For such a typically slow month in Pagosa, there are a number of important business and community activities that you should get on your calendar.
Let’s start off with the business events.
On April 16 at 4:30 p.m., the next Main Street Cone Zone/downtown business meeting will take place. This time the meeting, which includes representatives from the Colorado Department of Transportation, will be held at the new Hidden Track Speakeasy at 251 Pagosa St., Ste. B. With the major construction project on U.S. 160 coming our way, if you have a business or are a resident in the downtown area from 1st to 8th streets, you should plan on attending to find out all the latest information, get your questions answered and find out firsthand how the upcoming construction project might impact you.
On April 23 and 24, the Tourism Department will be hosting a free tourism conference. Whether you are in lodging, restaurant or retail, or maybe trying to open a business, this is a conference you should consider attending or sending some of your employees to. On April 23 beginning at 3 p.m., there will be a hands-on social media workshop followed by a networking event. Then, on April 24, there will be a variety of different tracks all day that could impact your business such as marketing ideas, how to elevate your brand, how you can tie into the efforts of the Tourism Department both locally and through the state of Colorado, and the effect of social media. At the speed of a click someone can celebrate or condemn your business. Are you ready? There will also be tracks on business resources, the Main Street Program and more. Watch for more information on attending this conference and where to register.
On April 10, the Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation (PSCDC) will host an affordable housing training. This half-day seminar from 9 a.m. to noon will be hosted by the Colorado Department of Housing and will cover topics such as our community’s specific housing challenges, solutions to meet our housing needs and the new Proposition123 funding. It will be held at the Ross Aragon Community Center. If you are a contractor, supplier, public official or just an interested developer, please attend this seminar. You can register for the event at https://forms.gle/cqtRMJRyJPyxFzMm8 or visit the PSCDC’s website at www.pagosaspringscdc.org.
Remember that the Chamber’s monthly Business Happy Hour has now been moved from the fourth Wednesday to the fourth Friday of the month. The April Business Happy Hour will take place on April 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. Watch for our notices on the monthly location.
The Chamber’s Pagosa Pride Hanging Basket Program will kick off on Tuesday, April 2, at 9 a.m. This annual program helps beautify Pagosa businesses and homes with show-stopping 12-inch and 16-inch flower baskets. We thank our nursery partners for allowing us to host this program every year, which we have been conducting for more than 20 years, and it continues to grow — no pun intended. If you click on the flower basket graphic on the Chamber website’s home page, www.pagosachamber.com, that link will take you directly to the registration site. Please do not try to order your baskets prior to 9 a.m. as the system will not be in effect. All orders need to be entered into the online system. The 12-inch baskets are anticipated to be available for pickup on May 24 in the afternoon. The 16-inch baskets are usually available after Memorial Day, but we may get them earlier depending on the weather. If you order baskets and are not going to be in town, please make arrangements to have your flowers picked up at the appropriate date.
Earth Day activities are going to be held on April 21. Many of the activities will be centered around the growing domes in Centennial Park; however, there will be other booths along the Riverwalk. Is your business contributing to ecological programs: recycling paper and cardboard in your offices? How about toner and printer cartridges? Do you leave the lights on all the time, or can you put lighting on timers or at least use LED bulbs? There are a number of things businesses can do to help reduce our footprint on trash and power. What can you challenge your staff and business to do?
In conjunction with Earth Day activities, the annual Geothermal Greenhouse Partnership Environmental Film Festival will be held on April 19 and 20. On April 19 there will be a Premiere Gala where two films will be viewed and a delicious catered dinner will be served. On April 20, the festival is open for general admission tickets. All of the films are award-winning films in the environmental arena. To purchase your tickets for either day, visit www.pagosagreen.org.
On April 27, the Brews for Rescue Beer Festival will be held. This popular event in Town Park brings a plethora of brewers to Pagosa, highlighting some exceptional quaffs for the public to taste. Along with the beer there will be live music, a dog show, food trucks and vendors. Tickets can be purchased at www.pagosafun.com and are $25 online or $35 at the gate.
