She watched with amazement as the hand opened and closed on its own.
It sounds like the beginning of a spooky tale with Halloween near, but in reality, it happened at the incredibly inspiring kickoff presentation at the 10th Annual Economic Summit, hosted October 26th by the La Plata County Economic Development Alliance and made possible thanks to numerous local business sponsors.
Making us all feel like a room full of zombies, we heard from Easton LaChapelle, who created his first robotic hand at the age of 14 and founded his company, Unlimited Tomorrow, at the age of 18. After meeting a 7-year-old girl with a rudimentary prosthetic arm at a science fair, he figured out how to re-create that $80,000 device into a far more complex version for about $500.
Inspired to turn his prototype into a practical and affordable device, we see an incredible example of someone who, by helping one person, begins to change the world on a global scale.
This year’s theme was “Empowering People from The Ground Up,” and LaChapelle embodied this with his philosophy that there is no excuse not to pursue what you love. My heart swelled with pride as I looked around the packed room at familiar faces and new ones, all there to share the conference vision of “Our people; Our business; Our future.”
In looking toward our future, it is critical that we maintain a laser focus on Durango’s downtown corridor and the businesses and opportunities therein. Not only is there significant value in a walkable place from the community sense, there is an undeniable return on investment for our entire county population.
In simply looking at property tax generated per acre, Joe Minicozzi of Urban3 demonstrated that, on average, a single-family home in La Plata County contributes less than $700 per year, the Durango Mall for example $1,000 per acre, while the downtown core generates $23,000 per acre. The same powerful impact of our vibrant downtown can also be demonstrated in impressive economic productivity illustrated similarly by retail tax per acre and jobs per acre.
It enhances the measurement of our sense of place and inspires us to continue to invest in our community which pays us all back in spades. (And of course, another great investment in our community would be your “yes” votes on Ballot Issue 1A for roads and bridges, 1B for a new airport terminal and 3A for school funding located on a ballot near you.)
With inspiration and investment in our community, the other ingredient that stands out and makes Durango unique is our collaboration. We are all in this together and the more we can collaborate, the more we can create. Durango’s new MakerLab is a prime example.
At the economic summit, many learned for the first time about our MakerLab, providing workshop space where amateurs and professionals interested in electronics, robotics, software, wood or metal working, art, video or photography can expand their skills, invent and build new products in a collaborative environment. Learn more about this at www.durangomaker.com.
Historically, our greatest achievements occur when people work together. I encourage you to think about your passions, invest in your community and work together to achieve extraordinary results.
Christina Rinderle is the mayor of Durango, a position rotating among members of Durango City Council. She was re-elected in 2013 and will serve as mayor until April 2017, when she will be succeeded by now-Mayor Pro Tem Dick White. Reach her at ChristinaRinderle@DurangoGov.org.
