DENVER – “Better late than never” is how Southwest Colorado Republicans described their Democratic governor’s State of the State address Thursday.
During remarks before a joint session of the House and Senate, Gov. John Hickenlooper expressed a commitment to rural Colorado, especially under-served areas that have not seen economic growth.
The governor announced Colorado Blueprint 2.0. The Office of Economic Development and International Trade will be visiting all 14 regions of the state to develop a vision for economic development where employment is most lagging.
Southwest Colorado counties such as San Miguel would be included.
The office also will launch a pilot program designed to attract independent contractors by offering incentives to work in rural parts of the state. It would provide subsidized work space, with high-speed Internet and access to health care.
But Sen. Ellen Roberts, R-Durango, said Hickenlooper could have done more for Southwest and rural Colorado over the last four years of his administration.
“It’s hard not to see it as a reaction to what rural Colorado has been through in the last number of years, where we didn’t feel heard,” Roberts said. “But better late than never.
“We have some high unemployment in Southwest Colorado, as well as the San Luis Valley, so I think it would be great if he would touch base directly with some of us who live there,” Roberts said.
Rep. Don Coram, R-Montrose, said he would have liked the governor to have focused more on land-use issues related to energy development, which is key to rural Colorado’s survival.
“With 70 percent of our lands in my district federal, we’re not getting real access to that,” Coram said.
He said many energy jobs are going to North Dakota, rather than Western Colorado.
“We can talk and talk, but until we really get some action, nothing is going to change,” Coram said. “That’s something we’ve got to really concentrate on, is bringing those jobs back to Western Colorado.”
During a media availability with reporters after his remarks, Hickenlooper said he believes attracting independent contractors to rural Colorado will do a lot for economies there, especially because there is a lot of young talent to be harnessed.
But Hickenlooper said the counties themselves have to show some effort.
“These communities, it’s up to them, they’ve got to invest in things, so that these young people think it’s a cool place to live,” Hickenlooper said.
“Colorado’s in this incredible place where we have opportunity through all of our economic-development work,” the governor said. “The challenge is to make sure we provide these opportunities to every single person in the state.”
Republicans also said they would have liked to have heard more on regulatory reform from the governor.
But Hickenlooper said he simply didn’t have enough time to get to every issue during his remarks.
“Regulatory reform is something we certainly have every intention of continuing,” Hickenlooper said. “Our goal is to amp it up to the next level.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
