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Colorado - Tue. 01/28/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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CSP CRACKS DOWN ON IMPAIRED DRIVERS; AIMS FOR 15% DUI REDUCTION IN 2025
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By the end of the year, the Colorado State Patrol hopes to cut fatal and serious-injury crashes caused by impaired drivers by 15 percent. About one-third of crash fatalities in Colorado happen at the hands of an impaired driver, whether the driver dies or they kill someone else. More than 200 people were killed in crashes involving an impaired driver on Colorado’s roads in 2024. Nearly 300 more were injured — and that’s only in crashes that the state patrol responded to. State patrol data typically excludes anything that happens in a city.
Still, fatal and serious-injury crashes involving impaired drivers were down nearly 20 percent in 2024 from 2023 and proactive arrests, where impaired drivers are pulled over and arrested before a crash happens, went up more than 10 percent. The most impaired crashes happen between 5 p.m. and 2:30 a.m., around the time bars close, although crashes still happen after 2:30 a.m. and before 5 p.m. It is considered "an around-the-clock issue.” About one-third of the 1.5 million people arrested each year for drunken driving are repeat offenders. The risk of being involved in an alcohol-related traffic crash increases by about 20 percent with each additional DUI a person receives.
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BOLDERBOULDER NOW THE FOURTH LARGEST RACE IN THE COUNTRY
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The BOLDERBoulder is now the fourth largest running event in the country, according to Running USA. The premier trade organization for the road race industry recently released its list of the 100 largest road races in the U.S. for 2024, with the BOLDERBoulder climbing two spots from its position in 2023. "In 2024, 41,491 finishers crossed the finish line inside Folsom Field on the University of Colorado Boulder campus, marking an 18.3 percent increase from 2023 and surpassing the number of finishers in 2019, the last year before the COVID pandemic," a news release from Running USA states. "This 18.3 percent growth was the largest among the top ten races." The BOLDERBoulder ranked behind the TCS New York City Marathon (56,859 participants), the Bank of America Chicago Marathon (52,072 participants), and the AJC Peachtree Road Race (43,345 participants), according to Running USA. The 2025 BOLDERBoulder will take place on Monday, May 26.
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COLORADO UNEMPLOYMENT RISES TO 4.4%
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Colorado’s unemployment rate rose to 4.4 percent in December, up from 4.3 percent the month before. The state’s unemployment rate is more than a full percentage point from the same time last year. It’s higher than the national average, which fell to 4.1 percent. The state added 300 jobs in Colorado in December for a total of 3,010,000 jobs. There were job losses in the private sector, which saw 800 fewer jobs, while the government sector gained 1,100 jobs. Colorado’s job growth was 1.8 percent annually, ranking the state 12th in the nation.
The University of Colorado Boulder economists forecast growth will slow to 1.2 percent in 2025. Colorado saw job openings fall 3 percent between September and December, a sharper decline than the nationwide average of 0.7 percent. The median salary grew nearly 3 percent to $61,745. But the full picture of Colorado’s job market is still murky as the state’s data collection has had trouble with getting accurate numbers due to the modernization of its unemployment insurance system.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced last month it would take the unprecedented step of not publishing Colorado’s employment and unemployment figures starting in 2025 due to low faith in the state data’s accuracy. In March 2024’s benchmarking report released in August, Colorado reported 72,000 fewer jobs than the initial data showed. The BLS also reported large revisions of 818,000 jobs, with Colorado accounting for nearly 9 percent of the difference, a sizable amount for a state that makes up about 1.7 percent of the total U.S. population.
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COLORADO HOUSING & FINANCE AUTHORITY NAMES NEW CEO
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The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) will soon have a new CEO. The Denver-based organization, which invests in affordable housing and community development statewide, appointed Thomas Bryan as its new CEO and executive director on Monday. Bryan is currently CHFA’s chief financial officer. He became CFO in 2019 after serving as CHFA’s controller and director of accounting. Thomas Bryan will take over as the CEO and executive director of the CHFA in March. Bryan will oversee CHFA’s operations and the organization’s management. Bryan will replace Cris White, who’s served as CEO for 15 years and worked at CHFA for more than 35 years. White, who was named a Denver Business Journal most admired CEO in 2020, will retire from CHFA on Feb. 28. In addition to helping increase the availability of affordable homes for lower-income residents in Colorado, CHFA provides financial assistance to businesses, such as developers and nonprofits.
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CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION RAISES GOLF PRICES
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The city of Grand Junction has raised its rates for golf course passes for the first time since 2020. Grand Junction operates two golf courses: the 18-hole Tiara Rado course in the Redlands and the nine-hole course in Lincoln Park. The city offers two types of passes, according to General Services Director Jay Valentine: a birdie pass and an eagle pass. The eagle pass includes a golf cart. Those passes allow users to get discounted rates to use the golf courses. Valentine said if someone plays about 20 times that covers the cost of the pass. Both passes are good at Tiara Rado and Lincoln Park. The birdie pass increased from $400 to $500 this year, and the eagle pass has increased from $700 to $800. Day rates have also increased. At Lincoln Park, the daily rate is going from $11 to $12 for nine holes. At Tiara Rado, the regular rate is going from $46 to $50 for 18 holes.
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VINCO ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS
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The annual Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology (CAVE) recently concluded its VinCO & Western Colorado Horticultural Society Conference and Trade Show with the announcement of award winners.
- The Grape Grower of the Year went to Hillary and Casey Eales, who came to the area in 2014. Hilary, an EMT turned winemaker, and Casey, a nurse anesthetist, embarked on their winemaking journey when Hilary started at Meadery of the Rockies and later became a winemaker at Talon Winery. After six years, the couple purchased a winery on west Orchard Mesa, restored the property and introduced BioDynamic farming practices, incorporating livestock to help revitalize the vineyard. Together, they established Fermentation Collaborations, which they’ve successfully operated for four years, and founded Mafia Princess Wines three years ago.
- The Winery of the Year award went to LaNoue DuBois Winery, in Montrose. The winery’s story dates to the early 1900s when the Woods family settled in Montrose, initially farming cattle and alfalfa. In 2001, Ralph and Ruby Woods planted grapes on a small portion of the farm, and in 2008, the vineyard was passed on to Rick and Kathy LaNoue. A decade later, their son Lee took over after completing his Viticulture and Enology Program through Colorado Mesa University, driving the vineyard’s transition to focus on cold-resistant, disease-resistant hybrid varieties like Marechal Foch and Frontenac.
- Juliann Adams was recognized with the Friend of the Colorado Wine Industry award. Adams’ contributions to Colorado’s wine industry span across various facets, starting as an amateur winemaker before evolving into a successful commercial winemaker. Even after her retirement, Adams continued leading workshops and hosting events to elevate other amateur winemakers. She volunteers on numerous boards and committees, including CAVE, the Palisade Tourism Advisory Board, and the LED Rulemaking and Liquor Advisory Group.
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STUDY SAYS POOR ROAD CONDITIONS COST GJ DRIVERS $1,704 PER YEAR
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A study by a Washington D.C.-based transportation research firm has claimed poor road conditions cost Grand Junction drivers an average of $1,704 per year. The study, which was conducted by Trip, a transportation research nonprofit, was released last week. According to the study, deteriorated roads in the Grand Junction area cost drivers $787 per year in additional vehicle operating costs, $591 per year for safety and $326 per year in congestion. Other areas mentioned in the study include Denver ($3,060 per year for the average driver), Colorado Springs ($2,610 per year), northern Colorado ($2,099 per year) and Pueblo ($2,431 per year). The study also states 27 percent of Grand Junction’s roads are in poor condition, 46 percent are in average condition and 27 percent are in good condition.
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9TH ANNUAL STATE OF THE SECTOR – DURANGO WATCH PARTY
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The Community Resource Center, in Denver, is hosting its ninth annual State of the Sector on Thursday, Jan. 30, beginning at 1 p.m. The event will highlight important challenges facing Colorado nonprofits and the leaders finding effective solutions. New year there are partnerships with the Colorado Nonprofit Association and Philanthropy Colorado. Join an in-person Watch Party at the La Plata County Fairgrounds and interact with innovators from our region. A live expert panel of sector leaders and recognized community trailblazers will be followed by a reception with food and drinks. The theme this year is “A Resilient and Collaborative Future.” To learn more, visit the link below.
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VAIL VALLEY MOBILE SAUNA BUSINESS DELIVERS
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Kevin and Aspen Ives opened Nomadic Roots Sauna & Wellness in December, offering a mobile sauna that you can rent for the day, weekend or week at your house or condo if you want to pop into the sauna after skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing or hiking outdoors. They also offer wellness experiences where you can have a private yoga class, a guided sauna and cold exposure session, followed by breath work and meditation. This can be done at your residence, or at the Minturn Fitness Center. Nomadic Roots Sauna & Wellness has already teamed up with businesses and events in Red Cliff and Minturn. Nomadic Roots Sauna & Wellness will bring the sauna to The Belden Witch in Minturn for cacao and community every second Saturday of the month. Get your group together and create your own custom wellness package or rent the sauna on your next group outing. For more information, go to NomadicRootsVail.com.
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COLORADO BUSINESS ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES BRECKENRIDGE GRAND VACATIONS PHILANTHROPY
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Colorado Business Committee for the Arts awarded Breckenridge Grand Vacations with the 2025 Arts & Business Partnership Award. The award recognizes Colorado businesses for philanthropy, supporting the arts and collaboration with different industries. The company’s philanthropic arm, BGV Gives, sponsored local events, provided in-kind lodging for visiting artists and bilingual employee engagement programs in the arts and more. In 2024, BGV Gives contributed over $60,000 to enhance the arts programs in both Summit and Park County communities. Local art nonprofit Breck Create put Breckenridge Grand Vacations up for the nomination. “I consider BGV the largest, most consistent corporate supporter of the arts in Summit County,” Karlie McLaughlin, Breck Create’s Senior Director of External Relations, said. BGV will be honored at the 2025 Business for the Arts Awards Luncheon on April 22, 2025.
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SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE TO COLORADO STUDENTS PURSUING ENVIRONMENT-RELATED STUDIES
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There is less than one week left to apply for the Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) Grossman Scholarships and My Outdoors Colorado (MOC) Scholarship. Available scholarship funds total $50,000 and will be distributed amongst seven individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to caring for our environment’s natural resources and are pursuing secondary education through an accredited environmental, natural resource, climate, or outdoor industry-related program in Colorado. For more information on eligibility, requirements, and applications, please visit voc.org/grossman-scholarship or email scholarships@voc.org. Applications are due by Feb. 2, 2025, at 11:59 pm MST.
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GAS PRICE PER GALLON INCREASES STATEWIDE; ONE ASPEN STATION DROPS CONSIDERABLY
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Average gasoline prices in Colorado have risen 8.0 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $2.92/g today, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 2,158 stations in Colorado. Prices in Colorado are 6.2 cents per gallon higher than a month ago and stand 22.1 cents per gallon higher than a year ago. The national average price of diesel has increased 4.4 cents in the last week and stands at $3.650 per gallon.
According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Colorado was priced at $2.27/g yesterday while the most expensive was $4.09/g, a difference of $1.82/g. The lowest price in the state yesterday was $2.27/g while the highest was $4.09/g, a difference of $1.82/g. In the Aspen area, regular gas was listed at $4.80 at the Main Street station, $4.90 at Snowmass, $4.62 at ABC, and $3.64 at Woody Creek, according to recent rates. Historical gasoline prices in Colorado and the national average going back ten years:
- Jan. 27, 2024: $2.70/g (U.S. average: $3.10/g)
- Jan. 27, 2023: $3.77/g (U.S. average: $3.50/g)
- Jan. 27, 2022: $3.26/g (U.S. average: $3.36/g)
- Jan. 27, 2021: $2.37/g (U.S. average: $2.41/g)
- Jan. 27, 2020: $2.61/g (U.S. average: $2.50/g)
- Jan. 27, 2019: $2.19/g (U.S. average: $2.25/g)
- Jan. 27, 2018: $2.52/g (U.S. average: $2.58/g)
- Jan. 27, 2017: $2.20/g (U.S. average: $2.27/g)
- Jan. 27, 2016: $1.72/g (U.S. average: $1.83/g)
- Jan. 27, 2015: $1.88/g (U.S. average: $2.03/g)
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WESTERN SLOPE BUSTANG OUTRIDER SERVICE SCHEDULE UPDATED
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The Colorado Dept. of Transportation’s western slope Bustang Outrider is changing its service schedule next month to add some trips and remove some.
- Beginning Feb. 1, the Crested Butte-to-Denver route will add a second daily round trip to accommodate more passengers.
- Eastbound trips: Departs Crested Butte at 5:15 a.m., arrives at Denver Union Station at 11:10 a.m.; departs Crested Butte at 1:15 p.m., arrives at Denver Union Station at 7 p.m.
- Westbound trips: Departs Denver Union Station at 6:30 a.m., arrives in Crested Butte at 12:30 p.m.; departs Denver Union Station at 1:45 p.m., arrives in Crested Butte at 7:35 p.m.
- The Bustang Outrider service between Telluride and Grand Junction is being discontinued due to low ridership. However, riders can catch the Durango to Grand Junction bus, which uses the same route and stops in the same towns along the route.
- CDOT said that the San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is starting new transit service between Montrose and Telluride on Feb. 17, 2025. SMART will be providing information on specific stops soon. Follow service alerts on X and Facebook @RideOutrider, and on Instagram @RideBustang.
- Riders can purchase tickets through the Bustang Outrider mobile app that is available to download from Google Play and the App Store or pay when boarding the bus using cash only (exact change is required).
- Passengers can purchase tickets on all buses from each Park-n-Ride that Bustang Outrider serves. To sign up for Outrider text alerts, visit RideBustang.com/Text-Outrider or text “OUTRIDER” to 833-711-0252.
- Outrider currently serves seven routes: Alamosa — Pueblo, Trinidad — Pueblo, Craig — Denver, Crested Butte — Denver, Durango — Grand Junction, Lamar — Colorado Springs, and Sterling —Greeley/Sterling — Denver.
For more information on Colorado roads, highways and interstates download the COtrip app. The COtrip Planner app provides statewide, real-time traffic information, and works on mobile devices that operate on the iOS and Android platforms. Visit the Google Play Store (Android devices) or the Apple Store (iOS devices) to download.
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MARKET UPDATE - 01/27/2025 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 01/23/2025)
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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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