What’s New

Recap: 2024 County Commissioner Candidate Forum On October 16th, the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) hosted the 2024 Fall Candidate Forum, providing community members with the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates running for County Commissioner. This event was part of the EDC’s commitment to fostering informed decision-making and encouraging community engagement ahead […]

On October 16th, the Steamplant Event Center hosted an important discussion on Chaffee County’s housing crisis as part of the EDC Insights Series. Local leaders and business owners gathered to explore solutions to the growing shortfall of workforce housing, with expert panelists Reed McCullogh (Chaffee Housing Trust), Marjo Curgis (Chaffee Housing Authority), Rob Gartzman (affordable […]

Join us for our 2024 Fall Candidate Forum! Date: October 16th, 2024 Time: 5-8pm Location: Steamplant Event Center – Theater Agenda: (Subject to change slightly) 4:00-5:00 pm  Doors Open  & Welcome Reception 5:00-6:00 pm | Housing Panel Discussion 6:00-6:15 pm |  Break 6:15-7:45 pm | BOCC Candidate Forum 7:45-8:30 Closing Reception Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bocc-candidate-forum-tickets-1003205373277 About [...]

Join us for our 2024 Fall Candidate Forum! Date: October 16th, 2024 Time: 5-8pm Location: Steamplant Event Center – Theater Agenda: (Subject to change slightly) 4:00-5:00 pm  Doors Open  & Welcome Reception 5:00-6:00 pm | Housing Panel Discussion 6:00-6:15 pm |  Break 6:15-7:45 pm | BOCC Candidate Forum 7:45-8:30 Closing Reception Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bocc-candidate-forum-tickets-1003205373277 About [...]

It’s next to impossible to overstate the importance of robust and accessible childcare services as well as early childhood programs. Similar to housing, without the availability of these services, families struggle to cement a long-term foothold in our community and are limited in their ability to participate in the local workforce. The EDC’s Policy Pillar [...]

On July 9th, the Chaffee BOCC gave conditional approval to South Main Arts and Parks Trust for a permit to host a new concert at The Meadows. Read full Ark Valley Voice  article HERE. The Policy Committee of the Chaffee County EDC is proud to be an advocate for live music, both as a uniting [...]

Join the EDC and the staff of the Advanced Industries team at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) as they share information on key grants and export assitance for rural Colorado companies. Enjoy brunch from Michelle Gap and presentation on: AI Early Stage Capital & Retention Grants AI Investment Tax Credits [...]

Thank you for your interest in the EDC’s public policy work. The article below is part of our EDC_Insights campaign, a monthly series of blog posts, email newsletters, social media posts, and policy focused events. Please also read our kickoff blog to learn more about the people and processes behind the EDC's policy work.  In today's digital age, [...]

Most local business people know the Chaffee County EDC for its innovative Ascent business accelerator. Fewer know that we also persistently monitor local policy activity and advocate on behalf of our members for business-friendly public policies that support a thriving, diversified, year-round economy. We focus on seven key topics that provide the infrastructure on which [...]

Great communities don’t just happen, they’re created with intention by committed leaders aligned to a compelling vision. Here in Chaffee County, major upcoming policy discussions related to housing, childcare, water, broadband and more, will have direct impacts on our businesses and careers. At EDC_Forums, you’ll have an opportunity to meet the candidates seeking elected office, [...]

Central Mountain Entrepreneurs presents Driven By Nature: A Celebration of Rural Makers & Doers 2023 Launch Event! This exciting night, presented by Collegiate Peaks Bank, will take place at the iconic SteamPlant Event Center and will feature the launch of the 2023 Central Mountain Ascent accelerator plus a Meet & Greet with the upcoming cohort. [...]

Chaffee County Named “Emerging Startup Community of the Year” by Leading Statewide Business Investment Group CHAFFEE COUNTY, COLO. – Chaffee County–including the communities of Buena Vista, Salida, and Poncha Springs–was named “Emerging Startup Community of the Year” by the Rockies Venture Group, a leading business investment organization serving companies and communities in the Mountain West [...]

Chaffee County - and its economy - is ever changing. That reality is being driven locally by a confluence of significant population, workforce, and employment trends.   To understand these trends, Chaffee County EDC - in partnership with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Colorado Workforce Center, and EMSI - commissioned a far-reaching [...]

Central Mountain Entrepreneurs presents Driven By Nature: A Celebration of Rural Makers & Doers! This exciting night, presented by Collegiate Peaks Bank, will feature the launch of the Central Mountain Ascent accelerator and a Meet & Greet with the Winter 2022 cohort. Location: STEAMPLANT EVENTS CENTER Salida, Colorado Date & Time: FRIDAY | JAN 28 4-5 […]

Join Central Mountain Ascent’s Winter ‘22 accelerator cohort! Are you leading a business poised for growth in Colorado’s Central Mountains? Do you have the desire and passion to take your company and team to the next level? We’re seeking the best businesses and ideas in the Central Mountain region to participate in an innovative new […]

It’s not an overstatement to say the growing trend toward remote work is reshaping rural towns across the country. That’s certainly true here in Chaffee County.   The proliferation of remote work in our community creates new opportunities for our community. For young adults graduating from local high schools or Colorado Mountain College, location neutral employment […]

However unfortunate and frustrating, the Covid-19 health emergency and it’s related challenges remain with us as we head into fall and winter.  With this realization, Chaffee County employers are taking new actions to address the long-running pandemic. Case in point: This set of new policies put in place by the leadership team at Monarch Mountain, one of our […]

The Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is seeking a Startup Community Director to lead an exciting new initiative to promote entrepreneurial growth in Chaffee County. Startup support is central to our strategy for economic recovery, resilience to future disruptions, the creation of greater wage diversity, and economic diversification. This plan, which operates publicly under […]

The Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation (Chaffee County EDC) today announced a new initiative with Pax8, a cloud technology company based in Denver, Colorado, aimed at hiring residents within rural Colorado. The program will further the Pax8 vision to expand remote rural hiring efforts and raise the county Area Median Income (AMI).   The partnership […]

The Chaffee County EDC, in collaboration with the Central Mountain SBDC, was proud to support the recent launch party for the new Central Mountain Entrepreneurs network. The event, hosted by Chuck Sullivan of The Wright and featuring a performance from local artist Coleman Smith of Rapidgrass, spotlighted local startups and investors. It was the latest […]

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. – The Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC), founded in 2007, today announced a new chapter in the organization’s mission of supporting economic development and vitality in Chaffee County with the announcement of its next Executive Director. The organization has appointed Jake Rishavy as the new Executive Director, effective July 1, 2021. […]

Wendell Pryor, founding executive director of Chaffee County Economic Development Corp. (CCEDC), will retire June 30 after serving 12 years with the organization, promoting business development in the county. Read the full story at the Mountain Mail here: https://www.themountainmail.com/news/article_ef8c68d0-b9df-11eb-9eeb-a3f602d2e6b9.html  

Business Spotlight: Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center is a Critical Access Hospital in Salida, Colorado. Known for delivering exceptional, personalized care, it was named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital in the U.S. in 2019. HRRMC’s history dates back to 1885, when it served as a railroad hospital [...]

Entrepreneurial Bootcamp Start-Up to Scale-Up Happy Hour - April 26 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm (optional but strongly encouraged) Bootcamp - April 27 from 8:30am - 4:30pm Location - Buena Vista, Colorado Register today! CCEDC in partnership with Startup Colorado and CU’s Leeds School of Business will be hosting the fifth and final installment of this boot [...]

2019 UAS Spring Roundup Hosted by Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation and Chaffee County UAS Advisory Board Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort 15870 County Road 162 Nathrop, CO 81236 Sunday, April 14 at 4pm Monday, April 15 at 4pm Register today for only $55! The Chaffee County UAS Advisory Board and Chaffee County Economic Development […]

2019 Spring Business Training & Workshops Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation in collaboration with local Small Business Development Counselors and Watershed staff work to develop relevant business trainings and workshops with a grant awarded by the State of Colorado. 2019 Spring UAS Roundup Sunday, April 14 from 4pm – 6pm Monday, April 15 from 8am […]

Chaffee County and the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) have been awarded two grants from the State of Colorado totaling over $30,000 to support entrepreneurs and businesses. The Certified Small Business Community award also designates Chaffee County as a “Certified Small Business Community” along with signs that will announce the County as supportive of […]

To celebrate Small Business Week 2018, the CCEDC is pleased to offer the Access to Capital & Education Forum. Taking place May 1, 2018, this is a special opportunity for local small businesses and entrepreneurs to engage lenders and investors, financial experts, and economic development professionals within Colorado. (Agenda Preview) REGISTER HERE for the Access […]

Working collaboratively, the Salida School District and CCEDC have developed a construction trades program which is now credentialed through Colorado Mountain College. Students enrolled in the program receive on-site skills training, safety certification, and workforce readiness leading to a career in the growing field of construction and trades. Colorado Succeeds, a non-profit coalition of businesses […]

Every five years, the US Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) requires recognized regional planning districts such as the Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCEDD), to conduct an assessment. The Chaffee County Economic Development Corp. is a member of SCEDD. That assessment, referred to as the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), has been finalized […]

On June 22, 2016 the CCEDC organized a demonstration of Unmanned Aerial Systems aircraft and technology products in collaboration with Chaffee County UAS and Pulse Aerospace. The event was held at Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort, and attendance was comprised of more than 70 of the County’s UAV and Aerospace industry leaders. Demonstrations included a […]

A Ground Breaking ceremony  for the Salida School District staff housing project was held on Tuesday, April 12 2016 in Poncha Springs. The Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) has been supporting the Project which will result in a duplex being built on School District property in Poncha  Springs for staff housing. Watch a video […]