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Colorado - Wed. 09/30/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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AMERICANS' VIEW OF ECONOMY SINKS TO LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 2014
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Americans’ confidence in the economy sank to the lowest level in more than a decade this month. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index tumbled 6.7 points to 81.9 in September, down from 88.6 in August. That’s the lowest reading in the board’s survey since April 2014 and below the lowest level reached during the pandemic. Respondents’ views of their present situation fell by 7.9 points to 109.3. Their short-term outlook also slid, falling 5.9 points to 63.6. Americans remain flustered by the economy after five years of elevated inflation. Write-in responses to the board’s survey, collected from Sept. 1-23, were mostly pessimistic this month, with frequent references to the high cost of gas, goods and services.
- Earlier this month, the government reported that consumer inflation accelerated last month and gas prices spiked as fighting in the Middle East dragged on.
- The consumer price index rose 3.4 percent last month compared with a year ago, the Labor Dept. said Friday, just like July.
- But inflation quickened month to month as costs jumped 0.4 percent from July, quadrupling the 0.1 percent registered in the previous month.
- The Federal Reserve two weeks ago raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023 in an effort to quell stubbornly high inflation, and the central bank signaled another rate hike could occur later this year. The quarter-point increase lifted the Fed’s key rate to about 3.9 percent and, over time, could result in higher borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.
- Gasoline prices — which currently average $4.46 for a gallon of regular, are not all that is rising. Prices for appliances, car repairs, and wireless phone services also jumped in August.
- The most recent measure of the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge — the personal consumption expenditures price index — was up 3.7 percent in June from a year earlier. That was down from May’s 4.1 percent year-over-year increase but up from 2.8 percent before the Iran war began on Feb. 28. It was 2.5 percent when Trump was inaugurated in January 2025.
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COLORADO TOWNS WITH BEAR TROUBLE WILL SHARE $1M IN GRANTS TO REDUCE HUMAN-BEAR CONTACT
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Bears are the new tourists in many of Colorado’s most popular mountain towns, and bear run-ins have become routine enough that state wildlife officials are stepping in with $1 million in grants they hope will deter wildlife visits. Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Tuesday announced plans to disburse funds from the Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant among 17 projects that will outfit communities with bear-resistant dumpsters and containers in a year when conflicts are at record highs. CPW has fielded more than 11,000 reports of incidents involving bears this year with “historical levels of conflict specifically as it relates to bears getting into homes,” said John Livingston, spokesperson for CPW’s southwest region. That’s the highest number of bear-related incidents since CPW started keeping electronic records in 2019 and “very likely the most” ever recorded, Livingston said.
Many of them have been bear sightings but half of those incidents have resulted in property damage or close encounters. The agency has also tallied 11 bear attacks this year, none of them fatal, and as of the end of August had euthanized 294 bears. CPW usually kills between 70 and 90 bears a year and, in many years, far fewer. It’s an especially “bad bear year” with 4,000 more reports of bear incidents than what CPW has faced in a typical bad bear year, Livingston said. CPW considered 27 applications for grant funding this year and chose to fully fund 12 projects and partially fund five proposals. The money will help towns all over the state, including Aspen Village, Snowmass Village, South Fork, the Roaring Fork Valley, Eagle, Boulder County, Parachute, Twin Lakes, Rico, Dolores, Mancos, Ward, El Paso County, Fremont County, Eldorado Springs and Mountain View Village.
Recipients awarded the biggest grants include:
- The town of Oak Creek is receiving $161,625 to buy and distribute 550 bear-resistant trash totes to all residential customers.
- Manitou Springs is getting $100,000 to develop a citywide initiative to hand out bear-resistant residential trash bins and replace public receptacles downtown and near busy trailheads.
- The town of Minturn is receiving $100,000 to build out a centralized trash and recycling compactor system, which includes getting rid of outdoor containers and adding “wildlife-proof” public receptacles.
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RTD A-LINE SERVICE TO DENVER AIRPORT REDUCED FOR REPAIR WORK
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The Regional Transportation District’s A-Line to Denver International Airport will offer about half as many trips through Oct. 10 so crews can repair the track. A-Line trains, which normally run every 15 minutes, will depart every 30 minutes on a single track to allow crews from Denver Transit Partners to do repairs at the York-Josephine railroad crossing, agency officials said. The reduced schedule started Tuesday, and the regular A-Line schedule will resume Oct. 11. Trains will leave Denver’s Union Station on the hour and half-hour, and trains will leave the Denver airport station at 27 minutes and 57 minutes past the hour. Updated route information is available online on RTD’s service alerts page.
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BASALT CHAMBER ANNOUNCES 2026 ROARING FORK VALLEY BUSINESS SUMMIT
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The 2026 Roaring Fork Valley Business Summit will take place on Thursday, Oct. 8, from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center in Basalt. The annual event gathers regional executives, business owners and local leaders for a morning of macroeconomic analysis and strategic planning. The event will be in partnership with Trailblazer members Alpine Bank, Aspen Valley Health, Howard Head Sports Medicine, PNC, The Steadman Clinic and Valley View. This year’s event theme is “Signals & Strategy: Charting the Course for 2027,” aiming to deliver actionable intelligence on the Federal Reserve’s economic outlook, regional visitor behavior and essential infrastructure timelines for 2027. The agenda will give attendees primary-source data and strategic foresight to build a forward-looking business before regional shifts occur.
Early registration tickets are available for $55 for Basalt Chamber members, $65 for regular member registration and $75 for non-members, according to the release. Confluence and Trailblazer level members will receive two complimentary tickets as part of their membership package on a first-come, first-served basis. Limited seating is available and advance pre-payment is required. Attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, bus or carpool. For tickets, registration, and complete event details, visit basaltchamber.org/business-summit.
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RFTA LAUNCHES COMMUNITY SURVEY AS PART OF MASTER PLAN PROJECT
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The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority has launched a new community survey — the first step in the authority’s two-year development of a Master Plan. To kick off Phase 1 of the project, the survey is asking about rider destinations, frequency of use and suggested improvements. It also poses demographic questions about age, race and how many vehicles are available in a household. The survey will be one of the many tools used to identify transportation challenges and understand community priorities. Users are also asked to place pins on a map at the stop they use most frequently, the stop they would use if RFTA service worked better for them and where they wish RFTA had a bus stop.
So far, 95 pins have been placed, with spots like the Carbondale Park-and-Ride, the 27th Street Park-and-Ride in Glenwood Springs and the Hwy 6 + Lyon Blvd stop in Silt emerging as popular stops. “Would use” pins are spread across the map, in spots like the Hwy 82 + Watson Divide Rd, the 14th Street stop in Glenwood and the Highlands Villa stop in Aspen. There is also a pin at the Snowmass Mall, where plans for a revamped transit center are in the works. Downvalley towns have seen the most demand for new RFTA stops, with 10 different locations for bus stops suggested in New Castle alone. The community survey, at rftamasterplan.com, remains open until Nov. 13.
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GJ FIVE GUYS UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP, HOSTING BILINGUAL HIRING EVENT THIS WEEK
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Hyde Park Ventures, which owns and operates 65 Five Guys franchise restaurants in the U.S., has acquired the Five Guys location at 2480 U.S. Hwy. 6 in Grand Junction — and the restaurant is hiring. The new restaurant is in the middle of a three-day hiring event at the location, which started Sept. 29.
The bilingual event continues:
- Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Once the restaurant opens, it will host complimentary lunches for local police officers, firefighters, EMS (Emergency Medical Services) personnel and other first responders as a way to thank them for their service to the community and to establish a connection with the community. A local hiring initiative focused on building a team that reflects the Grand Junction and Mesa County community, including outreach to bilingual and Spanish-speaking candidates and job information available in both English and Spanish.
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DURANGO ICE RINK FEASIBILITY STUDY LAUNCHES COMMUNITY INPUT PHASE
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As Chapman Hill ice rink kicks off its new season, the city’s parks and recreation team is considering whether a second ice rink fits in Durango’s future. The Parks and Recreation Dept. took requests for proposals for the ice rink feasibility study earlier this year and is now working with HTG Architects. The project kicked off in July. Heading into October, the study will begin to gather community input, establish focus groups and an Engage Durango session to hear public opinion about adding a second rink in Durango and what that would look like.
There are many options for another ice rink – whether it’s open year-round or converted in the off-seasons. Those leading the study will meet with hockey players, figure skaters and other ice users Oct. 6 to gather their insight and will meet with non-ice sports groups the next day, Oct. 7. Additionally, on Oct. 7 there will be a community open house at 5:30 p.m. at the Durango Community Recreation Center where the parks department and HTG Architects can receive further community input.
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POLIS SUBMITS 91 CENSUS TRACTS, INCLUDING THREE IN MESA COUNTY, TO BE OPPORTUNITY ZONES
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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Monday announced that the state had submitted 91 geographic areas for federal designation as Opportunity Zones, making investments in these areas eligible for tax incentives. In Opportunity Zones, investors in designated areas can defer, reduce or eliminate their capital gain taxes by directing that capital into projects through the program. This April, the U.S. Treasury announced a list of eligible tracts. In Colorado, 25 percent of eligible tracts are approved for the program. Colorado submitted 91 out of 362 eligible tracts to meet this maximum total. Out of six priority zones identified in Mesa County, three were selected for OZ 2.0, which will go live for investment at the start of 2027 through 2036.
The first OZ program sunsets in 2028, though H.R.1 continued the program to make it permanent and update eligibility requirements. Additionally on the Western Slope, Opportunity Zones were also designated in Moffat, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Delta, Montrose, San Miguel, Gunnison, San Juan, Chaffee and Montezuma counties.
To qualify as an Opportunity Zone, a census tract must have either:
- A median family income below 70 percent of the state (for non-metro areas) or metro (for metro areas) median, a decrease from 80 percent in current Opportunity Zone policy, or;
- A poverty rate of 20 percent or greater and a median family income below 125 percent of the state or metro median.
To view an interactive map with more details about the designated tracts across the state, visit tinyurl.com/ynt4kur6.
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ROUTT COUNTY TO RESCIND STAGE ONE FIRE RESTRICTIONS OCT. 1
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The Routt County Board of County Commissioners will rescind the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions at midnight on Thursday, Oct. 1. The city of Steamboat Springs will also lift their Stage 1 restrictions at that time. “During the wildfire season, Routt County participates in weekly meetings with other counties and agencies in the northwest Colorado region to discuss whether or not fire restrictions are warranted,” states the release. “The goal is to have restrictions implemented as uniformly as possible throughout the region to reduce any confusion with the public.”
The agencies use the same eight criteria to monitor conditions, which include:
- One-thousand-hour fuel moistures — the availability of fuels from sizes ranging from 3 to 6 inches in diameter
- Live fuel moisture content — the amount of moisture in living vegetation
- Current adjective rating — the current conditions
- Occurrence of human-caused fires
- Drought indicators
- Adverse fire weather predictions
- Significant impacts to economic, social and public health environments
- Resource availability
The Routt National Forest and surrounding counties will also rescind the remaining fire restrictions, the release states. For questions, call Routt County Office of Emergency Management at 970-870-5551.
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NEW OVERNIGHT PARKING REGS HIT MAIN STREET FRISCO THIS WINTER
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A new overnight parking plan for Frisco’s Main Street goes into effect on Nov. 1, just ahead of the winter season. Under the town’s current plan, people alternate between parking on the east and west curbs of Second Avenue, Third Avenue and Seventh Avenue. East curbs are available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, while people can park on west curbs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Overall, this results in around 74 spaces available on any given night. The new proposal will implement a “simpler” odd-even parking schedule based on the calendar date. On odd-numbered dates, like the first or third of any given month, people will be able to park north of Main Street on either side of First Avenue, Third Avenue, Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue. This will result in around 90 overnight parking spots on these days.
On even-numbered dates, like the second or fourth of a month, people will be able to park south of Main Street on either side of Madison Avenue, First Avenue, Second Avenue and Seventh Avenue. This will result in around 125 overnight parking spots on even-numbered dates. Under the town’s current parking plan, rules are enforced from 2-6 a.m. This will remain the same under the new parking proposal to allow snowplows to work. Drivers arriving before midnight should use the following day’s date when deciding where to park.
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IRS REPLACES IRS2GO WITH NEW MOBILE APP
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The IRS has replaced IRS2Go with a new mobile app that expands the agency’s digital services and gives taxpayers secure access to more account information and services. Among other things, users can check the status of refunds and amended returns, view balances, review and make payments, access certain notices and tax records, manage account preferences, and obtain an Identity Protection PIN. The IRS plans to continue expanding the app with new capabilities and services over time. Current IRS2Go users generally won’t need to download the new app. If they have automatic updates enabled, they’ll receive it through the normal update process. For more information about the new IRS mobile app, visit the IRS: https://bit.ly/47iqGE9
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COLORADO SKI RESORT OPENING DATES FOR THE 2026-27 SEASON
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The countdown to ski season is officially on! When will the chairlifts start spinning? Last year, Keystone Resort and Arapahoe Basin were the first Colorado resorts to open on Oct. 25 and 26, respectively. That was about two weeks after they began making snow. Both ski areas’ 2026 open dates are yet to be determined, as they famously seek to welcome skiers as soon as they are able and claim the title of first to open in the state. Many of Colorado’s other ski areas and resorts have a tentative date on the books, though, so locals can start planning their days on the slopes. Find all of those dates that have been set below and know we’ll keep updating this list as more are announced. In the meantime, do a little snow dance and say a prayer to Ullr.
Opening dates for Colorado ski resorts (subject to change due to weather):
- Breckenridge: Nov. 6
- Copper Mountain: Nov. 6
- Eldora: Nov. 13
- Vail: Nov. 13
- Purgatory: Nov. 20
- Powderhorn: Nov. 20
- Steamboat: Nov. 21
- Beaver Creek: Nov. 25
- Crested Butte: Nov. 25
- Granby Ranch: Nov. 25
- Aspen Mountain: Nov. 26
- Snowmass: Nov. 26
- Telluride: Nov. 26
- Howelsen Hill: Nov. 28
- Ski Cooper: Dec. 9
- Sunlight: Dec. 11
- Aspen Highlands: Dec. 12
- Buttermilk: Dec. 12
- Silverton: Dec. 31
- Arapahoe Basin: TBA
- Keystone: TBA
- Wolf Creek: TBA
- Winter Park: TBA
- Loveland: TBA
- Monarch: TBA
- Echo Mountain: TBA
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MARKET UPDATE - 09/29/2026 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 09/24/2026)
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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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