Goals - Short Term
Sense of Identity (entrance/gateway/signs)
Education of business and public of what we have to offer
Develop tourism resource guide
Events center

Goals - Long Term
Improved property assessment
Affordable housing
Encouragement of low impact business

Custer County Economic Development Meeting
February 28, 2005
Cliff Lanes, Westcliffe, CO

The meeting was called to order at 11:08 a.m. Committee members present included Steve Marantino, George Draper, Gary Frickell for Dee Hoag, Wanda Johnson, Don Kaufman, Jess Price, Gene Neiges, Allen Butler, Alan Urban, Cindy Howard, Angie Arterburn, Peggy Quint, Mike Shields, Robert Weisenbach, Don Stuart, Brian Woods, Arlie Riggs and Tom Flower. Guests in attendance included Hugh DeVries, Chuck Broerman, Gary Joseph, Charles Bogle, Karen Koivuhalme, Jeff Ollinger, Linc Lippincott, Roger Cain, Lynn Attebery, Jack Hillman, Dick Downey, Dale Hoag, Kit Shy and Nora Drenner.

A welcome was given by Gary Hall and introductions were made for members and visitors. Peggy was commended for her work on the new 3-ring binders that each committee member received. Copies of materials that Gary has received were also distributed and discussed. Lynn Attebury gave explanation about the materials concerned with new community economic development legislation and bills going through legislature process.

Gary addressed a handout from Roy Gillmore. The document concerned the Chamber of Commerce participation at Tulsa Trade Show. Committee members were encouraged to view all handouts as “homework” materials and read over them between our monthly meetings. Members were also encouraged to view the web page at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/custer which will be updated after each meeting.

Minutes from previous meeting were reviewed. The homework for the Committee which was to read and digest the documents from Silver Cliff and the Sonoran Institute was discussed.

Gene Neiges raised the issue of the Silver Cliff goals and how they relate to the committee. Allen Butler and Alan Urban, Silver Cliff representatives, spoke to these goals and recommend we include some of the goals as our own. This county level committee is an “organized effort”. Grant funding commitments are one area where we must demonstrate cooperation and organization at a community level.

The committee then worked on short term goals which would be those that could be accomplished within 3-5 years. The plan is to develop these goals then contact resources that could address how to accomplish these goals. Those resources will be asked to attend our next meeting. After the meeting the committee will divide into subcommittees to address each of the short term goals with a plan of action.

Short and long term goals were suggested and voted on. Each Committee voted for three short term goals and one long term goal. The list of goals and the votes for each are listed.

The Committee then decided to identify four short term goals of 1) working on an event center, 2) develop a sense of identity, 3) develop tourism and 4) educate the public and businesses of what Custer County has to offer. All three long term goals were accepted by the committee.

Resources to tap into to achieve short term goals were identified as:

Events Center:

Colorado State University; Town of Westcliffe, Custer County Fair Board, Wet Mountain Saddle Club

Sense of Identity:

Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade utilizing their Branding Team. CCMCC,

These resources and others will be contacted and invited to attend the next meeting which was scheduled for 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday, March 21^st.

Homework for the next meeting was assigned. Each member is to consider which short term goal they would want to dedicate time and energy and possibly serve on a subcommittee for that goal. Members were also assigned the task of reading through the handouts. These minutes and other information will be posted on the Custer County Cooperative Extension Web Page located at: www.coopext.colostate.edu/custer.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:52 p.m.