Hey folks,
We just got back from visiting cities and towns all across Southern Colorado and the San Luis Valley. From health care to the arts, and agriculture to manufacturing, Colorado’s rural communities are helping power our state’s economy. Check out our recap:
We kicked off our trip with a visit to the new Pueblo Community Health Center and discussed how we can continue expanding access to affordable health care. In the Senate, we’re pushing to lower costs for prescription drugs, extend savings for people who purchase insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces, and grow the health care workforce.
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Further south in Walsenburg, we toured Chaé Organics where they’re creating jobs by increasing local manufacturing. They’ve expanded to over 1,000 clients since I visited as Governor! By improving our infrastructure and revamping supply chains, we can help companies like this continue to grow.
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In Trinidad, we checked out the new “Space to Create,” which will drive economic development through the arts. By partnering with local groups and artists, the community is creating workforce housing, studio space, and cultural facilities. We even got the chance to visit a mural downtown that is designed entirely by local students.
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In Monte Vista, we visited the Ski-Hi Complex, a new multi-purpose center serving the community and attracting visitors, and spoke with local leaders about agriculture and water conservation. The local Boys & Girls Club even showed me their diorama on what water means to them.
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Our last stop was Adams State University in Alamosa, which is partnering with CSU on a new engineering program that will create opportunities for students and small businesses alike. We helped secure $1 MILLION to get this program off the ground and look forward to seeing it take off this fall.
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We can’t wait to bring the ideas we heard back to Washington. See you again soon!
Senator John Hickenlooper