AUGUST 29, 2026 — Officials in Longmont, Colorado, have narrowed a pool of 89 applicants down to seven artists in an ongoing effort to replace the municipality’s 51-year-old official flag, reports the Longmont Times-Call.
The initiative follows a decision by the Longmont City Council to update the municipal banner, which local authorities have framed around upcoming civic milestones, including the state of Colorado’s upcoming sesquicentennial. The existing banner, adopted in April 1975 following a community contest, was designed by former United States Army information officer Glenn R. Troester as a low-cost, utilitarian symbol featuring geometric shapes on a white field to form an intertwined “L” and “C.”
During the review session, panelists evaluated artistic samples and preliminary design approaches. Initial concepts submitted by the candidates incorporated symbols such as Longs Peak, the St. Vrain River, and the Colorado sun, alongside recurring motifs of stars, mountain peaks, and primary colour palettes of blue, yellow, and red.
Notable design elements included a six-pointed star referencing the Chicago-Colorado Colony that settled the area in 1871, as well as stylized line work referencing local municipal Wi-Fi infrastructure.
Public commentary during the meeting emphasized a desire for a timeless design distinct from current municipal branding, with calls to reflect the area’s agricultural history and cultural diversity.
The selection committee plans to announce three semifinalists from the current group of seven designers. Each semifinalist will receive a $1,000 honorarium to create new flag concepts from scratch based on public feedback and shared community values. An additional $1,500 will be awarded if a proposal achieves formal adoption.
A public preference survey is scheduled for this autumn to gather broader resident feedback on the three semifinal designs before the Longmont City Council renders a final decision on whether to adopt a new design or retain the 1975 flag. Guidelines established by the municipality strictly prohibit submissions containing artificial intelligence-generated content, political themes, religious icons, or discriminatory imagery.
Image: Longmont Times-Call
