Economic Summit to be held Oct. 28
The La Plata County Economic Development Alliance will host the ninth annual Economic Summit Oct. 28 at the Sky Ute Casino & Resort in Ignacio.
The business conference, “Jumping Fences – Overcoming Business Barriers,” will address today’s business challenges and provide ideas and models to help overcome those obstacles.
The event will offer several speakers and breakout sessions including keynote presenter Robert Wendover. Wendover is an award-winning author and researcher who has been training and writing about workforce trends for more than 30 years. Wendover also will host a breakout session on managing intergenerational workforces within an organization.
Summit attendees also will hear from a panel of resident experts during a session about three key local business issues. The day will end with a networking reception.
New to the event this year is a mobile/online app. To download the app, register for the event and for more information, visit www.yeslpc.com. The event fee is $50 per person.
Durango Arts Center gets state arts grant
The Durango Arts Center announces it has received a 2015 grant from the state arts agency, Colorado Creative Industries.
Competitive in nature, CCI grants are made in support of organizations whose programs are highly rated for their artistic merit, community engagement and implementation.
The Durango Arts Center welcomed 38,000 visitors in 2014, with 2015 continuing to track an upswing in gallery visitors, theater patrons, as well as adults and children enrolled in visual and performing arts education classes. Programming at DAC is made possible thanks to its members, sponsors and foundation grants.
The CCI grant will be applied to general operating support, including the operation of the 90-year-old repurposed DAC facility and fulfilling salaries of its staff, ensuring all programs are of the highest caliber.
For more information, visit www.DurangoArts.org.
Sport Clips Haircuts announces opening
Sport Clips Haircuts, the nation’s largest franchise dedicated to men’s and boys’ hair care, will open Oct. 17 in Town Center shopping center, near Walmart, 1125 South Camino del Rio.
The business is locally owned by Ron Morse and his wife, Cheryl. The shop will offer a wide array of haircut services including, massaging shampoo; hot-steamed towel treatment; and neck and shoulder massage.
The shop will have large, flat-screen televisions playing sports programming at each haircut station and in the lobby, along with sports-themed reading materials.
Hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.
For more information, visit www.sportclips.com/co501.
Health department receives designation
San Juan Basin Health Department announces its designation as a Certified Living Wage Employer by La Plata County Thrive!
Thrive! is a coalition of residents in La Plata County who care about the long-term economic health and social well-being of the community. The coalition’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in La Plata County through fair and just wages for all. San Juan Basin Health Department believes that providing local employees a fair wage will boost the health of the community.
For more information, visit sjbhd.org.
La Plata Electric hosts free lighting workshop
Continuing its Free Information Series designed to help co-op members understand the new lighting technology and save energy, La Plata Electric Association will host an updated “Lunch & Lights” workshop from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 13 at LPEA’s Durango headquarters, 45 Stewart St.
People interested in learning more about LED (light-emitting diode) lamps and more are invited. Lunch will be served. LPEA also offers a variety of lighting rebates for both residents and businesses, and those options will be reviewed.
To RSVP, email rpierotti@lpea.coop or call 382-7770.
John Jursa designated land surveyor intern
Goff Engineering and Surveying, Inc. announces that John Jursa has successfully completed and passed the Fundamentals of Surveying Exam for the state of Colorado and is now designated as a land surveyor intern.
Jursa is a field crew party chief and has extensive experience conducting boundary, topographic, construction, American Land Title Association and cadastral surveys.
For more information, call 247-1705 or email jjursa@goffengineering.com.
Evenings Porch adds caregivers to team
Evenings Porch Assisted Living welcomes Samantha Espinosa and Danika Roberts to its caregiving team.
Both caregivers have many years of experience working in the caregiving field. Free tours and consultations are available.
For more information, call 884-0101.
New broker-associate joins Keller Williams
Keller Williams Realty Southwest Associates welcomes Molly Malarsie, a broker-associate, to the company.
Malarsie was previously with First National Bank of Durango, and she has experience in residential lending. She was born and raised in Durango and attended Durango High School and Fort Lewis College.
For more information, visit 700 Main Ave. or call 749-7945.
Entrepreneur program accepting applications
The Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs (SCAPE) is accepting applications for its 2016 session.
SCAPE is designed to help create more high-growth, job-creating companies in Southwest Colorado. The program provides access to funding, education, mentoring and subject-matter experts to startups and early-stage companies. Applications for SCAPE 5, which starts in 2016, are being accepted now and are due by midnight Oct. 31.
The program will be accepting companies for acceleration with an equity investment, and also working with companies seeking to be incubated and pay for the curriculum and co-working space. People should fill out the submission form at https://scape.wufoo.com/forms/2016-scape-submission-form. A short (3-5 minute) video to introduce the applicant and an opportunity to explain the idea and passion for the business also must be submitted by the deadline.
SCAPE also will host an InnovateHER competition through the Small Business Administration. This competition provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs to showcase products and services that have a measurable impact on the lives of women, have the potential for commercialization and fill a need in the marketplace.
For more information, visit www.sba.gov.
Durango Rocks now seeking nominations
The Durango Chamber of Commerce is accepting nomination forms for its annual Durango Rocks awards, which will take place Jan. 21 at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
Nominations are sought for Citizen of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Morley Ballantine Award, Business of the Year, Green Business Leadership Award, Nonprofit of the Year and Barbara Conrad Award.
To submit a nomination, visit http://web.durangobusiness.org/events/DURANGO-ROCKS-AWARD-NOMINATION-FORM-1100/details.
Chamber to host ballot-issue discussion
The Durango Chamber of Commerce will host a Lunch & Issues on November ballot issues from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 13 at the DoubleTree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio.
City of Durango representatives will address the wastewater-treatment facility, and La Plata County representatives will address the property tax mill levy. The cost is $20 for chamber members and $30 for nonmembers and includes a buffet style lunch. Reservations are required.
To sign-up, visit durangobusiness.org.
Four Corners Bank hires branch president
Four Corners Community Bank announces Shawn Candelaria as Durango market president of its new Durango branch (slated to open in the first quarter of 2016).
Candelaria will manage the bank’s growth and development of commercial and consumer loans in the Durango market.
Before joining the bank, Candelaria was executive vice president at First Southwest Bank of Durango. Candelaria is a native of the Western Slope. He is a current board member of The Hundred Club of Durango, United Way of Southwest Colorado and Durango Wine Experience. He is a former board member of Trails 2000. Candelaria received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Colorado Mesa University and attended Norwest Commercial College of Credit.
For more information, call 749-2600 or email candelaria@thebankforme.com.
Herald Staff
