- To better understand local economic trends and progress, Gunnison County worked with Community Builders and Headwaters Economics to develop a series of indicators related to goals in the Strategy.
- The resulting data visualization displays relevant socioeconomic trends and allows for comparison between Gunnison County, five other Colorado counties, and the state of Colorado.
- The information will help local officials, business leaders, and others measure the progress of economic development efforts over time.
Interactive: Comparing Trends and Prosperity in Gunnison County, Colorado
This interactive explores socioeconomic trends in Gunnison County and neighboring Colorado counties.
Background: Gunnison County and the One Valley Prosperity Project
In 2015, Gunnison County, Colorado mobilized a partnership known as the Community Builders Task Force to engage the community and identify strategies and actions to improve economic prosperity in the Gunnison Valley.
Between March 2015 and April 2016, the partnership spearheaded the One Valley Prosperity Project, which brought together residents to think strategically about how to create a more prosperous future for the region.
Community members expressed concern about the lack of economic vitality and cost of living in the Valley. They reported concerns that the county’s increasing popularity as a destination were diminishing many of the reasons people love living there. People shared that it is not easy to get a good paying job and it can be difficult for individuals and families to thrive in the Gunnison Valley.
As a result of that community dialogue, the Community Builders Task Force produced the One Valley Prosperity Strategy, a regional plan that will guide collaboration on community development efforts in Gunnison Valley.
The One Valley Prosperity Strategy provides a path forward for addressing significant regional issues: housing affordability, the economy, quality of life, and social equity. None of these systemic issues will be resolved quickly, but Gunnison County now has structures and plans in place to begin working on solutions.
Recognizing that improving living wages, reducing poverty, improving access to healthcare and creating affordable housing take time, the task force has identified short term and long term actions to sustain implementation.
Measuring Prosperity in Gunnison County, and Comparing to Nearby Peer Counties and State
To understand whether local efforts are making an impact, Gunnison County began working with Community Builders and Headwaters Economics to develop a series of indicators related to goals in the One Valley Prosperity Strategy .
The resulting data visualization displays relevant socioeconomic trends with comparison data from other Colorado counties.
This information will help the Community Builders Task Force communicate progress achieved with the One Valley Prosperity Strategy and identify how other community demographics change over time. This tool is critical for local jurisdictions and the public.
