The La Plata Economic Development Alliance

10/15/2026

We are proud to support Colorado Photography Week & Pro Photographer Showdown as a Development Partner and support the production of their main street banner. This awesome event takes place November 14th thru November 22nd all around La Plata County. Look out for exhibits, events, workshops, and the official Pro Photographer Showdown! Learn more about Colorado Photography Week: https://coloradophotoweek.org/

Events like the Colorado Photography Week support our local creative economies, growing our arts and culture, directly contributing to local artists, and building up our small businesses. Can't wait to see you there.

10/08/2026

Will we see you on Tuesday?? Next week, October 13th, is our monthly monthly meeting highlighting economic updates from across La Plata County. This month we'll hear from Dan Korman with real estate market information, Jenn Lopez from Project Moxie, Liz Cartier with Katz School of Business at Fort Lewis College, and Anna Angell, intern with The Powerhouse's WonderLab.

Doors open at 8:30 with programming starting right at 9:00am. Join the Alliance and nearly 100 fellow changemakers for this community meeting.

10/01/2026

Manufacturing accounts for about 1% of jobs in La Plata County. The Animas Airpark and La Posta Economic Feasibility Strategic Plan could increase manufacturing jobs by as much as 16%.

Our new strategic plan for the Animas Air Park and La Posta area lays out how. Working with Pioneer Development Company, we studied 533 acres south of Durango known as Animas Airpark and La Posta. Demand for business space is strong. What holds it back is infrastructure, limited access and regulatory hurdles.

Read the plan and our next steps here: https://yeslpc.com/strategic-plan-identifies-animas-airpark-and-la-posta-as-opportunity-for-economic-growth/

Over a buildout running from 2029 to 2049, the development could support close to 1,930 permanent jobs at wages roughly 19% above the county private-sector average. Much of that work pays between $25 and $50 an hour. The plan projects $142.7 million in annual labor income and $248 million added to county GDP.

This plan will take a collaborative effort and we are proud of our partnerships brought together through this study, including La Plata County Government, City of Durango - Government, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund , StoneAge Waterblast Tools - An Employee Owned Company, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, and Animas Air Park.

533-acre study area could create nearly 2,000 jobs, expand employment space, and strengthen La Plata County’s economic foundation.

09/23/2026

Check out this great video from our Investor Members, First Southwest Bank and Shaw Solar.

Shaw Solar, a 20-year Durango business, became an employee-owned company this year and First Southwest Bank helped make that happen.

6 out of 10 business owners plan to sell or retire within the next 10 years, but only 15% of businesses sell. Employee ownership is a unique solution that keeps companies open under local ownership and lets the wealth those businesses built stay in the communities that built them.

That is real economic impact for a region like ours.

09/10/2026

Today's the day! We are so excited to see you! The 2026 Alliance Summit is happening right now at Sky Ute Casino & Convention Center in Ignacio, CO, and we cannot wait to see you there.

Three keynotes, breakout sessions across the day, and a spotlight on regional businesses building here now, all coming together in one place for the people shaping this region's economy.

If you're joining us today, welcome. If you're following along online, stay tuned, we'll be sharing moments from the day right here.



Photo Credit: Cole Davis Photo & Film

09/09/2026

Tomorrow is the day. We're looking forward to welcoming you all to this year's Summit for a full day focused on Fueling Our Economy: how public wealth, local assets, and collective leadership can drive shared prosperity across the Four Corners.

Be sure to download our Summit App to check out the full agenda and connect with fellow attendees: https://bit.ly/4h0pOsl

Tomorrow's lineup, three keynotes, seventeen breakout sessions, and a spotlight on three regional businesses, is built around one goal: getting the people shaping this region's economy into the same conversation.

We can't wait to see you all at the 19th Annual Alliance Summit, powered by SEH!

09/03/2026

One week out. If you haven't registered yet, this is the moment.

Ticket sales close September 7th. Register: https://whova.com/portal/registration/wOXw3ecCiS2jCVkDtKTO/?source=tlv7gfma

The 2026 Alliance Summit is economic development programming built around the people shaping the Four Corners region, now in its 19th year as the region's longest-running gathering of its kind. Sessions on housing, workforce, and regional growth are set. Keynotes are locked. What's left is deciding whether you're at the table for it.

08/31/2026

Ten more days til the Summit, grab your tickets now!

The 2026 Alliance Summit puts you in direct conversation with the people deciding what housing, workforce, and opportunity look like here. That kind of access rarely comes this early in a career, and on September 10 in Ignacio, CO, it's open to you.

Hear from Kyla Scanlon on the economy people actually feel, Neal Marquez on where this region's workforce is headed, and Theo Wilson on public wealth and who gets left out.

Leadership development breakouts run throughout the day, so you walk away with real skills, not just business cards.

Grab your spot below.
👉 https://whova.com/portal/registration/wOXw3ecCiS2jCVkDtKTO/

08/30/2026

The afternoon hands you another set of paths to choose from. Full lineup is in the graphic.

This is where local businesses and regional leaders show the rest of us what's possible.

September 10, Ignacio, CO
Register: https://whova.com/portal/registration/wOXw3ecCiS2jCVkDtKTO/?source=tlv7gfma

08/29/2026

Housing, workforce, economic growth. Whatever your work touches, chances are there are many who call our region home that thinking about the exact same thing. Connect with fellow changemakers on September 10th for the 2026 Alliance Summit.

The Alliance Summit brings together 400 people across 16+ industries for one full day. Last year, 45.5% of attendees were executive-level leaders, which means the conversations happening in that room are the ones actually shaping decisions across the region.

Will you be joining us? Drop your name in the comments! And if you still need to save your spot, register here 👉 https://whova.com/portal/registration/wOXw3ecCiS2jCVkDtKTO/?source=tlv7gfma

Photo Credit: Cole Davis Photo & Film