Region 10 has hosted the class in different forms pre-COVID but this is the first time the half-day session format is being attempted. The nonprofit plans to alternate between the in-person and Zoom options through the end of the year.

The workshops give entrepreneurs, and business owners, an opportunity to complete their business plans, and offer guidance as well. 

The first session is in-person on June 16 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. inside Region 10’s Montrose office. The other two, on July 19 and 21, are through Zoom and take place from 9 a.m. – noon. The registration fee is $85 and attendees are encouraged to bring a laptop or electronic notepad to the in-person session. Read Staff Writer Josue Perez's full article to get more info. 

Do you have a business you've been looking to start? A business plan already in the works? 

Starting June 15, the following restrictions will go into place to safeguard against wildfires. Under Stage 1 fire restrictions:  

• Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds (i.e. a metal, in-ground containment structure – fire pans and rock campfire rings are not acceptable)  

• No fires of any type, including charcoal, outside of developed areas. 

• No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or in a barren area free of vegetation  

• No use of explosive materials, including explosive targets.  

• No welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame except an area that has been cleared of vegetation.  

• No operation of any internal combustion engine without a spark-arresting device properly installed and in working order. 

Do you have any questions about these new rules? Let me know and I'll try to get you an answer. 

The city’s annual 4th of July parade will begin at 10 a.m along Main Street. Montrose Rotary Amphitheater in Cerise Park where a food truck village and beer garden will open at 4 p.m. followed by a concert featuring Falconaires Air Force Academy Band at 5 p.m. 

Later in the night, the winner of this year's The Voice, Girl Named Tom, will perform. Both of these concerts are free! Once it's dark, there will of course be fireworks as well. 

Are you excited for the festivities? Do you think you'll attend this year?

In more news about the large complex coming to the Uncompahgre River Valley, Colorado Outdoors Medical Center has officially broken ground.  If you don't remember, this is the center that will be operated by QHR Health. The project is expected to cost around $30 million and is privately funded with investment from QHR Health. The QHR Health CEO said the facility is expected to mitigate health care “leakage” in the area, which occurs when people go elsewhere to address their medical needs.

Do you agree? Do you think the new medical center will meet an appropriate need in Montrose?

As @Josue Perez  reported, The Montrose Urban Renewal Authority board approved a development agreement with Shelter Distilling last Thursday. MURA agrees to provide up to $700,000 for site improvements and Shelter Distilling commits to building its 23,000-square-foot distillery, brewery and kitchen within the Colorado Outdoors campus.

Josue ran a  profile of Shelter Distilling back in January, reporting at the time that the team has a two-floor site plan for their planned facility. The downstairs portion will feature a kitchen, main bar and distilling area. A secondary bar will be on the second floor in addition to an outdoor patio with a view of the Uncompahgre River.

As a former Californian, I've actually been to Shelter Distilling's original location in Mammoth Lakes and loved it!

What do you think about the new bar and new spirits coming to Montrose? Do you expect it to compete with Storm King?

As @Josue Perez  reported earlier today, Montrose County plans to introduce a master road plan to the board of county commissioners later this year. The county plans to pave 6000 Road this summer and is also undergoing designs to pave the intersection of 6125 Road and David Road, as well as Popular Road, west of 6250 Road, and Paradox Trail. 

With this master plan in mind, I'm wondering what gravel roads you think deserve upgrading? In your opinion, where should the county focus its efforts?

The local district of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) have been running a program called Financial Literacy and Exchange (dubbed FLEX), in which it adds financial literacy education to its existing housing programs. 

The organization says the initiative's been successful and Colorado's legislature has taken note, passing a bill named after the program that would expand the idea into the Colorado Division of Housing. This means it would still be paired with housing resources, just like at CASA. 

If you're not familiar, CASA built 1st Place on Second in Montrose and 1st Place on Palmer in Delta to provide voucher-subsidized housing and support programs to eligible teenagers. CASA's FLEX program has been in place since 2020 using a grant from the state.

If you want to know more about the context behind this decision, and how it could affect statewide housing programs, read Assistant Editor Katharhynn Heidelberg's reporting. 

What are your thoughts on the program going statewide? Do you think it make sense to bundle housing support and financial literacy education?

The Dark Skies Promotion and Designation bill will fund grants to areas seeking International Dark-Sky Association recognition. One such area is Paonia, where a group of residents have been trying to get Dark Sky policies off the ground. However, it's not certain Paonia will receive a grant, as the bill allows for only four applicants. 

If the town received the grant, much of the money would go to lighting changes, but it could also go toward dark sky events for the community. Check out Cassie Knust's full article to read what Dark Skies Paonia chair Aaron Watson thinks about the grant. 

What do you think about the bill? Are you happy to see the state supporting Dark Skies? Do you think the funding ($35,000 in total) will make a difference?

As  the Colorado Sun pointed out today, Denver's been taking a lot of rhetorical hits on the campaign trail, including Delta's own Matt Soper calling the city's downtown a "toilet bowl." Hugh McKean, Republican from Loveland, called Denver's crime "out of control." And Colin Larson, a Republican from the Denver suburbs said the city's on a "downward spiral."

Do you think comments like these could end up hurting Republican campaign efforts? Or is there enough ill will towards the capital that it could actually help with elections?

As part of The Forum Montrose's ongoing speaker series, several local organizations will be speaking about biking, dirt biking and driving ATVs and off-highway vehicles near Montrose. 

The event will take place from 8 - 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25 at Colorado Mesa's Montrose campus. 

What do you want to know about biking and offroading trails locally? Have you been before?