All Entries in the "Economy" Category
CWCB Drought Update, October 2015
Following a very warm and dry start to the fall, November to-date has seen more seasonal temperatures west of the divide and increased precipitation on the west slope and northeastern plains. This has helped to alleviate abnormally dry conditions over parts of the state. Storage levels in some basins are at the highest levels since […]
Colorado Employment Situation – October 2015
Employers in Colorado added 13,000 nonfarm payroll jobs from September to October for a total of 2,533,100 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 13,400 and government decreased 400. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point in October to 3.8 […]
Livestock Slaughter – October 2015 U.S. Highlights
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.31 billion pounds in October, down slightly from the 4.32 billion pounds produced in October 2014. Beef production, at 2.13 billion pounds, was 2 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.51 million head, down 5 percent from October 2014. The average live weight was […]
Gov. Hickenlooper presents Colorado’s Water Plan
DENVER — Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today was joined by James Eklund, Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) Director, Dr. John Stulp, Senior Adviser to the Governor, CWCB Board members and many members of Colorado’s water community to celebrate the completion of Colorado’s Water Plan, calling the project a historic step […]
Prowers Gas Gathering Requests Contract Review from LUB
Art Pansze, a partner and manager of Prowers Gas Gathering, requested a review of the contract his company has with the Lamar Utilities Board during their November 10th meeting. Citing the lower price for natural gas prices over the past four years and the cost of drilling new wells, Pansze requested consideration for the $120,000 […]
City Sales Tax Revenues on Continued Increase
The Lamar City Sales Tax revenue collected this past September shows a 5.85% gain, or $15,314 compared to this time last year. Total Sales and Use Tax collections were up 3.98% for the same period for a gain of $11,218. Year to date collections show City Sales Tax revenue up 7.94% for a gain […]
New Council Sworn In, City Approves Water Project Loan Application
Two Lamar City Council meetings were held Monday, November 9 and were a part of a municipal housekeeping process following a general election. The first meeting, held with current city council members approved the consent agenda. The second meeting, at about 5 minutes later, began with swearing in ceremonies for any new council members, a […]
Amtrak Touching Local Bases Following Award of $15M Tiger Grant
Amtrak officials paid a visit November 4th, to several cities along the Southwest Chief route including La Junta and Lamar, promoting the latest federal $15M Tiger grant that will help repair track along the railway. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the funding to La Junta which will be used to work on the Burlington Northern […]
Local Statistics Discussed at PCDI Monthly Meeting
“Twenty-five percent of the jobs in Prowers County are government based,” said George Gotto, Interim Executive Director of Prowers County Development Incorporated. He was relating some financial and population statistics from a recent study which detailed the demographics of several southeast Colorado counties, made available during a recent economic development director meeting held in La […]
Prowers Medical Center Board Approves Foundation By-laws, Considers LCC Funding Request
Representatives from Lamar Community College, President John Marrin, Director of Nursing and Allied Health, Kathy Henderson and LCC Foundation Director, Anne Marie Crampton, visited with the Prowers Medical Center Board of Directors during their October 28 meeting, to request funds for the school’s nursing program for another year. The hospital granted last year’s request of […]
Inspire Award Caps Healthy Places Visit
Members of the Colorado Health Foundation, PUMA and Healthy Places visited Lamar for three days in what was styled as a Fall Fling. The term is somewhat deceptive, for although the time spent in Lamar was enjoyable, it was also a critical work session which gained an assessment on the accomplishments of the Healthy Places […]
Lamar Family Appearing on “Shark Tank” November 6
A Lamar based mother/daughter entrepreneurial team will be the featured guests on ABC ‘s ‘Shark Tank’ television show, this Friday, November 6th. Linda Clark who owns and operates the Play Clay Factory at 215 South Main Street in Lamar, and her daughter, Gloria Hoffman, will appear and pitch their balance board, a physical fitness device, […]
Rural Connections Concept Discussed at PCDI Meeting
Several hundred seniors graduate from southeast Colorado high schools each year. If they aren’t attending college in Lamar or La Junta, what does the local job market hold for these graduates? How prepared are they to enter into the business world available to them? Julie Worley of “Rural Connections” in La Junta broached those questions […]
Goal Met for 2016 Holly Fireworks Display
Holly Fun Club members, Claudia Parker and Jackie Leiker informed the Holly Commercial Club, a recent dinner and silent auction raised almost $1,000, half of which will be donated to the Holly Volunteer Fire Department. Jake Holdren said the Fire Department had met their goal with their fundraisers, but still needs to cover insurance costs, a […]
Redevelopment Authority Approves 2016 Budget, Funding for Pocket Park Construction
Two funding resolutions were passed by the Lamar Redevelopment Authority Board during Monday night’s meeting, October 26th. One resolution adopts the 2016 budget for the Lamar Redevelopment Authority at $137,245, providing for revenues and expenditures. The other approves up to $50,000 in funding for the improvement of the Shore Arts Center Pocket Park. City Administrator, […]
PCDI Board of Directors Respond to Lamar’s Decision to Pull Funding
(LAMAR, COLORADO) – Brilliant innovator and business man Henry Ford had a vision for success. He said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” Since its inception, Prowers County Development, Incorporated (PCDI) has been honored to have the support from and work with the Prowers County and City of […]
City Council Okays New LUB Board Member, Olive Street Station Liquor License Transfer
The Olive Street Station transfer of ownership and retail liquor store license from Ken Roe to Donald Compton and T.J. Sanders was approved following a brief public hearing. The business at 403 East Olive Street was recently purchased and both Sanders and Compton told the council there are no plans for any changes to the […]
City Resolution Will Divert Funds from PCDI
A resolution passed by the Lamar City Council during their October 26th meeting called for funds normally earmarked for Prowers County Development Incorporated in the 2016 city budget, to be redirected for community development in conjunction with the city’s Main Street Program. The City of Lamar and Prowers County have shared the costs of funding PCDI […]
Lamar Receives $100,000 GoCO Grant for Outdoor Recreation Development
Greater Outdoors Colorado announced this past Friday, October 23rd, that Lamar is one of six pilot communities selected to receive $100,000 in planning grants which can be leveraged to up to $5M to implement projects allowing more kids more access to outdoor recreation. The State of Colorado is using up to $25M in GOCO lottery […]
School Board Candidates Explore Ideas During Zonta Political Forum
There are five contested and two uncontested candidates on the November General Election ballot for seats on the Lamar RE-2 District school board. Elizabeth Whitham moderated a political form at Lamar Community College, hosted by the Lamar Chapter of the Zonta International organization this past Tuesday, October 20. The audience listened to each of the […]