Basalt Colorado Chamber of Commerce

05/17/2024

The Basalt Chamber of Commerce, with over 400 members, represents its members within the Basalt and Midvalley business community. The organization is dedicated to promoting economic growth and community vitality in the valley.

The board of directors – which includes residents and business operators throughout the Basalt area – has determined that any disruption or delay in the timely completion of the Midland Avenue Streetscape Project will not serve our downtown businesses. Any potential delays will be far more detrimental than the construction itself. The project, which has been underway for over a year, needs to be completed.

Read more:

Be heard – VOTE! The Town of Basalt is holding a Special Election on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. The Basalt Chamber of Commerce, with over 400 members, represents its members within the Basalt and Midvalley business community. The organization is dedicated to promoting economic growth and community vit...

05/03/2024

Speak out to preserve rural broadband efforts. https://p2a.co/56tFvjX

Colorado is receiving more than $1 billion in federal funds to connect every rural Colorado household and business to the internet.

A bill in the legislature, HB24-1245, puts that funding in jeopardy by forcing Colorado to resubmit its application for those funds to the federal government, pushing Colorado to the back of the line for federal approval of these once-in-a-lifetime dollars.

As a result, the bill will significantly delay these much-needed federal broadband funds coming to our rural community, and risks not getting our unserved communities connected.

This bill has not been stakeholdered with the rural communities it impacts or the local broadband providers we will rely to build this much needed infrastructure.

04/25/2024

This week the Federal Trade Commission announced a new rule banning (most) noncompete agreements.

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/04/ftc-announces-rule-banning-noncompetes

According to the federal agency, this final rule will generate over 8,500 new businesses each year, raise worker wages, lower health care costs, and boost innovation.

Today, the Federal Trade Commission issued a final rule to promote competition by banning noncompetes nationwide, protecting the fundamen

04/22/2024

Happy Earth Day! We’re excited to launch a new way to experience Basalt and the whole Roaring Fork Valley! 🌎

We’re partnering with the Roaring Fork Valley Destination Alliance (RFVDA) and the Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers to host seven voluntourism project events in Visit Aspen, Snowmass, Basalt Colorado Chamber of Commerce, Carbondale CO Tourism and Visit Glenwood Springs. These events are amazing opportunities to support your favorite destinations, the well-being of communities, and give back to the environment.
🌱🧎💕

Basalt's event will be hosted on Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Rock Bottom Ranch Aspen Center for Enviromental Studies.

Event details at: Rock Bottom Ranch | RFOV Community Project with RFVDA

Click here for the full list of community projects and to sign up for these free events: https://www.carbondale.com/regenerative-roaring-fork-destination-stewardship/

03/28/2024

Advocacy Win: Rep. Neguse Voices Concerns Over Proposed Changes to USPS Grand Junction Facility

In early March, the Basalt Colorado Chamber of Commerce notified its fellow mountain town chambers in the Mountain Chamber Alliance (MCA) advocacy group of the proposed changes to the Grand Junction Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC). We also put an alert out to our members in the weekly newsletter.

The USPS proposed changes included downgrading the facility to a Local Processing Center (LPC), resulting in all USPS mail on the Western Slope (814-, 815- and 816- zip codes) being required to go to Denver and back for sorting. Everything from mail, packages and ballots would have to travel hundreds of miles. Details: https://coloradosun.com/2024/02/23/mail-delivery-colorado-western-slope/).

MCA* sent a letter (penned by the Basalt Chamber's Executive Director) to our collective Colorado federal delegation: Senator Michael Bennet, Senator John Hickenlooper, Congressman Joe Neguse and Congresswoman Lauren Boebert.

While Congressmen Neguse represents the 2nd Congressional District (the RFV is in the 3rd), he is familiar with the challenges mountain communities like ours face, and wrote to the Postmaster General expressing the same concerns we noted in our letter.

You can read his letter here:https://neguse.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/neguse.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/JN%20Grand%20Junction%20Letter%20signed%203.27.24.pdf

The chamber also made its members and the midvalley community aware of this issue, encouraging public comment in a survey that has since closed.

While the future of the Grand Junction P&DC is still to be determined, this chamber is fighting hard to support our local businesses and the community as a whole. Thank you to those who also made sure your voice was heard, and thank you Rep. Neguse for your support!

*MCA = Aspen Chamber Resort Association, Basalt Chamber of Commerce, Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, Gunnison Country Chamber of Commerce, Steamboat Springs Chamber, Summit Chamber of Commerce and the Vail Valley Partnership.

03/06/2024

The recent press coverage of our 2024 Basalt Candidate Forum provides a great overview of the event and each Town of Basalt candidate's positions:

Aspen Daily News: https://www.aspendailynews.com/news/clean-sweep-all-five-candidates-for-basalt-town-council-support-midland-avenue-overhaul/article_b52b58da-db9d-11ee-a53c-ef6d9f9be4e6.html

The Aspen Times: https://www.aspentimes.com/news/highlights-from-the-basalt-candidate-forum/

Aspen Public Radio: https://www.aspenpublicradio.org/government/2024-03-05/affordable-housing-is-top-of-mind-for-basalt-town-council-candidates

The five candidates running in the at-large election for three Basalt Town Council seats were in the spotlight for 90 minutes at a Monday night forum presented by the Basalt Chamber of Commerce. They discussed affordable housing, the Midland Avenue project and the perceived biggest challenges facing...

03/06/2024

In case you were unable to attend or watch it live, the 2024 Basalt Candidate Forum video is available on YouTube, thanks to GrassRoots Community Network.

The Basalt Colorado Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Basalt Regional Library, is hosting the 2024 Town of Basalt Mayoral and Town Council Candida...

03/01/2024

ACTION ALERT!🚨 USPS is looking to downgrade Grand Junction facility, send Western Slope mail to Denver for sorting; public comment open until March 8:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-grand-junction-co

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Last week officials from the United States Post Office were in Grand Junction to take public comment on a proposal which would see the regional processing and distribution facility move to a local processing center. While it would include upgrades to facilities and equipment, it would also change how the region's mail is processed - mail from the Western Slope would have to travel to Denver and back for sorting. Recognizing the challenges associated with I-70, this could significantly impact the Roaring Fork Valley, which has already experienced delays with mail delivery.

Recent articles -
Colorado Sun: Postal Service floats idea of driving Western Slope mail to Denver and back before delivery
https://coloradosun.com/2024/02/23/mail-delivery-colorado-western-slope/

CPR: Planned changes for Grand Junction Post Office include processing local mail in Denver, residents worry about delays
https://www.cpr.org/2024/02/22/changes-for-grand-junction-post-office-include-processing-local-mail-in-denver-residents-worry-about-delays/

The Daily Sentinel: Public raises concerns over proposed Postal Service changes
https://www.gjsentinel.com/news/western_colorado/public-raises-concerns-over-proposed-postal-service-changes/article_eccfe4fc-d1ef-11ee-b0a8-bf7755b34126.html

USPS's Mail Processing Facility Review documents (scroll to Grand Junction): https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/mpfr/welcome.htm

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

02/21/2024

We are excited for the opening of chamber member The Hoffmann Hotel Basalt Aspen, Tapestry Collection by Hilton in the coming days!

The long wait to open is just about over for the team at the Hoffmann Hotel in the Tree Farm development in the midvalley. The hotel hopes to start taking bookings on March 1. Its goal is to be as inviting to local residents as it is to visitors.

01/19/2024

Your feel good story for this week: https://www.aspentimes.com/news/basalt-high-grad-takes-over-long-running-ski-rental-shop-in-glenwood-springs/

"Now, he is a business owner only four years out of high school." Congrats Basalt High School alum Ryan Boyle on this new chapter!

For most 22-year-olds, life is often about exploring — and perhaps living under their parents’ roof while charting out future paths. While Ryan Boyle, a Basalt High class of 2019 graduate, continues to do the...

01/12/2024

A new year, a new legislative session and an agenda packed "State of the State" address from Governor Jared Polis. Here is what you need to know:

The governor's focuses in his sixth State of the State Address included transit-oriented communities, workforce development and tax cuts.

12/22/2023

12/22/2023

The holidays are here, and we are already thinking ahead to 2024. Here is what you need to know about HR laws starting in the new year:

From full implementation of the FAMLI program to new laws surrounding paid leave and aged discrimination, Colorado employers must be ready.

12/14/2023

Get ready because Santa is coming to town...in a Roaring Fork Fire Rescue fire truck! It is a Basalt holiday tradition not to be missed. of Basalt.

12/05/2023

Don't forget to enter! Prizes include: $500 to Basalt Chamber Businesses OR $150 to Carbondale Chamber Businesses OR
FOUR Iron Mountain Hot Springs Passes ($268 value)

Shop local - shop small this holiday season! Enter to win money to spend at locally owned Basalt or Carbondale Chamber businesses.

12/04/2023

Last week, the Mountain Chamber Alliance, a collective group of mountain town chambers focused on advocacy, hosted a State Legislative Preview webinar. The link to the record is below.

12/01/2023

A huge thank you to our hosts Rocky Mountain Institute, and our sponsors Alpine Bank, Howard Head Sports Medicine, The Steadman Clinic and Roaring Fork Club Basalt, Co for making our annual meeting a success.

Thank you to our speakers Mayor Bill Kane (Town of Basalt), Carolyn Tucker (Colorado Workforce Center/Colorado Department of Labor and Employment), Erika Germer (CareerWise Colorado, Colorado River BOCES)
Mitch Foss (Roaring Fork School District)and Ed Sealover (Colorado Chamber of Commerce) for all of their insights.

The 2023 Basalt Chamber of Commerce Annual meeting occurred on November 30, 2023, at the Rocky Mountain Institute Innovation Center. Thank you to our sponsor...

11/30/2023

Jim - you will be greatly missed.
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“I know our kids and families are so appreciative of what he’s done for Basalt football. The thing that was so special about Jim that I don’t know if every radio person does this, he came to practice every Tuesday and then he would always interview the kids afterwards,” Frerichs said. “He really got to know the kids and families, he would come to our banquet every year, so really he was a part of the actual logistics of the program from year-one when we started doing it. I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve worked with a lot of radio people, but Jim is just as good as it gets. We were really lucky.”

Broadcaster Jim Williams of KSPN and KNFO is leaving the valley after eight years of serving as the voice of Aspen, Basalt and Roaring Fork high school's sports.

11/30/2023

Attention: Midland Avenue and East Homestead Dr. will be closed from 7 a.m. on Thursday, December 7 to 5 p.m. on Friday, December 8 for the final Midland Streetscape work of 2023. There will be night work over this time period so those in the area will experience impacts. You can learn more about the closure and work at https://letstalk.basalt.net/midland-avenue-streetscape

11/22/2023

In our world, we want to ensure that our community goes beyond just (Shop Small) and considers supporting our local businesses during the entire "Season of Small" this holiday season.

We will continue to update our website with local events, activities, deals and gift ideas. 🎁

Shop Small this coming Saturday, and all holiday long. It means the world to our local businesses, who are your neighbors too.

This winter you are invited to join the Basalt Chamber of Commerce for the Season of Small – a celebration of all that is small and beautiful. Support the small businesses that make this valley special by shopping local, dining local and supporting local. There are many ways in which you can share...

10/25/2023

Our colleagues at the Vail Valley Partnership did a great job summing up the arguments for and against Proposition HH, which is on November's ballot. https://members.vailvalleypartnership.com/newsroom/Details/an-overview-of-proposition-hh-186294

We encourage our members, and the greater Basalt community to be informed and do their research, and most importantly - VOTE!

An Overview of Proposition HH Proposition HH is one of the most complex measures put before voters in recent elections, proposing changes to property tax, local taxation policies, and school finance for the next 10 years, and granting the legislature the ability to renew the package followin...

10/24/2023

It is Spooky Season here in Basalt, and even the skeletons agree that “Discover Basalt” is a great read!

10/19/2023

Colorado company bolsters disability-inclusive workspaces in Roaring Fork Valley via the Glenwood Springs Post Independent

"One adult in four has some type of disability whether visible or invisible, according to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly half of workplace accommodations made for people with disabilities can be implemented at no cost to employers, and of those that do incur a one-time cost, the median expenditure is about $300, according to the US Department of Labor Office.

A 2018 study from Accenture revealed that after one year, the retention rate for employees with disabilities is 85%. Only 30% of the Americans with disabilities participate in the in the labor force, relative to 77% of people without disabilities, according to the CDC."

Not everyone is excited to go to their job, and most people wouldn’t show up an hour early to be fully prepared for the day. Teddy Stiller is not only excited to commute from Aspen...

10/13/2023

Yesterday, the Colorado Chamber of Commerce announced the newly formed Education to Employment Alliance, which seeks to improve the talent development pipeline and engage with state leaders to bring about needed reforms.

This is in alignment with the actions being taken by the Basalt Chamber in conjunction with local partners ad stakeholders, like the Roaring Fork School District, Colorado Mountain College Aspen & Carbondale, RFTA Roaring Fork Transportation Authority and other employers.

We look forward to what comes next at the state level for leadership within workforce development.

“The notion of removing all industry representation from the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission would have led to misinformed and completely unbalanced energy policy in Colorado. The Colorado Chamber’s broad-based business leadership was important in stopping HB 1269.”

09/25/2023

Did you catch the great article about two Basalt Chamber members - Two Leaves and a Bud Tea Company and Capitol Creek Brewery collaborating in the The Sopris Sun? https://soprissun.com/business-collaborations-inspire-community-connections/

“It was awesome that they [the Basalt Chamber] approached us and showed interest in our work. I think they’re helping facilitate these relationships between businesses on a more personal level,” Johnson shared.

Alli Elam added that the connection between the businesses and the Chamber’s promotion of the product, inspired them to brew more batches.

“It’s fun for people to see what’s going on and to have good friends and local companies that bring up brainstorming ideas together,” said Elam. “Plus, it’s just fun to collaborate. I think if you have the mind set and aspiration to want to collaborate with people, you can make some magic happen.”

On Sept. 6, Capitol Creek Brewery hosted an event celebrating a collaborative project with Two Leaves and a Bud. The final product, named Two Leaves and a

09/15/2023

For those who have waited until the last minute to purchase discounted products through the Chamber Pass Program, we highly recommend you login to the bStore (check your email for "Confirmation of bStore") OR go to an Aspen Snowmass ticket office.

Due to the Hwy82/Main St construction in Aspen, if you are downvalley, you will want to go to the Snowmass Ticket office (120 Lower Carriage Way) - located in Base Village by the Treehouse.

09/12/2023

If you are looking to select and pay for your discounted chamber ski passes at a ticket office, the Aspen ticket office has the most hours. The Snowmass ticket office is only open Friday-Sunday.

Learn more about summer hours of operation and locations of Aspen Snowmass' lift ticket offices around the four mountains.

09/08/2023

Have you opt-ed in and are ready to purchase your discounted ski passes? Here are the details on the emails you should keep an eye out for:

The three-step digital process explained The Chamber Pass Program process can be completed 100% online and has three steps: Member Opt-in Chamber Verification of Eligibility Member completes ASC Pass Selection and Payment with ASC Step 1 and 2 are between the business and the Basalt Chamber; Step 3....

09/01/2023

The newly finished, one way Midland Spur is open and ready for your parked car. Additonal landscaping is in the works, so you will need to enter CC's Cafe to the left of the building.

08/25/2023

Business owners - if you have employees who meet the requirements, please encourage them to apply with Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority - APCHA. Details: https://www.apcha.org/