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Colorado - Wed. 04/15/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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EASTBOUND I-70 REOPENS AT EISENHOWER TUNNEL AFTER 70-VEHICLE PILEUP
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A 70-vehicle pileup closed eastbound I-70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel for more than five hours after a crash about 2:50 p.m. on Tuesday near exit 216 for Loveland Pass as snow coated the roadway. Eastbound lanes reopened at 8:20 p.m., the Colorado Dept. of Transportation said. The Colorado State Patrol reported 19 people were evaluated for injuries; 8 were taken to hospitals and 11 declined transport. One hospitalized person suffered serious bodily injuries. Photos from the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s office show snow-covered roads. Snow showers were forecast to continue overnight, which officials said likely complicated travel and response efforts. The crash prompted extended closures and emergency response on a heavily traveled mountain corridor.
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INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE COMPANIES FUEL 4.2% JOB GROWTH IN SOUTH DENVER
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A Denver South report finds aerospace employment rose 4.2 percent in the past year and added 1,600 jobs over five years. International firms cite local talent, nearby universities and customer proximity as reasons to locate here. Foreign investment supports a $565 million regional supply chain, with 48 percent sourced locally. Ispace U.S. established headquarters in Englewood to develop lunar landers and two lunar communications satellites, Alpine and Lupine. Alpine is slated for a 2027 rideshare and Ispace plans an Ultra lander mission in 2028. Denver’s lower cost of living and outdoor amenities help attract technical talent. French firm Sodern opened a Douglas County facility to serve prime contractors and plans to deliver star trackers by year end. The report credits these moves with strengthening the local aerospace ecosystem and supply chain.
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A SUPER EL NIÑO IS IN THE FORECAST
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Colorado just finished a record warm, low snow winter and now faces a tentative shift: La Niña has ended and forecasters see increasing odds of a strong or “super” El Niño later in 2026, though neutral conditions are likely through June. A super El Niño means Pacific waters more than 2 degrees Celsius warmer than normal for months, which historically tilts odds toward wetter winters and late season moisture for parts of Colorado, especially southern areas in fall and spring. Experts caution uncertainty: only a handful of strong El Niños exist in the modern record, so local impacts are not guaranteed. In the near term, meteorologists say the summer monsoon will be the more immediate factor for relief, and residents should watch monsoon activity closely while remaining cautiously optimistic about late season and winter improvements.
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EMPTY DEPT. STORES ARE HOUSING CLEVELAND’S BOOMING POPULATION
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In downtown Cleveland, early-1900s department stores and other historic landmarks are being converted into apartments, hotels and retail, with about 30 buildings repurposed since 2013 and notable projects including the May Company (converted 2020) and Terminal Tower Residences (2019). These conversions, aided by state and federal tax incentives, have helped lift downtown’s population roughly 12 percent since 2019 to about 21,000 and support an 86 percent downtown apartment occupancy as of 2025. Renters include Gen Z, empty nesters and reverse commuters. Adaptive-reuse studios averaged $1,083 versus $1,210 for new builds, though three-bedrooms can rent for $4,266 compared with $3,295 in newer housing. Unique floor plans and historic details drive demand; experts advise touring multiple units.
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MIGHTY ARGO CABLE CAR SETS RIBBON CUTTING FOR APRIL 24
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The $71 million Mighty Argo Cable Car in Idaho Springs will hold a VIP ribbon-cutting on April 24. The gondola runs 1.3 miles and climbs about 1,300 feet above Clear Creek. It has 27 cabins that seat 10 people; five cabins can carry mountain bikes and four have glass bottoms. Doppelmayr manufactured the lift. Construction began in October 2024. The upper terminal, called The Outpost, will include a three-level facility with food and beverage options, an amphitheater and an observation trestle. A network of hiking and mountain bike trails called Virginia Canyon Mountain Park is being built beneath the line. The owners plan a residents-only opening the afternoon of April 24; a general public opening date has not been set. Marketing will target the roughly 3.5 million people who live within 35 minutes of Idaho Springs.
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SHAW SOLAR SHIFTS TO EMPLOYEE-OWNED CO-OP MODEL
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John Shaw converted Shaw Solar from a sole proprietorship to an employee-owned cooperative in early March after 20 years of traditional ownership; 14 of the company’s roughly 30 employees agreed to become owners within the first month. The change, completed with help from the state, means profits above base wages will be shared among employee owners (Shaw estimates an additional 20–25 percent on top of base pay if profits hold), and employee owners will join boards and committees while day-to-day management largely stays the same. Shaw says the shift helped fund recent business expansions into batteries, EV chargers and solar heating/cooling, should boost customer service through greater ownership pride, and could serve as a model for other rural businesses seeking to retain young families and support local homeownership.
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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS CREWS BEGIN SPRING CLEANUP & LIGHTING REMOVAL
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Steamboat Pilot & Today reports city crews started seasonal maintenance across Steamboat Springs, removing winter scoria and cleaning medians along Mt. Werner Road and Mt. Werner Circle beginning April 13 with work scheduled daily 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. through April 17. Seasonal tree lighting along Lincoln Avenue will be taken down April 20-21 with rolling parking restrictions block by block and eastbound parking closed April 20 between 12th and Third streets. Crews will perform highway median cleanup from Walton Creek Road to Third Street, April 27-May 1, with left lane closures and short delays expected. Transit service will continue and work supports stormwater and PM10 programs.
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IRS ENCOURAGES ONLINE ACCOUNTS, BUT WATCH FOR SCAMS
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The IRS recommends that taxpayers create an individual online account to securely access their tax information. This account lets you view your refund status, make payments, check your balance and more. However, the IRS also advises taxpayers to be cautious and watch for identity thieves. Create and always access your account directly through IRS.gov, and don’t share your information with unsolicited third parties. Scammers may offer account set-up “help” so they can collect your sensitive data during setup. Or they may use stolen personal information to access your account without authorization. Report any suspicious activity at https://bit.ly/4t3GVhO
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LIBRARIANS AS FIRST RESPONDERS FOR INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM
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The film, The Librarians, and post-screening conversations portray librarians as frontline defenders of reading, the First Amendment and community trust as the Krause List’s targeting of 850 books has spurred an unprecedented wave of bans. Through personal stories, the program reframes librarians not merely as information providers but as stewards of access, dialogue and civic connection, inviting attendees to reflect on how public spaces sustain informed communities while sharing their own library experiences. The film will have pop-up screenings at the locations listed below. Light refreshments will be served; seating is first-come, first-served.
- Wednesday, April 22, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Central Library, 443 N 6th St., Grand Junction
- Thursday, April 23, 1 to 3 p.m., Clifton Branch, 3270 D 1/2 Road, Clifton
- Wednesday, April 22, 5:30 to 8 p.m., 150 Moffat Ave., Hot Sulphur Springs
- Thursday, April 23, 5 to 7:30 p.m., 55 Zero St., Granby
- Thursday, April 23, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Mountaineer Cinema Theater, 1 Western Way, Gunnison
- Friday, April 24, 5:30 to 8 p.m., Durango Public Library Program Room 1, 1900 E 3rd Ave., Durango
- Saturday, April 25, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Central Library, 14949 E Alameda Pkwy., Aurora
- Saturday, April 25, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Food to Power, 1090 S Institute St., Colorado Springs
- Saturday, April 25, 1 to 3:30 p.m., Juniper Library, 316 Garfield St., Grand Lake
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RED MEANS GO: 8 RED ROCK DESTINATIONS TO VISIT IN COLORADO
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The Denver Gazette highlights eight red rock sites across Colorado, each offering distinctive sandstone formations, trails and viewpoints. The guide notes trail lengths, visitor tips and recent investments that improve access and amenities.
- Garden of the Gods — Colorado Springs; iconic formations, Perkins Trail and lesser used dirt paths
- Red Rock Canyon Open Space — south of Garden of the Gods; wild trails and the Contemplative Trail
- Red Canyon Park — near Cañon City; new 4-mile loop and planned campground improvements
- Sandstone Ranch Open Space — Larkspur; more than 2,000 acres, multi-use trails and hay meadows
- Roxborough State Park — southwest of Denver; roughly 15 miles of trails and Fountain Valley loop
- Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre — concert venue plus Geologic Overlook and longer loop trails
- South Valley Park — Jefferson County; nearly 8 miles of trails and connections to Deer Creek Canyon
- Colorado National Monument — Fruita; Rim Rock Drive, 14 trails and Saddlehorn Campground
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HERE’S WHERE CDOT EXPECTS CONSTRUCTION TO HAVE TRAFFIC IMPACTS ON I-70 MOUNTAIN CORRIDOR AS THE SUMMER KICKS OFF
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As the construction season begins, CDOT plans multiple projects along the I-70 mountain corridor that will affect summer travel, with the biggest impacts expected at Floyd Hill and West Vail Pass; travelers should expect lane and ramp closures, traffic shifts, periodic traffic holds for rock scaling and blasting, night work and intermittent delays while CDOT completes long running safety and capacity upgrades and several shorter repair projects.
- Floyd Hill — nearly 8-mile overhaul between Evergreen and Idaho Springs; cast-in-place segmental bridge work through mid 2027; expect temporary I-70 lane and ramp closures, new traffic patterns, narrowed lanes and shoulders, reduced speeds, flaggers and alternating traffic on U.S. 40, and planned 20-minute rock blasting holds Mondays–Thursdays 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m.–noon; sign up for alerts by texting “floydhill” to 21000
- West Vail Pass — final year of work on roughly 10-mile stretch; completion of six wildlife crossings, avalanche and rockfall mitigation at The Narrows, westbound resurfacing, landscaping and recreation path improvements; possible daily single lane closures MP 180–190 beginning April 20; traffic shifts into head-to-head, barrier-separated alignment in new eastbound lanes starting in May; rock scaling holds early–mid June and occasional 20-minute holds mid-June–early September; night work possible; sign up by texting “vailpass” to 21000
- Exit 203 Interchange (Frisco) — two-year project starting April 20 to reduce backups near Exit 203; daytime work Monday–Saturday 7 a.m.–7 p.m. with two lanes open during the day, nighttime lane shifts 7 p.m.–7 a.m., and no full closures expected in the first season
- Glenwood Canyon Bridge Joint Improvements — replacing 23 bridge joints and other repairs through the canyon; weekday single lane closures in both directions expected this summer
- Culvert repairs (Exit 205 to Eisenhower Johnson Tunnels) — single lane and shoulder closures in both directions
- Westbound lane shifts and night closures (Exit 253 to Chief Hosa to Exit 262 Morrison) — westbound lane shift with reduced shoulder and lane widths and single and double lane night closures beginning mid-July
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MARKET UPDATE - 04/14/2026 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 04/09/2026)
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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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