AMAZON GIVES $500,000 TO COLORADO NONPROFITS

Amazon has more than 16,500 employees in Colorado and the e-commerce giant has teamed with the Denver Foundation to create the Amazon Denver Community Fund. The focus of the fund is to support those most economically hurt by the pandemic, including female entrepreneurs and people of color with small businesses. To date, it has provided $500,000 to nine Colorado nonprofits. Energize Colorado received a $150,000 grant from the Amazon Denver Community Fund. Eight other nonprofits received grants from $25,000 to $50,000.

WEATHER FRONT SETTING UP TO BRING SNOW TO THE MOUNTAINS, DENVER STAYS DRY

The National Weather Service says an unusual weather pattern, an Aleutian High, is building across the western U.S. It has an "atmospheric river" of moisture and will bring days of snow storms to the mountains of Colorado. If the models are correct, the pattern could be in place for one to two weeks or longer. The first round of significant moisture comes Thursday and Friday, with the biggest impact in the San Juans and mountains of the Western Slope. Snow is expected to return over the weekend. The pattern does not support snow or rain for areas east of the Continental Divide.

U.S. HOME SALES ON PACE FOR STRONG YEAR-END TOTALS

Sales of previously-owned homes in November in the U.S. rose 1.9 percent, increasing for the third straight month, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday. The existing-home sales are on track for their strongest year since 2006, as low mortgage rates and a strong job market drive demand. Demand also has been fueled by a large wave of millennials moving into their prime home-buying years. The median price of an existing-home rose 13.9 percent in November, NAR said, to $353,900. The average rate on a 30-year-fixed rate mortgage was 3.12 percent as of Dec. 16, according to mortgage finance giant Freddie Mac.

FOURTH AND FINAL STAGE OF TREE FARM PROJECT READY TO BEGIN

Walt Brown Jr., founder and CEO of Diversified Partners, is ready to begin the fourth and final major component of the Tree Farm project in El Jebel, with construction slated to begin next spring. The Brown Family Holdings has purchased several lots on the west side of the water-ski lake at the Tree Farm and has plans to build condominiums and commercial space on the prime property overlooking the lake. Brown is particularly anxious to locate a restaurant in that space. It is permitted for 14 condominiums and 13,500 square feet of commercial space. To the west of the lake front space, 36 condominiums are planned.

WILLIAMS SELECTED TO BE NEW PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR IN GARFIELD COUNTY

Yvonne Long, who was hired as a public health nurse in Garfield County in 1999 and became county public health director in 2013, will retire in January after deciding to remain one more year in her post after the pandemic hit. She will be replaced by the county's current Environmental Health Manager Josh Williams. Williams was selected from a pool of 18 applicants after a nationwide search, which began in September. Prior to joining Garfield County Public Health in 2014, Williams worked as an administrator with the Delaware County Health Dept. in Muncie, Indiana. He will begin as county public health director Jan. 4.

TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE ROCKIES GETS GRANTS FOR CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM

The Technical College of the Rockies has received more than $200,000 in grants for the Delta-Montrose Building Affordable Homes and a Skilled Workforce program. The college received a grant of $195,628 which was supplemented by another $50,000 from the Western Colorado Community Foundation. The program will offer new construction trades certification courses, as well as an opportunity for students to receive hands-on experience at Habitat for Humanity affordable housing build sites. Once the program gets underway, students will be able to earn short-term certifications in the residential construction process. Each certification requires practical experience, which is provided at the Habitat for Humanity worksites.

STEAMBOAT READIES ICE RINKS AT HOWELSEN HILL

This week, Steamboat Springs Parks and Recreation crews began putting water on the two outdoor ice rinks at Howelsen Hill to set ice for outdoor skating. The rinks will be ready in about 10 days. The plans are to designate one rink for hockey and one for open skating. The ice rinks are set on the area next to the tennis courts where there are sand volleyball courts in the summer. The rinks will be open from 7-9 a.m. and from 5-10 p.m. seven days a week. The city asks the public to stay off the ice until the rinks officially open.

GERMANY FACES ECONOMIC SETBACK DUE TO AGING WORKFORCE

Germany has long been a leader of technical innovation and manufacturing, not just in Europe, but globally. Now, Germany is also a leader of much of the developed world in the demographic issue that could have damaging effects on the German economy, namely its workforce is aging. Economists forecast that Germany’s workforce could peak as soon as 2023 and then shrink by up to five million people by the end of the decade. The demographic problem results from the declining birthrates that began as early as the 1970s.
German companies are struggling to fill positions, offering perks to keep older workers from leaving. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, a shortage of skilled workers hampered the activities of 43 percent of German companies, according to a recent survey. The effects on the German economy could be substantial. It could drive economic growth to below 0.75 percent as soon as 2025, from nearly double that rate before the pandemic, according to Deutsche Bank. It also will have dramatic impacts on the German pension system. Germany spends an equivalent of a quarter of its federal budget on the system now, but it could rise to half the budget by 2040.

OMICRON COULD BLUNT THE REBOUND IN THE CONVENTION INDUSTRY

This year brought rebound to the convention industry, with billionaires returning to Sun Valley for Allen & Co.'s conference and Bitcoin attracting thousands of cryptocurrency enthusiasts to Miami in June:

• The Center for Exhibition Industry Research estimated conferences contributed more than $101 billion to U.S. gross domestic product in 2019
• In September, CEIR projected conferences would return to 75 percent to 80 percent of the 2019 levels next year
• Full recovery would be reached in 2023

Now there is Omicron:

• This week, the World Economic Forum, the global conference of government and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland, was moved from January to the summer

It remains to be seen the impact of the resurgence of the pandemic on:

• The National Retail Federation "Big Show" scheduled for New York City, Jan. 16-18
• The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 5-8

SUPPORT FOR FOOD BANK OF THE ROCKIES

This year, one in eight individuals in Colorado and Wyoming are projected to face food insecurity. Struggling with hunger at any time is difficult, but can be felt even more acutely during the holidays. With so many families, children, older adults, and individuals experiencing hunger right now, your community needs your support more than ever. For the best ways to support Food Bank of the Rockies, this holiday season, visit the link below.