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Colorado - Thu. 03/05/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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HOME SALES IN DENVER REBOUND IN FEBRUARY AFTER MISERABLE NUMBERS IN JANUARY
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As mortgage rates tumbled last month, the number of home and condominium sales in metro Denver zoomed up nearly 30 percent over January to reach 2,629, according to the monthly update from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. Even though the number of closings was still 6.9 percent down from February 2025, it was a substantial change from January, when sales reached monthly lows last seen in 2008. Even more encouraging was the number of pending sales or purchases still in process. Those are up 29.2 percent on the month to 3,737 and are running 15.3 percent above February 2025 levels.
There was a 12.1 percent increase in new listings and a near-record 9.2 percent rise in inventory. There were 8,988 homes and condos available for sale on Feb. 28, while new listings went from 4,454 in January to 4,995 in February. The increased activity pushed the median sales price of a single-family home up 2.4 percent from $615,000 in January to $630,000 in February. The median sales price remains 2.2 percent below where it was a year earlier.
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CONE ZONE & CONSTRUCTION ON HWY. 36/I-270 BRIDGE OVER I-25
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The Colorado Dept. of Transportation has begun work on a maintenance project on a bridge that provides major connections for motorists on U.S. Hwy. 36 and Interstate 270. The $2 million project is designed to repair wear, provide joint replacement, new decking approach panels and drainage upgrades for the bridge carrying U.S. 36 and I-270 over I-25. Eastbound U.S. 36 traffic at mile point 57 is reduced to one lane for the duration, with at least one lane remaining open at all times. Night work runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, with single-lane closures in March. Daytime hours begin April 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, continuing through September 2026. Motorists should expect minor delays and use caution near narrowed lanes and equipment. Completion is anticipated by the end of October 2026.
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PRIMETIME COOKING COMPETITION SHOW INCLUDES PROMINENT DENVER CHEF
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“America’s Culinary Cup,” a new cooking show created by Padma Lakshmi, which features 16 chefs competing for a $1 million cash prize, will premiere in primetime on CBS at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. One of those competitors is Michael Diaz de Leon, currently chef at taqueria Molino Chido in Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace. It is the first time that De Leon has appeared on television, although he had auditioned for “Top Chef,” previously hosted by Lakshmi. The premise of each episode revolves around the chefs’ approach to one of “10 culinary commandments,” including meat, vegetables, sauces, sustainability, consistency and culinary science. It also includes segments focused on the backgrounds of the chefs.
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DIA GETS ANOTHER AIRLINE CLUB UPDATE/EXPANSION, THIS TIME DELTA’S SKY CLUB
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Delta Air Lines on Tuesday unveiled its new Sky Club at Denver International Airport, showcasing a renovated space that will be more than three times the size of its previous lounge by the end of the year. The luxury space on Concourse A opens 13,000 square feet to the public on Wednesday, with plans for a second phase of construction that will bring the lounge to over 19,000 square feet by the fourth quarter, Delta said. Seating capacity, at 230, will grow to 400 with the addition later this year. The upgrades include a large bar inspired by Union Station, two double-sided buffets and artwork featuring eight local artists. To be admitted to a Sky Club lounge, a passenger must hold a same-day Delta ticket and have an eligible credit card, club membership or loyalty status with the airline, according to the Delta website.
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ADP REPORTS STRONGER HIRING NUMBERS IN FEBRUARY, 63,000 JOBS ADDED
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Payroll processing firm ADP, on Wednesday, reported private sector hiring in February was better than expected, with companies adding a seasonally adjusted 63,000 jobs during the month, which was considerably higher than the downwardly revised number of 11,000 in January, and better than the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 48,000. In terms of sectors adding or losing jobs, education and health services added a total of 56,000 jobs in February; construction added 19,000; and information services added 11,000. Professional and business services saw a decline of 30,000 positions, manufacturing lost 5,000, and trade, transportation and utilities were off 1,000. Pay grew 4.5 percent for those remaining in their jobs, unchanged from January.
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ASPEN CHAMBER UNVEILS NEWLY DESIGNED WEBSITE
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The Aspen Chamber Resort Association announced that it has launched a newly designed website that is oriented as a user-friendly and intuitive connection for visitors and locals alike. The redo is the first change for the website in six years. ACRA teamed with Tempest on the redesign, the firm that ACRA relies on for its membership and sales database and customer relationship management system. The website serves as a vital component of the trip planning process, and locals rely on it to find out what is going on in town. A 2023 study estimated the economic impact of the website at $19 million per year. The new website can be viewed at aspenchamber.org.
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WHAT A SMILING FACE & A “GOOD MORNING” CAN DO – JUST ASK GRAND JUNCTION PD
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Local law enforcement, fire departments and other emergency agencies are well aware of the importance of relying on social media, texting, emails, etc. for instant distribution of information on emergencies, alerts and other important messages that need to reach local audiences immediately. The Grand Junction Police Dept. also realized other messages can generate responses, even huge responses. On Feb. 23, the GJPD posted a very simple picture and message on its Facebook page. It was a photo of a smiling officer, Riley Fisher, sitting in his police cruiser, with just a simple good morning wish. The response? More than 6 million views on all platforms; more than 4,000 comments on Facebook and more than 1,000 shares on Facebook. GJPD Public Information Officer Kelly Clingman made the post, which, she said, was very similar to other “good morning” or “have a great day” posts. She had no idea this one would have the impact it had. She said, “I think this caught fire.”
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CMC STEAMBOAT HOLDS ANNUAL JOB FAIR MARCH 5
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Colorado Mountain College Steamboat Springs will host its annual Career Fair today, Thursday, March 5, opening the event to both students and members of the wider community. The fair takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the third floor of the Academic Center at the CMC Steamboat Springs campus. The event is designed to connect job seekers directly with employers, offering opportunities to explore current openings, internships and career pathways while practicing professional networking skills. While traditionally held for students, the fair has been expanded this year to support workforce development throughout the Yampa Valley.
More than 20 employers are expected to participate, representing industries including health care, education, public service, construction, outdoor recreation and hospitality. Participating organizations include Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp., UCHealth, City of Steamboat Springs, Routt County, Yampa Valley Electric Association, Old Town Hot Springs, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, Northwest Colorado Health, History Colorado, Boys and Girls Club, Builders FirstSource and Yampatika, among others. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their résumés and be prepared to speak with employers about their interests and experience. The event is free and open to the public.
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MEDAL FROM FIRST MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES SOLD AT AUCTION FOR $178,510
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At an auction held during the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, a gold medal from the first modern Olympics was sold for $178,510. Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen Arts Auctioneers held a month-long online auction in February, and it attracted collectors from around the world. The top bid was three times the original high estimate for the medal. Bidding opened at $22,200 on Feb. 7. The first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens, April 6-15, 1896, with 241 athletes from 14 nations participating. Denmark was among the participating countries, and Viggo Jensen became Denmark’s first Olympic champion in weightlifting. However, Bruun Rasmussen said it was unable to confirm whether the gold medal that was sold was the one awarded for his performance. The person who won this medal remains a mystery.
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SPA: THE ORIGINAL SPA, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
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In eastern Belgium, in a valley of the Ardennes Mountains about 22 miles southeast of Liege, is the town of Spa, yes Spa, the location that provided the name for the global wellness industry. Spa calls itself “the original spa,” and the mineral springs in the town were first documented by Pliny the Elder, and that formed the foundation of Spa as a place of healing waters. While some hold to the belief that the name “spa” came from the Latin phrase “sanitas per aquam,” or “health through water,” most historians say the name came later and is likely derived from old Germanic words, “spau, spaha, or spaw,” which meant water that bubbles or gushes from the ground. In the town center, the springs are still visible. The Pouhon Pierre-le-Grand pavilion, which was named after Peter the Great, who visited in 1717, houses one of the sources that first drew visitors here.
However, the first visitors did not come to bathe in the waters, instead the waters were known for "drinking therapy." Now, public drinking fountains still are located all over town. Although the water is bitter tasting, people believed the more unpleasant the taste, the more restorative its powers. Peter the Great reportedly stayed more than a month, drinking more than 20 cups a day and it was said to have cured his digestive and liver ailments. Bathing began in the 16th century, with a physician from nearby Liege publishing a treatise in 1559, on Spa’s waters. Wealthy guests began arriving not just to drink, but bathe in Spa’s waters. By the 18th century, Spa had reinvented itself as one of Europe's most fashionable resorts. Its grand municipal baths were built in 1868, and under Belgium's King Leopold II, who reigned from 1865, the town was deliberately reimagined as the "pearl of the Ardennes".
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10 RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD – MARCH 2026
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Forbes has been tracking the world’s billionaires since 1987.
- Eight of the 10 richest people in the world are Americans.
- All of the top ten richest people as of March 1 are men.
- The two non-U.S. citizens are France’s Bernard Arnault and Spain’s Amancio Ortega.
- Each of them is worth $148 billion or more, up from $142 billion in February.
These are the 10 richest people on earth as of March 1, 2026, at 12 a.m. Eastern time, according to Forbes:
- Elon Musk
- Larry Page
- Sergey Brin
- Jeff Bezos
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Larry Ellison
- Bernard Arnault
- Jensen Huang
- Warren Buffett (up from No. 10)
- Amancio Ortega (down from No. 9)
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MARKET UPDATE - 03/04/2026 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 02/26/2026)
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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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