Some Economic Background on South Western CO

We were impressed with South Western Colorado asare boutiques run by people willing to wither the off
a good place to hang your hat and a pretty goodyears such as the recent fire year, and drought
place to run a business. Great labor supply, goodperiods where the National News downgraded the
transportation and excellent tourist flows. The town isarea and scared travelers who took those locations
growing in Cortez and up the hill in Durango as well.off their lists. Recovering now, but no small businesses
Their nearest trading partners Montrose andare breaking records. We did see a number of vacant
Farmington NM also helped with money flows to theshops to park trucks in the 1000 -2000 square foot
area. We like the area and thought it was completelyrange as well as many in the 5000 to 20,000
economically viable and an excellent choice especiallyrange.The growing Cortez City has about 8,200
for manufacturing.About the only drawback is the drugprojected by years end. Many more women than men
issue in the region, but that is with any US City really. Itabout 2% difference. They have now also been
was not as bad there as we have seen in bordergrowing wheat. They have been doing the mailings and
cities, desert cities of big cities in other parts of the US.educational activity to be good neighbors and save
We talked with police and city officials about this andwater for farmers and downstream cities that are
they admitted it was an issue, but felt they had amore taxed with no reservoirs, more reservoirs are
pretty good handle on it and were working hard toneeded down stream. 2006 is the Centennial of Mesa
clean things up and that it is no longer a growingVerde and it is already being planned, the parks bring in
problem. They know who the bad apples are and they600-7000 thousand tourists per year with 2.3 average
keep an eye on them. Anyway that reminded us of apeople per car.We heard of a Juice Company which
conversation we had with the City of Cortezlocated in Delores which could ship to the Los Angeles
Economic Development Association director Bruce Amarket fo $ .50 per case and the LA competition did it
Johnson, who admitted to us they had a drug problemfor $ .30 per case bu the cost to manufacture made
and said even had people making crystal meth in hotelup for the shipping of oranges and fruit from Florida
rooms that they rented and advised us that the drugsand then to LA after completed processing. Low
were made locally and affecting crime rates only acosts made the difference and they are successfully
little. Incidentally they shut that tactic downcompeting and hiring more people. Another company
quickly.Drinking was also an issue with Indians andwhich manufactures Tuff Boxes for security and after
young white kids getting into mischief that causedmarket auto, and a favorite at the annual Las Vegas
several horrific accidents over the years on all theSEMA show moved their operations from Denver to
two-lane roads. Lots of car wrecks there, evenCortez, stating costs were extremely lower, better
witnessed a tourist making a slow left turn in front of alabor and the owner and his wife could mountain bike
local teenager in a Nissan Sentra who broadsidedevery night and maintain twice the quality of life with
them. Good place for a body shop or tow company. Innone of the I-25 corridor traffic mess, permanent
those Utah cities where the kids are migrating to soconstruction and free freeway parking at rush hour
they can afford to own homes there are kids hangingissues. Lots of dead head truckers are willing to pick
out on every corner and everyone knows everyone.up loads from trucks traveling through the area. Freight
The entire area is challenged by the Old West VSbrokers said that the prices are decent and cheaper
New West and Value clash. Value clash of low costthen out of Denver, Salt Lake, Flagstaff or
of living, which has self segregated residents, workersAlbuquerque.Labor in the region except for Durango
and retirees or rich and poor. This has really been anand Pagosa could be hired at $7 per hour for car
economical development challenge.The citizens wantwashing and detailing and managers at $10.00, anything
small businesses not Wal Marts, clean industries and amore than that and you could get a first class worker
proper value fit. The areas are growing middle classand manager since cost of living where the workers
and upper middle tourism area down town and leavinglive is less. Also a new Mormon Stake Center just got
it difficult for locals to go downtown to hang out andbuilt out side of town with labor assistance for their
afford things. Some anchor stores have left inpeople. For more information on the Economic
shopping centers in Cortez making it an issue forDevelopment Specialist Bruce Johnsons comments go
some trying to hold on small businesses. They areto is also a big noon time meeting ad hoc Business
willing to give mass incentives to build office parks, butClub which meets and they are also countered by the
the infrastructure is a problem needingRotary Club night time meeting group which is the older
telecommunication systems in place first to competecrowd, we see issues of passing the torch to the next
for company recruitment of mid and largegeneration there and some small town politics which
businesses.Transportation systems need up grade andare getting worked out. Also working through other
some businesses in the area are doing that for theissues of the area are Hal Shepard of the Police
high-end clientele but not the lower end workers. ForDepartment on the drug issues. They have a good
instance taking people to Durango and Pagosa forhandle on it and are winning the local war on drugs.
jobs from Cortez and other areas, it is needed for theThere are some wineries also on the NM side, which
services required of the richer folks, jobs for othersare getting popular. has the biggest area population of
and fairness among issues of real estate values ofthe four corners region and lots of transportation
distance natural segregation in the towns which are allcompanies. Right now using lots of greenhouses and
intertwined for commerce and growth and of coursedrip irrigation tape to farm. Sweet corn grows well
success. Noah's Ark in Durango has two new tourthere and Canyon de Cheilly cliff dwellings and also
buses and extended limos and a 1.2 million dollar facilityknown as one of the most beautiful canyons of the
for tourists, but not workers to the city, perhaps theworld. It is true. You should check it out and spend
city or county can fund them on a contract to buysome money there, see America, travel and go inside
another buss or two for that purpose?There is a largea Keva this summer, nice and cool whereever you
labor pool in Cortez many are Navajo and areare. This concludes our preliminary report on the areas
extremely hard working, reliable and dependable,surrounding region 9 of Colorado and our ability to find
others are of the Ute Tribe and many are mixed withthe niches necessary for those looking to expand
every nationality you can think of all great familybusinesses or find great places to live as well as to
people. Many of the workers do not have technicalthe people who desire services and jobs to those who
training but could learn. The entire four corners region isare willing to work and show up on time, drug free.One
like that. the incentives for people who wish to bringthing that must be mentioned, the people there in the
businesses there to set up shop, although Durango isregion are extremely polite and nice. Honest and
somewhat anti-business unless you are willing to joinpleasant and would stop to help you if you needed it.
the club of the New West idea and sell high-end nickNot too many places like that anymore. This is
nacks, which not all store owners were making a lot ofdefinitely one of them. Thank you South Western
money, similar to Palm Desert CA, Carlsbad CA,Colorado for your hospitality, can't wait to get back
downtown shops of OH, Jackson Hole WY, Whitefishand visit.Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum
MT or Sun Valley ID and places like that. Lots ofboard.
competition in the area and many of the businesses