JoDee Powers, a longtime Colorado and Montezuma County resident, will be joining the Montezuma Community Economic Development Association to serve as the organization\u2019s economic development specialist, according to Terry Blair-Burton, program administrator of Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado.<\/p>\n
In the past 8 years, Powers has focused on mobilizing communities around local economies through Livewell Montezuma to help the county examine self-sustaining food systems as well as created greater access to healthy foods for area residents.<\/p>\n
Powers\u2019 work with Livewell Montezuma in partnership with Livewell Colorado, assisted programs like Farm to School, Montezuma School to Farm, development of a countywide food system framework and supported the successful creation of the 20 member distribution cooperative, Southwest Farm Fresh, Blair-Burton said.<\/p>\n
MCEDA, which formed in 2007, assists businesses with their growth, expansion and retention plans by being a \u201cboots on the ground resource.\u201d<\/p>\n
Powers replaces Chelsea Jones, who relocated to Denver.<\/p>\n