Economic Viability
DESIRED OUTCOMES & RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

RESOURCES
Desired outcome
We will nurture and promote a regional, diverse, and sustainable economy, fostering a range of industries, employment, and resources and resulting in a variety of products and services. This will be provided by resources, initiatives for businesses, land use options, and transportation.
Possible interest groups/stewards
Economic development councils; chambers; organizations such as Yampa Valley Partners; MainStreet Steamboat; Routt County Livability Index; schools
|
|
Recommended actions |
Timeframe |
- Increase broad-band capacity through public private partnerships.
|
short term to mid term |
- Ensure county-wide cell-phone coverage.
|
short term |
- Pursue new technology, new industry sectors (e.g. location neutral businesses such as software programming, financial services, bio-tech industries), new energy economy (bio-fuels, waste to energy, etc.) in order to develop a diverse economy.
|
mid term |
- Provide economic education that includes economic trending, research and bringing new information from the region’s businesses.
|
short term |
- Continue to provide vocational training on a regional basis.
|
short term |
- Advocate for workforce attraction and retention including workforce housing, international workers, and more.
|
short and mid term |
|
VISION 2020 TO REALITY
Vision 2020 recommended:
Support development of telecommunications infrastructure.
In 2003, the “Beanpole Project” was formed by the Yampa Valley Economic Development Council. The Beanpole Project was part of a state-funded technology initiative to bring high-speed Internet access to every county seat in the state, and then spread the connection to public facilities such as government buildings, schools and libraries.
INITIATIVES FOR BUSINESSES
Possible interest groups/stewards
Colleges such as Colorado Mountain College; organizations such as Northwest Colorado Council of Governments
|
|
Recommended actions |
Timeframe |
- Fund Small Business Resource Center long-term.
|
mid term |
- Create local incubator program.
|
mid term |
- Create a micro-loan fund and access to capital.
|
mid term |
|
LAND USE OPTIONS
Possible interest groups/stewards
Colleges such as Colorado Mountain College; planning schools
|
|
Recommended actions |
Timeframe |
- Implement entrepreneurial advocacy and seek adaptive zoning that enables entrepreneurial activities.
|
short term |
- Create enterprise zones and industrial parks to encourage economic development and office space availability.
|
short term |
|
TRANSPORTATION
Possible interest groups/stewards
Organizations such as the Transportation Solutions Group; Yampa Valley Airport Commission; County/City Government; Chambers; Cultural Heritage Tourism
|
|
Recommended actions |
Timeframe |
- Develop railhead access for large-scale transport.
|
mid term |
- Form regional transportation authority to provide and maintain transportation infrastructure and opportunities.
|
short term |
- Enhance all-season, all-weather air access to ensure commuting, tourism and business activities.
|
ongoing |
- Investigate options for high speed rail for regional and state-wide transit and movement of workforce within the region.
|
long term |
- Emphasize ease of access for urban areas.
|
ongoing |
|