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Colorado - Tue. 06/24/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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DEFENSE GIANT NORTHROP GRUMMAN OPENING NEW FACILITY NEAR CENTENNIAL AIRPORT
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One of the big five U.S. defense contractors is expanding its Denver-metro area presence and has leased 100,000 square feet of space in a building in the southern suburbs. Northrop Grumman Corp. will use its new location in unincorporated Douglas County, near Centennial Airport, to work on what it calls tactical edge ground systems or building systems to communicate with satellites beaming information to the military. The Douglas County building, 8452 Highfield Parkway, will host 125 employees transferred from other Colorado sites, including the company’s flagship local ground systems office in Aurora. The employees have been working on satellite ground system projects already, but the new site allows them to work at scale. Beyond the Dept. of Defense, the ground systems technologies developed at the Douglas County building will also be pitched to the various U.S. intelligence agencies.
Northrop Grumman generated approximately $35 billion in sales to the U.S. government last year, accounting for 87 percent of the company's 2024 revenue. Northrop Grumman has about 3,500 employees in Colorado out of nearly 100,000 people working for it worldwide. Northrop Grumman, in addition to its Aurora building, has locations in Boulder — which the company expanded in 2022 — and Colorado Springs.
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MILLIONS OF ACRES OF COLORADO FOREST UNDER THREAT AFTER ROADLESS RULE IS REVERSED
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The Trump administration Monday reversed the “roadless rule” protecting 30 percent of National Forest land from development after nearly a quarter century of land set-asides, knocking down one of the hard-fought pillars of open space protections in Colorado and across the nation. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, who announced the turnabout at a meeting of western governors in New Mexico, said the move opens the way for roadbuilding to help mitigate wildfire damage and promote timber harvests that dwindled under increasing forest protections. But Colorado environmental advocates who had fought for roadless areas and defended the rule against past threats said the change threatens to promote “large-scale mining, oil and gas drilling” as well as widespread logging in areas that should stay set aside for wilderness and backcountry experiences.
The Forest Service oversees nearly 15 million acres of Colorado forest and grasslands. Colorado groups were also scrambling to understand how far the reversal goes for areas that are protected by other rules and regulations. Of that 59 million acres of National Forest Service land across the U.S., the alliance says, “right now, about 50 percent of our National Forest land is open to drilling, logging and mining; and 18 percent is protected as designated Wilderness. The remaining 30 percent of forests are known as Roadless Areas.
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WILDFIRES IMPACT WESTERN WATER QUALITY FOR UP TO 8 YEARS
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Wildfires can contaminate rivers and streams across the Western United States for years after the flames are extinguished, according to a new study published Monday in Nature Communications Earth & Environment. Researchers from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder analyzed more than 100,000 water samples from 500 river basins, making it the first large-scale assessment of post-wildfire water quality across the West. The team found elevated levels of organic carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment in rivers as long as eight years after fires. Half of the samples were collected from burned basins and half from unburned sites, allowing scientists to compare changes over time.
Contaminants such as organic carbon, phosphorus and turbidity were significantly elevated in the first one to five years after a fire. Nitrogen and sediment levels remained high for as long as eight years, particularly in forested regions. The study found that watershed recovery takes longer than previously believed. The findings provide water managers with critical data to help plan for wildfire impacts and improve response strategies.
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GARFIELD COUNTY ENACTS FIREWORKS PROHIBITION
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Garfield County has passed an ordinance prohibiting the use, sale and possession of fireworks in unincorporated areas. Garfield County Emergency Manager Chris Bornholdt told the Board of County Commissioners that local conditions and future predictions indicate an extreme fire danger in the area. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is anticipating above average temperatures from now through August in the region, and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s drought monitor classifies the majority of Garfield County in “severe drought.” The board assessed the evidence and found that high fire danger exists, supporting the fireworks prohibition.
Anyone using fireworks in violation of the ordinance is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 for each separate violation. The ordinance covers unincorporated Garfield County; municipalities make their own rules regarding whether fireworks are prohibited. On federal lands, including Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands, the use of fireworks, flares, or other incendiary devices, including exploding targets, is always prohibited.
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ONE-OF-A-KIND SUMMER RIVER EXPERIENCE ON THE COLORADO RIVER
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The Middle Colorado Watershed Council invites locals and visitors alike to join the Downvalley River Revelers FAC Float — a unique Friday Afternoon Club adventure on the Colorado River that blends river recreation, education and gourmet riverside fare, all in support of local water conservation. The event takes place Friday, June 27 at 3 p.m., beginning and ending at Rislende Riverside in Silt. The float will include a shuttle for all guests and will launch from either West Glenwood or New Castle (depending on river flow conditions) and conclude with a festive reception at Rislende. The float is professionally guided by Defiance Rafting, whose expert guides will highlight the river’s geology, ecology, and cultural stories along the way.
All proceeds benefit the Middle Colorado Watershed Council and its efforts to protect and restore the Colorado River and its surrounding watershed through education, outreach and conservation programming. Spots are limited and early registration is encouraged. Reserve your float by the deadline on June 26 at 3 p.m. at the link below.
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COMMENTS SOUGHT ON OIL, GAS LEASE SALE THAT INCLUDES COLLBRAN-AREA, GARFIELD PARCELS
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The Bureau of Land Management has launched a 30-day public comment period on a proposed oil and gas lease sale in December involving more than 50,000 acres in northwest Colorado. The agency is proposing offering 61 parcels totaling 51,068 acres in the sale. Much of the acreage proposed to be offered is in far-northwest Colorado. A 722-acre parcel lies just under 3 miles southeast of Collbran and 3 miles west of Vega State Park, on a mix of private and BLM-managed federal land. Two adjacent, square-mile parcels lie nearly 20 miles north of Mack. Another 40-acre parcel is also in Garfield County. Some of the Garfield acreage is 1.6 miles northeast of the Demaree Canyon Wilderness Study Area.
The 1,320 acres in Garfield County could see a total of six directionally drilled wells drilled from two, 3-acre well pads, with the wells reaching out laterally as far as two miles underground. The Collbran-area acreage could see 64 wells drilled from a total of four, 7-acre pads. All but five parcels overlap with big game or greater sage-grouse habitat. The BLM says it is applying lease stipulations from its management plans for greater sage-grouse and for big game habitat in Colorado. Maps, the draft environmental assessment and other information, including on how to comment on the proposed lease sale, may be found at eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2036196/510. The comment period ends July 18.
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RED MOUNTAIN PASS REOPENS AFTER SNOW SHED FIRE
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A small wildfire on Red Mountain Pass prompted the closure of U.S. Hwy. 550 from Sunday evening through most of the day Monday, south of Ouray. The Snow Shed Fire was reported Sunday afternoon near mile marker 88, near the snowshed on Red Mountain Pass, about 6.3 miles south of Ouray. The highway closed at 4:45 p.m. Sunday and didn’t fully reopen until about 4:45 p.m. Monday. The Ouray Fire Dept. responded about 1:20 p.m. Sunday, according to a news release from the San Juan County Office of Emergency Management. The fire had burned only 0.3 acres as of Monday afternoon, according to fireweatheravalanche.org. The road was closed out of concern that flaming trees could fall onto the highway and pose a danger to motorists.
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SUMMER TOURISM TO COLORADO SLIPS AS MOUNTAIN RESORT DESTINATIONS GET MORE EXPENSIVE
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New booking data shows consumers are hesitating to commit to Western mountain locations for their summer vacations — a consequence of ever-changing economic and political dynamics and rising daily rates compared to this time last year. The booking pace to mountain destinations across seven Western states — Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho — fell for its sixth consecutive month in May, officially reaching its longest downward streak for 17 participating destinations since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Occupancy rates in Colorado mountain destinations, however, have been hit much harder than the others so far into the season. For May, occupancy in participating Colorado mountain destinations dropped a strong 15.1 percent compared to this time last year. The same is true across other markets, though not as excessively. Instead, occupancy dipped a scant 0.7 percent compared to May 2024. Rising average daily rates — a close representation of the average price guests pay for lodging — have simultaneously kept the region’s tourism revenue above water while deterring travelers who may be planning vacations on a budget.
- Bookings from Canada across all seven Western states are down 55.5 percent.
- Western Europe is down 35.5 percent.
- Mexico is down 5.4 percent. This is the first time in months that Inntopia has recorded a decline from Mexico, whose visitors make up roughly 27 percent of Colorado’s international visitors.
- Canada and Mexico combined account for 46 percent of Colorado’s international visitation, with Mexico bringing in over 250,000 visitors, followed by Canada at 183,000 visitors.
- The economic impact of international travel from these two countries in 2024 was over $265 million.
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COLORADO LOCATIONS WITH THE FASTEST GROWING HOME PRICES
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Colorado home prices barely edged up over the past year, and selling a home appears to be getting tougher. Redfin, a national brokerage, reported that median home prices in Colorado were up 1.1 percent year-over-year in May, reaching $610,900. But fewer homes sold – down 2.6 percent to 7,265 – and the number of homes for sale rose 22.4 percent. That is in line with another Redfin study showing home sellers sitting on nearly $700 billion worth of listings in April, nearly a record high setting the stage for broader declines by year’s end. The slowdown is not universal, however. Redfin identified 10 areas in Colorado that saw the greatest climb in sales price, and they can be found throughout the state:
- Cañon City, 24.8 percent
- Durango, 20.3 percent
- Timnath, 20.0 percent
- Ken Caryl, 16.4 percent
- Castlewood (neighborhood in Centennial), 13.1 percent
- Monument, 10.8 percent
- Severance, 10.0 percent
- Superior, 9.4 percent
- Firestone, 8.7 percent
- The Pinery, 8.6 percent
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U.S. STATES, CITIES & TOWNS THAT WILL PAY YOU TO MOVE THERE
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Whether you’re making a move to escape the high costs of a big city or just wanting a fresh start in a new place — why not get paid? There are many states, cities and towns across the United States that offer financial incentives to move there. As of June 2025, the following cities and states are offering a financial incentive, with some paying as much as $12,000.
- West Virginia: Program name, Ascend West Virginia; Incentive, up to $12,000 or more
- Tulsa, Oklahoma: Program name, Tulsa Remote; Incentive, $10,000 in rental grants or a lump sum after the purchase of a qualifying home and a three-year membership to a local co-working space.
- Topeka, Kansas: Program name, Choose Topeka; Incentive: Up to $10,000 to be allocated to rent for the first year or up to $15,000 to put towards buying a home.
- Baltimore, Maryland: Program name, buying into Baltimore; Incentive, $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance, 5-year forgivable loan
- Hamilton, Ohio: Program name, Talent Attraction Program Scholarship; Incentive, up to $15,000
- Ketchikan, Alaska: Program name, Choose Ketchikan; Incentive, up to $2,000
- Newton, Iowa: Program name, The Newton Housing Initiative; Incentive, $10,000 cash
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THIS COLORADO CAMPGROUND WAS NAMED AMONG THE BEST IN U.S.
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Ruby Mountain Campground in Colorado has been recognized on a list of 50 favorite places to camp in the U.S. this summer. The site in Chaffee County made it onto the list from Hipcamp, an app for finding and booking campsites. Hipcamp analyzed data for more than 500,000 campsites across the country and selected locations in 30 states. “Colorado has no shortage of incredible campgrounds — and Ruby Mountain is one of the best,” Hipcamp wrote. “With campsites along the banks of the Arkansas River, it’s the kind of place that feels remote in the best way — quiet, scenic, and surrounded by wild Colorado beauty.” Ruby Mountain is in the Headwaters Recreation Area, just outside Buena Vista. The trailhead for the Browns Canyon National Monument, an International Dark Sky Park, is nearby. The campground has 22 year-round sites at 7,692 feet. They include pads for tents while some are designed for RVs. It also has a boat ramp for launching rafts and kayaks.
Which campgrounds in neighboring states made the list?
- Village Camp, Flagstaff, Arizona
- A Spark in the Dark Campground, Ash Fork, Arizona
- Sunset View Campground, Navajo National Monument, Arizona
- C2T Ranch on the Saline River, Plainville, Kansas
- Santa Fe Treehouse Camp, Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Zion Utah Jelly Stone Park, Hurricane, Utah
- Zion Wright Ranch Eco-Camp, Virgin, Utah
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MARKET UPDATE - 06/23/2025 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 06/18/2025)
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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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