Economic Data Archives | Economic Development Alliance

Durango Herald: Will Animas Air Park Development Take Off?

Louise Snodgrass — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:55:42 +0000

Durango Herald Writes: Will Animas Air Park Development Finally Take Off?

In a recent front-page article, the Durango Herald covered the launch of a joint feasibility study evaluating the development potential of Animas Air Park south of Durango, Colorado. The study, supported by the La Plata Economic Development Alliance and regional partners, will analyze potential tax revenue, job creation, infrastructure needs, and economic benefits relative to county services and costs, with the goal of clarifying “what development is possible — and what it would take to make it happen.”

A major focus will be clarifying development requirements. Some owners cannot expand because their properties fall out of compliance with government standards, which can depress property values and limit business flexibility.

The study aims to compile a definitive list of requirements like access roads, turning lanes and design standards so property owners know exactly what must be met and the goal post does not keep moving, Tober said.

Infrastructure costs are another key question. Tober said analysts will examine what investments, such as a multimillion-dollar secondary road, might yield in tax base and economic activity, and whether funding should come from public sources, private sources or a combination.

Jessica BowmanDurango Herald Staff Writer

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Through strategic, data-driven economic development efforts, the Alliance is committed to strengthening and diversifying La Plata County’s economy by identifying clear, collaborative pathways for responsible growth.

To learn more about the Animas Air Park feasibility study and follow its progress, read the full Durango Herald article or connect with the Alliance for updates as the study moves toward completion this June.

Read the Full Article

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Newsline: 2024 Southwest Economic Outlook

Sarah Tober — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 22:38:48 +0000

Southwest Economic Outlook: a review of the macro-economic landscape and a look into Southwest Colorado

Economists shed light on the economic landscape during the 32nd Annual Southwest Economic Outlook hosted by Fort Lewis College Katz School of Business. Fort Lewis College economics associate professor Nate Peach highlighted concerns about rising living costs impacting economic sentiments, especially among the youth.

Key Takeaways:

Unemployment rates are expected to remain low in 2024, but talent retention is challenging due to housing costs.
The cost of living has increased by 20% since April 2020, contributing to economic pessimism.
Local incomes struggle to match inflation, hindering wage growth and creating a pessimistic outlook.
Housing costs in La Plata County hit a near 40-year low for listings, with prices outpacing wage growth.
A family of four needs a 9% wage increase to meet the rising cost of living.
Despite challenges, the region displays optimism, as revealed in a survey by the city of Durango.

Read more about the insights shared by economists Nate Peach and Richard Wobbekind in the full coverage by the Durango Herald and on our social media accounts.

Read the Full Article Watch the Recording

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Project RUN Article

Sarah Tober — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 20:27:01 +0000

Herald Reports on Project RUN

In a comprehensive analysis, the La Plata Economic Development Alliance has identified several skill-set gaps in Southwest Colorado’s workforce. The Alliance, in partnership with Fort Lewis College (FLC), has unveiled a groundbreaking plan to enhance the region’s skilled labor workforce. Project Rural Upstart Network (RUN) introduces micro-certifications to bridge skill gaps. A $1.2 million startup award from Opportunity Now Colorado supports Project RUN.

The Alliances’s analysis reveals challenges in recruiting and retaining high-caliber employees. Over 55,000 jobs were posted in the region between Jan 2021 and Oct 2022, highlighting workforce demands. “It’s getting harder and harder to recruit and bring people in,” says Michael French, “It’s easier to train people that already live here than try to find housing for people that we bring in from outside the community.”

The collaboration aims to address labor shortages and employee retention by offering specialized courses, particularly in high-demand sectors like healthcare. Read the full coverage in the Durango Herald to understand how the Alliance and FLC are pioneering solutions for a robust workforce in Region 9.

Read the Full Article

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Economic Dashboard April 2019

Louise Snodgrass — Tue, 28 May 2019 17:24:02 +0000

How is the economy right now in Durango and La Plata County?

Find out the latest on our employment, home construction, tourism, and other key measures of our local economic performance. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us and we can walk you through what the data means.

Local Economic Conditions

April 2019

Economic conditions in La Plata County from Apr 2015 to Apr 2019.

Summary
Improved (+)	5
No Change (o)	7
Declined (-)	7
Improved (Declined)	(2)

	Current	Last Month	Last Year	Change (vs Last Year)
Workforce
Labor Force	32,189	31,494	32,039	o
Unemployment Rate (%)	2.6	3.1	2.3	–
Labor Force Participation (%)	56.6	55.4	57.1	o
Job Openings	1,183	715	924	+
8
Construction & Housing
New Permits (to Date)	22	16	71	–
Value of Permits ($,000) (to Date)	129,829	125,008	31,095	+
Home Sales	71	56	209	–
Average Home Price ($)	499,750	496,764	486,673	+
Earnings Needed* ($)	87,000	85,800	85,000	+
8
Travel & Tourism
Enplanements	13,480	15,766	13,734	o
Lodgers Tax ($)	55,452	43,493	61,323	–
Train Visitors	3,895	3,818	3,737	+
8
Gas & Oil
New Permits (to date)	0	0	52	–
Production (mmcf)	0	17,176	23,948	–
8
Other
Sales Tax, Durango ($,000)**	1,357	1,061	1,363	o
Commercial Sales ($,000) (to date)	3,414	1,389	12,153	–
Foreclosures (to date)	14	11	19	–
Energy Use
Commercial (mwh)	57,500	55,262	52,775	+
Commercial Accounts	6,508	6,481	6,461	o

Notes:

*”Earnings needed” is the household income necessary to purchase an average-priced home in La Plata County.

**Sales tax for Durango includes Use Tax.

Sources: Employment: Colorado Department of Labor and US Census Construction & Housing: City of Durango, La Plata County, Mortgage-X.com, and the Wells Group Travel & Tourism: City of Durango, Durango Area Tourism Organization (DATO), and Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Gas & Oil: Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission Other: City of Durango (Sales tax and business permits), La Plata County Treasurers Office (Foreclosures), and LPEA (Energy Use) (LPEA data is unaudited)

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Economic Dashboard March 2019

Louise Snodgrass — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 14:15:17 +0000

How is the economy right now in Durango and La Plata County?

Local Economic Conditions

March 2018

Economic conditions in La Plata County from Mar 2015 to Mar 2019.

Summary
Improved (+)	4
No Change (o)	7
Declined (-)	8
Improved (Declined)	(4)

	Current	Last Month	Last Year	Change (vs Last Year)
Workforce
Labor Force	31,494	31,330	31,381	o
Unemployment Rate (%)	3.1	3.7	2.9	–
Labor Force Participation (%)	554	55.2	56.0	o
Job Openings	715	892	881	–
8
Construction & Housing
New Permits (to Date)	0	10	52	–
Value of Permits ($,000) (to Date)	125,008	118,992	18,655	+
Home Sales	71	56	148	–
Average Home Price ($)	499,750	496,764	476,352	+
Earnings Needed* ($)	87,000	85,800	82,900	+
8
Travel & Tourism
Enplanements	15,766	12,944	15,201	o
Lodgers Tax ($)	43,493	41,538	42,056	+
Train Visitors	3,818	1,307	4,676	–
8
Gas & Oil
New Permits (to date)	0	0	47	–
Production (mmcf)	204	15,284	25,532	–
8
Other
Sales Tax, Durango ($,000)**	1,061	1,207	1,046	o
Commercial Sales ($,000) (to date)	1,389	0	11,673	–
Foreclosures (to date)	11	9	16	–
Energy Use
Commercial (mwh)	55,262	52,619	56,074	o
Commercial Accounts	6,481	6,484	6,415	o

Notes:

*”Earnings needed” is the household income necessary to purchase an average-priced home in La Plata County.

**Sales tax for Durango includes Use Tax.

The post Economic Dashboard March 2019 appeared first on Economic Development Alliance.

Economic Dashboard December 2018

Louise Snodgrass — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 21:03:14 +0000

How is the economy right now in Durango and La Plata County?

Local Economic Conditions

December 2018

Economic conditions in La Plata County from Dec 2014 to Dec 2018.

Summary
Improved (+)	7
No Change (o)	3
Declined (-)	9
Improved (Declined)	(6)

	Current	Last Month	Last Year	Change (vs Last Year)
Workforce
Labor Force	32,381	33,785	31148	+
Unemployment Rate (%)	3.7	2.7	2.6	–
Labor Force Participation (%)	57.2	58.0	55.7	+
Job Openings	832	925	941	–
8
Construction & Housing
New Permits (to Date)	268	255	308	–
Value of Permits ($,000) (to Date)	156,977	139,692	200,111	–
Home Sales	832	755	863	–
Average Home Price ($)	495,946	494,455	449,244	+
Earnings Needed* ($)	88,400	90,500	73,700	+
8
Travel & Tourism
Enplanements	15338	15150	14448	+
Lodgers Tax ($)	45,570	91,384	42,342	+
Train Visitors	27,594	8,615	30,115	–
8
Gas & Oil
New Permits (to date)	99	98	108	–
Production (mmcf)	22,887	21,115	24,884	–
8
Other
Sales Tax, Durango ($,000)**	1,263	1,492	1,171	o
Commercial Sales ($,000) (to date)	34,888	32,398	35,142	–
Foreclosures (to date)	60	52	54	+
Energy Use
Commercial (mwh)	58,505	55,673	57,696	o
Commercial Accounts	6,474	6,474	6,392	o

Notes:

*”Earnings needed” is the household income necessary to purchase an average-priced home in La Plata County.

**Sales tax for Durango includes Use Tax.

The post Economic Dashboard December 2018 appeared first on Economic Development Alliance.

Economic Dashboard October 2018

Josh — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 18:44:14 +0000

How is the economy right now in Durango and La Plata County?

Local Economic Conditions

October 2018

Economic conditions in La Plata County from Oct 2014 to Oct 2018.

Summary
Improved (+)	4
No Change (o)	7
Declined (-)	8
Improved (Declined)	(4)

	Current	Last Month	Last Year	Change (vs Last Year)
Workforce
Labor Force	32,785	33,395	32,714	o
Unemployment Rate (%)	2.7	2.6	2.2	–
Labor Force Participation (%)	58.0	59.2	58.7	o
Job Openings	925	1,007	1,752	–
8
Construction & Housing
New Permits (to Date)	227	206	249	–
Value of Permits ($,000) (to Date)	119,175	103,676	148,2740	–
Home Sales	688	630	721	–
Average Home Price ($)	489,559	485,870	439,964	+
Earnings Needed* ($)	89,200	86,500	71,800	–
8
Travel & Tourism
Enplanements	17,440	17,029	17,451	o
Lodgers Tax ($)	142,586	125,226	149,761	–
Train Visitors	15,363	17,906	13,696	+
8
Gas & Oil
New Permits (to date)	98	86	103	–
Production (mmcf)	25,471	23,962	24,995	o
8
Other
Sales Tax, Durango ($,000)**	1,651	1,477	1,631	o
Commercial Sales ($,000) (to date)	30,315	28,730	27,558	+
Foreclosures (to date)	47	45	49	+
Energy Use
Commercial (mwh)	55,348	54,614	54,765	o
Commercial Accounts	6,464	6,452	6,408	o

Notes:

*”Earnings needed” is the household income necessary to purchase an average-priced home in La Plata County.

**Sales tax for Durango includes Use Tax.

The post Economic Dashboard October 2018 appeared first on Economic Development Alliance.

Economic Dashboard September 2018

Josh — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 21:30:12 +0000

How is the economy right now in Durango and La Plata County?

Local Economic Conditions

September 2018

Economic conditions in La Plata County from Sep 2014 to Sep 2018.

Summary
Improved (+)	7
No Change (o)	4
Declined (-)	8
Improved (Declined)	(1)

	Current	Last Month	Last Year	Change (vs Last Year)
Workforce
Labor Force	33,395	32,872	32,196	+
Unemployment Rate (%)	2.6	3.1	1.9	–
Labor Force Participation (%)	59.2	58.3	57.8	+
Job Openings	1,007	1,175	1,698	–
8
Construction & Housing
New Permits (to Date)	204	182	207	o
Value of Permits ($,000) (to Date)	102,730	94,238	104,409	o
Home Sales	630	561	644	–
Average Home Price ($)	485,870	480,586	438,935	+
Earnings Needed* ($)	86,500	84,800	70,800	–
8
Travel & Tourism
Enplanements	17,029	18,648	17,373	+
Lodgers Tax ($)	125,226	142,785	142,099	–
Train Visitors	17,906	14,001	24,164	–
8
Gas & Oil
New Permits (to date)	86	79	93	–
Production (mmcf)	24,500	24,901	23,984	+
8
Other
Sales Tax, Durango ($,000)**	1,477	1,487	1,510	–
Commercial Sales ($,000) (to date)	28,730	22,487	26,208	+
Foreclosures (to date)	45	40	46	+
Energy Use
Commercial (mwh)	54,614	58,867	53,138	+
Commercial Accounts	6,452	6,468	6,424	o

Notes:

*”Earnings needed” is the household income necessary to purchase an average-priced home in La Plata County.

**Sales tax for Durango includes Use Tax.

The post Economic Dashboard September 2018 appeared first on Economic Development Alliance.

Economic Dashboard August 2018

Josh — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 17:37:37 +0000

How is the economy right now in Durango and La Plata County?

Local Economic Conditions

August 2018

Economic conditions in La Plata County from August 2014 to August 2018.

Summary
Improved (+)	9
No Change (o)	3
Declined (-)	7
Improved (Declined)	2

	Current	Last Month	Last Year	Change (vs Last Year)
Workforce
Labor Force	32,872	32,915	31,739	+
Unemployment Rate (%)	3.1	3.0	1.9	–
Labor Force Participation (%)	58.3	58.5	57.0	+
Job Openings	1,175	1,013	1,860	–
8
Construction & Housing
New Permits (to Date)	184	165	178	+
Value of Permits ($,000) (to Date)	95,184	86,181	87,927	+
Home Sales	561	470	565	o
Average Home Price ($)	480,586	469,427	433,419	+
Earnings Needed* ($)	84,800	82,600	70,500	–
8
Travel & Tourism
Enplanements	18,648	18,959	18,003	+
Lodgers Tax ($)	142,785	125,498	164,387	–
Train Visitors	14,001	16,088	25,383	–
8
Gas & Oil
New Permits (to date)	79	76	81	–
Production (mmcf)	24,179	21,032	24,223	o
8
Other
Sales Tax, Durango ($,000)**	1,487	1,551	1,548	–
Commercial Sales ($,000) (to date)	22,487	16,063	18,376	+
Foreclosures (to date)	32	32	36	+
Energy Use
Commercial (mwh)	58,867	58,859	55,282	+
Commercial Accounts	6,468	6,469	6,424	o

Notes:

*”Earnings needed” is the household income necessary to purchase an average-priced home in La Plata County.

**Sales tax for Durango includes Use Tax.

The post Economic Dashboard August 2018 appeared first on Economic Development Alliance.

Economic Dashboard July 2018

Josh — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 16:52:51 +0000

How is the economy right now in Durango and La Plata County?

Local Economic Conditions

July 2018

Economic conditions in Durango and La Plata County, July 2014-July 2018.

Summary
Improved (+)	9
No Change (o)	3
Declined (-)	7
Improved (Declined)	2

	Current	Last Month	Last Year	Change (vs Last Year)
Workforce
Labor Force	32,915	32,625	31,594	+
Unemployment Rate (%)	3.0	2.7	2.1	–
Labor Force Participation (%)	58.5	58.0	56.8	+
Job Openings	1,013	1,008	2,218	–
8
Construction & Housing
New Permits (to Date)	165	126	149	+
Value of Permits ($,000) (to Date)	86,181	66,560	73,818	+
Home Sales	470	384	476	o
Average Home Price ($)	469,427	476,687	433,349	+
Earnings Needed* ($)	82,600	84,300	71,300	–
8
Travel & Tourism
Enplanements	18,959	17,724	18,499	+
Lodgers Tax ($)	125,498	99,671	144,637	–
Train Visitors	16,088	1,465	36,542	–
8
Gas & Oil
New Permits (to date)	76	76	62	+
Production (mmcf)	24,823	23,728	24,633	o
8
Other
Sales Tax, Durango ($,000)**	1,551	1,432	1,620	–
Commercial Sales ($,000) (to date)	16,063	14,742	17,631	–
Foreclosures (to date)	32	32	36	+
Energy Use
Commercial (mwh)	58,859	54,896	55,789	+
Commercial Accounts	6,469	6,471	6,423	o

Notes:

*”Earnings needed” is the household income necessary to purchase an average-priced home in La Plata County.

**Sales tax for Durango includes Use Tax.

The post Economic Dashboard July 2018 appeared first on Economic Development Alliance.