All Entries in the "Employment" Category
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 […]
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 […]
Formal Swearing In Ceremony Held for Judge Davidson
“I Michael J. Davidson do solemnly swear by the ever living God that I will support the constitution of the United States and state of Colorado……” That oath was spoken for as second time this past Friday as Attorney Michael Davidson was sworn in on October 30th as District Court Judge for the 15th Judicial […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
What a Difference a Road Makes
After being planned since 1997, Camino de Santa Fe opened to traffic on May 22, 2015. The City of Lamar had taken the initiative to finish the road that connects East Parmenter to East Olive Street and as a consequence, open more through traffic to the Dollar General Store and provide another traffic outlet to Walmart. City […]
Taco John’s Set for Early November Opening
Who gets taco #1 when the refurnished Taco John’s opens in Lamar the first week in November? According to Marnie Garcia, District Manager, Les Scriven’s name is at the top of the list. “Les has been following our progress since we started our renovations with the new owners,” she explained. Scriven was a former owner […]
Colorado Employment Situation | September 2015
Employers in Colorado added 2,000 nonfarm payroll jobs from August to September for a total of 2,523,700 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 4,000 and government decreased 2,000. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a […]
Holly Dairy Farm May Get Second Chance
A Texas judge’s decision this past September, to delist the Prairie Chicken on the Endangered Species List, may have opened the door for the development of the stalled Holly dairy project initiated last year under a special use permit. Keith Siemsen, Prowers County Land Use Administrator, met with the Prowers County Commissioners and County Attorney, […]
City of Lamar, Sales Tax Revenue Report-August 2015
Sales Tax Revenues continued to stay on the plus side through the summer with August Sales and Use Tax collections showing a 4.58% increase and a year to date growth of 6.75%. That translates to a $12,560 increase for August of 2015 compared to the same time last year and a $166,459 increase over last […]
Sediment in Water Shuts off Holly Well
The south well used by the Town of Holly has been shut down due to sediment found in the water. The east well is supplying the town’s needs at this time, with the north well water supply as a backup. Jerry L’Estrange, Holly Town Administrator, told the Trustees, there’s no bacterial content in the south […]
PCDI Should Reflect Unique Offering to Potential Business Developers
George Gotto, Interim Executive Director for PCDI, Prowers County Development Incorporated, recapped his visit to the hemp farm that is developing in La Junta during the organization’s monthly meeting. The Whole Hemp Company has 100 acres planted using drip irrigation this year and employs about 30 people. He stated, “They expect to have from 200 […]
New Helicopter Services Made Available for Prowers Medical Center
Prowers Medical Center hospital staff and the general public were given a view of the new helicopter being used by PMC and several other southeast Colorado hospitals under the Care Connect program. Care Connect is a division of REACH Air Medical Services which will provide air ambulance service to rural areas in this part of […]