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Summit County - Thu. 04/16/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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TODAY
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- Food Pantry open, 10 a.m. to noon, Father Dyer United Methodist Church, Breckenridge, fatherdyer.church, 970-453-2250
- Mahjong, 1 to 3 p.m., Summit County Community & Senior Center, Frisco, 970-668-2940
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DANISH FIRM TO EXPAND TO LOVELAND'S FORGE CAMPUS
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Denmark-based Multicut A/S will open a manufacturing and production facility at Loveland’s Forge Campus to produce parts for the U.S. defense industry, bringing 82 jobs to start and leasing about 35,000 square feet with plans to grow. The announcement was made at the Space Foundation’s Space Symposium and Gov. Jared Polis highlighted the investment’s job and international investment benefits — hiring begins late this summer with production slated for the fourth quarter, and roles will include engineers and operators that pay above Larimer County’s average wage. Multicut’s ultra-precision, automated manufacturing serves customers such as Lockheed Martin, Planet Labs, Raytheon and Vestas. Colorado approved up to $1,038,878 in a performance-based Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit over eight years to support the expansion while Larimer County and OEDIT assist with workforce and incentive programs.
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LIV GOLF FACING IMMINENT CLOSURE AS SAUDI BACKERS WEIGH PULLING FUNDING
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Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is reportedly close to withdrawing financial support for LIV Golf after years of heavy losses and weak U.S. TV audiences, leaving the upstart league that lured top players from the PGA Tour at risk of folding. Backed by PIF, LIV has spent billions since 2022, generated large player payouts, and sparked litigation, government probes and a failed reunification framework with the PGA Tour. The league reported a nearly $600 million loss in 2024 and continued to struggle to build a sustainable U.S. broadcast audience. If PIF pulls funding, questions remain about the fate of marquee players, outstanding contracts and the broader disruption LIV caused in men’s professional golf, though the season was reported to be continuing as scheduled while discussions proceed.
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DIA DROPS TO NO. 10 IN WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORTS RANKING
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Denver International Airport fell to the No. 10 spot globally in 2025 after handling just over 82 million passengers, a slowdown that produced only a 0.1 percent increase from 2024 and cost the airport several places in the ACI ranking after it had climbed as high as No. 3 in 2021–22. International traffic was a bright spot - rising 4.8 percent to nearly 4.9 million travelers and setting monthly international records - but DIA still slipped from No. 6 last year and from No. 3 among North American airports to No. 4. The Airports Council International reported global passenger traffic of about 9.8 billion in 2025, up 3.6 percent as Asia-Pacific demand recovered, while other top airports showed mixed results with some seeing declines. The ranking shift underscores a broader post pandemic rebalancing of travel patterns even as DIA posted record months and continues to expand service.
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CAL NEVA REDEVELOPMENT SECURES $298 MILLION
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Denver-based Realberry, in partnership with Proper Hospitality, has secured a $298 million financing package to restore the historic Cal Neva property in Crystal Bay and reopen it in 2027 as the Lake Tahoe Proper Resort and Casino. The package includes $223 million in C-PACE financing from Nuveen Green Capital and a $75 million construction loan from Banc of California. C-PACE funding will cover energy, water and building system upgrades, while the construction loan supports the remaining build-out. More than $100 million has already been invested. Planned features include modular villas, pools, a spa, a restored 225-seat theater, a 50,000-square-foot wellness pavilion and a 197-room hotel with a casino and multiple dining options. Realberry acquired the long-dormant property in 2023 and plans to preserve key historic elements while repositioning the resort.
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‘ABDICATION OF RESPONSIBILITY’: COLORADO DENIED FEDERAL WILDFIRE RECOVERY FUNDS
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The Trump administration has denied Colorado’s appeal for a major disaster declaration for the Elk and Lee fires, preventing the state from receiving FEMA recovery funds after the fifth-largest wildfire in Colorado history burned in Rio Blanco County last summer. State officials said this is the first denial of such a request in 35 years, and noted that the fires destroyed at least five homes and caused millions in infrastructure damage. Gov. Jared Polis and U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper criticized the decision as political, while an unnamed FEMA spokesperson previously said the determination was based on policy.
Colorado has documented $27 million in verified damages, most tied to destroyed electrical infrastructure serving the Piceance Basin, which produces roughly 2 percent to 5 percent of the nation’s daily natural gas. Polis said the state has invested $57.5 million in wildfire and disaster response since 2024 and argued that federal support is essential for long-term recovery.
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INTERNATIONAL GROUP NAMES BIC BEST IN CLASS
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The Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction has been named the “entrepreneur support organization of the year” by the International Business Innovation Association, a global group with more than 1,200 members. The award recognizes organizations that demonstrate best-in-class practices in advancing entrepreneurship and innovation. CEO Dalida Sassoon Bollig said the honor validates decades of work supporting Western Slope entrepreneurs and reflects the commitment of her team, board and community partners. In its 40-year history, the center has supported one in three Mesa County businesses, helped create more than 14,500 jobs, contributed to over $207.6 million in capital formation and aided $679 million in increased regional sales. IBIA President and CEO Charles Ross praised the center as a model of long-term dedication to building businesses and strengthening regional economies.
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LOVE LOCALS WEEK LAUNCHED BY DURANGO BID
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The Durango Business Improvement District will hold its first Love Locals Week from May 1-10. Buy a $100 Heart of Durango Dollars digital gift card and receive a $50 bonus card redeemable at 110 downtown businesses. Cardholders will have access to exclusive deals at participating merchants, including 5 percent or 10 percent discounts or free items. The promotion pairs the bonus card and discounts with a slate of events such as trivia nights, Durango First Friday, iAM MUSIC Fest, the first train to Silverton, Dandelion Festival, Cinco de Mayo, a dart tournament, the Bear Film Festival, Spring Gallery Walk and the first Farmers Market on Main Avenue. Alpine Bank is the presenting sponsor, and Zia Taqueria, Maria’s Bookshop and Grassburger are additional sponsors. Organizers say the program aims to boost local spending after a slow start to the year. Details are at DowntownDurango.org/love-locals-week.
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FREEFALL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL MOVES TO AVON
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The FreeFall Bluegrass Festival will relocate to Avon’s Nottingham Park and the Avon Performance Pavilion for its Oct. 9-11 run. Organizer Diane Moudy said the venue offers a larger footprint, nearby lodging and restaurants, and room for vendor tents and an expanded kids’ zone. The multi‑day event will feature multiple stages and all‑day music, with gates opening at 2 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Performances will run until 9 p.m. each night. Past acts include the Infamous Stringdusters, Sam Bush Band and Sierra Hull. Beginning in 2026, the festival will be ticketed, with three‑day general admission starting at $90 and VIP passes at $299, along with single‑day options. Organizers say the move will support growth while maintaining a community feel. Lineup and ticket details are available at freefallbluegrassfest.com.
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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS SCHOOL DISTRICT TAPS KRISTIN DRURY FOR SUPERINTENDENT
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The Steamboat Springs School District has selected Kristin Drury as its next superintendent, pending finalization of a contract. Drury is currently the executive director of schools in the Douglas County School District, where she oversees about 16,000 students across 19 schools. She brings 34 years of experience as a teacher, instructional coach, principal and district leader. Her record includes leading academic‑growth initiatives, expanding social‑emotional supports and earning a Governor’s Distinguished Growth Award as a principal. The board used national search firm McPherson & Jacobson, held a public forum with more than 30 attendees and interviewed four finalists using community‑submitted questions. Drury emphasized equity, consistent districtwide programs, relationship‑based safety strategies, teacher recruitment and her rural Colorado roots. The board expects to finalize her employment agreement in the coming weeks.
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WHY IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO MEASURE ENGLAND'S COASTLINE
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A new walking route will let people follow a measurable 2,689-mile line around England, but the coastline itself resists a single, definitive length because of the century-old coastline paradox: the finer the measuring scale, the more bays, inlets and islands are counted and the longer the total becomes. The King Charles III England Coast Path is roughly 80 percent complete and "The 2,689-mile long (4,327km) ramble connects the granite cliffs of Cornwall with the rolling sand dunes of Northumberland and East Sussex's iconic white chalk cliffs, allowing travelers to explore England's extensive shoreline step by step."
Different agencies report different totals because they use different scales and conventions: coarse maps smooth over features while high resolution surveys add jetties, inlets and small islands, so measured lengths can diverge by thousands of miles. Lewis Fry Richardson’s ruler thought experiment and modern mapping both show that as scale tightens, measured coastline grows and can, in theory, increase without bound; tides, erosion and accretion further complicate any single measurement. Practical mapping therefore adopts conventions suited to purpose—navigation, planning or statistics—so no single national figure is universally “correct.” The article notes real consequences, from historical border disputes in Alaska to India’s recent reported increase in coastline after using higher resolution data and explains that England’s new path was designed to be rolled back inland where erosion or landslides require it, keeping the trail usable even as the shore changes.
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SIX OF THE WORLD'S MOST EXTRAORDINARY PLACES TO DIVE
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"From Fiji's kaleidoscopic reefs to shark-packed passes in French Polynesia, these six destinations offer some of the world's most exhilarating underwater experiences." Terry Ward highlights six top dive regions, noting varied attractions from soft coral gardens and liveaboard biodiversity to shark walls, manta ray encounters, wrecks and mass migrations. The piece draws on the author’s 500+ dives and expert voices to recommend where to plan a dive-focused trip this year.
- Fiji — vivid soft coral gardens (Rainbow Reef, Great Astrolabe Reef) and blackwater night dives; humpbacks pass July–October
- Baja California Sur, Mexico — seasonal migrations: mobula rays, humpbacks, whale sharks and striped marlin; strong seasonal variety
- French Polynesia — shark walls and high-shark densities (Tuamotu atolls, Fakarava); expanding marine protected areas
- Raja Ampat, Indonesia — premier liveaboard cruising in the Coral Triangle with exceptional coral and fish biodiversity
- Florida, U.S. — reefs and wrecks for accessible diving and artificial reef attractions, including major wreck treks and upcoming SS United States reef
- Okinawa Prefecture, Japan — manta ray encounters and historic photo ID research sites around Ishigaki and Miyako
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TWO COLORADO SMALL TOWNS RANK HIGH AMONG THE BEST IN THE WEST
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Two Colorado destinations are getting national attention after being named among the best small towns in the Western U.S. in USA TODAY’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. Palisade claimed the number one spot, while Breckenridge placed fifth among 10 small towns, each with fewer than 25,000 residents. Palisade was runner-up in the Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Small Town Arts Scene in 2025 and was also runner-up for Best Small Town Food Scene in 2024. Breckenridge has evolved into one of the top ski destinations in North America, known for its exceptional slopes, energetic après-ski culture and preserved historic charm, according to the 10BEST website. The 10BEST website shows Breckenridge has been nominated and included on the Readers’ Choice Awards since 2016. Last year, the town ranked eighth in the Best Small Town in the West category.
USA TODAY’s 10 best small towns in the West:
- Palisade, Colorado
- Big Bear Lake, California
- Grants, New Mexico
- Cody, Wyoming
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- Astoria, Oregon
- Solvang, California
- Healdsburg, California
- Friday Harbor, Washington
- Anacortes, Washington
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MARKET UPDATE - 04/15/2026 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 04/09/2026)
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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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