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Mesa County - Mon. 05/06/24 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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TODAY
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- Colorado Mesa University Spring Choir Concert II, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Moss Performing Arts Center, Grand Junction, coloradomesa.edu, 800-410-6287
- Food Bank of the Rockies Resource Hotline, foodbankrockies.org, 855-855-4626
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SLOWER HIRING BOOSTS HOPES OF A LATE-SUMMER RATE CUT
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U.S. employers added a seasonally adjusted 175,000 jobs in April, the Labor Dept. reported. That was far less than in March, when gains exceeded 300,000. It was also below the 240,000 economists had expected. Friday’s report will keep hope alive for a late-summer interest-rate cut from the Federal Reserve. Another employment report is due before officials’ June 11-12 meeting. Traders in interest-rate futures saw slightly higher probabilities of a rate cut in July after the report, though still below 50 percent. Expectations of a September rate cut rose to roughly 70 percent, up from around 60 percent on Thursday, according to CME Group. Analysts said the April employment report showed that the labor market is cooling but didn’t signal a serious deterioration in hiring conditions. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9 percent from March’s 3.8 percent. Wages rose less than anticipated, increasing 3.9 percent from a year earlier after rising 4.1 percent in March.
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COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY CALENDAR: 308 BILLS REMAINING
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On April 29, there were 362 bills still awaiting final resolution in the Colorado legislature. That number has dropped by less than 50 in the past week. As of Friday morning, there are 308 bills still awaiting final action — with nine more bills introduced this week. That brings the total bills introduced to 702, still well short of the record. And more are likely to come in the session's final days. Bills need a minimum of three days to get all the way through the legislative process, which means lawmakers could still introduce more measures as late as next Monday for any hope of final passage by Wednesday. The nine new bills do not include the long-awaited property tax measure. The governor has now signed 134 House bills and 47 Senate bills; another four are waiting for his signature. The General Assembly must adjourn no later than midnight on Wednesday, May 8. The House and Senate are both expected to work this weekend.
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CSU CELEBRATES GROUNDBREAKING OF NEW $230M VETERINARY HOSPITAL
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Two days after signing the bill allocating $50 million to the project, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis was at Colorado State University on Thursday for a groundbreaking ceremony for its new Veterinary Health and Education Complex. The CSU Board of Governors approved $230 million for the state-of-the-art facility. Funding is also coming from private donations, and revenue bonds issued by the university. Lead donor Allen Hanano, a Denver businessman, pledged $2.5 million. The 213,000-square-foot facility on the South Campus is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2026-27 school year. It will allow CSU to increase the number of incoming students in its veterinary medicine program by 30 each year, from 138 to 168, growing the total capacity from 600 students to 720. The new facility will also open up space on CSU’s main campus for more than 275 students in undergraduate biomedical sciences and other programs.
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NORTHERN WATER, GRAND COUNTY TEAM UP TO BOOST RIVER FLOWS
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Grand County and Northern Water have struck a deal that will send more water running down Western Slope streams to benefit farmers, boaters and the environment. Grand County in northern Colorado is home to nearly 16,000 people, part of Rocky Mountain National Park and the headwaters of the Colorado River. Each year, four major diversion tunnels take up to 350,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water out of the county and push it east to the Front Range. Now, the county and the water provider are agreeing to release water in the opposite direction, to the west. Under the agreement, Northern Water would have the option to access more water in dry years. Grand County would have the ability to release up to 7,000 acre-feet of water from Willow Creek Reservoir and Lake Granby — both part of the federal Colorado-Big Thompson, or C-BT, Project managed by Northern Water — into the Colorado River. The agreement still needs federal review.
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ASPEN HIGH SCHOOL IN TOP 3% NATIONALLY
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Aspen High School was ranked in the top 3 percent of public high schools in the United States for its students’ academic performance, according to the U.S. News and World Report 2024 best high school rankings. Schools are ranked on their performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare their students for college. Aspen High School, which ranked 534 out of 18,000 schools, was recognized especially for its International Baccalaureate program. The Aspen High School IB exam participation rate is 98 percent and 85 percent of students passed at least one IB exam, according to an Aspen School District news release. The school earned 96.9 out of 100 on its overall scorecard because of the IB exam participation and pass rates. At Aspen High School, all juniors and seniors are enrolled in IB Diploma Programme coursework. Aspen High School’s 97 percent graduation rate also earned it its spot in the top 3 percent of high schools nationally.
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SNOWMASS CANYON ROAD PROJECT WILL STALL TRAFFIC ON HWY. 82
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Commuters on Hwy. 82 should expect delays of up to 40 minutes during work on the bridges and bridge joints in Snowmass Canyon for about one month starting on May 28, the Colorado Dept. of Transportation said Friday. CDOT plans extensive work this spring along a 7-mile stretch of Hwy. 82 from mile marker 26, near the intersection of Snowmass Creek Road, to mile marker 33, near Woody Creek. The $7.7 million project will start May 13 but the most disruptive phase will occur during bridge work for about a one-month period. Motorists should plan for 24/7 single-lane closure with 40-minute delays for bridge work from May 28 to June 28. Before and after the bridge work, delays will generally be about 15 minutes during construction hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDOT established a project website at codot.gov/projects. The project team can be emailed at resurfacingproject@gmail.com or called at 970-986-6288.
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WRNF SEEKING COMMENTS ON SWEETWATER LAKE REC MANAGEMENT & DEVELOPMENT PLAN
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The White River National Forest announced that the 90-day public scoping period for the Sweetwater Lake Recreation Management and Development Project Environmental Impact Statement will begin May 6. The Proposed Action would authorize a 20-year special use permit to Colorado Parks and Wildlife to implement and maintain improvements outlined in the proposed action on 832 acres of National Forest System lands surrounding Sweetwater Lake. The project area includes 488 acres of land acquired in 2021 through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and 344 acres of previously existing National Forest System lands. The White River National Forest will be hosting public open house meetings in Glenwood and Gypsum to provide information and answer questions on June 5 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library; and June 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gypsum Recreation Center. More information is available at the link below.
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AVERAGE SNOWPACK EXPECTED TO LEAD TO AVERAGE RUNOFF
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Officials with Mesa County’s primary water utilities are predicting an average water year after the area’s snowpack ended the winter at right around average levels. Mesa County is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, with parts of the county experiencing moderately dry conditions. Those conditions are expected to persist into July, with the potential to turn into severe drought or even extreme drought conditions. The Park Reservoir and Mesa Lakes areas experienced precipitation rates that were slightly below average, and spring runoff started earlier than hoped in that watershed because of higher temperatures. Predicted lower temperatures in May should slow down that runoff. The Kannah Creek watershed, which is where the City of Grand Junction gets its water supply, had snow depths of about 89 percent of the 35-year historical average, with 100 percent of water content compared to the 35-year historical average.
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MONTROSE COUNTY GRANTS PERMIT FOR GRAVEL STOCKPILE
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The third time proved the charm for Haynes Excavation, which on Wednesday won a special use permit to continue storing already mined gravel on property zoned for general agriculture. Todd Haynes of Haynes Excavation sought the permit after learning to his surprise that the storage pile did not comply with zoning regulations. With the Montrose County commissioners’ unanimous vote on Wednesday, following two continuances, Haynes now has until Sept. 30, 2028 to remove the stockpile and to speed things along, is allowed to sell it to those who have similar uses for it. Haynes must adhere to a host of conditions, including ones that require him to post a $1.2 million bond for reclamation and one that explicitly states the gravel must be removed by the 2028 permit expiration date, otherwise, it becomes county property to dispose of.
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FORMER BAYFIELD RESIDENT HONORED FOR EDUCATION EFFORTS
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Jackie Morlan spent decades working to improve opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in the Durango-Bayfield area. From 1982 to 2011, she worked as Early Childhood Education director for Community Connections, which helps people with disabilities. She wanted children and adults with special needs to continue learning and to live their lives like anyone else would. Her impact was significant. Bayfield officials honored her work Saturday at Moody’s on Mill Street, presenting her with a plaque officially proclaiming May 6, 2024, as “Jackie Morlan Day.” Morlan, who now resides in Littleton, was the first recreation director in Bayfield history, and she served as a preschool educator working with children with disabilities. She started a grant to open a drop-in center for at-risk teenagers. In 1995, Morlan became the co-founder of BEEP, a nonprofit preschool in Bayfield. She also helped establish Bayfield’s annual summer block parties in 2016.
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USDA SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT TO IMPROVE RURAL GRANT PROGRAMS
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The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Rural Development program is requesting public input on a plan to make it easier for more people in rural areas to access grant funding to enhance and strengthen local economies, communities and quality of life. Through the Better Grants Better Service initiative, USDA Rural Development is gathering and analyzing input from customers, agency staff and other stakeholders to streamline its more than 30 grant programs into a superior customer experience. The grant programs provide people in rural and Tribal communities with access to better housing, infrastructure and business opportunities. The improvements are intended to help lessen the burden on communities that may lack time, resources and staffing to submit successful applications. Learn more information about the Better Grants Better Service initiative in a short video available in both English and Spanish, at rd.usda.gov/about-rd/initiatives/better-grants-better-service.
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GRAND COUNTY GETS $20K FOR RANGE RIDERS
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The Colorado Dept. of Agriculture and Colorado Parks and Wildlife are providing the Middle Park Stockgrowers Assoc. with $20,000 to assist with non-lethal tools to prevent wolf conflicts, such as range riders. Range riders are individuals who, either on horseback or in a vehicle, proactively manage livestock and search for signs of predators. These individuals can establish a human presence to drive away wolves and alert ranchers that wolves are amongst livestock. All non-lethal tools, including range riders, will be purchased and contracted through the Middle Park Stockgrowers. Working Circle is a range riding organization that serves Colorado, California, Washington and Oregon. Karin Vardaman, the director of Working Circle, said the organization is planning to provide range riders, or support riders in Grand County. Grand County encompasses nearly 2,000 square miles. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, there are 267 farms here, and 526 producers.
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EAGLE VALLEY TRANSPORTATION READY TO LAUNCH MORE FARE-FREE ROUTES
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The Eagle Valley Transportation Authority board this week will review the struggles and triumphs of the last four months of the winter season as ECO Transit prepares to begin its summer service operations, including fare-free service on some routes. The Vail-Beaver Creek Express route, with stops in Beaver Creek Village, Avon Station, Lionshead, and the Vail Transportation Center, went fare-free this winter. Certain ECO Transit bus routes — the Hwy. 6 (excluding the Gypsum stops), Minturn and Valley routes — are set to begin fare-free service on May 19. Throughout the winter, riders of the Vail-Beaver Creek Express were encouraged to take a survey evaluating the route’s strengths and weaknesses. The survey found:
- The majority of riders on the Vail-Beaver Creek Express were Eagle County locals. Thirty-seven percent of those who took the survey identified themselves as full-time Eagle County residents, and 26 percent self-identified as seasonal or part-time residents of Eagle County, while 33 percent said they were visitors or tourists.
- Among the respondents, just over a third (35 percent) said they rode the bus to get to work, while a larger percentage (39 percent) of respondents said they rode the bus to gain access to outdoor recreation, and a fifth (19 percent) said they rode the bus to reach shopping, dining or socializing.
- One area for improvement the survey identified was the frequency and timeliness of buses on the route. Several people asked for increased frequency to avoid overcrowded buses and reduce waiting time between buses. Three-quarters of those who took the ridership survey reported that their bus arrived on time, while nearly a fifth of respondents said their bus was late.
- ECO Transit logged a ridership increase of roughly 10.5 percent between quarter one 2023 and quarter one 2024, and an increase of 7,000 riders, or 9.9 percent, from April 2023 to April 2024.
To hear more information about the current state of ECO Transit and the results of the Vail-Beaver Creek survey, attend the Eagle Valley Transportation Authority meeting on Wednesday, May 8, from noon to 2 p.m., in-person at the Avon Town Hall or on Zoom.
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DENVER-AREA BEST PLACES TO WORK
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Employees for each nominated company were asked to complete Quantum Workplace’s employee engagement survey, which measures 10 key engagement categories. Those include team effectiveness, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, manager effectiveness, compensation and benefits. These awards were divided into five size categories based on number of employees. Company; number of employees; and business description:
- PLC Construction; 369 employees; group of independent construction companies specializing in civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and buildings markets
- Plante Moran; 628; professional service firm providing assurance, tax, consulting and wealth management services
- Pax8; 548; cloud marketplace where IT professionals buy, sell and manage technology solutions
- IMA Financial Group; 378; independent broker specializing in comprehensive and consultative risk and wealth management services
- DaVita; 3,261; global health care provider, specializing in outpatient dialysis centers
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BEST COLORADO CITIES TO MOVE TO IN 2024
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Colorado has a lot to offer residents: stunning mountain landscapes, outdoor adventures, a strong economy and a solid job market. And it turns out, you don’t have to move to popular cities such as Denver or Colorado Springs to enjoy the benefits of colorful Colorado. The research team at Homefront ranked 22 cities in Colorado across 16 different quality-of-life metrics. Top ten best Colorado cities to move to:
- Grand Junction
- Littleton
- Loveland
- Fort Collins
- Longmont
- Greeley
- Broomfield
- Boulder
- Colorado Springs
- Parker
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MARKET UPDATE - 05/03/2024 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 05/02/2024)
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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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