Economic development in La Plata County can look like many things. It looks like unlocking key funding to develop attainable housing. It looks like building local business capacity by addressing the key challenges that stifle growth. It looks like strengthening workforce skills through industry-led career training and targeting gaps in our talent pipelines.
In 2025, the La Plata Economic Development Alliance measured our return on investment for our membership at 10x to the community. More than $1M invested in La Plata County reflects our commitment to three interconnected mission pillars — attainable housing, early childcare, and workforce development — woven into the fabric of our community's economy.
The Alliance, in partnership with the City of Durango and Early Childhood Council of La Plata County, produced the La Plata Early Childcare Investment Plan, the first of its kind in the state. In the spring, while presenting on Project RUN — the Alliance's workforce development program — at a national workforce conference in Washington DC, we made it a priority to meet with Colorado U.S. Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet. Those conversations and follow-up efforts resulted in a $2M Congressional Direct Spending grant to support the development of an early childcare center in Bayfield.
Through our Housing Catalyst Fund and Revolving Catalyst Loan Fund, the Alliance has helped advance workforce housing projects such as Pine River Commons in Bayfield and Rock Creek in Ignacio. The Alliance manages more than $2M in funds dedicated to building attainable housing for the workforce and has built or preserved more than 564 below-market units in La Plata County. Building on this momentum, we are now helping to address the early childcare desert in our community.
The Alliance furthered its workforce development efforts through a regional collaboration with Axis Health System to develop the Healthcare Workforce Pipeline. Designed to strengthen the healthcare talent pipeline across the five-county Region 9 area, the Pipeline focuses on reducing barriers to entry and supporting individuals as they pursue healthcare careers. Throughout the year, the Pipeline supported 49 community members across the Region 9 and Northern New Mexico area.
As a result of this individualized navigation and coordinated employer engagement, 27 participants were accepted into certification, graduate, or licensing programs. These outcomes reflect measurable progress toward building a stronger regional healthcare workforce while expanding healthcare access and supporting economic mobility for local residents.
2026 is another opportunity to build a more vibrant and resilient economy. The Alliance, along with Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, the City of Durango, La Plata County, StoneAge Tools, Animas Air Park, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund, will conduct an economic feasibility study of the Animas Air Park. Pioneer Development Company will lead the study, assessing market demand, infrastructure readiness, regulatory considerations, and potential use cases to better understand the Air Park's role in the regional economy. Results will help local leaders evaluate opportunities and constraints, providing a data-driven foundation for future decisions on development, investment, and long-term economic use of the site.
The Alliance is also acting on former intern Emaliah Sawyer's column (Herald, Jan. 7) calling for more local talent development and investment. The Alliance Internship Fund helps local employers create paid internship opportunities for the region's emerging workforce.
The Alliance's monthly Investor Member meeting is a forum to discuss community priorities, bringing together public, private, and philanthropic partners to shape our economic direction.The Alliance is the economic development organization for La Plata County, fueled by investor members and guided by an outstanding board of directors. We welcome feedback on how we can help make our economy more prosperous and our community more resilient.
Sarah Tober is Executive Director of the La Plata Economic Development Alliance. Learn more at yeslpc.com.
