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Microbrewery expected to open soon
By Pat Hill
An economic infusion into Woodland Park, the new microbrewery is scheduled to open in the former location of Big O Tires early next year. Originally opened as the Trinidad Brewing Company in Trinidad, the business closed in that city to relocate to Woodland Park.
According to Beth Kosley, director of the Downtown Development Authority and Economic Development Council, the brew pub’s main investor is Arden Weatherford, of Woodland Park. Kosley spoke to the DDA board of directors Nov. 10.
Trinidad brewers Brian Horton and Jeff Aragon closed the deal on the property last week.
The city of Woodland Park has applied for a two-year $50,000 grant from Gov. Bill Ritter’s Energy Office to fund a part-time position for an energy coordinator.
The coordinator would work with residents and business owners to develop energy plans that qualify for federal and state tax credits.
The position could be full-time if the coordinator were to work with the city as a half-time administrative assistant and program manager.
“We don’t know if we’ll get the grant, but some money has been set aside for Teller County,” Kosley said.
However, during the Mainstreet Makeover this fall, several business owners installed new windows and insulation, in addition to a heating system.
“All of those things are potentially eligible for grants from Black Hills Energy,” Kosley said, adding that the deadline for applying is Dec. 31.
A report from Jim Ignatius put a damper on the good news. With the state facing a $2 billion shortfall, Teller County is on the receiving end of the budget ax. Ignatius, founding member of the DDA and Teller County commission chair, has been on a verbal tirade since the governor cut $6.5 million from the Limited Gaming Impact Fund.
The funds help mitigate the negative effects of gaming and are awarded to agencies, departments, cities, organizations and the county.
For instance, four county deputy positions in the sheriff’s operations division were eliminated as a result of the cuts.
This month, the governor added funds from the Energy-Mineral Impact Fund to help narrow the state’s budget gap.
“(The governor) needed to steal the rest of our money, so he took $7.5 million out of our energy-mineral trust fund,” Ignatius said. “Those dollars are paid locally by oil and gas industry and mineral extractions.”
In the past, the energy-mineral impact fund paid for the improvements to county roads 42, 81 and Teller 1. Two-thirds of the county’s road projects are funded by the grants.
Ignatius is especially steamed that rather than downsizing the state’s staff, Ritter hired 1,400 new employees.
“So he used the money to fund the expansion of his government last year. So there will be no road projects for — whenever — because those dollars are what fund them.”
Colorado’s constitution provides a loophole for the cuts, Ignatius said.
“If the governor declares a financial emergency during the fiscal year, he can take the funds — so he stole that money to balance the 2009-10 budget,” Ignatius said.
While the cuts must be approved by the Joint Budget Committee and the state legislature in January, for the county, there isn’t much hope for good news.
“We have to have our budget balanced by Dec. 15 and submitted to the state so that’s why we had to lay off four deputies who were grant-funded. It kind of stinks to be at the bottom of the food chain,” Ignatius said.
To voice an opinion about federal or state issues, Ignatius urged the group to turn out at the town hall meeting to hear Colorado’s state legislators Rep. Carole Murray and Sen. Mark Scheffel from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 21 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center.
(The governor) needed to steal the rest of our money, so he took $7.5 million out of our energy-mineral trust fund.
— Jim Ignatius, founding member of the DDA and county commission chair
According to Beth Kosley, director of the Downtown Development Authority and Economic Development Council, the brew pub’s main investor is Arden Weatherford, of Woodland Park. Kosley spoke to the DDA board of directors Nov. 10.
Trinidad brewers Brian Horton and Jeff Aragon closed the deal on the property last week.
The city of Woodland Park has applied for a two-year $50,000 grant from Gov. Bill Ritter’s Energy Office to fund a part-time position for an energy coordinator.
The coordinator would work with residents and business owners to develop energy plans that qualify for federal and state tax credits.
The position could be full-time if the coordinator were to work with the city as a half-time administrative assistant and program manager.
“We don’t know if we’ll get the grant, but some money has been set aside for Teller County,” Kosley said.
However, during the Mainstreet Makeover this fall, several business owners installed new windows and insulation, in addition to a heating system.
“All of those things are potentially eligible for grants from Black Hills Energy,” Kosley said, adding that the deadline for applying is Dec. 31.
A report from Jim Ignatius put a damper on the good news. With the state facing a $2 billion shortfall, Teller County is on the receiving end of the budget ax. Ignatius, founding member of the DDA and Teller County commission chair, has been on a verbal tirade since the governor cut $6.5 million from the Limited Gaming Impact Fund.
The funds help mitigate the negative effects of gaming and are awarded to agencies, departments, cities, organizations and the county.
For instance, four county deputy positions in the sheriff’s operations division were eliminated as a result of the cuts.
This month, the governor added funds from the Energy-Mineral Impact Fund to help narrow the state’s budget gap.
“(The governor) needed to steal the rest of our money, so he took $7.5 million out of our energy-mineral trust fund,” Ignatius said. “Those dollars are paid locally by oil and gas industry and mineral extractions.”
In the past, the energy-mineral impact fund paid for the improvements to county roads 42, 81 and Teller 1. Two-thirds of the county’s road projects are funded by the grants.
Ignatius is especially steamed that rather than downsizing the state’s staff, Ritter hired 1,400 new employees.
“So he used the money to fund the expansion of his government last year. So there will be no road projects for — whenever — because those dollars are what fund them.”
Colorado’s constitution provides a loophole for the cuts, Ignatius said.
“If the governor declares a financial emergency during the fiscal year, he can take the funds — so he stole that money to balance the 2009-10 budget,” Ignatius said.
While the cuts must be approved by the Joint Budget Committee and the state legislature in January, for the county, there isn’t much hope for good news.
“We have to have our budget balanced by Dec. 15 and submitted to the state so that’s why we had to lay off four deputies who were grant-funded. It kind of stinks to be at the bottom of the food chain,” Ignatius said.
To voice an opinion about federal or state issues, Ignatius urged the group to turn out at the town hall meeting to hear Colorado’s state legislators Rep. Carole Murray and Sen. Mark Scheffel from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 21 at the Ute Pass Cultural Center.
(The governor) needed to steal the rest of our money, so he took $7.5 million out of our energy-mineral trust fund.
— Jim Ignatius, founding member of the DDA and county commission chair
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marvinzmartian62 wrote on Feb 10, 2009 7:33 PM: