STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – In Colorado and across the country, small metropolitan areas, called micropolitan areas, have found that mixing outdoor recreation with business and manufacturing has led to post-pandemic prosperity.
Four Colorado communities — Edwards, Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs and Montrose — made Heartland Forward’s top 25 micropolitan areas in the country for 2022.
At the northwest end of Steamboat Springs, located just off Main Street, is a cluster of warehouses where small businesses and small manufacturing come to thrive.
“We make 60 pairs of poles today,” said Andrew Beckler, founder and owner of Grass Sticks bamboo ski poles. “We make bamboo ski poles. And we started making bamboo pistons, too. We have 12 pistons starting today.”
The mountain towns of Colorado top the list of top micropolitan areas in the United States
The mountain towns of Colorado top the list of top micropolitan areas in the United States
The prosperity of businesses like Grass Sticks and Town Hall Outdoor Kids Gear speaks to the diversified economy, workforce and infrastructure in this small mountain town.
“We make sustainable children’s gear out of Steamboat,” said Robin Hall, CEO and co-founder of Town Hall.
The Grass Sticks business is booming.
“It’s a lighter, stronger and more durable ski pole than a lot of people are used to now,” Beckler said. “And the bamboo will bend and flex with you when you crash, and then snap back into place.”
And Town Hall also finds a niche – only in its second year after launch.
“We saw a gap in the kids’ equipment,” Hall said. “No one really focuses on the child, making sure that the child has the right zippers, pockets and bags and everything they need and want. Instead of snaps, we made a magnet because kids can’t do snaps very good “.
In Colorado and around the country, small metropolitan areas — called “micropolitans” by Heartland Forward — have found that mixing outdoor recreation with business and manufacturing has led to post-pandemic prosperity.
“Invest in entrepreneurs and new start-ups and be thoughtful about diversifying the economy,” said John Bristol, executive director of the Routt County Economic Development Partnership.
Bristol says investment in state-of-the-art infrastructure like broadband has made Steamboat as viable as any large cosmopolitan city to attract companies and individuals.
“We’re way beyond other mountain communities and that’s one of the things we’ve learned has been really helpful,” Bristol said. “It’s the mix of agriculture, there’s a coal-fired power plant, the tourism industry and then you have these outdoor recreation equipment companies and gear brands.”
And Steamboat isn’t the only Colorado city on Heartland Forward’s 2022 list of the top 25 micropolitan areas in the United States.
Edwards near Vail is No. 10, Breckenridge is No. 15, Steamboat comes in at No. 16 and Montrose on the Western Slope rounds out the top 25 at No. 25.
“It means people want to live here,” said Eric Mamula, mayor of Breckenridge and owner of Downstairs at Eric’s.
Mamula says Breckenridge has seen a large influx of people moving and staying because of the work-from-home, work-from-anywhere phenomenon fueled by the pandemic.
“It really accelerated the Zoom economy with people deciding, ‘I’m not in town anymore,'” Mamula said.
Heartland Forward – the group that puts out the list of the most Dynamic Micropolitans in the United States – is a partisan, non-profit that calls itself a think tank focused on improving economic performance and renewal in the heart of America.
The focus is on 536 towns and cities with populations from 10,000 to 50,000 people.
The researchers used a formula of growth in employment, GDP, income per capita, graduate workers and young businesses and employers to come up with the list of the most dynamic micropolitan areas.
“If nothing else, COVID has shown that a different economy is the best way to cover the unknown,” said Lisa Popovich, executive director of Main Street Steamboat. “For us — it’s really where people want to be.”
Steamboat is a town with more than 80 independent restaurants.
“Downtown reflects what’s going on in your larger community,” Popovich said. “We shop at the stores that are here, we go to dinner, happy hour, we’re very social.”
Popovich says what Steamboat does better than anyone else is harness tourism dollars for arts and other programs that benefit locals.
“What town of 15,000 people has a local symphony or opera house?” she said. “It is not a one-dimensional life. It is by design, not by accident. Invest in entrepreneurs and new start-ups and be thought to diversify the economy.”
“The people we like are the ones who want to be a part of the community after they move here,” Mamula said. “They give to nonprofits; they want to be part of local government and be on boards and commissions.
What Breckenridge and Steamboat are doing may be viewed by other cities as a way to grow their economies in a post-pandemic world.
“We do everything here in Steamboat with the exception of growing the bamboo and molding our plastic parts,” Beckler said.
“The Yampa Valley is an incredible place to raise kids, have a family, recreate,” Hall said.
“There are always challenges to manufacturing in a small mountain town,” Beckler said. “Some extra costs and stuff like that, but it’s worth it. We get to go skiing every day, always.”
“The goal is — how do we bring manufacturing here to the states, but especially to Colorado,” Hall said. “We have shown that it can be done.”
NOTE: Glenwood Springs, Durango, Fort Morgan and Sterling, Colorado also landed in the top 200 on Heartland Forward’s list of best micropolitans.
Editor’s Note: Denver7 360 | In-Depth explores many sides of the issues that matter most to Coloradans, bringing different perspectives so you can make up your own mind about the issues. To comment on this or other 360 In-Depth stories, email us at 360@TheDenverChannel.com or use this form. See more 360 | In-depth stories here.
Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, transmitted, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Morning Headlines, sign up for a mix of what you need to know to start the day in Colorado, picked for you.
If an employee is covered by federal and Colorado minimum wage laws, the employer must pay the higher minimum wage. The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour, which is lower than Colorado’s 2023 state minimum wage of $13.65.
What city is similar to Boulder CO but with a lower cost of living?
Like many Colorado towns, Dacono was a coal mining town in the early 20th century and has become a shipping town in recent years. This may interest you : Overall score of remaining Pac-12 teams per Sports Illustrated. Similar to Boulder, but on a smaller scale and more affordable, this is a beautiful mountain town.
Which city in Colorado has the lowest cost of living? According to the website, the most affordable place to live in Colorado is La Junta! This city is home to almost 7,000 people, and there’s a lot to like: “La Junta may not have any big cities around, but you’ll be amazed at how many great things there are to do here.
Is it cheaper to live in Boulder or Colorado Springs?
The cost of living in Colorado Springs, CO is -21.8% lower than in Boulder, CO. You would have to earn a salary of $46,914 to maintain your current standard of living. On the same subject : Utah Athletics honor women in sports at the U and the 50th anniversary of Title IX on Friday night. Employers in Colorado Springs, CO generally pay -2.8% less than employers in Boulder, CO.
What cities are like Boulder Colorado?
20 Cities Similar to Boulder, Colorado On the same subject : 7 Delicious Stops on North Dakota’s German Food Trail.
- Raleigh & Durham, North Carolina. …
- Huntsville, Alabama. …
- Fayetteville, Arkansas. …
- Austin, Texas. …
- Colorado, Springs. …
- Spartanburg, South Carolina. …
- Boise, Idaho. …
- Ann Arbor, Michigan.
What are the two sacred mountains in Colorado?
Of the two Navajo sacred mountains in Colorado, one is in La Platas and one is in Sangre de Cristos in the San Luis Valley. Blanca Peak or Sisnaajini is known as Black-Belted Mountain, and recently the Navajo Nation acquired 30,000 acres below the east side of the peak in the Wet Mountain Valley.
Why are the four sacred mountains important? The foundations of our rules and laws for our lives are in our sacred mountains, the four seasons and the four parts of the day. The sacred mountains were placed there to give us the knowledge of our strength and courage. They protect us from evil, harm and danger.
What are the 4 sacred mountain?
Buddhism. Chinese Buddhism recognizes four sacred mountains, each of which is associated with a specific bodhisattva. They consist of Mount Putuo, Mount Wutai, Mount Jiuhua and Mount Emei.
How many Navajo sacred mountains are there?
Four sacred mountains surround Dinétah (the Navajo homeland) providing a deep connection between land, spirituality and culture in the Diné (Navajo) world. ÁÅtsé Hastiin (First Man) and ÁÅtsé AsdzÄÌÄÌ (First Woman) placed these sacred mountains in each of the four directions.
What part of Colorado is the best to live in?
21 Best Places to Live in Colorado in 2023 (From a Local)
- Denver.
- Boulder.
- Castle Rock.
- Dawn.
- Colorado Springs.
- Fort Collins.
- Grand Junction.
- Durango.
Where is the cheapest and safest place to live in Colorado? Grand Junction Located near the western border of Colorado is Grand Junction, which has a population of about 63,000 people. Grand Junction is considered one of the safest cities to live in Colorado, beating Denver and Pueblo (although it doesn’t beat Colorado Springs!).
Where is the safest place to live in Colorado?
The safest place in Colorado is the town of Brush, on the eastern plains. Brush has a small population and topped the list of the safest cities in the Centennial State in 2022. The safest urban area in the state is Cherry Hills Village, one of the highest neighborhoods in Denver.
Does Utah or Colorado have better mountains?
It depends on what you mean by "big mountains" and comparisons. If you mean just the alpine mountains, Colorado has more alpine mountains than Utah. Utah’s mountains tend to rise higher than their bases, so they usually look bigger.
Are the mountains bigger in Utah or Colorado? Colorado is bigger in *almost* every measurable way. The size of the mountains, the size of the industry and the number of resorts, lifts and runs, the state has on all the towers on what Utah has to offer.
Who has better mountains Utah or Colorado?
And picking the winner really depends on what you’re looking for. In the summer and winter months, Colorado comes out on top because the state undeniably has bigger and better mountains. Places like Rocky Mountain National Park have amazing hikes, restaurants, scenic stays and adventures for the whole family.
Who gets more snow Utah or Colorado?
Unsurprisingly, the mountains in Colorado shot up. Steamboat said his snow is of such high quality that he actually owns the trademark “Champagne Powder.” Arapahoe Basin also responded, noting that its snow stays much longer than anywhere else in Colorado or Utah. Utah has better snow than Colorado.
Which is better Colorado or Utah?
The mountains are nicer in Colorado, but unless you live there, too far from Denver. Utah has much less traffic, lower cost of living, better skiing, I like the national parks better, and the airport in SLC is much easier than DIA. Utah is much less crowded. Utah is more politically conservative.
