MONTE VISTA— The Monte Vista City Council strongly supports economic development. Showing their support of Upper Rio Grande Economic Development (URGED), they will also help in developing the youth of the Valley into a strong workforce over the next three years.
Marty Asplin, co-director of URGED, attended the Thursday, Oct. 19 meeting of the city council and asked for their continued support and investment in the program. “Monte Vista invested in URGED three years ago and the board of directors is requesting that you continue funding the organization. Over the next three years we are going to try and develop the workforce,” said Asplin.
Asplin stated that research conducted by URGED has proven that the challenges of the local workforce hinder businesses. The information was gathered after a meeting with U.S. Tractor Service, Monte Vista Coop, Valley Tractor, Absolute Shine and Aspen Produce. “We sat and talked about the challenges and difficulties they have. They said that the employees they need live a bit down the road. We found the same thing working with the value-added ag and healthcare sectors that have been
started by Adams State University and the state of Colorado. We need the youth to have better skills to become the employees of the future and the future of these businesses,” stated Asplin.
“We’re going to have to go to secondary school. Adams State and Trinidad State have both designed programs to go into the schools. We will be encouraging that. We’re going to expand what we’re creating so that the kids are the strength of our community.”
Asplin also shared details about the Frontier Drive-in Project. The road is where the drive-in screen is located. The road has been purchased by Continuum Partners out of Denver. Continuum Partners is a development firm that is well known and respected in Denver for building most of the property around the popular Union Station in downtown where young professionals live. “They have a good track record. They’ve received awards from the federal government for the quality of their work and are green and sustainable. They’ve realized that those same young professionals like to leave town sometimes. The organization has connections to the film industry, and they thought this is a perfect spot to get people out of town and expose them to the beauty of the San Luis Valley,” said Asplin.
The project is planned and the property will be remodeled. An architect from Mexico city has already made the designs. Water engineers have also already scanned the area. There also plans to upgrade the drive in movie theater. Asplin said he also made them aware that Monte Vista has an indoor digital theater and that it may play into their plans.
The council unanimously approved continuing to be investors and supporters of URGED.