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You are here: Home / Archives for resiliency

Building a resilient rural economy

November 10, 2017 By Ben Rowley

Aerial look at Salida, Colo. It took over three decades, but the “Heart of the Rockies” today shines as an example of how to create a strong, lasting rural economy.

It took over three decades, but the “Heart of the Rockies” today shines as an example of how to create a strong, lasting economy. Salida, Colo. morphed its struggling business climate into a popular outdoor destination and diversified its economy in the process. As the Chaffee County seat created a vibrant tourism base, it expanded other industry sectors as well, and the … [Read more...]

Episode 17: Building and Maintaining Success

November 8, 2017 By Ben Rowley

The staff of Absolute Bikes in Salida, Colo. Owners Shawn and Dena Gillis are on the bottom-right. The rural business owner talks about his city morphed its struggling business climate into a popular outdoor destination and diversified its economy.

Shawn Gillis moved to Salida, Colo. with his fiancé in 1999. He has experienced first hand the growth of the economy there. It took over three decades, but Salida morphed its struggling business climate into a popular outdoor destination and diversified its economy in the process. As the Chaffee County seat created a vibrant tourism base, it expanded other industry sectors … [Read more...]

Episode 16: A Rural Economy Organically Comes Together

November 7, 2017 By Ben Rowley

Night photo of the outside of the Bouthouse Cantina. In this episode, we talk with a Rural Business owner in Salida, Colorado on how the Arkansas River ties the community together.

Since the 1980s, Ray Kitson has been running businesses in Salida, Colorado, including rafting, retail, and lodging businesses. In 2004, he sold all of those and started a restaurant called the Boathouse Cantina. Kitson worked with others to form the Arkansas River Trust, which helped the community see the value of having a river corridor for recreation. Organizers teamed … [Read more...]

Episode 15: Wendell Pryor on Rural Resilience

October 3, 2017 By Ben Rowley

A discussion on how Salida, Colorado built a diversified, mountain resort economy that is better-situated to weather economic storms.

In Episode 13 of the Rural Business Show we spoke with the key players in a Colorado resiliency study. This study identified characteristics of strong rural economies. It observes “that for a community to be economically resilient there needs to be a mix of active community and business leaders with foresight. These individuals must develop and foster a culture of commitment, … [Read more...]

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