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Colorado - Fri. 05/08/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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2026 MOTHER'S DAY SHOPPING PLANS
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Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10, and consumers are keeping a “gripe but swipe” approach as more shoppers plan purchases across categories, pushing expected Mother’s Day spending to new highs. Shoppers are budgeting $284.25 per person, and total spending is projected at $38 billion. Men plan larger budgets ($346) than women ($225), though women are likelier to buy for multiple mother figures. Millennials plan the biggest budgets and lead in gifting experiences, with Gen Z also favoring experiences. Consumers across income groups are increasing spending, with higher income shoppers up the most while many still hunt discounts and shop value retailers.
Top three gift categories for 2026
- Greeting cards, 74 percent
- Flowers, 75 percent
- Special outings, 63 percent
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COLORADO ADDS 1,400 JOBS IN MARCH, STATE STILL ON TRACK FOR ANNUAL JOB LOSSES
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Colorado added 1,400 jobs to the economy in March, according to new state data, and kept its unemployment rate at 3.9 percent amid a slowing labor market. The U.S. unemployment rate stood at 4.3 percent in March, with 7.2 million people unemployed. The state recorded its first annual job losses, since the pandemic, last year, as most industries across the state other than the health sector struggled to gain jobs. The state continued to record more job losses in February, but the report on Wednesday also announced that new data came in and showed that February estimates had more job losses in the previous month than originally believed, revising the estimates of 7,200 job losses to 7,500 jobs.
Colorado recorded private sector job losses for five months over the last 13 months. Eight months recorded job gains. Month-to-month changes have ranged from 21,000 job losses in June 2025 and 17,500 job gains in July. Though it’s still early in the year, the state is on track to lose jobs annually as the average change of jobs each month is -300.
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BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION WILL REQUIRE 5 OVERNIGHT CLOSURES OF I-70 NEAR FLOYD HILL IN MAY
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One of the largest road construction projects on the Interstate 70 mountain corridor will require five overnight closures this month. According to the Colorado Dept. of Transportation, the I-70 Floyd Hill project will require full closures of westbound I-70 between exits 241 and 244 for bridge construction. The closures are planned between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. every night from Sunday, May 10, to Thursday, May 14. If weather impacts the work, crews will shift the construction schedule and closures could occur at the same times nightly from Monday, May 18, to Wednesday, May 20.
Floyd Hill is an eight-mile stretch of I-70, between Evergreen and Idaho Springs where the transportation department has undertaken a $900 million project aimed at improving safety and travel time reliability. During the closures, westbound I-70 traffic will be detoured onto U.S. Hwy. 6 at Exit 244 and will get back on I-70 at the Exit 241 on-ramp. Drivers should also anticipate intermittent traffic holds for rock blasting and rock scaling through Floyd Hill on Mondays through Thursdays about once an hour between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. throughout the year. To sign up for text alerts about the I-70 Floyd Hill project, text “floydhill” to 21000.
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COLORADO WOLF REINTRODUCTION AT INFLECTION POINT
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Colorado’s voter-mandated wolf reintroduction is at a critical juncture two years after the first canines were released in the state. At least 32 wolves are roaming Colorado after two rounds of releases and last year’s breeding season, which produced at least 14 pups. CPW officials presented the annual wolf report to the agency’s commission during its meeting Thursday. The survival rate for the pups was high, helping mitigate the impact of the deaths of 10 adult wolves.
CPW officials planned to release between 10 and 15 wolves from Canada in January to add to the state’s population, but the agency canceled those plans after the new head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Trump administration warned that using wolves from another country would violate the state’s agreement with the federal agency. The agency canceled the release for the winter when officials could not find another source. The setback has made it difficult to predict when Colorado’s wolf population will be considered self-sustaining.
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TERMINAL PROJECT GETS SITE PLAN APPROVAL, PREPARING FOR FALL CONSTRUCTION
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The Terminal, a mixed-use affordable housing apartment project in downtown Grand Junction, received major site plan approval from the city and is preparing for construction this fall. Downtown Development Authority Director Brandon Stam said the project is moving from the planning phase into the construction phase with site preparation work expected to be completed this summer. That prep work includes demolishing the former Greyhound bus station, which sits on the site at the corner of Fifth Street and Ute Avenue.
The site plan approval came in April, which Stam said is helpful as the project, which is being developed in partnership with Headwaters Housing Partners, is working to secure the remaining financing for the approximately $45 million project. The Terminal will include 107 rental apartment units for individuals and families earning between 70-100 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), as well as commercial uses on the ground level, and will span two buildings that are connected by a sky bridge.
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MARCH SALES TAX COLLECTIONS WEREN'T AS DIRE AS VAIL WAS EXPECTING
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While March sales tax revenue in Vail was definitely down compared to last year, it wasn’t down nearly as much as officials had anticipated. In early April, while the town was still waiting for the March numbers to come in, town of Vail Finance Director Carlie Smith told the council to brace for a 15 percent reduction in sales tax collections. When those numbers turned out to be only 10.3 percent down from last year, a sigh of relative relief was breathed by many. The March numbers mean Vail is down 8.3 percent on the year.
- Lodging sector revenues dropped 12.4 percent compared to the same period last year, with short-term rental revenues falling 9.9 percent, and hotels and lodges seeing a 13.2 percent decline.
- Retail sales were also down 9.9 percent, and food and beverage revenues decreased by 6.5 percent.
- The 0.5 percent housing fund sales tax generated $685,017 in March, down 10.3 percent year-over-year but slightly exceeding expectations.
- Year-to-date collections of just over $2 million are 8.1 percent lower than 2025 levels but remain marginally above budget forecasts.
- Real Estate Transfer Tax collections have experienced one of the sharpest declines. Through late April, revenues totaled $2.34 million, down 21.2 percent compared to the same period last year. Overall transaction volume also fell, with property sales declining 10.5 percent.
- Lift tax revenues, another key indicator of tourism activity, dropped 11.9 percent in March to $1.2 million. Year-to-date collections are down 9.7 percent compared to last year, reflecting reduced skier visits.
- Construction-related revenues also weakened significantly. Use tax collections totaled $355,142 through April, compared to nearly $596,000 at the same time last year.
- Parking revenues echoed the broader trend of decreased visitation. Daily parking sales from November through April reached $6.19 million, down 15.4 percent from the prior winter season.
Despite these declines, the town’s overall financial position remains relatively stable compared to its revised expectations. Total year-to-date revenue across all funds stands at $39.9 million — about 2 percent above an amended budget that was passed in April to prepare for the declines.
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MASSIVE KEYSTONE DEVELOPMENT OPENS AFTER LONG DELAY
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The Kindred Resort, an over 321,000-square-foot development with 107 hotel rooms, 95 condos, four restaurants and other amenities, opened Thursday after years of construction and five months of delays from its originally announced opening date in December. The development, operated and managed as part of Broomfield-based ski giant Vail Resorts’ RockResorts portfolio, is meant to be the new “living room of Keystone,” featuring public spaces, private spaces, 6,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces and common areas, its developers say. It is the first major development in the area since Keystone became a municipality in 2023, and among the most prominent in decades for the Vail Resorts-owned ski area.
The property also features 25,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and skier services, including a spa, a gym, a pool, hot tubs, a large courtyard featuring lawn games, a ski valet service and an art collection featuring hundreds of pieces from local and Western artists. It also includes a new, $1.8 million ski school. Final construction and approvals are still in process for the East Tower, which houses 33 residences. Developers have spent more than $300 million on the over 365,000-square-foot development.
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ALPINE SHRED DAY IN STEAMBOAT, MAY 8
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Alpine Bank invites the community to a shredding event on Friday, May 8, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Alpine Bank, 1901 Pine Grove Rd., in Steamboat Springs, to securely dispose of unwanted documents and personal information. Shred old bank statements, old medical records, canceled or blank checks, credit card statements and personal bills. Staples or paperclips do not need to be removed. There is a maximum of four boxes per household and business. All shredded paper is recycled. The event is free, but donations will be accepted to benefit United Way Youth Volunteer Programs. For more information, call 970-871-1901 or visit the link below.
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ALPINE SHRED DAY IN TELLURIDE, MAY 9
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Alpine Bank invites the community to a shredding event on Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m. to noon, at Alpine Bank, 120 S. Pine St., in Telluride, to securely dispose of unwanted documents and personal information. Shred old bank statements, old medical records, canceled or blank checks, credit card statements and personal bills. Staples or paperclips do not need to be removed. There is a maximum of four boxes per household and business. All shredded paper is recycled. For more information, call 970-728-5050 or visit the link below.
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COLORADO OFFERS STARGAZERS METEOR SHOWERS & A 'FULL BLUE MINI-MOON'
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As the spring grows warmer, Coloradans who get outside and look up at the night sky could catch a glimpse of celestial phenomenon, including meteor showers and a “full blue micromoon.” In May, the Earth tilts so that the view of space from the northern hemisphere is less obscured by the cosmic dust of our own Milky Way galaxy, making “far off galaxies, nebulas and star clusters in deep space” more visible. While those far off galactic wonders will require a telescope to view, there are also celestial events happening within our own solar system, which will be visible with the naked eye.
Here’s what stargazers can look forward to in May:
- Eta Lyrid Meteor Shower peaks May 8: The Eta Lyrid Meteor Shower will offer a few meteors per hour from sunset to sunrise through about May 14 and is expected to peak on the night of May 8. On the peak, the shower’s radiant point will be above the northeast horizon in the constellation Lyra around 8:30 p.m. By around 5 a.m. on May 9, the shower is expected to reach about three meteors per hour.
- A ‘full blue mini-moon’ rises May 30: May has already had one full moon rise overhead, so when the full moon rises again on May 30, it will be the second full moon of the month, a rare occurrence known as a “blue moon.” Blue moons only occur once every two to three years, but this lunar event is even rarer since the moon will be at “apogee,” or at its furthest distance from Earth. During this “micro-moon” or “mini-moon” event, the full moon will appear about 7 percent smaller than it normally does.
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HOW MANY SKIERS VISITED WESTERN U.S. RESORTS IN THIS LOW SNOW YEAR? NUMBERS AREN'T GREAT
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This year’s ski season has been a tale of two stories: the lack of snow in the Rockies and a boon in the East. Yet even the brighter side of this year’s winter wasn’t enough to make up the hit across the Western U.S.
- The U.S. saw ski visits for the 2025-2026 winter season fall by 9 million compared to the previous year, according to preliminary data released Tuesday from the National Ski Areas Association.
- Last year, the ski season was the second busiest on record with 61.6 million visits. This year, it fell nearly 15 percent to 52.6 million.
- Many ski resorts in Colorado closed weeks earlier than normal, some in early April. Copper Mountain celebrated its closing ski day last Sunday and Arapahoe Basin is set to be the last resort open in the state with plans to close on May 10, thanks to the help of late-April snow and a surprisingly large May snowstorm.
- This winter season’s visits ranked 32nd out of 48 seasons the nonprofit trade association representing ski resorts has on record. It’s comparable to the 2019/2020 season, which saw 51 million visits after the pandemic led to vast shutdowns, and the low-snow year of 2011/2012 with nearly 51 million ski visits.
- In Vail’s latest ski season report, the company said visits to its Rockies resorts declined by 25 percent. Overall, lift revenues were down 5.6 percent for the season, ski schools down by 12 percent, dining down 11.7 percent and shopping and rentals were down by 6.6 percent.
- It’s in line with the regional data from the ski association, which recorded visits to the Rockies fell by more than 24 percent compared to the previous year.
- The average snowfall across the U.S. was down to 112 inches this year, compared to the 10-year average of 169 inches.
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A 2026 GUIDE TO RACETRACKS IN COLORADO
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A compact guide to local speedways with locations, track types, typical seasons, headline divisions, admission ranges and websites:
- Colorado National Speedway: Dacono; 3/8 mile asphalt oval; season Saturdays May–October, select Fridays/Sundays; divisions include Super Late Model, Pro Truck, Late Model, Grand American Modified, Super Stock, Pure Stock, Figure 8, Bandolero Outlaw, Bandolero Bandit and Train classes; admission $17–$24 adults, $8–$15 kids 5–12, free 4 and under; coloradospeedway.com
- I-76 Speedway: Fort Morgan; 1/4-mile-high banked dirt oval; first and third Saturdays May–Sept; divisions Modified, Sport Modified, Hobby Stock, Stock Car, Sport Compact; $12 adults, $4 kids 6–12; i76speedway.com
- El Paso County Raceway: Calhan; 1/4 mile semi banked dirt oval; first and third Saturdays April–Oct., select Fridays; divisions SportMods, Stock Cars, Colorado 1200 Outlaws, Hobby Trucks, Hornets, Midgets, Dwarf Cars; admission from $5–$20; bstpromotions.com/el-paso-county-raceway-calhan
- Cortez Fairgrounds Speedway: Cortez; 1/3-mile clay oval; select Fridays/Saturdays May–Sept; divisions Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Compacts, Dwarf/Mod Lites, Warriors, Jr. Warriors; admission from $5–$20; bstpromotions.com/cortez-fairgrounds-speedway
- Phillips County Speedway: Holyoke; 1/3 mile clay oval; events May 23, June 13, Aug. 8; divisions Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods, Hobby Stocks, Sport Compacts; admission from $5–$20; bstpromotions.com/phillips-county-raceway-holyoke
- High Banks Speedway at Beacon Hill (I-25 Speedway): Pueblo; 1/4 mile oversized, highly-banked paved oval; new ownership aims to reopen after five years; divisions planned include Super Late Model, Pro Truck, Late Model and others; cost TBA; highbanksspeedway.com
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MARKET UPDATE - 05/07/2026 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 05/07/2026)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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