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Colorado - Tue. 06/10/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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CU BUFFS GO ALL-IN, EMBRACE NEW AGE OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS
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As the future of college athletics goes through a dramatic change, the University of Colorado is prepared to go all-in. On Friday, district judge Claudia Wilken in Northern California approved the House v. NCAA settlement, which will allow schools around the country to directly pay student-athletes through revenue sharing beginning July 1. The settlement is a landmark change in college athletics and one that CU is ready to embrace. Schools can pay student-athletes up to $20.5 million during the 2025-26 school year, to be divided among different sports. It’s widely expected that football and men’s basketball teams — the two sports that generate the most revenue — will receive most of that money.
While schools don’t have to reach the cap (which is expected to increase every year), CU athletic director Rick George said CU plans to hit the cap. George and his administrative team have been working for nearly a year to be ready for the July 1 start date, including how to earn the money and how to allocate the funds. CU is still figuring out a plan of how to allocate money to different sports. CU has already made some decisions, including installing artificial turf at Folsom Field this summer, which carries an upfront cost of about $1 million, but will allow CU to host more concerts at the stadium and generate revenue. Also, CU is eliminating the positions of long-time track and field coaches Casey and Lindsey Malone, as the Buffs plan to focus more on their distance programs going forward.
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ACCESS TO GOLDEN'S CLEAR CREEK WATER ACTIVITIES LIMITED DUE TO HIGH WATER LEVELS
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A stretch of Clear Creek in Jefferson County now has limitations on certain water activities as of noon Monday due to expected increases in run-off water levels, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced. Clear Creek, measured at the USGS Golden monitoring station, is flowing between 675 and 725 cubic feet per second, and has risen some 125 cfs on average since June 2. Water activities prohibited by the order include: all single-chambered air inflated devices such as belly boats, inner tubes and single chambered rafts, as well as body surfing and swimming. The sheriff's office said kayaks, whitewater canoes and multi-chambered professionally guided rafts, and river boards are exempt from the restrictions, but folks are encouraged to observe extreme caution due to the safety concerns surrounding swift moving water and floating debris.
Authorized users and occupants must have the use of a Type I, Type III, or Type V Coast Guard-approved flotation vests and helmets designed for water use. Violators may be issued a summons for a class 2 petty offense, punishable by a fine of up to $100. These temporary water restrictions will remain in effect until water levels decrease. Temporary restrictions along Clear Creek extend from the western boundary of unincorporated Jefferson County through the eastern limits of the City of Golden, including Vanover Park. The temporary restrictions extend from the western boundary of unincorporated Jefferson County through the eastern limits of the City of Golden, including Vanover Park.
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USFS SERVICE CHIEF ASKS WILDFIRE EMPLOYEES WHO TOOK VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION TO 'COME BACK'
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Just months after the Trump Administration gave federal employees the option to voluntarily resign, the U.S. Forest Service is asking those who resigned to return to work for the wildfire season. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said in a video posted to the Dept. of Agriculture website on Thursday that employees who took the Trump Administration’s deferred resignation offer should be encouraged to “come back” for the wildfire season. Schultz’s comments come as officials around the country, including in Colorado, have raised concerns that the mass layoffs and voluntary resignations of federal employees could impact the Forest Service’s ability to respond to wildfires. Since President Donald Trump took office in January, his administration has sought to reduce the size of the federal workforce, including through the deferred resignation program, which gave federal employees the option to resign while continuing to be paid and receive benefits through September.
Nationwide, more than 4,000 Forest Service employees accepted the federal government’s resignation offer. The Trump Administration also fired an estimated 3,400 Forest Service employees in February. Even before the layoffs and voluntary resignations, Colorado mountain towns had concerns that Forest Service staffing was lacking. Last October, towns across the Western Slope voiced frustration over a Forest Service hiring freeze on seasonal employees that occurred under the Biden Administration. One-fifth of Colorado is comprised of Forest Service-owned lands. In places like Summit County, where the White River National Forest makes up 85 percent of the county, the federal government manages the majority of local lands.
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HARVEST FOR HUNGER TO OPEN NEW ASPEN FOOD DISTRIBUTION LOCATION
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Harvest for Hunger, a charitable organization that got its start in Snowmass Village, has opened a new food distribution center in Aspen, available 40-hours a week to anyone. The organization's aim is to reduce unnecessary food waste and mitigate food insecurity in the Roaring Fork Valley. The Snowmass location has 1,200 visits per month on average. The new pantry is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and takes food from local organizations, markets, restaurants and hotels up and down the valley. The Snowmass food pantry and the new one in Aspen both operate on a model where individuals are able to take food from the pantry without interacting with staff. The goal of reducing or eliminating interactions with others is to enable individuals who are using the program to stay private. There are no qualifications that need to be proven in order to use the pantry. The new food pantry can be found at 405 Castle Creek Road, Aspen.
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REDSTONE HISTORICAL SOCIETY $25K SHORT ON PURCHASING, PRESERVING HISTORIC PROPERTY
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The Redstone Historical Society is just $25,000 shy of securing a rare and cherished piece of Pitkin County history: the historic Redstone Cottage. The organization has until July 31 to complete the purchase and preserve the property as a cultural cornerstone of the Crystal Valley. The Redstone Cottage, located at 385 Redstone Blvd., is one of the few remaining intact examples of the original Osgood-era mining cottages from the early 20th century. Built in 1902, the Victorian-style home was part of industrialist John Cleveland Osgood’s planned company town, which housed workers employed at his coal mining and coke operations. The cottage has retained nearly all of its original interior elements, making it a “living museum.”
The current asking price of the cottage is $879,000, which is below market value. As a donation, one family member of the current owners will forgo collecting $279,000 once the purchase is made. The Society has also applied for a $250,000 grant from History Colorado, which is still pending. So far, more than $120,000 in private and foundation grants have been raised across the Roaring Fork and Crystal River valleys in support of the effort. If successful, the Redstone Cottage will be converted into a museum, educational center, and welcome center, serving as an anchor for visitors and residents interested in the region’s rich history. To contribute to the campaign or learn more, visit historyredstone.org or contact the Redstone Historical Society at info@historyredstone.org.
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LOCAL CACTUS TO NO LONGER BE LISTED AS THREATENED SPECIES
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A local cactus once thought to occupy a much larger range and to exist in far fewer numbers is being removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened plants protected under the Endangered Species Act. The delisting of the Colorado hookless cactus comes as scientists have yet again determined that what they had thought was one species in fact consists of more than one. The plant was federally listed as a threatened species in 1979, is found in semi-arid, high-elevation desert environments, and can be identified by distinctive pink flowers that bloom in late April and early May. It is found only in the Colorado and Gunnison river basins and their tributary canyons in western Colorado, and specifically Garfield, Mesa, Montrose and Delta counties, at elevations of 4,500 to 7,200 feet.
When the plant was listed as threatened, its range was believed to also extend to the Uinta Basin in northeastern Utah, and its total numbers were estimated at about 15,000 plants. But scientists later determined what they thought was one species was in fact three, including not just the Colorado hookless cactus but the Uinta Basin hookless cactus and the Pariette cactus, all three of which continued to be listed as threatened in a 2009 decision. Part of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s confidence in its delisting decision comes from what are now higher estimates of the species’ abundance.
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FRUITA FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET RETURNS JUNE 14
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The Fruita Farmers and Makers Market returns to downtown Fruita at the Civic Center Park to kick off the 2025 season on Saturday, June 14. The market, which lasts from 8:30 a.m. to noon each Saturday, is set to have its largest opening day ever, per the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce. More than 90 local vendors will be on-site to offer fresh produce, locally raised meats, baked goods, handcrafted items and more. Opening day activities will also include the Farmer Fred Scavenger Hunt at the Fruita Chamber (which will also happen each Saturday), yard games, the city’s party trailer, sidewalk sales, pet adoptions and community promotions. The second Saturday of each month will be Family Fun Day, which will include family-friendly activities like bounce houses and themed entertainment. The Fruita Farmers and Makers Market will take place each Saturday through Oct. 25.
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DURANGO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CELEBRATES NEW DOWNTOWN STATION
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The Durango Fire Protection District’s new 15,000-square-foot, ultramodern fire station at 1235 Camino del Rio, was the site Friday of an open house celebrating the station’s completion. Firefighters moved in two days earlier from a cramped, deteriorating building just north, which had “temporarily” housed Fire Station 2 for the past 40 years. The $11.5 million fire station was designed with the crew’s physical and mental well-being in mind, while also ensuring uninterrupted 24/7 fire and EMS services. It was built to accommodate crew growth and increased demand over the next 40 years. The building’s completion marks the end of the first construction phase for Station 2. The next phase includes demolishing the former fire station next door and constructing a parking lot. That’s expected to be completed this fall.
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EXPLORE THE POWER OF HISTORY: SHOSHONE HYDROELECTRIC PLANT
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The Glenwood Springs Historical Society, in partnership with Xcel Energy, is hosting an Exclusive In-Person Tour of the Shoshone Hydroelectric Plant on Wednesday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take a rare, guided tour of the historic Shoshone Hydroelectric Plant, operating since 1909 in the heart of Glenwood Canyon. Josh Mattson of Xcel Energy will guide the tours. Space is extremely limited, and not ADA accessible. Reserve your spot with a $25 donation at glenwoodhistory.com. A Speaker Series Presentation takes place on Thursday, June 12, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Glenwood Springs Library. Join Josh Mattson of Xcel Energy for a fascinating look at the construction and modern operation of the Shoshone Hydroelectric Plant. For more information, call 970-945-4448 or visit online at glenwoodhistory.com.
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COLORADO GRANTS $67.5 MILLION TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECTS STATEWIDE
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Eleven recipients have been selected to receive over $67.5 million to help build an estimated 1,017 low- and middle-income multifamily affordable housing units across Colorado. The funds come from the Proposition 123 Equity program, statewide support for affordable housing approved by voters in 2022. The Proposition 123 Equity program offers below-market-rate equity investments to developers who are focused on building low- or middle-income housing. The recipients prioritized the state’s land use goals, which include transit-oriented development or walkability to a community job center, along with water and energy efficient or all-electric design. Residents of the project will benefit from the Tenant Equity Vehicle, a program designed to share Prop 123 program earnings, helping tenants save for down payments or other needs.
The recipients include:
- Blue Room House One, in Denver, received $3.8 million for 54 units for tenants earning 30 percent to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI)
- Exodus at Green Valley Ranch, in Denver, received $9 million for 205 units for tenants earning 70 percent to 90 percent of the AMI
- Balsam Townhomes, in Lakewood, received $1.88 million for 20 units for tenants up to 90 percent of the AMI
- Teller Street Apartments, in Arvada, received $6.5 million for 54 units for tenants earning 70 percent to 90 percent of the AMI
- Cityline Station Phase II, in Greeley, received $8 million for 310 units for tenants earning 70 percent to 90 percent of the AMI
- Alpine Valley Apartments, in Monte Vista, received $3.7 million for 26 units for tenants earning 80 percent to 120 percent of the AMI
- Fieldhouse Apartments, in Idaho Springs, received $8.5 million for 120 units for tenants earning 70 percent to 100 percent of the AMI
- Holy Trinity Apartments, in Trinidad, received $6.9 million for 46 units for tenants earning 80 percent to 100 percent of the AMI
- St. Louis Landing Phase I, in Fraser, received $12.9 million for 129 units for tenants earning 30 percent to 120 percent of the AMI
- The Crossing Apartments, in Buena Vista, received $4.3 million for 33 units for tenants up to 90 percent of the AMI
- The Flour Mill, in Salida, received $2 million for 20 units for tenants earning 80 percent to 100 percent of the AMI
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MARKET UPDATE - 06/09/2025 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 06/05/2025)
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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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