A waning economy? Not if you look at the number of companies that chose Colorado to expand or plop down their headquarters this year.
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Posted inArts, Business, Coloradans, COVID, Culture, Music, News
Coronavirus killed 59,179 arts jobs in Colorado and crippled key economic and cultural engines. Can they be revived?
While it may not feel as urgent as an eviction notice or the fear of food scarcity, the devastation of the arts and culture scene due to the coronavirus pandemic portends long-term ripple effects. The arts in Colorado are a powerful economic driver as well as a defining aspect of our community and fuel for […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, Growth, News, Politics and Government
A rural venture capital fund in Colorado is offering $275,000 investment to winner of virtual pitch series
For the past two years, Cory Finney and his partners at the $17.5 million Greater Colorado Venture Fund have traveled across the Western Slope in their camper vans, investing millions in rural startup companies and connecting them with a network of mentors and business leaders. When the pandemic settled on the state, they parked their […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Outdoors, Politics and Government
Colorado’s tourism marketing budget revived as lawmakers bet travelers will be crucial to coronavirus recovery
The Joint Budget Committee on Friday finalized a plan to give the Colorado Tourism Office $10 million, reversing an initial plan to defund tourism promotion as lawmakers slash more than $3 billion from the state’s COVID-19-ravaged budget. The tourism industry rallied last week after committee staff recommended eliminating 87% of the state’s tourism budget. The […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Politics and Government
Colorado could stop tourism marketing as budget writers look to slash $3 billion in spending
Budget-slashing in the governor’s economic development office is calling for a sweeping reduction of Colorado’s tourism and marketing budget. The Joint Budget Committee is weighing an 87% cut to the $18.5 million Colorado Tourism Office budget as gambling revenue evaporates under COVID-19 closures. Nearly $15 million of the state’s tourism promotion fund comes from gambling […]
Posted inBusiness, Growth, News, Outdoors, Politics and Government
The Western Slope economy was already improving. Then Opportunity Zones added a power boost.
MONTROSE — David Dragoo leans over a balcony of the new headquarters for his Mayfly Outdoors. Inside, workers are forging high-end fly-fishing equipment. Outside, earth movers crawl across a dusty tract near cyclists leisurely pedaling along the lush banks of the Uncompahgre River. “Ten years ago, it just wasn’t cool to be here. It didn’t […]
Posted inArts, Business, Culture, Growth, Politics and Government
Colorado’s plan to embed arts space into historic districts may be slow to take shape. But towns are fine with that.
TRINIDAD — When Colorado launched its ambitious Space to Create program, it wanted to have nine live-work projects flourishing within eight years. Four years in, just one is under construction and it will be next summer before anyone moves in. Yet those involved couldn’t be more excited about the prospects for the four rural communities […]
Posted inBusiness, Education, Growth, News, Politics and Government, Technology
Lockheed Martin sniffs around for space in Grand Junction
An oh-by-the-way comment dropped into a recent Club 20 address by Gov. Jared Polis may—or may not — signal a significant economic development win for the Western Slope city of Grand Junction that has been wooing the aerospace industry. Polis was speaking to the Western Slope coalition of counties at their annual fall meeting Saturday […]