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Southern Colorado Economic Development District outlines SEDS update, Lake County broadband progress
Summary
SCED briefed Lake County commissioners on the region’s forthcoming SEDS update, local broadband project status and a new Colorado Energy Office impact-accelerator opportunity; North of Leadville broadband work is awaiting Forest Service and BLM permits.
Tracy Gutierrez, senior program manager for the Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCED), briefed Lake County commissioners on the agency’s regional planning and grant support work and on specific projects that affect Lake County.
SCED’s role and the SEDS process: Gutierrez said SCED is the designated Economic Development District for 13 southern Colorado counties, including Lake, and is required by the federal Economic Development Administration to maintain a comprehensive economic development strategy (SEDS) every five years. The existing SEDS (2021) is available online; SCED is beginning a new SEDS cycle and plans stakeholder sessions in Lake County this summer for community input to help prioritize projects and federal funding applications.
Local priorities identified in the previous SEDS: Gutierrez summarized recurring needs raised by Lake County stakeholders during the last SEDS process: working capital and business development, potential planning for an industrial park, water and sanitation infrastructure, bridge replacement, workforce training (in partnership with Colorado Mountain College), and recreation/trail/transportation improvements.
Broadband and projects: SCED has received Colorado Broadband Office capital-project funding for five projects in the region. Gutierrez said one Lake County project — infrastructure north of Leadville — is moving through engineering and now awaits permits from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, steps that can delay construction.
Other SCED work: the office will host a regional water and sewer summit and has been named the regional navigator for the Colorado Energy Office’s Local Impact Accelerator program; the first LOI round opens June 16 and the full application window runs August 1 to November 5, Gutierrez said. She also described small-business navigator-type work, including resource fairs and technical assistance, and asked for county feedback on timing and partners; commissioners suggested scheduling outside the summer tourist season (September–November or mud season in mid-November).
Why it matters: Gutierrez told commissioners the SEDS document is a required, working tool that helps counties apply for federal Economic Development Administration funds and coordinate projects that cut across jurisdictions. SCED plans outreach in Lake County and will circulate a short online stakeholder survey.
Ending: Commissioners asked SCED to coordinate with the county’s Community Planning and Development staff so the new SEDS work dovetails with the county comprehensive plan. Gutierrez said she will follow up with scheduling and provide regular updates via SCED’s e-newsletter.
