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Colorado - Thu. 07/16/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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EVACUATIONS LIFTED FOR ONE STEAMBOAT FIRE, SOME TAX RELIEF FOR FIRE VICTIMS
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Crews gained some containment Tuesday on the Green Ridge fire burning near Steamboat Springs and the mandatory evacuation order was lifted, according to Routt County officials. The Fishhook Fire, burning nearby in Routt County, continued to burn without containment. All together there are six active wildfires in the state: Green Ridge, Fishhook, Aspen Acres, Gold Mountain, Ferris and Willow. They have consumed nearly 208,000 acres, or 325 square miles. This week, Gov. Jared Polis announced that any people or businesses affected by wildfires that have been declared a disaster emergency, including: the Aspen Acres, Big Sheep, Ferris, Gold Mountain, Green Ridge, Poitrey Canyon, Sharpe, Snyder and Willow fires, will be eligible for some tax relief.
The deadlines for state income tax extensions, due Oct. 15, and sales taxes, due between July 20 and Oct. 20, can both be extended to Dec. 31, according to the Colorado Dept. of Revenue. “No Coloradan should have to choose between rebuilding a life and meeting a tax deadline,” Polis said in a statement. “By extending these deadlines for people and small businesses, we’re helping Coloradans impacted by wildfires get the time and space needed to recover, without the added pressure of late fees.” Taxpayers affected by the wildfires can also contact the Dept. of Revenue to request penalty waivers for other taxes and fees due in October, including marijuana, fuel and retailer delivery fees. Those tax deadlines can be extended to Nov. 6.
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NOT JUST COLORADO & UTAH ON FIRE: CANADIAN FIRES BRINGING DANGEROUS SMOKE
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While there is concentration on wildfires here in Colorado, there are major wildfires burning across Canada. More than 830 were burning in Canada on Wednesday, and there are more than a dozen fires in northern Minnesota near the border. Some of the largest wildfires are burning in west-central Ontario. Wind is now pushing very heavy smoke into the U.S. The smoke is producing dangerous air quality in parts of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin and is expected to stream through Green Bay, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, Detroit and Toronto Wednesday and cover areas from Buffalo to New York City and Philadelphia by Thursday. Rain is in the forecast for the upper Midwest on Friday and in the Northeast on Saturday and is expected to help disperse the smoke. Air quality alerts are in place from Minnesota to New York City, including the entire states of Wisconsin and Michigan.
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AMERICAN RED CROSS NEEDS BLOOD DONORS
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The American Red Cross declared an emergency blood shortage as the blood supply fell nearly 25 percent in June. In the emergency statement, the Red Cross said, "Blood donors are urgently needed to give now." A steep decline in blood donations since the end of May has created a growing gap between supply and patient need. Currently, Red Cross distributions to hospitals are nearly 3,500 units higher per week than expected at a time when hospitals often see higher demand for blood products during the height of trauma season. On top of that, busy schedules and the seasonal loss of school blood drives are driving the decline which could put patient care at risk if not reversed.
The most important way to help end the blood shortage is to book an appointment to give blood now by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, all who come to give July 13-31, 2026, will receive a Fandango Movie Ticket by email (up to $15 ticket price and fees). Additional details can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/July.
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WEST STAR AVIATION RECEIVES COMPENSATION FOR EXPANSION, JOB CREATION
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Officials of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) and the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Developments Inc., along with other city and airport officials gathered at the new West Star Aviation hangar at Grand Junction Regional Airport to present checks to West Star. Each of the organizations gave checks of $123,000 in recognition of the company’s economic impact, job creation and fulfillment of incentive requirements for its expansion program. The new 109,000-square-foot hangar has been under construction since March 2025 and is projected to be completed by the end of October. The GJEP and Chamber and Industrial Developments organizations joined in 2021 to create a collaborative effort with other city, county, state and federal agencies to develop incentives and support for West Star to expand locally at GJT instead of another location in the U.S. With the hangar expansion, West Star expects to create up to 100 permanent jobs.
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WHOLE FOODS & CONDOS COMING TO AVON
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Traer Creek and Jasmine Development this week announced the closing of a transaction that will bring a roughly 28,500-square-foot Whole Foods Market to east Avon. The project will also include between 7,500 to 12,500 square feet of additional retail space, as well as a 122-unit high end condominium project named the Skjól. Whole Foods began efforts in 2020 to find an Eagle County location, contacting Traer Creek. It took years of master planning and working with the town of Avon and others to locate and get approvals for the project. Traer Creek owns about 1,800 acres in east Avon. Whole Foods is anticipated to open in summer 2028, with Skjól Phase I set for fall of 2028 and Skjól Phase II set for spring of 2029.
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ROUTT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OPPOSE GAS & OIL LEASE SALE NORTH OF HAYDEN
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On Tuesday, the Routt County commissioners submitted a five-page comment letter opposing a proposed federal oil and gas lease sale covering nearly 14,000 acres of national forest land north of Hayden. The U.S. Forest Service announced in mid-June that it is analyzing an expression of interest for oil and gas development on approximately 13,850 acres in the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District of the Routt National Forest. The formal 30-day comment period on the proposal began June 18 and will continue through July 17.
In their letter, the commissioners raised concerns about the ecological impacts, citing the proposed lease parcels overlapping with critical habitat for a range of species identified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, including elk production areas, mule deer migration corridors and sage grouse habitat. Additionally, the proposed lease areas overlap with landscapes heavily used for recreation. In summary, the comment letter states, “Even without considering impacts on wildlife and recreation, prior oil and gas development efforts in Routt County have not proven to be economically viable.
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“MOUNTAINS & RIVERS WITHOUT END” OPENS AT THE COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER
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Five years after it was approved, as part of the $233 million new wing of the Colorado Convention Center, a $1.8 million sky-high public art sculpture that can be seen from all levels of the convention center has opened. “Mountains and Rivers Without End,” by California artist Cliff Garten, is a 145-foot-long, mixed-media sculpture suspended about 70 feet above escalators and the ground floor in the western-facing wing. When lit it is visible at night from as far as Speer Boulevard to the west.
The artist says, “The sculpture’s form is based on a scale model of a 120-mile section of the topography of the Rocky Mountains, which can be seen in the distance from the lobby.” “This landscape is translated into a diaphanous, transparent veil of aluminum topographic lines of mountains and blue, glass rivers moving through the topography.” The way the sculpture “engages” light, whether it’s from the western exposure or multi-colored interior lighting that flickers to life at night, creates an ever-changing profile and shadows that mimic the view of the mountains, according to Rudi Cerri, Denver's public art manager.
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NEW SURVEY: AMERICANS SAY $1.2 MILLION IN SAVINGS NEEDED FOR RETIREMENT
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Global investment manager Schroders released results of their 2026 US Retirement Survey, which polled 1,500 Americans participating in a workplace retirement plan (e.g., 401k, 403b, or 457 plan), and it indicated that to retire comfortably, Americans think they will need $1.2 million saved. Yet just 30 percent of the workplace retirement plan participants surveyed said they think they’ll reach a $1 million savings mark before retiring, the survey found. Fifty-one percent said they expect to have less than $500,000 saved when they reach retirement, including 24 percent who say they will have less than $250,000 saved. Notably, 33 percent have more credit card debt than retirement savings, according to the survey. Meanwhile, 55 percent said they are unable to save 10 percent of their paychecks toward retirement due to competing expenses, and 69 percent said rising costs have put retirement out of reach for their generation.
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CHINA’S ECONOMY GROWS AT SLOWEST RATE IN ALMOST 4 YEARS IN THE 2ND QUARTER
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The domestic economy struggled with weak demand and sluggish spending and as a result China’s gross domestic product grew 4.3 percent in the second quarter from a year ago. That is down from 5.0 percent in the first quarter, and it is the slowest growth rate since the end of 2022, when China was still dealing with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the domestic economic ills have not impacted the booming exports. Earlier this week, the Chinese government reported exports rose 27 percent in June from a year earlier, largely fueled by demand from the AI sector. Outbound shipments of semiconductors were up more than 120 percent. Chinese exporters are booming in everything from chips to electric vehicles and industrial batteries. The country’s tech companies are churning out winning AI models in a high-stakes race with the U.S.
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TRAVEL THROUGH TIME IN THE VILLAGES OF ARGENTINA ON A SOLAR POWERED TRAIN
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Argentina launched the Quebrada Solar Train in June 2024, the first solar-powered train in Latin America, and the glass-sided two-carriage capsule looks like a vision of the future. The train, however, is dedicated to, and grounded in the past, as it transports tourists along one of South America’s oldest corridors, the Quebrada de Humahuaca, where people have traveled across northern Argentina for more than 10,000 years. The solar train ambles along at just 20.5 mph as it covers about 26 miles in Jujuy province connecting five historic villages: Volcán, Tumbaya, Purmacara, Maimará and Tilcara, with an additional stop at Hornillos, a former staging post turned museum.
The train is not just a sustainable way to sightsee through Andean mountains and adobe villages. Officials hope the zero-emissions railway will bring tourism income to communities and archaeological sites along the valley, helping younger residents remain on ancestral land while honoring the values that have long shaped life here: respect for Pachamama (Mother Earth), reciprocity and balance.
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MIDDLE COLORADO WATERSHED COUNCIL LAUNCHES FREE HOME IGNITION ZONE ASSESSMENTS FOR GARFIELD COUNTY RESIDENTS
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The Middle Colorado Watershed Council, through its Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative (CRWC), is offering free Home Ignition Zone assessments to Garfield County residents, giving homeowners personalized recommendations and tools to reduce their property's vulnerability to wildfire. Garfield County faces some of the highest wildfire risk in Colorado. Years of drought, rising temperatures and increasing fuel loads have made the Middle Colorado River watershed more vulnerable to wildfire. The Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative was formed to reduce that risk through coordinated, cross-boundary mitigation, preparedness and resilience efforts that protect lives, property, watersheds and landscapes.
The free assessments are launching during peak wildfire season, when homeowners can take practical steps to reduce ignition risks. Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative Program Manager Sam Feuerborn will visit a resident's property to identify specific vulnerabilities, including flammable vegetation, combustible materials around the foundation, the roofline, utility connections, siding and window trim.
- Residents will receive a confidential, personalized action plan with practical recommendations at no cost.
- Residents can schedule a free assessment through the request form on the home page of midcowatershed.org or by emailing Sam Feuerborn at sfeuerborn@midcowatershed.org.
- Assessments typically take an hour or less and there is no obligation to complete any recommended improvements.
- In addition to individual home assessments, CRWC helps landowners, homeowner associations and neighborhoods plan defensible space, fuel reduction projects, reduce vegetation, and fuel loads around structures that help slow spread in the event of a wildfire.
- The collaborative also connects residents with preparedness resources, from evacuation planning to emergency alert registration.
- More information about the Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative and free Home Ignition Zone assessments is available at the link below.
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WORLD CUP ATTENDANCE SHATTERS RECORDS
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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup winds down, with just the bronze game and final game left, attendance for the 2026 matches in North America has already shattered attendance records:
- Through 100 games (before the semi-finals) FIFA has officially recorded 6,527,410 spectators
- That exceeds 6,436,020 fans who attended the previous two World Cups in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 combined
- Note: the totals for Russia and Qatar totaled 128 matches - 64 in each tournament
- Russia 2018: 3,031,768 spectators
- Qatar 2022: 3,404,252 spectators
- 2026 100 matches: 6,527,410
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MARKET UPDATE - 07/15/2026 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 07/09/2026)
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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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