BLACK HAWK — Between cups of coffee, muffins, sticky notes, and stacks of planning worksheets, leaders from Clear Creek and Gilpin Counties gathered Wednesday morning, May 20, at JKQ BBQ for the second quarter Region 3 Resilience Team meeting.

The meeting, organized through the Clear Creek Economic Development Corporation and facilitated in part by the Antero Group, brought together representatives from local governments, nonprofits, schools, tourism organizations, housing agencies, recreation groups, and business development teams to compare notes on projects already underway and discuss what comes next.

All three Gilpin County commissioners attended and actively participated in the working groups throughout the morning. Commissioner Susan Berumen took part in discussions surrounding childcare and workforce support. Commissioner Jeff Aiken spent much of the morning in the fire mitigation breakout sessions, while Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth shared updates from recreation, tourism, and outdoor access planning efforts involving both counties.

Gilpin County Commissioner Sandy Hollingsworth speaks during the May 20 Region 3 Resilience Team meeting at JKQ BBQ in Black Hawk.

Photo by Mindy Leary

“This is exactly what we were hoping to do,” said Kelly Flenniken, board chair of the CCEDC. “Hear about the successes that you’re having.”

The CCEDC, a nonprofit founded in 1984, works to support economic development in Clear Creek County and neighboring Gilpin County. The organization oversees business loan programs, supports workforce development and housing initiatives, and helps coordinate regional partnerships.

Wednesday’s meeting focused less on creating another study and more on actually moving projects forward. Organizers encouraged participants to stop worrying about rigid checklists and instead focus on practical solutions, collaboration, and momentum.

“We know as communities we can sometimes be studied to death,” Lindsey Valdez of the CCEDC told the group. “The whole point is getting things done.”

Projects gaining traction

The resilience teams are currently organized around 11 regional focus areas, including childcare, workforce development, fire mitigation, housing, tourism, transportation, food access, recreation, broadband, and economic diversification.

Participants spent much of the morning sharing updates from their groups, celebrating wins, and scribbling new ideas onto sticky notes spread across the tables.

The meeting also highlighted momentum around childcare infrastructure, which repeatedly came up as one of the region’s biggest workforce challenges.

Representatives described recent workshops examining how the lack of childcare affects labor participation and local businesses. Clear Creek County recently approved $95,000 for the Smart Start Scholarship Program, while Georgetown and Empire also contributed funding to help families offset childcare costs.

Berumen spoke about the county’s decision to dedicate lodging tax dollars toward childcare programs.

“On the county level, we also have dedicated our lodging tax for childcare because we recognize it’s not profitable,” Berumen said. “We need to fund it. It is part of infrastructure.”

Berumen added that communities need to rethink how they view childcare funding.

“It’s not either senior care or childcare, but it’s everything for the community’s benefits,” she said. “We have to change our thinking. Childcare is infrastructure.”

Hollingsworth echoed that sentiment while discussing broader recreation and tourism planning efforts.

“We need to change the culture of childcare,” Hollingsworth said.

Hollingsworth also spoke about ongoing efforts to better connect tourism and recreation opportunities between the two counties while encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more money locally.

“The ultimate goal is going to be how to market to people to come and stay, drop some money, help support the local economy,” Hollingsworth said.

She said the group has been discussing regional trail maps, grant opportunities, and future recreation connections between the counties. 

Hollingsworth also mentioned recent discussions with the Colorado Mountain Bike Association, commonly known as COMBA, regarding a proposed mountain bike system connecting areas in both counties.

Housing concerns remain front and center

Representatives from the Clear Creek Regional Housing Authority announced the organization received a $2.5 million grant from Colorado’s Division of Housing for affordable townhomes in Georgetown. Officials also secured a $100,000 tenant capacity grant.

Meanwhile, Gilpin County representatives discussed ongoing conversations about land-use code updates, including possible changes to accessory dwelling unit restrictions, duplex opportunities, and tiny homes.

Senior housing was another major topic. Idaho Springs Mayor Chuck Harmon described the similarities both counties face when it comes to aging populations and affordable housing shortages.

“We’re in the same boat,” Harmon said. “It just so happens we also share another anomaly, and that is that we are tied for the oldest average-aged community.”

Harmon said Idaho Springs currently has only 27 affordable senior housing units despite having roughly 2,400 senior residents.

“So it’s a horrible mismatch,” he said.

The city is now working on plans for a senior housing project on two acres near Highway 103 that could eventually include around 50 affordable units along with connections to Meals on Wheels and transportation services.

Tourism and transportation projects continue

Tourism leaders discussed ways to encourage visitors to spend more time (and money) in local communities instead of simply driving through mountain corridors.

Officials described new “trails to towns” marketing ideas, expanded recreation mapping, and collaborative tourism strategies between Clear Creek and Gilpin counties.

One of the larger tourism wins discussed was the recent opening of the Mighty Argo gondola attraction in Idaho Springs, which several speakers said has already brought new business to the region’s recreation economy.

Participants also discussed the proposed Idaho Springs Mobility Hub project, which already has $6.3 million in committed state funding for its first phase. The project is expected to eventually include transit improvements, parking, and transportation infrastructure near Interstate 70.

Building momentum together

As the meeting wrapped up, organizers stressed that the resilience teams are meant to stay flexible. If projects are no longer working, they said, groups should move on and focus on ideas that do.

“We’ve eliminated a lot of redundancy by talking,” Valdez said. “Groups have realized, ‘Oh, we’re both working on the same thing,’ and so they’ve come together.”

Lindsey Valdez of the Clear Creek Economic Development Corporation discusses ongoing regional projects and implementation strategies during the meeting.

Photo by Mindy Leary

Flenniken said organizers are excited to watch projects continue developing over the next several months.

“We’re just really excited for the momentum to continue and to really watch these successes that are being shared today really come to life over the next couple of months,” she said.

The next quarterly resilience meeting has not yet been scheduled, though organizers said it will likely be held somewhere in Clear Creek County, possibly in Idaho Springs.