Consultant to present ideas for boosting Estes Park economy

ESTES PARK — A consultant retained by the town of Estes Park and the Estes Park Economic Development Corp. to come up with an economic strategy for the Estes Valley will present its recommendations in two public meetings next week.

Representatives of Austin, Texas-based Avalanche Consulting, which conducted a market assessment and a community survey, will present its recommendations at a Town Board study session on Monday, Nov. 2, and then will hold meetings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, and from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Estes Park Museum, 200 Fourth St.

The strategy is meant to prioritize actions that could lead to a more consistent and prosperous year-round economy for the tourism-dependent Larimer County town at the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.

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The town and its EDC hosted public meetings with Avalanche in April to present data and gather comments from the community about what types of business could be attracted to provide the greatest economic benefit. Almost 800 people responded to a community survey conducted by Avalanche.

Survey respondents gave the area a C+ for economic performance, noting the scarcity of affordable housing, a population that is aging and seasonally temporary — from less than 11,000 in winter to nearly 26,000 in summer — and lack of diversity in the economy.

The consultant was paid for through a flood-recovery grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.