-inch air-pruning pots and pesticide-free integrated pest management; (2) Education Programs comprising classes, workshops, demonstration gardens, free downloadable resources, and a K-8 partnership with Thompson School District; and (3) Land Restoration Services offering adaptive management planning, native seeding, weed management, and ongoing stewardship. Additional visitor offerings include $5/person guided tours of demonstration gardens and free seasonal kayak rentals for adjacent residential communities on Houts Reservoir.
The revenue model is mission-first nonprofit pricing on plant sales (designed to meet production costs rather than generate profit), supplemented by donations via the Colorado Gives platform, modest tour fees, and likely grants and contract restoration work. HPEC serves a hybrid customer base — individual homeowners and HOAs seeking native landscaping, the Centerra/McWhinney development partnership, Thompson School District, the City of Loveland (e.g., Chaparu Sculpture Park test plots), and the general public visiting trails and gardens — with all operations confined to Northern Colorado and the broader Rocky Mountain region.
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
- Legal name
- High Plains Environmental Center
- Website
- https://suburbitat.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- High Plains Environmental Center (HPEC) is a Loveland, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that conserves native plants, restores 275 acres of habitat in the Centerra community, runs a native plant nursery selling 180+ species, and delivers environmental education programs to homeowners, HOAs, schools, and developers in Northern Colorado.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Conservation Services
- NAICS
- Landscaping Services (561730), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Landscape Installation (Plants, Sod & Soil) (HSAIABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Invasive Species Control & Site Restoration (Pre/Post Planting) (AFAMACAN), Invasive Species & Vegetation Management (Woody Plants) (HSAIADAI)
Keywords
Where HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Loveland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Native Plant Sales: Online plant sales through square.site storefront; plants available April through September; customers order online and pick up in person; nonprofit pricing model designed to meet production costs rather than generate profit.
- Donations: 501(c)(3) nonprofit accepting donations through Colorado Gives platform (coloradogives.org)
- Guided Tours: Group tours of demonstration gardens offered at $5/person, 1-2 hours duration
- Kayak Rentals: Free kayak rentals for residents of Lakes at Centerra or Lake Vista Apts on Houts Reservoir, Memorial Day to Labor Day
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Guided Garden Tours |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Kayak Rental |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Native Plants |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER product offering
Product offeringCore offering
High Plains Environmental Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that restores native ecosystems within suburban environments through three service pillars under its SUBURBITAT philosophy: a Native Plant Nursery that grows and sells over 180 species of Rocky Mountain native plants via an online storefront with in-person pickup; Education programs including classes, workshops, demonstration gardens, and free resources; and Restoration services covering adaptive management planning, native seeding, noxious weed management, and stewardship of 275 acres of restored open space and 3.5 miles of public trails.
Product overview
High Plains Environmental Center operates as a non-profit organization offering three interconnected service pillars under the SUBURBITAT philosophy: Conservation (Native Plant Nursery with 180+ species), Education (programs, classes, workshops, demonstration gardens), and Restoration (land management services). The organization also provides visitor access to 275 acres of restored open space with 3.5 miles of trails, guided tours, and seasonal kayak rentals. The Native Plant Nursery sells plants via an online Square store with in-person pickup, while Education Programs encompass classes, workshops, and free resources. Land Restoration Services offer ecological monitoring, weed management, and native seeding. The portfolio is unified by the SUBURBITAT ethic—demonstrating how people and nature can thrive together on the same land.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Native Plant Nursery A conservation-focused nursery that grows and sells over 180 species of native plants for the Rocky Mountain Region, supporting homeowners, HOAs, and land managers in creating pollinator-friendly and sustainable landscapes. The nursery operates seasonal plant sales from April through September via online ordering with in-person pickup.
- Education Programs Classes, workshops, demonstration gardens, free downloadable resources, social events, and educational videos that teach the public how to garden with native plants, support pollinators, and conserve or restore local ecosystems.
- Land Restoration Services Restoration ecology services including adaptive management planning, ecological monitoring, native seeding and planting projects, noxious weed management, and ongoing land stewardship for converting disturbed landscapes into biodiverse ecosystems.
- Demonstration Gardens and Trails 3.5 miles of public trails and demonstration gardens open dawn to dusk daily, featuring native plant installations, a bioswale, medicine wheel garden, wild zone outdoor classroom, heirloom fruit orchard, and interpretive signage.
- Guided Tours Guided group tours of native plant demonstration gardens lasting 1-2 hours, led by staff, covering the history, philosophy, and functions of the environmental center. Priced at $5 per person.
- Kayak Rentals Free kayak rentals for residents of Lakes at Centerra or Lake Vista Apartments to kayak on Houts Reservoir from Memorial Day to Labor Day. HPEC provides paddles, lifejackets, and whistles with self-service pickup.
- Native Plant Sale Online Store Online ordering platform via Square for purchasing native plants with in-person pickup at the nursery site. The sale runs April through September annually.
- SUBURBITAT Book A book by Executive Director Jim Tolstrup titled 'SUBURBITAT: A Guide to Restoring Nature Where We Live, Work, and Play,' published to share the philosophy of integrating suburbia and native ecosystems.
Companies that use HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Thompson School DistrictcoreOpened a pre-K through 8 school adjacent to HPEC in 2016, designed to foster collaborative relationship. School emphasizes STEAM curriculum with strong focus on science and environmental sustainability.
- National Wildlife Federation (NWF)corePartnership for Community Wildlife Habitat certification. Centerra became Colorado's first NWF Community Wildlife Habitat in partnership with HPEC. HPEC helps certify home gardens, schools, and businesses within the Centerra community.
- Various Landowners and OrganizationsminorNursery staff work with landowners and organizations to collect wild seed from diverse populations for native plant propagation, maintaining genetic diversity.
- Colorado State University (CSU)minorStaff members hold degrees from CSU (Rangeland Ecology, Horticulture, Natural Resource Management). Collaboration on educational resources and native plant research.
- McWhinney Development (Centerra)coreCenterra, a 3,000-acre master-planned community developed by the McWhinneys, partnered with HPEC. HPEC manages 275 acres of habitat within Centerra. HPEC founded in 2001 as collaborative effort with McStain Enterprises and McWhinney development.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER social profiles
Digital presenceHIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles17 records
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER
What does HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER do?
High Plains Environmental Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that restores native ecosystems within suburban environments through three service pillars under its SUBURBITAT philosophy: a Native Plant Nursery that grows and sells over 180 species of Rocky Mountain native plants via an online storefront with in-person pickup; Education programs including classes, workshops, demonstration gardens, and free resources; and Restoration services covering adaptive management planning, native seeding, noxious weed management, and stewardship of 275 acres of restored open space and 3.5 miles of public trails.
Is HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER a public or private company?
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER founded?
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER based?
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER is headquartered in Loveland, United States, in the North America region.
How does HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Native Plant Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations, guided Tours and kayak Rentals.
Does HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER have an API?
No public API is recorded for HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER.
What industry is HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER in?
HIGH PLAINS ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER's product category is Environmental Conservation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAIABAB, Landscape Installation (Plants, Sod & Soil), with a secondary code of AFAMACAN, Invasive Species Control & Site Restoration (Pre/Post Planting). Its NAICS code is 561730 and its SIC code is 700.