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Colorado - Wed. 09/02/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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WAYMO LAUNCHES DRIVERLESS TAXI SERVICE IN DENVER
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Waymo's first public riders in Denver were able to start hailing the driverless robotic taxis Tuesday after months in which the distinctive vehicles have been visibly training on streets around the core of the city. Select riders from among the tens of thousands of Denver-area residents who have signed up on the Waymo app will be invited to actually use the company’s autonomous vehicles on a rolling basis. There are currently dozens of Waymo taxis in Denver, all of them the company's newest vehicle: a four-seat, toaster-shaped all-electric Ojai model. Waymo first started testing its vehicles in Denver a year ago. It began with human drivers behind the wheel, mapping Denver's roads for Waymo's system; then Waymo employees rode while the vehicles drove themselves. In recent weeks, the Ojais have cruised Denver's streets empty in preparation for this week's debut.
Waymo surpassed 20 million fully autonomous trips companywide in December and has notched over 200 million driverless miles. In February, Waymo raised more than $16 billion in funding for growth, the large majority of it from Alphabet Inc. In addition to Denver, it’s planning expansion into 20 additional cities, including Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland, San Diego, London and Tokyo.
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LOS ANGELES ANGELS TO BE SOLD TO NUGGETS, AVALANCHE OWNER STAN KROENKE
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Kroenke Sports and Entertainment says it has reached a deal to purchase the Los Angeles Angels from Arte Moreno. The company led by Stan Kroenke made the announcement Tuesday, saying it expects the transaction to close in early 2027. Kroenke’s company owns the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, Arsenal of the English Premier League, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids and SoFi Stadium, along with the large Hollywood Park campus around the multibillion-dollar Inglewood arena.
The company has now added the Angels, whose turbulent 23-year tenure under Moreno’s ownership will finally come to an end. Moreno, an outdoor advertising magnate from Arizona, bought the Angels from the Walt Disney Company in 2003. While the club had steady success in its first years under Moreno with much of the roster that won the 2002 World Series, the Halos have entered a decline since winning their most recent playoff game in 2009. The Angels are currently headed to their 11th consecutive losing season and their 12th consecutive non-playoff season, both the longest active streaks in the majors.
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EMILY GRIFFITH SCHOOL BUYING FORMER JOHNSON & WALES BUILDING FOR $11M
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Emily Griffith Technical College has long been a school without a traditional campus, but that will change soon. The school, part of Denver Public Schools, is under contract to purchase Centennial Hall on the Mosaic Community Campus at 19th and Quebec in Park Hill for $11 million. The 140-year-old building was previously home to private Episcopal academy St. Elizabeth’s School. The school closed at the end of this past school year. Before the academy, the building housed culinary school Johnson & Wales. The bulk of the school’s classrooms are at 1860 Lincoln St., an Uptown office building that doubles as the Denver Public Schools headquarters. It has other locations in Ballpark, Lincoln Park and a smaller building on the 25-acre Mosaic Campus.
The building will be sold by the nonprofit Urban Land Conservancy, which purchased the entire campus from Johnson & Wales in 2021. It then resold portions to Denver Public Schools, which expanded the Denver School of the Arts, and the Denver Housing Authority, which worked to convert the former dormitories into new housing. But ULC retained Centennial Hall. Aspen Hall, which Emily Griffith obtained in that transaction as part of Denver Public Schools, will close for renovations at the end of the year. Those classes will move to Centennial Hall for the time being. Long-term, Centennial Hall and the Mosaic campus will become the main hub for Emily Griffith. The school plans to vacate three of its four floors on Lincoln Street, leaving only the student-run businesses on the ground level. The Centennial Hall purchase is expected to close this fall, paid for out of Emily Griffith reserve funds.
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SEPTEMBER BRINGS MORE FLOOD WARNINGS - AND MAYBE SOME SNOW - TO COLORADO'S HIGH COUNTRY
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Meteorologists are warning of possible floods and mudslides across Colorado’s Western Slope following a series of thunderstorms over the weekend, with more on the way during the first week of September. The weekend storms were strongest along the Interstate 70 corridor. Towns along the interstate received an estimated 0.6 to 0.9 inches of accumulated rainfall on Aug. 30, which was enough to cause closures and disruptions in some counties. In Eagle County, rockslides triggered by the heavy downpour blocked off parts of Colorado River Road and Sweetwater Road. In Garfield County, mudslides on Sunday evening prompted westbound closures on I-70 near Parachute and New Castle. Roads were reopened Monday morning. Wednesday and Thursday should see a partial return of dry conditions, with a few isolated showers and thunderstorms developing Wednesday afternoon and evening. Thursday’s forecast is drier, with chances for brief showers in the High Country.
Storms and showers are expected to make their return by Friday, thanks largely to a southwest monsoonal flow. Starting around Sept. 1, Colorado’s atmosphere could become cool enough for showers to accumulate as snowflakes at the highest peaks — near 14,000 feet. Some high-elevation mountain ranges outside of Colorado have already recorded their first early snow dusting, with locations in Washington, Montana and Wyoming reporting snow on Aug. 30. Any snow was swiftly melted by warming afternoon temperatures.
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SUNLIGHT MTN. RESORT DONATES $10,000 TO ELKS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
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Sunlight Mountain Resort announced Thursday it will donate $10,000 to the Glenwood Springs Elks Lodge Scholarship Program, supporting students throughout the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. The resort will present the donation to the Glenwood Springs Elks Lodge on Sept. 4. The Glenwood Springs Elks Lodge is part of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a national organization that supports community service, veterans programs and youth development. “The Elks Scholarship Program has become a meaningful source of financial support for graduating high school seniors throughout the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, serving students from Carbondale to Silt, including Eagle,” Sunlight said in a news release. “Scholarships help recipients pursue higher education, trade schools, technical programs, and other post-secondary opportunities.”
The program has awarded $52,000 in scholarships to 31 students over the past three years. It awarded $16,000 in both 2024 and 2025 and $20,000 in 2026. Sunlight’s contribution will help expand the program’s impact. “Supporting local students is an investment in the future of our region,” Sunlight CEO Cindy Dady said in the release. “Whether these graduates pursue college, technical training, or another career path, we’re proud to help them take that next step.” For more information about the Elks Lodge, visit gwselks.com.
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ROB PERLMAN RETURNS AS PRESIDENT OF STEAMBOAT SKI & RESORT CORP.
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Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp. announced Tuesday that parent company Alterra Mountain Company has determined that Rob Perlman will return to Steamboat Resort as president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. This comes after Alterra made the decision to “part ways” with the resort’s former president and chief operating officer, Dave Hunter, in June. Perlman previously served for nine years as Steamboat’s president & COO before being promoted in November 2023 to executive vice president of regional operations for Alterra. In his return to the Steamboat role, Perlman will oversee all aspects of resort operations.
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NORDSTROM RACK PREPARING TO OPEN IN DILLON RIDGE MARKETPLACE
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Nordstrom Rack will officially open its new Dillon location on Thursday, Oct. 1. The store, located at 318 Dillon Ridge Marketplace near REI and City Market, will open its doors at 9 a.m. Residents will have a chance to visit the store early during a pre-opening shopping party from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29. The event will include music, drinks and snacks while giving attendees a first look at the new store. Nordstrom Rack advertises discounts during the event. The pre-opening event is free, but space is limited and advance registration is required. Those registered can bring up to two guests. Those interested can sign up online at NordstromRSVP.com/Dillon. A gift card giveaway is planned for 8:45 a.m. ahead of the opening at 9 a.m. on Oct. 1.
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SUPPORT OUTDOOR STEWARDSHIP: SHARE VOC’s 2027 PROJECT & TRAINING APPLICATIONS
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Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is now accepting project and training applications for the 2027 season—and your network may be able to help spread the word. VOC partners with a wide range of organizations across the state to engage thousands of volunteers in hands-on stewardship projects, from trail building and habitat restoration to wildfire mitigation, urban greening, community gardening, and more. You can help by sharing this opportunity with nonprofits, community groups, or land managers that could benefit from VOC’s support in engaging volunteers for on-the-ground work. VOC is also accepting applications for trainings to help increase the stewardship capacity of local volunteers or staff. These trainings cover skills such as trail design, crew leadership, ecological restoration, and more—and may be useful to individuals or groups in your broader community. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, submissions are encouraged by Oct. 15, 2026.
- Learn more about partnering with VOC on a project at voc.org/partner-resources.
- Request a stewardship training at ositraining.org/training.
- For questions about partnering with VOC, contact Kelly Clouse at kclouse@voc.org or Sam Hutchins at sam@voc.org for training inquiries.
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NEED A TAX TRANSCRIPT? HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW
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There are many reasons individuals may need to access their tax transcripts. They include the need to file a tax return or apply for a mortgage or loan. In a Tax Tip (2026-25), the IRS lists several types of tax transcripts available for free to taxpayers. A tax return transcript shows most line items from the taxpayer’s original Form 1040-series tax return, along with any forms and schedules. It’ s available for the current and three prior tax years. A tax account transcript shows basic information such as filing status, taxable income and payment types. It’s generally available for the current and nine prior tax years. For more information about the types of tax transcripts available and how to access them, visit the IRS: https://bit.ly/4qGb7za
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TRAVEL & LEISURE: COLORADO’S 10 BEST STATE PARKS
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Colorado has some of the country’s busiest national parks, and the size of the crowds can sometimes discourage people from visiting. But if you want to take in amazing views and experience nature with fewer people around, Travel and Leisure has 10 suggestions. The parks are scattered throughout the state and offer different experiences. Some are close to cities; others are close to nothing but nature. Here are Travel and Leisure’s picks for the Colorado State Parks Locals Love for scenic views and smaller crowds:
- Lathrop State Park, Walsenburg: The very first official Colorado state park, designated in 1962, has a view of southern Colorado’s Spanish Peaks. The site has two lakes for boating and fishing and campgrounds. And if you want to tack on a visit to another park, Great Sand Dunes National Park is a little more than an hour away.
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Golden: The park is a great option for a day trip, just 45 minutes from Denver and Boulder. The park is known for its view of the Continental Divide and offers 35 miles of trails to explore.
- Mancos State Park, Mancos: This park gives you room to roam and access to the San Juan Mountains, but the history is also a star. Ancestral Puebloans lived here and in the nearby Mesa Verde National Park, and you can build a vacation around exploring the culturally significant sites.
- Sylvan Lake State Park, Eagle: This park provides vast woods for hikers, and the namesake lake is well stocked with trout, much to the delight of anglers. One perk — or problem, depending on your perspective — is the lack of cell service in the park.
- Yampa River State Park, Hayden: Just west of Steamboat Springs, this park runs along more than half of the 250-mile river it is named for. Different sections offer different features, such as calm areas for fishing and rapids for rafters and kayaks.
- Ridgway State Park, Ridgway: From the views of the San Juan Mountains to its hiking and biking trails to the reservoir that draws people for boating and fishing, the park gives you a number of ways to get back to nature. With more than 280 camp sites, it also has plenty of room year-round for those who want to linger.
- State Forest State Park, Walden: Several yurts are available to rent in Colorado State Forest State Park located 75 miles west of Fort Collins, Colo. There are more than 70,000 acres for exploration at this park, including 136 miles of trails, multiple alpine lakes and places to climb. There is plenty of room for campers, whether you want to sleep under the stars or get comfortable cabins and yurts with beds and electricity.
- Eldorado Canyon State Park, Eldorado Springs: One of the busier parks on the list, Eldorado Canyon State Park has added a timed-entry reservation system for part of the year for cars and trucks entering the inner canyon. If you are walking, taking a shuttle or biking in, you can go straight to see the red sandstone cliffs and the creek that draw visitors.
- Rifle Falls State Park, Rifle: What this park lacks in size, at just 40 acres, it makes up for with breathtaking scenery. The sights include a triple 60-foot waterfall, flowing past limestone caves.
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Colorado Springs: One of the state’s newer parks (it was acquired in 2000), the park sits under the mountain it was named for. This park is home to a plethora of wildlife, including some 100 bird species.
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COLORADO'S EV CHARGING MAP NEARLY COMPLETE
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Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Dept. of Transportation released a statement calling the state’s public fast-charging network nearly built out. The Aug. 27 news release reports there are now 486 DC fast-charging locations and 83 percent of the state highway system is now within 30 miles of a station. But those raw numbers do not mean the stalls are as available, or as quick, as ordinary gasoline pumps.
According to public data, there are other metrics involved in evaluating EV efficiency:
- The Energy Dept. lists 2,857 public electric charging locations in Colorado and 7,748 public ports. Industry counts put Colorado at about 1,500 retail gasoline stations.
- Count every public plug, including about 6,100 Level 2 ports, and Colorado has more charging hardware than gas stations.
- Count only the 1,646 public DC fast ports that do the work of a pump and those stand against roughly 15,000 gasoline fueling positions in the state — about nine pumps for each fast-charge stall, using the industry average of 9.8 positions per gas station.
The stop is different, too:
- Public fast-charging sessions averaged 33 minutes in late 2025, according to a Transportation Energy Institute study of millions of sessions. That stop adds on the order of 100 miles of range to a typical EV, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
- A 12-gallon gasoline fill adds about 300 miles — three times that range — in about five minutes at the pump, according to standard pump volumes and fuel-economy figures.
- Public fast-charging electricity costs about four times as much per unit of energy as gasoline. On the road the costs land near each other — about 17 cents a mile either way — because the EV uses about one-fourth the energy to cover the same distance, according to posted fast-charge rates, Energy Dept. pump prices and standard energy conversions.
The price per mile is close:
- A public fast-charge port averaged about seven vehicles a day in late 2025, according to the Transportation Energy Institute.
- A gasoline pump handled about 40 vehicles a day, based on National Association of Convenience Stores pump-transaction counts.
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ALPINE BANK LAUNCHES NEW BRAND PLATFORM: NOT YOUR EVERYDAY BANK. YOUR BANK FOR EVERY DAY
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Alpine Bank today unveiled a new statewide brand campaign that reinforces what has guided the employee-owned bank for more than five decades: showing up for Coloradans every day. "Colorado is our home, and the people of Colorado have always been at the center of everything we do," said Alpine Bank President/CEO and Chairman Glen Jammaron. "This brand platform is not about changing who we are. It's about telling our story more clearly and confidently.” For more than 50 years, Alpine has helped people navigate life's financial milestones, opportunities, challenges and everything in between. The new brand platform is designed to amplify that legacy while ensuring more Coloradans understand the full breadth of the bank's capabilities.
“Colorado's future is our future,” noted Alpine Bank Chief Retail Officer Jay Rickstrew. “As Colorado continues to grow and evolve, we're investing in our future so we can continue showing up for our customers, communities and businesses every single day.” As one of Colorado's largest privately held, employee-owned banks, Alpine Bank combines the accessibility and trust of a community bank with the resources and sophistication required to meet the needs of today's consumers and businesses. Whether helping a family buy a home, supporting an entrepreneur launching a business, financing commercial growth, or planning for retirement, Alpine Bank is here for all of it. "Customers shouldn't have to choose between personal relationships and modern banking capabilities," added Rickstrew. "At Alpine Bank, we believe they deserve both.”
For Jammaron, who has been with Alpine for 41 years, the new branding initiative is about more than marketing. It’s a reflection of the bank's long-term commitment to remaining independent, investing in Colorado communities and helping generations of Coloradans achieve their financial goals. "For five decades, we've stood alongside Colorado communities through times of growth, challenge and change," said Jammaron. "This brand work is a renewed commitment to the people, families, businesses and communities that make Colorado home. We aren't simply a bank that operates here. We are a Colorado bank, through and through." Along with the new tagline, the launch includes refreshed visual elements and messaging inspired by Colorado's landscapes, people and communities. The bank's mission, values and community commitments remain unchanged.
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MARKET UPDATE - 09/01/2026 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 08/27/2026)
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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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