Shari Pierce

Education Options: Private and Homeschool

While Archuleta School District offers excellent educational opportunities, some people relocating to Pagosa wish to enroll their children in a private school, online or blended school, or would like to homeschool their children. Pagosa Springs offers many private educational options, online and blended options, and homeschooling groups.

Pagosa Family School: Pagosa Family School is an Archuleta School District shared-schooling educational outreach program offered to all homeschool, private school and Archuleta School District students. PFS offers Spanish, art, drumline, choir and an exploratory class consisting of science, music and drama. Please visit Pagosa Family School on Facebook, visit the school district website at MyPagosaSchools.com or contact the Shared School Liaison at (970) 264-2228.

Pagosa Valor Academy: Pagosa Valor Academy is a University Model School for kindergarten through 12th grades. It combines the best traits of home education with the best traits of public school education. It is a family-oriented school with the core purpose of teaching kids from a biblical perspective while preparing college-ready young adults. Learn more at pagosavaloracademy.org. 

Our Savior Lutheran School: This early childhood school offers preschool through seventh grade in which every discipline is taught from the Christian worldview. All classes are taught using a Classical Christian Curriculum, which includes such classes as Latin, cursive, traditional math (no common core), phonics-based English, science, art and music. The school is located on three acres, complete with six classrooms, a gymnasium and two playground areas. Information is located at oslcpagosa.org.

Online and blended options: Online schooling options, many of which are tuition-free public schools, are gaining popularity. 

GOAL High School is a free public charter school and a Microsoft Showcase School. With more than 10 years in operation, GOAL serves ages 14-21. GOAL offers a blended learning format with online courses and student drop-in centers. Visit online at goalac.org.

A sampling of other popular tuition-free public online schools available in Pagosa include Southwest Colorado eSchool (southwestcoloradoeschool.org), K-12 schools (k12.com/colorado-online-schools), and Colorado Connections Academy (connectionsacademy.com/colorado-online-school). 

Pagosa also has a robust and diverse homeschooling community. Homeschooling families of all educational philosophies are invited to stay connected through Pagosa Homeschool Connection’s Facebook page. In addition, three homeschooling groups meet weekly throughout the school year. Classical Conversations of Pagosa Springs group (classicalconversations.com) follows a classical home-education model with weekly community days. Friday Co-Op offers academic classes and field trips for preschool through high school as participation dictates. Adventures à la Carte group gets together every week for social and enrichment activities such as hikes, sledding and other field trips. Families who are considering homeschooling for the first time or moving into Colorado are encouraged to review homeschooling laws in Colorado, available through HSLDA (hslda.org) and the Colorado Department of Education. 

For more information on these groups or for advice on additional homeschooling resources, contact Pagosa Homeschool Connection leaders at pagosahomeschoolconnection@gmail.com.

Goal High School

Archuleta School District


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PATHWAYS TO THE FUTURE: 

Successful partnerships benefit schools and community

Illustration courtesy Reynolds Ash + Associates

Pagosa Springs High School offers multiple pathways to graduation aimed to help students be better prepared for what they want their future to be, whether heading off for postsecondary education before embarking on a career or heading into the workforce a little sooner.

The school’s career and technical education (CTE) program has grown over the years and now includes five pathways: agriculture, food and natural resources; building trades; business; computer science; and health science.

Those pathways encompass training to help lead students into careers in fields such as recreation and the outdoors, hospitality, tourism, government work, food service (restaurants and catering), property management, landscaping, greenhouse construction, game design, firefighting, construction and more.

According to the school’s website, some of the classes prepare students for a job directly after completion, while others put them on the pathway for careers with some additional training.

The programs, according to the school’s website, “often give you the opportunity to earn certifications that can help you to get a job. They will make you career and college-ready. Each of the CTE classes have been approved by the Colorado Community College System and organized by Career Pathway.”

Adding to the educational selection, each pathway also offers the opportunity for students to be a part of a related career and technical student organization. 

These organizations, the school district outlines, give students a chance to expand their knowledge beyond the classroom. The organizations include Future Business Leaders of America, the Colorado Technology Student Organization, Health Occupations Students of America, Future Farmers of America and SkillsUSA.

Soon, the school hopes to expand its campus with a building that will be the home of several of those pathways programs.

In February 2021, the Archuleta School District Board of Education gave the go-ahead to a volunteer-led nonprofit, Build Pagosa Inc., to begin fundraising for a CTE building that is slated to sit near the high school.

The one-story, 12,767-square-foot CTE building is expected to cost $3,018,300, with the estimated cost including soft costs and contingency landing at $4,147,875.

According to a document Build Pagosa produced to give to prospective donors, “The purpose of this collaboration is to create a modern and current vocational facility along with a CTE program that provides up-to-date training resulting in career certifications for our student body and community.”

The building will not be the first time the high school has benefited from a partnership with Build Pagosa.

The high school’s CTE program was given a boost several years ago when Build Pagosa formed, when a group of local builders identified the need for skilled construction workers and set out to find a solution for the problem.

That led one of their own, Tor Hessman, to become a teacher.

According to the prospective donor document, they told Pagosa Springs High School Principal Sean O’Donnell they “were experiencing a shortfall in the ability to hire a qualified workforce in the Pagosa Springs community. With the generous donations from the construction industry in the community, the school district was able to hire Tor and begin offering courses to the high school students,” the prospective donor document explains.

Now, with five years of the program in the books, Hessman teaches two levels of building trades, woodworking and design. Students from the building trades program have gone on to take part in a summer work program and obtain jobs, and even promotions, in the field.

To learn fundamentals, students within the building trades pathway craft things such as chicken coops and dog houses, which are then auctioned off in the community to raise funds for the next round of building materials. With the new facility, the program hopes to expand to building tiny homes, which would not only expand the knowledge of the students, but would also add to local housing options.

And the school is looking to continue to add to its CTE offerings, O’Donnell indicated, with hopes of having the teacher of the school’s upcoming horticulture class become CTE-certified to add that program to the CTE mix.


Archuleta School District

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Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

Everyone, no matter individual or business, wants to feel that they are not paying full price. That is why many of us use coupons or shop when something we want is on sale. In that respect, businesses are no different and incentives can be a tie breaker when choosing where to locate between two similar communities.

Archuleta County based businesses have several incentives for both relocating and existing businesses. Below is a quick summary of those resources.

Rural Jumpstart 

Rural Jumpstart is a state program that incentivizes relocating and start-up companies offering a non-duplicative business product or service. Archuleta and the Town of Pagosa Springs are eligible and are participating. Businesses must be approved by the Economic Development Commission and create at least five new jobs that pay above the median income within a certain timeframe. 

The program offers the following benefits for relocating and nonduplicative new businesses:

• Relief from state income taxes for the new business

• Relief from the state sales and use tax for the business

• Relief from county and municipal personal property taxes for the business

• Relief from state income taxes for the employee

Enterprise Zone State Tax Credits

The Colorado Enterprise Zone (EZ) program is a program that encourages job creation and capital investment in targeted economic areas like the majority of Archuleta County. 

The program provides a variety of tax credits to businesses and nonprofit projects to promote and encourage economic development activities. There are 10 different credits including equipment purchases and new employee hires. 

Opportunity Zone

There is an Opportunity Zone census tract in Archuleta County. These zones are designed to spur economic development and job creation throughout the country by providing tax benefits to investors who invest eligible capital into these communities. Taxpayers may defer tax on eligible capital gains by making an appropriate investment in a Qualified Opportunity Fund and meeting other requirements. 

Advanced Industry Tax Credit

Provides assistance to Colorado companies operating in seven advanced industries the opportunity to receive capital from investors.

Commercial Historic Preservation Tax Credit

Jointly administered with History Colorado for owners of designated commercial properties who do a certified rehabilitation of their property. 

Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit

A performance-based program for businesses pursuing job creation projects that are competing with at least one other state and where the incentive is a major factor in the decision. 

State Trade Expansion Program

Financial assistance for aspiring and current Colorado exporters entering into a new international market. This program supports small and medium-sized businesses through grant funds to offset international business development and marketing costs. 

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade has information on additional incentives to businesses that can be further explored at choosecolorado.com.

Business Support Programs

Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs (SCAPE): SCAPE creates more high growth and job creating companies in Southwest Colorado by providing education, mentoring and access to funding for startups and early stage companies. www.goscape.org

Southwest Small Business Development Center provides free business counseling, technical assistance, trainings, business plan development www.sbdcfortlewis.org/

Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC): Prepares businesses for federal and state contracts. www.coloradoptac.org/

Manufacturer’s Edge: Statewide manufacturing assistance center through onsite technical assistance through coaching, training and consulting. www.manufacturersedge.com/

Business incentives offered Read More »

Before you build, expand or open your business

By Mary Jo Coulehan

Before you build, renovate or open your doors for business, there is one step that many people forget — and it is one that could save you time, money, surprises and headaches. That step is checking with the Town of Pagosa Springs or Archuleta County building and planning departments regarding doing business in our community. 

Depending on where your business is located, each entity may have different requirements and zoning laws.

Zoning and land use

Of course, most entrepreneurs know that you need a building permit before you break ground or remodel any portion of an existing commercial building. 

But are you breaking ground in the right zone? 

Both the town and county have land use permitting and zoning. It is important to check to make sure that your business fits within the zoning and building code guidelines. Even though a zone may permit light manufacturing, you will need to make sure that your manufacturing operation fits within those guidelines. You may need to ask for a variance. 

Even if you bought an existing building, contact the building department to make sure your business is compatible within the zone. This includes converting a house from long-term to short-term rental, adding accessory structures to a nonresidential location (including portable shipping containers), paving or changing access and parking lots, and doing any work in a floodplain. Some properties may be “grandfathered;” however, the improvement must meet current codes when expanded or changed or if vacant for more than six months.

Permitting and licensing

It is not necessary to obtain a business license within the parameters of Archuleta County; however, if doing business within the Town of Pagosa Springs, you must have an annual business license. Even if your business is physically located in the county, but you perform a business function within the town (delivery of products, repairs, sales), you still need a town business license. 

Business licenses are also required within the town for temporary seasonal businesses like food trucks and vendors or special event permits and building contractor work permits. 

Each planning department also has guidelines for building fees. While impact fees have been waived, other fees may apply such as water tap fees, plan submission, etc. 

For those looking at larger developments, especially in the Opportunity Zone districts, the town and county can assist with incentive packages and plan development. 

In both the town and the county, sign permitting is required for temporary, modified or permanent signage. Before you spend the money on making a sign, visiting with the planning departments will alert you to size restrictions or perhaps colors if you are doing business in the historic district. 

Any new construction will need to have plans submitted to either building department. Each entity will provide a building and fire safety inspection before issuing a certificate of occupancy.

Both the town and the county have rules regarding short-term rentals (under 30 days). Each has a different fee schedule and all short-term rentals need to be licensed and collect sales and lodger’s tax. 

Before you build or set up your property for short-term rental, check the guidelines for where you are located, as short term rentals are not a “use by right” and typically also require a conditional use permit. 

New regulations are being considered in 2021 which may restrict your ability to operate a short term rental license. 

Many of the licensing forms can be found on the town’s website at pagosasprings.co.gov or on the county’s site at archuletacounty.org.

The town’s building and planning departments are located at Town Hall at 551 Hot Springs Blvd. and the county building and planning offices are located at 1122 U.S. 84. These entities are here to help you through the building process and minimize duplication of efforts. 

Find out the guidelines before you put a shovel in the ground for your new project or pull a hammer out to remodel your existing building. A quick phone call can save you needless time, energy and expense.

Town and County Regulations Read More »

By Mary Jo Coulehan

The Chamber of Commerce is a member-based organization that promotes and supports the local community through various educational programs, a resource and referral system, business advocacy, economic gardening and special event promotions. With almost 400 members, it is known for consistently having one of the highest per capita memberships in the state — an honorable achievement for a small mountain community.

Networking events such as Business After Hours and targeted trainings are a great way to stay current with area activities and to hone and expand your business savvy. 

The Chamber offers confidential consulting services, connections to other important business service centers and numerous ways to help you grow your business.

We also stay involved in other community initiatives including broadband, housing and early childcare which are the priorities identified by the business community. 

In 2020 our business community saw how important their chamber was by receiving the latest information on financial assistance, help with unemployment issues, working to man an emergency call center, and partnering with the town, county and nonprofit organizations to assist residents and businesses in Archuleta County. 

The Chamber of Commerce, along with the Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation, the Small Business Development Center and the Region 9 Economic Development District are poised to help you take your business to the next level. The Chamber is the administrative arm of the Community Development Corporation and works hand in hand in building a stronger community. 

Being a Chamber member is being in support of the business community and offering a collective voice.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce at pagosachamber.com or by calling (970) 264-2360 for more information.

Grow your business with the PAGOSA SPRINGS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Read More »

Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation

By Mary Jo Coulehan

The Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation (CDC) coordinates economic development initiatives that aim to enhance the economy in Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County. Supported by county and town governments, utility groups, local banks and individual businesses, the CDC strives to help Pagosa grow, diversify and become more economically stable. Pagosa is proud to be home to several Colorado top Companies to Watch. Our community alternative-energy portfolio includes biochar, solar and geothermal companies. With the current focus on alternative energy nationally, the CDC encourages individuals and companies interested in energy entrepreneurship to look no further than Pagosa Springs.

Better than a highway running through town, Pagosa Springs has the San Juan River flowing through town. With the Weminuche Wilderness and southern San Juan Wilderness in Pagosa Springs’ backyard, outdoor accessory and equipment entrepreneurs are finding that Pagosa offers an ideal research, development and testing lab for their products.

Technology has changed the way we do business and companies that need broadband Internet services for large data transmission or jobs that offer telecommuting opportunities have several options that would meet their needs. The CDC oversees the Broadband Services Office and is a partner in multiple broadband improvement projects. Remote work in Pagosa Springs is a great way to live the life of working where you play. We can help you connect to Colorado companies that focus on remote workers in rural areas. 

The CDC provides a wealth of resources including one-stop shopping for business information and a rapid-response team tailored to your needs to assist companies interested in opening or relocating a business to Archuleta County. The CDC website has statistical information and interactive data tools to assist you. 

The CDC maintains close ties to the Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce, the Southwest Small Business Development Center in Durango and Region 9 Economic Development District. These relationships help provide businesses a leg up on coming into the community through consultation services, educational opportunities, data and financial assistance. The CDC can help interested parties develop a business compatible with the area, locate available space, help smooth the business transition and create a win-win situation for new businesses and the community. The CDC can assist interested parties in community, state or federal tax advantages such as the state’s Enterprise Zone program or the federal Opportunity Zone program or the Rural Jump Start program. Our office or website has a community prospectus for those interested in relocating or finding out more about Pagosa’s Opportunity Zone districts. We can assist interested parties in identifying parcels of land located in these specialized zones while working to get you individual or “stacked” tax credits to maximize your advantage.

Contact the CDC at (970) 264-2360 or pagosaspringscdc.org for information about moving or expanding your business.

Improving our economic climate Read More »

License, permits, zoning information and more

The Town of Pagosa Springs requires an annual business license for all businesses located and/or conducting business within the town’s boundary. This includes special events, vendors, food trucks, seasonal/temporary vendors, vacation rentals, retail sales, bars/lounges, restaurants, professional services, construction general contractors and subcontractors, home-based businesses, nonprofit entities, etc. Additional license and/or permits may also be required for certain types of businesses. 

It is recommended that you contact the town planning and building department at the beginning of your planning process and prior to determining a location for your business. There may be zoning restrictions and building code requirements for particular businesses that you should know about before you get too far along in your planning process, and certainly before you lease or purchase a property. This will help eliminate surprises and very costly oversights along the way. It is also recommended that you contact the building department if you are contemplating any new construction or remodeling work. There may not be any permit needed, however, a quick call will help eliminate delays and/or unknown expenses. In addition, a sign permit is required for all permanent and temporary signs (banners). Again, you should contact the planning department prior to designing or manufacturing a sign to ensure you meet the town’s code requirements and prevent any costly mistakes.

Town staff is available to help guide you through the process of opening or relocating a business in Pagosa Springs. Applications are available on the town’s website, www.pagosasprings.co.gov, or at Town Hall. Contact town government at: 551 Hot Springs Blvd., P.O. Box 1859, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147, (970) 264-4151.

Opening a business in town Read More »

Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado

By Laura Lewis Marchino, Executive Director
Region 9 Economic Development District of SW Colorado

As our communities recover from the COVID pandemic, it is a good reminder to look at our amazing regional assets and diversity so critical to recovery. 

Southwest Colorado has everything that you as a resident or business would want within an hour’s drive of any community. However, many of you have overheard the, “We don’t have an airport.” or “The college is in Durango”. Though technically true, those statements are also creating a “negative narrative” and reinforces the focus on community boundaries. Those simple statements are something that can impact business relocation. For example, all the Front Range communities use the Denver International Airport, but you do not hear residents of Ft. Collins saying, “Oh we don’t have an airport” because they consider DIA their airport. When you stop and think about it, DIA serves a huge geographic area from Ft. Collins (70 miles away) to Fairplay and even Silverthorne.

Rural areas traditionally typically think within their community boundaries rather than what is available regionally. We all want medical care, education, culture and transportation. In rural areas, those items may not be sustainable on a community level but can be on a regional one. Regionalism makes the pie bigger, not just in terms of services, but in creating economies of scale and reducing duplication. Businesses that think regionally are more likely to grow as they understand they need a larger population and customer base. Simply by reframing our unintentional negative narrative to, “Within an hour’s drive we have an airport, a 4-year college, three hospitals, a community college, several National Parks and unlimited recreation opportunities,” we become the region that has it all. 

Working through a regional lens also solves the following business concerns:

• Shortage of business-to-business services. 

• Limited access to information/knowledge centers — one community may lack the services that another has. 

• Dominance by single business or industry — a large employer in one community is one of many when looking regional. 

• Local labor skills and availability — you yourself may live in one community but work in another.

Rural communities are a destination to visit and more and more, to move to. Southwest Colorado has the assets to compete.

Yes, our region has that Read More »

By Mary Jo Coulehan

Illustration courtesy Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation

You hear a lot of buzz about Opportunity Zones these days, but what is it about this program that has communities and investors excited?

Opportunity Zones (OZ) were enacted as part of the 2017 tax reform package to address uneven economic recovery and persistent lack of growth. The OZ program provides a federal tax incentive for investors to invest in communities through favorable treatment of reinvested capital gains and forgiveness of tax on new capital gains. The deferral of inclusion in taxable income for capital gains is until December 31, 2026. There is a gradual reduction of tax if gains are held for only five years or seven years. Permanent exclusion is tax free if the gains are held the full 10 years or until 2026.

When first implemented, low income urban or rural communities had the opportunity to submit a census tract in their area for acceptance to the state of Colorado and then the federal government. The good news for Southwest Colorado is that every county had a census tract that qualified. In Archuleta County, census tract number 9744 was selected which encompasses Piedra Road northeast past Cloman Boulevard, the north side along U.S. 160 past U.S. 84 and southeast along U.S. 84. In this census track, there are many opportunities to build out on vacant land tracts from larger parcels to infill parcels such as in the downtown area. 

Archuleta County developed a community prospectus for investors. Numerous work groups were held, always open to the public. This group formulated the community prospectus. Participants included realtors, town and county government, developers, business professionals, utility companies, nonprofit agencies, the Chamber of Commerce and the Community Development Corporation (CDC), who took the lead in preparing the document. 

The Pagosa Springs Community Prospectus is an invitation for developers and investors to look at our community and invest in projects we feel are important such as housing, light manufacturing and lodging. The work group took into account the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, Smart Growth Plan and the County’s Community Development Action Plan (CDAP) to align OZ projects with the highest priorities in these documents. The town and county collaborated on local development incentives that can be added to federal and state tax incentives. Investors can “stack” incentives from a myriad of opportunities.

We encourage potential investors to look at the various districts and see what projects might be available, or they can match their particular area of interest, such as housing, and reference what types of projects are available in each district. The community prospectus is available for download from the Region 9 website, www.scan.org or from the CDC website at pagosaspringscdc.org/incentive-programs/. The key to the OZ program is the investment of capital gains. If you are moving to Pagosa, have some capital gains that you would be interested in investing, contact your financial advisor for more investment information or Mary Jo Coulehan at the Chamber of Commerce at (970) 264-2360. 

Invest in an Opportunity Zone in Pagosa Springs Read More »

Building a unique dream home

Photo courtesy Joanne Irons

A sweet boy from a poor family dreamed of finding one of five golden tickets hidden inside of chocolate bar wrappers, which would admit him to the eccentric and reclusive Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. It would become the ticket to having all of his dreams come true.

Here in Pagosa Springs, a group of adults with disabilities believes the ticket to having their dreams come true can be found through the Aspen House Truffle Company. 

Their dream is a safe, independent and permanent home for adults in our community who have developmental disabilities. A home for someone just like themselves. A home called Aspen House.

Community volunteer Joanne Irons has been working with members of Aspen House and Aspen Services (AHAS) teaching them to make and sell the chocolate truffles as a way for adults with different abilities in the community to raise funds for their dream house.

She explained that some of the adults have been able to learn the entire process of truffle making and she is hopeful that this will turn into a full-time business for AHAS. She also hopes that the truffle-making business will turn into its own nonprofit business to be completely run by the adults served by Aspen House and Aspen Services.

“Irons has long believed … that these adults have the capability to run their own business in support of Aspen House and Aspen Services. Truffle making is going to be that business,” secretary and treasurer for AHAS Patricia Brown shared. 

Along with truffle-making, adults with different abilities work at the local PS Froyo shop to learn other valuable business skills and 100 percent of proceeds from PS Froyo sales support Aspen House. 

“Every delicious bite is for good,” their website notes, at psfroyo.com.

PS Froyo is equipped with a functional commercial kitchen with ample space for truffle making.

Additionally, the PS Froyo website states, “Aspen House supports Pagosa Springs residents with developmental disabilities, giving them life and job skills, and a supportive place to live with their peers. When you choose PS Froyo, you aren’t just eating well, you’re contributing to your community.” 

Irons described the process of teaching her truffle-making business to the members of Aspen House as “a great pleasure.”

The truffles completely sold out for Valentine’s Day and Easter. To place your truffle order and help turn the dream of Aspen House into a reality, visit PS Froyo at 459 Lewis Street, or call (970) 398-1636.

For more information about AHAS, or to make a donation, please visit aspenhousepagosa.org.

Aspen House Truffle Company  Read More »