Mountain regions have long been known as a final frontier with prosperous economic opportunities for those who dare to explore and take on the challenges of mountain living.
In recent decades the luxurious ski resorts with their glitz and glamour and high priced real estate has meant that tourism is the main economic driver for many mountain towns. The pandemic seemed to only heighten tourist interest, as people flocked to the great outdoors to enjoy some rest and recreation whilst being more than 6 feet from another person.
Mother Nature though, she does not discriminate. Many of our mountain regions have been experiencing drought conditions and extreme weather events that all but bring the tourism economy and all other supporting services to a halt. Our climate is shifting and we are seeing more and more catastrophic events that have impacts on all aspects of daily life.
We personally experienced this in our own backyard with the Glenwood Canyon Grizzly Creek Fire in the summer of 2020. The main artery of I-70 through our state was closed, for weeks, and now years later we are still experiencing the after affects of flash floods, landslides, closures, cancellations and impacts to our economies and overall mental and emotional wellbeing. Instead of being excited about a weekend trip most are checking their apps, alerts and social media groups to see if the roads are still open, if we can even get to our destination let alone if it is still standing.
This is why we believe the future is diversification of economy in our mountain regions, especially the smaller rural areas. Our goal is to help people be able to work where they live, attract companies to build their headquarters in our towns, promote our local attractions to our locals and find a way to open up opportunities for success outside of one line of business. Tourism is a major indicator of prosperity for many mountain towns but does it have to be the only driver?
How do we diversify our economies in our mountain towns beyond the fickle industry of tourism and alternatively how can we coexist and share our homes with people who wish to experience the great outdoors?
Comment below, we would love to hear your thoughts; alternatively listen to this great report on the same topic from MarketPlace by APM.