The town of Bayfield is starting an economic development assessment with the state of Colorado's Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
The office's community assessment team was in Bayfield on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, meeting with business people, senior citizens and community members at a cookout on Tuesday in Eagle Park.
At Wednesday night's meeting with business owners, Clarke Becker asked what Bayfield's strengths and weaknesses are for local employers.
Becker is the director of the Rural Workforce Consortium at the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment.
Most of the people attending mentioned a focus on community as part of the reason they do business in Bayfield.
Aurora Peters, owner of Mud Shavers Car Wash, also owns a car wash in Pagosa Springs and said the two communities are quite different, with Pagosa focused on its summer tourists.
"I like the focus on the community here," she said. Business owners can have a larger impact on the local community here than in a larger town.
Jim Tencza of HDS Freight Services said it's sometimes hard to find employees in Bayfield, but he also has no local competitors to lure his employees away.
"It's a good place to live," he said.
The town's busy adult softball leagues are a big draw, one participant said, drawing laughs from the group of about 25 people.
When asked what the area's weaknesses are, there were several responses:
Internet service is improving but is still slow.Bad roads and congestion on U.S. Highway 160.Parking on Mill Street.Expensive water taps for town businesses.Tencza, who serves on the county planning commission and has been working on the county's comprehensive plan, said economic development in Bayfield is "a chicken and egg" thing. Larger stores and employers say they need more rooftops in town to come here, while residents living here complain about a lack of goods and services.
"It's not easy," he said. "I'm not sure the town can do anything or not."
Some residents said a pool and recreation center would be an asset to the community, while others said the town's property taxes, especially for commercial properties, are already high and it would be hard for voters to approve another tax hike. A hotel or motel in town would be welcome, others added.
The state team presented a summary of recommendations to the town and focus group participants on Thursday, and a full report will be delivered to the town, as well, and will be available on the town's website at www.bayfieldgov.org.
