[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6147378,"mediaKeyId","5521193-a7d7befc4aaa8dfa857ad27f66f793f1","parentId",5521193,"title","Local investors propose $75M‑scale glycerin plant in Pueblo, ask for $15M public support","audioSeconds",2482,"startMs",1133740,"endMs",3616345,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521193-a7d7befc4aaa8dfa857ad27f66f793f1&start=1133&end=3616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521193-a7d7befc4aaa8dfa857ad27f66f793f1/thumbnail_1133740.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6147378/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Local-investors-propose-75Mscale-glycerin-plant-in-Pueblo-ask-for-15M-public-support","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147378-d4d8d778460ae90196e837ea6cf53395/orig.mp4?Expires=1775446044&Signature=lZYfGq468osHQ2bd5VK4x4E6DoObhl~sqpw29XNaZXmtvpLvYeXOzWv0g24wxzNnQvLvU6d3ttVX42NIhUY-mtktJv0V2hu0Z9q0DXXAFx3Ysb7kyNt6XDpthWt23-ijulYATmFaVVCaYUWrO3ZbIMzNoGhOi~4TWzMDJLBuYyzYGGUZu13Hdo6-Upx1hvnrB~3OI7aUYQ~AmJgRs1cTQCXkdu-EKwMLRqKx~Zf40r3TrbOp3cZO1bp085OF8grM3kovrkvTMlFfYxM7wzJ5cxQ5~pN9wDhcRPX1BXOZNlTzN2dY~NKCOfu~7lKrXerje-OivWFUJ5M1SJ8PZTky6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pueblo County","date","2025-07-31T00:00:00Z","article","Ralph Armijo, who identified himself as the founder and CEO of the proposing company, presented a pitch on July 31 to locate a glycerin manufacturing facility in Pueblo and asked public entities to provide $15 million in startup support. “We believe we will create at least 50 plus skilled labor jobs or manufacturing positions within the city within the first year,” Armijo said.

Armijo said the financing request comprises a $3 million grant for job creation and a $12 million structured loan amortized over 30 years at 6.5 percent with interest deferred for the first year. He told commissioners the city or county that participates would receive 20 percent of company profits until the loan is repaid and would hold first position on company assets; he also said the company would indemnify the public partner.

Presenters estimated first‑year production at about 11 million pounds of glycerin (roughly $13 million in revenue), rising to about 50 million pounds by year 10 (roughly $75 million in revenue) with projected EBITDA margins of 20–25 percent. The team projected phase‑one employment of “50 plus” and a minimum $30 million local economic multiplier; they said equipment lead time is about six months and that they had identified a 22,000‑square‑foot facility on 10 acres near a major distribution center.

Gary McCadum, a member of the leadership team who said he has long experience advising start‑ups and mergers, urged commissioners to meet privately with Armijo for detailed due diligence. “Sit down with Ralph. It can't be covered in a 20 minute meeting,” McCadum said.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the proposed capital stack and timeline, and they said the proposal would need to be reviewed by PEDCO (Pueblo Economic Development Corporation) and the city. Armijo said PEDCO’s Jeff Shaw was reviewing the proposal and expected to discuss it with counsel the following week. Commissioners signaled interest but noted the model — a shared profit repayment and public loan — is not a standard structure for local economic development.

The presenters said the total startup cost is $15 million and that the company preferred public participation now to retain local headquarters; Armijo said private equity investors might relocate the business to larger port markets.

No formal county commitment or motion was made during the work session. Commissioners asked the proposers to keep the county and potential partners informed and agreed to continue conversations with PEDCO and the city. Armijo said the owners are prepared to move quickly if public partners participate: equipment has a six‑month lead time, and the team expects production 30–90 days after equipment arrival. Armijo also said a letter of intent for a property was under consideration and that some stainless steel tanks would be acquired for startup.

The presentation included financial terms and collateralization statements from Armijo but did not include signed public agreements. Commissioners indicated they would review the proposal and explore creative, potentially pooled solutions among public partners to move the project forward if warranted.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pueblo County BOCC Work Session Part 2 7/31/25","oneSentenceSummary","Ralph Armijo, founder and CEO of the proposing company, asked the Board of County Commissioners on July 31 for $15 million in public support to locate a glycerin manufacturing plant in Pueblo, saying the project would create at least 50 skilled jobs in year one and produce medical‑grade glycerin for a growing market.","taxTitle","Pueblo County, Colorado","taxId",4963,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147383,"Art center asks county to deed nearby Rojas Building for dance space, pledges $250,000 renovation",948,25490,973495,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521193-a7d7befc4aaa8dfa857ad27f66f793f1&start=25&end=973","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521193-a7d7befc4aaa8dfa857ad27f66f793f1/thumbnail_25490.jpg","/articles/6147383/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Art-center-asks-county-to-deed-nearby-Rojas-Building-for-dance-space-pledges-250000-renovation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147383-0321301ed6cacfb7fa10a6ea5c201078/orig.mp4?Expires=1775446044&Signature=TmuQhFA5L1S~9c98mL9sb~YQ2SDDmqo7t8Gd2qi0Y05DwKEW-YYszaMv0xCmBizbzJLkBKf-SRcAFCcOHSlJrVkgyMKwC~goj9kVTrKp~zmY0MUS9w~ZyVFOpfkuhq-NOPVlpIv0FTUQEi8MkUn38nyltG3HV1vH47fN5hp6oEe4MH9wNEMg8XMOKUX82Cg4oo47HZ9zJfIYmMGVETx~UXTC7eB-fK1OCoKahX4GdAucTs6TxYuL1sTh1BVHWDw-l18FFna26lxdf4VQtXiQKLs50jV-f0PU2zwe8JYyso1OUI9h2Rec0fl~Ct-OKjCwI6Fzhvnv7Sa2amBlI0U9UA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Andy Sanchez, an art center representative, asked the Board of County Commissioners on July 31 to transfer title of the Rojas Building to the art center. “What we're looking to do is ask the county to grant the title to the Rojas Building to the art center,” Sanchez said, describing a plan to renovate the site for a school of dance and secure storage for the center’s van.

The art center said it would invest about $250,000 to bring the one‑story masonry building back into service and use most of the space for dance instruction. Sanchez said the center now serves more than 200 students and has “room for 50 plus students” waiting for classes. He also said the center paid roughly $10,000 to fix its van after vandalism and wants a safer garage area on the site.

The request connects to earlier campus projects. Sanchez said the Rojas property was originally purchased by the county in December 2022 to support improvements at the Jackson Conference Center, including a planned ADA elevator and bathroom renovations that he estimated could exceed $2.5 million. A commissioner also referred to an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that granted $2,000,000 to the campus and said that document showed the Rojas property was intended to support the art center campus.

Commissioners pressed for implementation details including maintenance responsibilities, utilities and timelines. Sanchez said asbestos remediation already was completed and that the art center had contributed funds toward that work. Commissioners expressed general support for finding a use for the vacant building and said they expected to reach a decision on next steps by the end of the following week.

Discussion points included the property’s condition and its role as a gateway to Pueblo’s East Side, the art center’s fundraising capacity and stewardship pledge, and how any deed transfer would interact with the art center’s existing tenancy of county property on the same campus. Commissioners asked county staff to clarify whether deed transfer would remove the parcel from county ownership; county staff said that deeding the Rojas parcel would transfer ownership to the grantee.

There was no formal motion or vote during the work session. Commissioners asked staff and the art center to continue negotiations and provide information needed to finalize terms, and they signaled an intent to decide on next steps by the end of next week.

If the county transfers title, the art center said it plans roughly eight months of renovation work before occupancy and will coordinate utilities and any remaining hookups with county staff during construction.

The request also included a public pledge from the art center to remain willing to work with city or county leaders if a future public use better served the community.","Representatives of the art center asked the Board of County Commissioners to transfer title of the Rojas Building to the art center so the nonprofit can renovate the vacant one‑story masonry building for dance instruction and storage; commissioners said they expect a decision by the end of next week.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6147372,"County outlines timeline to launch new building permits division; interviews, OpenGov and TAC work slated",850,3621819,4472670,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5521193-a7d7befc4aaa8dfa857ad27f66f793f1&start=3621&end=4472","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5521193-a7d7befc4aaa8dfa857ad27f66f793f1/thumbnail_3621819.jpg","/articles/6147372/Pueblo-County/Colorado/County-outlines-timeline-to-launch-new-building-permits-division-interviews-OpenGov-and-TAC-work-slated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147372-2ed8b5770a0b7de874b89e4521a3fc6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775446044&Signature=UZkJg60XsIBg7iezSGhpLVTwuo0E0WMiPBkrWLtvZEZRJDBgNZNgSxAwtXUPHaaFigxflTjM-FPqBrALvTnrndnKUUusGx4DF-H82GlltrpQ95ObGyd14dtC8Lfs-PimobVf5JiF4e7WZ8imqjswQzgRKwN3Ku3JSy84ZLD2eI1XShVpDSA~D0Mh7vKUVAwwUN~~CDQpsAlO-ueTpPU8XJWBYY00bwCvC4S5LGGXOi7Fb1R4Ek4b~6~LLu5ohPD1dcUGKOw~e~Ah~iv3XJ9tEtJJmkrzNdQuHqEKLIXrh3O0X3lp3tZhFtkSqVxWsMx~N7IqM1X85iEp5QyeCVgQzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Manager Genizio opened a work session update July 31 on the county’s plan to create a dedicated building permit and inspection division and transition permitting functions. Genizio said staff would meet with the city later in the week and that the weekly updates would continue.

Director Howard and Deputy Director Wagner described operational steps. “Tomorrow is our scheduled interviews for the building official position,” Deputy Director Wagner said, noting six candidates and a four‑member interview panel. Wagner said the department will continue customary HR steps after interviews.

Staff said they were working with OpenGov to configure online permitting, with Wagner taking a lead on back‑end configuration and holding administration certification. The county has received assessor data needed for automation and said it is exploring what reports and automation OpenGov can provide.

County staff announced a planned 12‑member technical advisory committee (TAC) to include stakeholders and community participants; the county expects to post TAC openings the following Monday, schedule an initial meeting in mid‑September and hold monthly meetings through December, then quarterly meetings during 2026.

Staff also described coordination with Pueblo West and Colorado City to integrate permitting processes for projects that cross jurisdictional boundaries, office space planning for the new division (including a reception desk for customer service), and facility modifications to house the new team on the first floor with some displaced staff moving to the fifth floor.

A Jan. 1 go‑live date for the new permitting division remains the target, and staff said they will continue weekly updates and stakeholder engagement as the transition proceeds. Commissioners praised staff for progress and asked for continued outreach to partners and community representatives; no formal action or vote was recorded during the update.

The county manager said a TAC posting would be released and that recruitment and technical integration with Pueblo West and OpenGov remained priorities for the coming weeks.","County manager and staff presented a weekly update on the building permit and inspection transition: building official interviews were scheduled, OpenGov configuration is underway, a 12‑member technical advisory committee (TAC) will be posted, and a Jan. 1 go‑live date remains the target.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Local investors propose $75M‑scale glycerin plant in Pueblo, ask for $15M public support

Art center asks county to deed nearby Rojas Building for dance space, pledges $250,000 renovation

County outlines timeline to launch new building permits division; interviews, OpenGov and TAC work slated