Business
San Francisco embraces Amsterdam-style marijuana lounges
Cities in Colorado may follow suit
Business
What's Up Downtown
Downtown ambassadors take to the streets
BID’s Ambassador program starts today. If you are downtown for St. Patrick’s Day during the day, you will see them in their bright red uniforms. Ambassadors are here to help…
Business
Survey suggests rural economy to keep improving in 10 states
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says crop prices have improved a bit, but remain relatively weak. That’s hurting business. The overall Rural Mainstreet index slipped slightly to 54.7 in March…
Business
Fixed mortgage rates reverse course for the first time this year
Fixed mortgage rates moved lower this week for first time in 2018.John Bazemore/Associated Press file According to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average slipped…
Business
Thrive! names living wage employers
To qualify for the program, La Plata County employers must pay employees a living wage or develop and submit a plan to reach that goal. The current living-wage rate qualification…
Business
Tech-industry competition to be held in Durango
Teams will have two days to present their business plan to a panel of judges, and the winning team will be invited to a mentor weekend in Boulder with networking…
Business
Two from Mountain Bike Specialists complete program
The class taught them new strategies to help riders get the most out of their mountain bikes through adjusting suspension-spring rate and volume, and rebound and compression damping. For appointments…
Business
Tax information released for seniors, disabled veterans
Those who qualify may be able to receive an exemption of 50 percent of the first $200,000 of their primary residence value. If funding is available, the state will match…
Business
Rock Water Construction relocates to Durango
Dearingdu1-i-syn Business owner Bradford Dearing has over 10 years of experience in the industry; is certified in concrete-paver installation by the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute and segmental retaining wall installation…
Business
Payroll Department accepting grant applications
The $12,000 grant will be matched and supplied to two La Plata County organizations that support youth, environment or human services initiatives. The grant requires a $12,000 match from a…
Business
HomesFund to offer home-buyer education class
Topics include: budgeting and debt, credit, insurance, lending, real estate, home maintenance, energy efficiency and HomesFund down-payment assistance. To register, visit www.homesfund.org. For more information, 259-1418, ext. 1.
Business
Region 9 Economic Development District opens satellite office
“Adding office space in communities outside Durango has been a long-term goal in support of our mission,” Laura Lewis Marchino, Region 9 executive director, said in a news release. “We…
Business
Rebound in homebuilding forecast for Durango
Increased mortgage rates, construction costs shouldn’t deter builders
Business
The Bookcase & Barber to add bar, maintain Gatsby atmosphere
New bar will allow more seating, ability to book large parties
On Real Estate
2017 statistics reveal in-town price decline? Not really
The data is deceiving because it measures the median price rather than the average sales price. Additionally, home sales in Three Springs skew the data; this community is within the…
Money Savvy
It’s time to take some bold steps
I remember getting started. I was sick and tired of the stress and worry. With a budget in place, we were chipping away at small debts. We had created some…
Business
Lego struggles to boost sales after 13 years of growth
The Danish company had warned in October that sales were falling for the first time since 2004 from record highs and that it would seek new ways to grow. In…
Business
Mortgage rates climb to 4-year high
Long-term mortgage rates climbed this week to their highest average in more than four years.Seth Wenig/Associated Press file Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on 30-year…
Business
Shaw Solar hires project coordinator
Harmondu1-i-syn Harmon recently moved to Durango, is a longtime advocate of renewable energy and has a background in environmental science and project management. For more information, call Shaw Solar at…
Business
Farmers Market names market, music managers
McKinney-Gonzales is a Fort Lewis College graduate; moved to Durango in 1997; worked for the city of Durango and town of Bayfield; and has experience in management, public relations and…
Business
Many lenders are loosening requirements for prospective home buyers
Home buyers could see less financing pressures this year due to several factors.Ted S. Warren/Associated Press file Pushback against overly tight credit after the housing crisis, a shrunken proportion of…
Business
Four Corners group advocates for economic alliance across region
Successful model in Minnesota shows benefits of cooperation
Business
Starbucks says empty storefronts are leading to lower rents
Company opened first Reserve store recently
Business
Walmart to launch new online home shopping experience
Company trying to combat rival Amazon
The Tourism Effect
How we decide where to aim our efforts
It wasn’t until I began writing this month’s column that I realized that explaining this process involves multi-layered decision-making. Hence, this process will bleed over to (at least) two columns.…