DEL NORTE- The Upper Rio Grande Economic Development (URGED) organization met for their monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 11, to discuss the future of the organization and to consider some of the areas of interest the group would like to pursue in the coming year.
The organization recently sent out a survey to their investor members in an attempt to understand what direction the group should take in the coming year and what projects hold the most potential to ensure continued economic growth in the six-county region it represents in the San Luis Valley.
Keynote speaker and Rural Opportunity Representative from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade group, Tom Monaco, opened the roundtable discussion by highlighting several areas of interest that included economic strengths, challenges, and opportunities within the San Luis Valley and opened the floor for comments.
In the survey provided to investors, they highlighted several economic strengths within the Valley including agricultural production, natural resources, attractions, recreation opportunities, as well as, the low cost of living as being drivers for economic growth throughout the six-county region. These economic drivers could be used as a means to begin projects, provide education and training, as well as, market the area through the efforts of URGED.
Some of the challenges of those who reside or wish to live in the Valley include the skilled laborer shortages and the need for housing and better public transportation. During the discussion, it was highlighted that these challenges needed to be addressed in order to stimulate growth.
Members pointed out that certain regulations that are needed for larger communities like those on the front range may not be needed or handled the same way in rural communities within the Valley. Local organizations, businesses and governments needed to take less stringent regulations into consideration when enforcing regulations.
Another challenge that continually presents itself in the Valley is the need for public transportation in relation to location isolation. Efforts to improve public transportation are underway and have improved significantly in recent years with the start of the bus line running from Del Norte to Salida but the need for more transportation options is still a work in progress.
The other challenge discussed was the ongoing housing shortage issue. Rio Grande County Commissioner Suzanne Bothell spoke up stating that it would be beneficial for URGED to consider hosting educational seminars for the general public on abatement and asbestos removal in order to utilize some of the abandoned houses and buildings throughout the region rather than simply focusing on building new housing opportunities.
URGED Director Bonnie Asplin closed the meeting with a statement about how the strengths, challenges and opportunities highlighted in the survey complemented each other and that future work by the organization would focus on everything provided in the documentation. Further discussions will take place to consider projects, educational meetings and training to continue efforts of the organization to help drive economic growth throughout the Valley in the coming year.