Home
>
Strategic Planning
>
City of Cortez and South Western Colorado Market Survey

City of Cortez and South Western Colorado Market Survey

We have been spending many hours surveying the market for a potential business location in the South Western Region (region # 9) of Colorado. Pouring through data, seeing the tourist sites, and understanding the market there. Meeting with officials, business people and visiting businesses we learned quite a bit about the region and the future prospects there for someone opening a business.

One of the main cities we took data from and drove around talking to real people there was the City of Cortez. Which is just North of Four Corners and is a big trade partner with Farmington, NM and sees a lot of tourist traffic traveling to the state parks and federal parks there, namely Mesa Verde Cliff Dwellings. It also receives traffic traveling to and from Durango and Telluride.

First off the numbers and population stats look good to us in that 35% of the population is 25-54 and that is both our age range to hire from and our biggest marketing sector for car washes and detailing services. Up the hill and around the corner in Durango that stats were a little higher as retirees with money have moved in there. Higher age and higher economic socio status. Good money flow from that group. Also it has driven up housing costs. Durango imports most of its labor from Cortez and about 5000 people come into work in the city every day and only 800 leave to work each day.

Cortez has a huge Navajo population and they have mingled with others and provided a good strong and very reliable base of labor for many non-techy type jobs. One-third of the population rents and does not own homes and that number is growing as retirees move in and drive up property values making it difficult for local young couples to buy homes. Much of the data we searched out from Fort Lewis College matched our findings and observations.

http://www.soba.fortlewis.edu/sbdc

The population increase of Denver is matched in South Western Colorado with about 8% in the last decade increase. From 2001-2002 up 1.78%, strong growth. Statewide Colorado saw about 1.5 ? 1.6% over all. And you can see that growth in Montrose, Grand Junction, Boulder, Parker, Colorado Springs, pueblo, Greeley, Fort Collins, Aurora, Denver Highland Ranch, Loveland, etc.

Many of those moving in area doing so with second homes for Summer to get out of heat in places like Vegas, Arizona and lower NM. It is Country Type living and the family values and community is strong and very nice. Safe place. Only San Juan County declined and drastically at 2.13 %, which is a small-populated area and therefore the numbers are skewed. Demand for labor is up and unemployment is down. Increased demand for labor exceeded 16% since 1999 and job labor rates climbed and the demand was mostly in retail and in services for the wealthy older people moving in. Also in tourism as increased after 9-11 since most of the area is traveled to by automobile and tour bus. They expect another 4% increase in the next five years for labor, meaning labor rates are improving and therefore quality of life is improving. 17% of the area is owned by Native legitimate Indians and nearby the Ute Tribe has a casino, which is one of the largest area employers.

It appears it would be a great place to run a business especially if you exported out of the area and needed a hard working and reliable labor supply. We liked what we say in South Western CO and feel it might just be what you are looking for, so think about it.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.worldthinktank.net/wttbbs

apartment cleaning near Highland Park ..

In The News:

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.

Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.

Scammers impersonate Department of Veterans Affairs employees claiming veterans owe money, but real VA communications only direct to VA.gov or official channels.

The AltoVolo Sigma hybrid-electric aircraft flies 500 miles at 220 mph while operating 80% quieter than helicopters, featuring safety systems and compact design.

Google search scam alert: fake customer service numbers can give scammers remote control of your phone. Learn how to spot these traps and protect yourself.

Electric vehicles overtake gas cars in total CO2 savings after just two years of driving, with emissions benefits growing over time as power grids get cleaner.

Louvre Museum reportedly used "Louvre" as password for surveillance system during $100M jewel heist. Learn how weak passwords put even famous institutions at risk.

Bipartisan AI jobs bill from Sens. Hawley and Warner would require companies to report AI-related layoffs and hiring to Department of Labor quarterly.

Joe A. from Shelton, Connecticut, lost $228,000 to a ZAP Solutions cryptocurrency investment scam after his divorce, highlighting rising online fraud.

AI-powered autonomous trucks from Waabi and Volvo target U.S. freight driver shortage with Level 4 self-driving technology and NVIDIA computing platform integration.

Survive flight disruptions with expert travel tips: Book early morning flights, download airline apps and know your refund rights during service cuts.

City of Cortez and South Western Colorado Market Survey

Strategic Planning