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(LEADVILLE, COLO, Sept. 1, 2022) – The first-ever Colorado Historic Opera Houses Circuit, launched in spring 2022, offers fun events and tours in Colorado’s scenic mountain towns this Labor Day weekend.
The Circuit connects five historic opera houses located in Aspen (Wheeler Opera House), Central City (Central City Opera House), Leadville (Tabor Opera House), Ouray (Wright Opera House), and Telluride (Sheridan Opera House). A new website, ColoradoOperaHouses.com, includes a calendar of events and information about these historic gems.
Labor Day Weekend Events:
Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colo. – Cowboy Poetry and Boogie-Shaking Music, on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. Opens with “contemporary cowboy” from Jake Riley, who has performed in 11 states, including three times at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko, Nev. The Vail Valley Band has performed country, classic rock, pop, jazz, folk, classical, and even showtunes all over the nation and all over the world. This event is a fundraiser for the Tabor Opera House Preservation Foundation.
Sheridan Opera House, Telluride, Colo. – Telluride Film Festival takes place Friday, Sept. 2, through Monday, Sept. 5, at the Sheridan Opera House. Called “not just a picture show,” the Telluride Film Festival is tributes to luminaries who’ve propelled the medium forward; it is candid discussions with a film’s creator or the historian who champions it; it is meeting filmmakers; it is engaging in lively debate with every manner of film lover in the summer sun of a Colorado afternoon, always minutes away from a new exhibition.
Wright Opera House, Ouray, Colo. – The play “Time Flies” takes place Thursday, Sept. 1, through Saturday, Sept. 3, at 7 p.m. nightly. The Open House Theatricals returns to Ouray with this series of short comic vignettes from playwright David Ives. Ives is a contemporary American playwright whose plays are notable for their verbal dexterity, theatrical invention, and quirky humor. In the title work, two houseflies try to make the most out of their brief time on earth.
Labor Day Weekend Guided Tours:
Central City Opera House, Central City, Colo. – The Gilpin Historical Society offers daily tours of the Central City Opera House, a jewel-box opera house built in 1878 that still displays a frescoed ceiling and names of famous visitors carved on the seat backs. Also on the tour are the Teller House, Thomas House, St. James Church, and the Weekly Register-Call Print Shop, to give visitors a taste of Central City’s unique gold-mining history. Tours leave from the Gilpin Historical Society Tour Office at Washington Hall, 117 Eureka St. in Central City, open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tabor Opera House, Leadville, Colo. – Tours offer a full walk-through of the Tabor Opera House, built in 100 days in 1879 by mining magnate Horace Tabor. Visitors can roam the elegant performance hall with its original red velvet Andrews opera chairs and stage where John Philip Sousa and Oscar Wilde appeared and magician Harry Houdini vanished. English-language tours on Thursday, Sept. 1 – Sunday, Sept. 4, at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.; Spanish-language tours on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; all at 308 Harrison Ave., Leadville
Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, Colo. – Visitors can make an even longer weekend and stay for one of the season’s last summer history tours at the Wheeler Opera House. This free guided tour is offered by Aspen Historical Society in partnership with the Wheeler Opera House. It gives an insider’s look at the iconic building as the center of Aspen’s arts and cultural scene since it was built in 1889. Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m., 320 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen
25% investment in rural paving to continue in CDOT’s updated 10 Year Plan
olorado — As CDOT finalizes an update to its 10 Year Plan that prioritizes projects for the first years of sustained funding from Senate Bill 21-260, the unprecedented levels of rural road investment will continue to remake the road network that connects smaller communities across Colorado. The updated plan is slated for consideration and adoption by the Colorado Transportation Commission at its September meeting, which will also bring the state’s transportation plans into compliance with its greenhouse gas planning standards. The first four years of the 10-Year Plan allocated approximately $382 million to rural pavement condition and have made improvements to roads in 55 counties. CDOT will maintain this focus throughout the decade, with a total of over $940 million dollars going toward rural roads over the life of the plan.
These 10-Year Plan investments are on top of an estimated $230 million spent statewide every year on road resurfacing that is performed through CDOT’s base funding programs, including its asset management program. By putting additional funds and focus through 10 Year Plan dollars, CDOT is ensuring that Colorado’s low volume roads get the attention they need to serve as quality, reliable linkages between communities. These roads serve important statewide functions by helping agricultural and other critical goods come to market and by helping tourists and recreation travelers reach Colorado’s special places.
“As we traveled the state to hear from neighbors at the very beginning of the 10 Year Plan’s development, we heard loud and clear how important it was to reinvest in our rural roads. Across the state, citizens can see completed projects that together comprise record investment in rural roads, and we look forward to the continuation of this important program with the next phase of the Ten Year Plan,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.
“During past months, the Transportation Commission has advocated for, and ensured that asset management and maintenance of the state’s transportation infrastructure are given priority in 10-year planning and other budget discussions. We have made rural paving a key focus area, are monitoring spending closely, and are proud that more funds are being put toward this key priority program,” said Transportation Commission Chair Don Stanton.
CDOT’s Rural Paving Program comprises 25% of the amount programmed through CDOT “strategic funding”, which in the first four years was comprised largely of the proceeds from debt obtained through Certificates of Participation pursuant to Senate Bill 17-267 and is subsequently comprised largely of revenue from Senate Bill 21-260 combined with above-base federal funds provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
Of note, these funds are just a portion of the significant amounts that CDOT is spending each year on rural roads. Rural roads also comprise a large share of the state’s base “asset management” program, which is separate from the Ten Year Plan and dedicated to core investments in state-of-good-repair, like fixing pavement and bridges and replacing culverts. This program has also repaired about 400 miles of rural roads each year for the last several years, with the Ten Year Plan investments resulting in about 200 miles of rural roadwork last year.
“Our rural roads are often overlooked for money over the years,” Gary Beedy, Colorado Transportation Commissioner from Genoa said. “It is nice to see the state is focusing energy on this important part of our state’s transportation system. It allows the surface treatment dollars to address other critical needs on the system that could still use increased funding for surface treatment and preventative maintenance.”
As an example of the impact of these projects, CDOT recently completed a 19-mile stretch along US Highway 50 south of Grand Junction, roughly between Whitewater and Delta. Crews completed full-depth reclamation, milling, hot mix asphalt top mat paving and lane level paving, shouldering, guardrail installation, rumble strip installation and permanent striping. In recent years the section of roadway has been referred to as the “Delta Dips” or the “Roller Coaster.” Now the repaired section of US 50 is a smoother, safer drive thanks to full-depth reclamation at multiple locations along the project.
“US Highway 50 is a lifeline for residents, businesses and commuters in Delta, Montrose and Mesa counties,” said Delta County Commissioner Don Suppes. “The smoother, safer drive on US 50 between Grand Junction and Delta benefits all of these motorists.”
Hinsdale County Commissioner Robert Hurd has been very supportive of CDOT and the CO 149 Resurfacing project. He spoke at a project milestone event earlier this summer, stating, “This process that you’re using now for paving – I look out and think, wow, this is going to last. This project overall is going to be great for our road system connecting our mountain communities along Highway 149.”
“Otero County would like to thank CDOT for spending funds in rural America and to be more to the point in Otero County. We Appreciate CDOT’s efforts to keep our rural state highways and our people safe!” said Otero County Commissioner Jim Baldwin.
1 Strategic funding represents the total capital dollars available in the 10 Year Plan after 10% is allocated off the top to transit as first established per legislative direction from Senate Bill 17-267. Because CDOT’s Denver metro region does not have sufficient rural road mileage to participate in the program, the strategic funding column shows available dollars only to the areas of the state where the 25% rural paving target applies as a percentage of the total strategic funding allocated (CDOT Regions 2, 3, 4, and 5).
The construction industry in the U.S. has no shortage of demand these days.
The intense real estate market of the last two-plus years highlighted the shortage of housing stock in the United States. Construction companies have been trying to catch up: earlier in 2022, housing starts reached their highest levels in more than 15 years. Meanwhile, funds from the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed in 2021 are now working their way to contractors and construction businesses. While increased costs for labor and materials, rising interest rates, and recession fears are causing concern in the industry, the long-term outlook for the field is promising.
These recent trends could continue an upward trajectory for construction spending in the U.S. The construction industry faced lean years after the Great Recession, but has grown steadily since. Annual spending in the sector fell by more than a third from a peak of $1.21 trillion in 2006 to $758 billion in 2011. But over the ensuing decade, spending more than doubled. As of June 2022, construction spending in the U.S. totaled $1.76 trillion per year.
But with high demand in the field, construction companies have struggled to find enough labor to meet their needs. Associated Builders and Contractors, an industry trade association, estimates that the field will face a total shortage of 650,000 workers in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 334,000 openings for construction jobs as of June.
And in the search for construction labor, the industry is increasingly drawing on a segment of the population that has historically been underrepresented in the field: women.
Women still represent a significant minority of the field’s workforce, but the ranks of women construction workers have grown in recent decades. In the 1960s, only around 6% of construction workers were women. This figure had doubled by the early 1990s, and after remaining flat for much of the 1990s and 2000s, the share of women in construction-specific occupations has been trending upward again in the years since the Great Recession. Today, more than 14% of construction workers are women.
However, women’s presence in the field of construction varies by specific occupation. Nearly one in 10 painters and paperhangers are women, and women also represent 7.4% of solar and photovoltaic installers—one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. But in some other construction roles like cement masons, boilermakers, and brickmasons, women still represent less than 1% of the workforce.
One reason why women have become a larger part of the construction workforce is compensation. The median wage for women construction workers exceeds the median wage for all women in 43 states. And some locations are especially favorable for women construction workers, including 11 states where the cost-of-living-adjusted median wage tops $50,000 for women in the field.
To find the best-paying states for women in construction, researchers at Construction Coverage analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Researchers at Construction Coverage ranked states according to the median annual wage for women in the construction industry, adjusted for cost of living. Researchers also calculated the median annual wage for women in all occupations and the share of construction industry employment accounted for by women.
The analysis found that women represent 11.5% of the construction industry in Colorado, and earn an adjusted median annual wage of $47,973. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:
Median annual wage for women in the construction industry (adjusted): $47,973
Median annual wage for women in the construction industry (actual): $49,348
Median annual wage for women in all occupations (actual): $48,348
Female share of total construction industry employment: 11.5%
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
Median annual wage for women in the construction industry (adjusted): N/A
Median annual wage for women in the construction industry (actual): $46,773
Median annual wage for women in all occupations (actual): $44,344
Female share of total construction industry employment: 10.2%
DENVER – From August 22 – September 30, 2022, organizations that expand access to Colorado’s outdoors for traditionally excluded youth can apply for financial support from the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program (OEGP), which will award $1.3 million in Outdoor Equity Grants this fall.
While Colorado is famed for the world-class outdoor recreation opportunities it provides, many traditionally excluded communities in Colorado still face barriers to equitable access to the outdoors. The OEGP, signed into law last year by Governor Polis, increases access to outdoor opportunities for all Coloradans and provides resources to underserved youth and communities to help increase environmental learning opportunities, education, public health, and outdoor fun.
“Colorado Parks and Wildlife is proud to announce the kickoff of the second round of grant applications,” said CPW Acting Director Heather Dugan. “Through the Outdoor Equity Grant Program, we can begin to reduce the barriers that prevent all Coloradans from experiencing Colorado’s state parks and public lands and to build an outdoor community that is inclusive of all.”
Nonprofits, government entities, school districts, for-profits, and federally recognized tribes that wish to increase outdoor access for traditionally excluded youth (including youth from low-income and communities of color, LGBTQ+ youth, Native and Indigenous youth, and youth with disabilities) and that have not previously received OEGP funding can apply for up to $150,000 during this grant cycle.
“The Outdoor Equity Grant Program was created by and for communities that have historically faced barriers to participating in the year-round recreation activities that our beautiful state offers,” said OEGP Board Member Brayhan Reveles. “My personal connection with the natural world is so important to me, however, the ways that traditionally excluded communities connect with the outdoors are sometimes overlooked. Recreating in the outdoors does not mean that you are training for hundred-mile endurance races or multi-day backcountry trips. It can be as simple as bird watching or taking a walk with a friend outside. We aim to fund organizations and programs that honor the many ways that people connect to the land, and invite all to apply.”
The OEGP Board, a diverse board made up of individuals with experience in recreation and conservation and who come from the communities the grant program serves, will accept grant proposals from organizations that will support outdoor experiences for Colorado youth; show cultural competence in working with a target population of the OEGP; demonstrate a commitment to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion; and that represent the geographic diversity of the state of Colorado.
The OEGP Board is committed to providing funding to organizations that have traditionally been unable to apply for grant programs due to organizational barriers, and encourage organizations of all sizes and with diverse missions to apply. The board will provide guidance through two virtual Q&A sessions for applicants on Thursday, September 8 at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The links to the Q&A sessions can be found on the OEGP website.
The Outdoor Equity Grant Program, through funding from the Colorado Lottery, will accept applications for grants each year. This June, it announced $1.8 million in grant awards to 43 organizations across the state. Additional funding from Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife was added to the inaugural grant cycle to increase the investment from $550,000 during the first year. This fall’s application process will solicit proposals from the second round of grantees for a total of $1.3 million in grants. The OEGP will eventually distribute up to $3 million annually to support outdoor education programs and conservation opportunities for underserved youth as the program fund grows with Lottery distribution in the coming years.
“We are excited to announce the next round of funding for the Colorado Outdoor Equity Grant Program. The first round saw significant interest from a wide variety of organizations and we are hopeful our next round can reach even more organizations working to help increase youth access to the outdoors in Colorado,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “We encourage organizations to attend the Q&A sessions and apply for grants. Colorado’s outdoors are for all and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources is dedicated to supporting a welcoming, inclusive and accessible environment for all visitors to our public lands.”
Groups can apply from August 22 – September 30, 2022. Find out more on the Outdoor Equity Grant Program website: https://cpw.info/outdoorequitygrant.
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Spanish translation below.
El Programa de Subvenciones de Equidad en las Actividades al Aire Libre de Colorado distribuirá 1.3 millones de dólares en subvenciones este otoño
DENVER – Del 22 de agosto al 30 de septiembre de 2022, las organizaciones que amplían el acceso a la naturaleza de Colorado para los jóvenes tradicionalmente excluidos pueden solicitar apoyo financiero del Programa de Subvenciones para Actividades al Aire Libre de Colorado (OEGP por sus siglas en inglés). El OEGP distribuirá 1.3 millones de dólares en subvenciones para actividades al aire libre este otoño.
Aunque Colorado es famoso por las oportunidades de recreación al aire libre de clase mundial que ofrece, muchas comunidades tradicionalmente excluidas en Colorado todavía se enfrentan a barreras para el acceso equitativo al aire libre. El OEGP, establecido como ley el año pasado por el gobernador Polis, aumenta el acceso a las oportunidades al aire libre para todos los habitantes de Colorado y proporciona recursos a los jóvenes y las comunidades desfavorecidas para aumentar las oportunidades de educación ambiental, la salud pública y la diversión al aire libre.
“El departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado se enorgullece de anunciar el inicio de la segunda ronda de solicitudes de subvención”, dijo la directora interina del departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado (CPW por sus siglas en inglés) Heather Dugan. “A través del Programa de Subvenciones en las Actividades al Aire Libre, podemos empezar a reducir las barreras que impiden a todos los habitantes de Colorado experimentar los parques estatales y las tierras públicas de Colorado y construir una comunidad al aire libre que sea inclusiva para todos”.
Las organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro, las entidades gubernamentales, los distritos escolares, las impresas y las tribus reconocidas a nivel federal que deseen aumentar el acceso a las actividades al aire libre para los jóvenes tradicionalmente excluidos (incluidos los jóvenes de bajos ingresos y las comunidades de color, los jóvenes LGBTQ+, los jóvenes nativos e indígenas y los jóvenes con discapacidades) y que no hayan recibido anteriormente financiación del OEGP pueden solicitar hasta $150,000 durante este ciclo de subvenciones.
“El Programa de Subvenciones para la Equidad en las Actividades al Aire Libre fue creado por y para las comunidades que históricamente se han enfrentado a barreras para participar en las actividades recreativas que ofrece nuestro hermoso estado durante todo el año”, dijo Brayhan Reveles, miembro de la Junta Directiva del OEGP. “Mi conexión personal con el mundo natural es muy importante para mí, sin embargo, a veces se olvidan las formas en que las comunidades tradicionalmente excluidas se conectan con el aire libre. Recrearse en la naturaleza no requiere entrenar para carreras de resistencia de cien millas o viajes de varios días por el campo, puede ser algo tan sencillo como observar a los pájaros o dar un paseo con un amigo al aire libre. Nuestro objetivo es financiar organizaciones y programas que honren las múltiples formas en que las personas se conectan con la tierra, e invitamos a todos a presentar su solicitud”.
La Junta de la OEGP, una junta diversa compuesta por personas con experiencia en recreación y conservación y que proceden de las comunidades a las que sirve el programa de subvenciones. La Junta aceptará propuestas de subvenciones de organizaciones que apoyen las experiencias al aire libre de los jóvenes de Colorado; que muestren competencia cultural al trabajar con una población objetivo de la OEGP; que demuestren un interés en la justicia, la equidad, la diversidad y la inclusión; y que representen la diversidad geográfica del estado de Colorado.
El Programa de Subvenciones de Equidad al Aire Libre, a través de la financiación de la Lotería de Colorado, aceptará solicitudes de subvenciones cada año. En junio de este año, se anunciaron subvenciones por valor de 1,8 millones de dólares para 43 organizaciones ubicadas en distintos rincones del estado. La financiación adicional de Great Outdoors Colorado y Colorado Parks and Wildlife se añadió al ciclo de subvenciones inaugural para aumentar la inversión de 550.000 dólares durante el primer año. El proceso de solicitud de este otoño solicitará propuestas de la segunda ronda de beneficiarios para un total de $1.3 millones en subvenciones. El OEGP acabará distribuyendo hasta 3 millones de dólares anuales para apoyar programas de educación al aire libre y oportunidades de conservación para jóvenes desatendidos a medida que el fondo del programa crezca con la distribución de la Lotería en los próximos años.
“Estamos muy contentos de anunciar la próxima ronda de financiación para el Programa de Subvenciones de Equidad al Aire Libre de Colorado. La primera ronda vio un interés significativo de una amplia variedad de organizaciones y esperamos que nuestra próxima ronda pueda llegar a aún más organizaciones que trabajan para ayudar a aumentar el acceso de los jóvenes al aire libre en Colorado”, dijo Dan Gibbs, Director Ejecutivo del Departamento de Recursos Naturales de Colorado. “Animamos a las organizaciones que trabajan a asistir a las sesiones de preguntas y respuestas y a solicitar las subvenciones. El aire libre de Colorado es para todos y el Departamento de Recursos Naturales de Colorado se dedica a apoyar un entorno acogedor, inclusivo y accesible para todos los visitantes de nuestras tierras públicas.”
Los grupos pueden solicitarla del 22 de agosto al 30 de septiembre de 2022. Obtenga más información en el sitio web del Programa de Subvenciones de Equidad al Aire Libre: https://cpw.info/outdoorequitygrant.
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has a few spots left for its a Fall Citizens’ Academy. They have The application deadline is Friday, August 26. For more information or to register, click here: https://www.da18.org/community-outreach/citizens-academy/.
Here are some short videos about the different topics being covered:
Hickenlooper: “This bill will be the largest climate rescue investment in the history of the world”
Denver, CO – U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper joined climate advocates and clean energy leaders in Denver today for a press conference to highlight the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, an ambitious bill to lower energy costs, increase clean energy production, and reduce carbon emissions roughly 40 percent by 2030.
“This bill will be the largest climate rescue investment in the history of the world,” said Hickenlooper. “We’re going to look back in fifty years and say this was the beginning of the great transition. We can fight inflation by transitioning to a new energy economy – less expensive energy in your home, less expensive commuter costs, less expensive costs of living.”
“This act is what our planet and communities need and deserve at a time of increasingly extreme weather and rising costs hurting families across our state and our country,” said Lorena Gonzalez, Conservation Colorado Climate Advocate. “It’s an investment in our future, a lifeline for our children and for communities trying to survive the climate impacts of today.”
“As families across the country battle with soaring gas prices, devastating extreme weather and inflation, this act will bring much-needed relief with billions of dollars dedicated to environmental justice, including reducing air pollution in urban communities while supporting rural communities,” said Patricia Ferrero, Protegete Leadership Development Manager. “We all deserve to breathe clean air and have healthy environments to live in. It is time for the Senate to pass this legislation.”
“Without [Senator Hickenlooper’s] perseverance and fortitude in helping to push this in the Senate, we wouldn’t be where we are today. As Governor Hickenlooper, he put us on the map by adopting the nation’s first ever pollution rules to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector,” said Matt Garrington, Senior Manager for State Campaigns, Environmental Defense Fund. “And now, again thanks to Senator Hickenlooper, he’s taken that leadership and helped deliver, hopefully soon, on major climate change action at the federal level.”
“As a company leading the country’s clean energy transition, we’re proud to join U.S. Senator Hickenlooper to recognize what would be an historic national investment in clean energy,” said Frank Prager, Senior Vice President for Strategy, Security and External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, Xcel Energy. “In Colorado, we’re on track to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 85% by 2030 as we add significant amounts of wind and solar to our system. We’ll use the clean energy tax credits in the bill to reduce costs for our customers as we continue investing in renewable energy and exploring advanced zero-emitting technologies to keep the grid strong and reliable.”
The event was at Dragonfly Noodle, whose owner Edwin Zoe has transitioned his small businesses to electric induction cooking appliances for energy savings and health. Other participants included Angelique Espinoza of Good Business Colorado, Sean Fox of Icelantic Skis, Andrew Bennett of Energy Outreach Colorado, and Jim Ramey of The Wilderness Society.
Climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act include:
Over $100 billion in tax credits for clean energy generation and storage, as well as other clean technologies like EVs, clean hydrogen, and carbon capture.
Broad reforms to our federal oil and gas leasing system, including Hickenlooper’s COMPETES Act, which ends the speculative practice of non-competitive leasing.
Over $10 billion for home efficiency and electrification upgrades, which Hickenlooper fought for.
Methane fee of $1,500/ton of leaked methane from oil and gas operations – equivalent to a $60/ton carbon fee on fugitive methane.
Tens of billions of dollars in clean infrastructure and capacities, including solar, wind, and battery manufacturing, long-distance electrical transmission lines, and DOE Laboratory (incl. NREL) infrastructure.
Tens of billions for environmental justice, including reducing air pollution in urban communities and supporting rural communities.
Hickenlooper has been credited with helping the deal coalesce by encouraging Senators Joe Manchin and Chuck Schumer to keep trying despite many giving up on any prospect of an ambitious climate bill this year.
Rising real estate prices and interest rate hikes have finally started to bring balance back to the residential market this year. But while demand is falling off, the U.S. still has a major need for new homes, which could create plenty of opportunity for residential builders.
One of the major factors that contributed to the heightened competition for housing over the last two years was housing supply. The U.S. suffered from a severe shortage of housing stock before COVID-19, and the pandemic sent available inventory to record lows. With a rush of buyers in the market, the limited availability of homes stoked competition and pushed prices higher.
Builders have rushed to meet the need for new units. Housing permits and starts bounced back strongly after falling sharply early in the COVID-19 pandemic. And despite a recent downtick, housing starts have been higher this year than at any other point since before the Great Recession.
While the construction industry has seen high levels of activity, recent conditions have nonetheless been challenging. Inflation has increased the cost of building materials by 33% since the beginning of the pandemic, and supply chain challenges over the last two years have contributed to increased costs and project delays. Construction firms have also struggled to hire and retain labor, and many have raised wages in efforts to do so.
Further, the relative cost of building a new unit has increased over time. Three decades ago, the average construction cost per residential unit in 2021 dollars was $168,452. That figure today is $218,791. And notably, the construction cost per unit has outpaced the rate of inflation over that time, rising by around 7.6% just in the last decade.
The rising costs of construction have taken place even as single-family home construction has fallen. Over the last decade, the proportion of single-family homes has decreased by more than 13%. Because single-family construction tends to be more costly than larger developments on a per-unit basis, this trend reinforces that construction costs overall are on the rise.
Beyond unit type, a number of other factors can contribute to how much residential units cost to build. Supplies, labor, and other costs may vary by the region where construction is taking place. And market conditions or a jurisdiction’s policies can also impact whether new units are high-end or affordable, or how easy it is to add single-family or multi-family units.
For that reason, the average cost of construction per unit can vary substantially across the country. Hawaii is the most expensive state to build new units with an average value per unit authorized of $403,596, a product of local regulations and the islands’ geography and distance from the mainland. But second in cost is Wyoming ($391,030 per unit), which has different challenges, including a lack of homebuilders. At the local level, many of the locations with the highest costs for new homes are among the most expensive real estate markets in the U.S., including the Bay Area and wealthy suburbs of New York.
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Building Permits Survey (2021), the most recent data available. To determine the locations where the most expensive homes are being built, researchers at Construction Coverage calculated the average permit value per unit authorized. Authorized units included both single-unit and multiple-unit structures. It’s important to note that the value of the building permit does not reflect the ultimate market value of the unit, but rather the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued.
To improve relevance, only counties with at least 200,000 residents were included. Additionally, counties were grouped into cohorts based on population size: small (200,000–349,999), midsize (350,000–749,999), and large (750,000 or more). Note: only counties with complete data for 2021 were considered in this analysis.
The analysis found that authorized units in Arapahoe County have an average permit value of $216,305, compared to $218,791 per unit nationally. Here is a summary of the data for Arapahoe County, CO:
Average value per unit authorized: $216,305
Total value of units authorized: $1,193,787,771
Total units authorized: 5,519
Single-family units as a proportion of total: 54.9%
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
Average value per unit authorized: $218,791
Total value of units authorized: $380,036,187,000
Total units authorized: 1,736,982
Single-family units as a proportion of total: 64.2%
DENVER – For the fourth consecutive year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is encouraging hunters to take a friend hunting. As a reward for hunters sharing their expertise and love of hunting, CPW created a contest for mentors who take the time to pass on their knowledge, with prizes for the mentor as well as the mentee.
“I often run into people wanting to hunt but they just don’t know how to start. Most of them just need a mentor to help out,” said CPW Hunter Outreach Coordinator Bryan Posthumus. “It is so easy to ask your friends, co-workers, or family if they want to hunt and help them get started. Quite a few started out small game hunting. Many of the hunters last year are planning on hunting with their new hunting buddy this year.”
Hunting has several barriers that can make getting started difficult. Equipment can be expensive and knowledge is hard to obtain. Taking your friends hunting can reduce those barriers by allowing you to share equipment and pass on the knowledge that only experience can teach. For new hunters, getting started can seem overwhelming. Encouraging a hunter to take you with them and show you the ropes can help you get started. With CPWs Take a Friend Hunting Contest, you can win a variety of prizes that will help you in future hunts.
How it works If you are a hunter, take a friend hunting! If you want to learn to hunt, encourage a hunter to take you with them! Then submit a photograph and brief story of your time in the field for a chance to win a variety of hunting related prizes. Submissions will be judged by their ability to inspire and are due by Feb. 28, 2023.
To be eligible to enter: Hunters must commit to mentoring an eligible new or former hunter in Colorado on at least three separate occasions. The occasions may involve any part of the mentoring process including scouting, testing/purchasing hunting gear, sighting in/practicing with hunting firearms/archery equipment, or game processing and game cooking. At least one occasion must be taking the mentee hunting. Mentor and mentee must be at least 18 yrs of age.
Mentors must:
hold a valid 2022 Colorado hunting license.
have held a Colorado hunting license in at least 3 of the last 5 years (2017-2021).
Mentees must either have:
never had a hunting license until 2022,
only had a hunting license in 2021 (e.g., a second-year hunter) or
not had a hunting license in the past five consecutive years (i.e., since 2017).
Contest participants must follow all applicable Colorado hunting regulations; this includes possession of all appropriate licenses. Employees of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and their immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings and children) and household members of each such employee, are not eligible.
Prizes Prizes will be awarded at the end of March to winners of the photo/narrative competition. There will be multiple winners selected for a variety of prizes. Prizes include: binoculars, headlamps, butcher kits, game calls, gift cards and more.
All prizes are non-transferable. No substitution may be made except as provided. The winner is responsible for all taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use. Please check the CPW website for more details and an updated list of prizes!
Military members and veterans, resident and nonresident, can pick up a free August Military Pass at any Colorado state park or CPW office by showing proof of service. Passes become available on Aug. 1, 2022.
The free park pass provides a chance to experience Colorado’s state parks and the diverse wildlife and landscapes the state provides. All other park fees remain in effect, including camping reservations, boat and off-highway vehicle registrations, and hunting and fishing licenses. The pass is also not valid for accessing State Wildlife Areas.
CPW offers several additional military benefits to active duty military, veterans and disabled veterans. Programs include free admission to state parks on Veterans Day, year-round free entry to all state parks for residents with Colorado Disabled Veterans or Purple Heart license plates and free small game and fishing combination licenses for qualified disabled veterans. CPW also offers a Columbine Pass which offers reduced park entrance fees to disabled Colorado residents.
For more information about Colorado’s state parks, visit cpw.state.co.us.
Agreement reflects joint efforts to reduce harmful air pollution in Colorado communities
DENVER (July 25, 2022)- The Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the State of Colorado today announced a settlement with DCP Operating Company LP and five other subsidiaries of DCP Midstream LP that will strengthen leak detection and repair practices at eight natural gas processing plants in Weld County, Colorado, located within the Denver Metro/North Front Range Ozone Nonattainment Area.
The settlement was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado along with a complaint that alleges DCP violated leak detection and repair requirements in federal and state clean air laws, resulting in excess emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and other pollutants to the atmosphere. As part of the settlement, DCP will take corrective actions and pay a $3.25 million civil penalty for the alleged violations.
“Leaks from equipment like valves, pumps, and connectors are a significant source of harmful air pollutants,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.“Enforcement actions like this are critical to improving air quality, particularly in places facing air quality challenges like Weld County.”
“EPA continues to deliver cleaner air through the rigorous enforcement of the Clean Air Act,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “This settlement will reduce emissions of over 288 tons of volatile organic compounds and 1,300 tons of methane from production areas near northern Colorado communities, a majority of which are disproportionately impacted by pollution.”
“The Air Pollution Control Division’s Leak Detection and Repair Program is among the most innovative programs in the nation. Because of our inspectors and enforcement action team, we are able to hold DCP accountable to reducing their emissions from potential leaks,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE). “The resources obtained from the settlement will help contribute to our Community Impact Fund, a program which supports community-led environmental justice projects.”
“The Colorado Attorney General’s Office is proud to support the Air Pollution Control Division in this important work to protect and improve Colorado’s air quality, particularly in communities disproportionately impacted by air pollution,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. “This settlement serves as a model for addressing complex issues through collaboration between our state agencies and federal counterparts like EPA and the Department of Justice.”
Under the settlement, DCP has agreed to strengthen its leak detection and repair practices at the Greeley, Kersey/Mewbourne, Platteville, Roggen, Spindle, O’Connor and Lucerne natural gas processing plants, as well as the to-be-constructed Bighorn natural gas processing plant. These commitments include installing equipment that leaks less pollution to the atmosphere, reviewing compliance with leak detection and repair requirements, and repairing leaking equipment faster. DCP will also improve staff training for leak detection and repair at its facilities. Additionally, DCP has agreed to use optical gas imaging technology to improve the visual detection of leaks and address them quickly.
DCP will also install additional pollution reduction measures at the Kersey/Mewbourne natural gas processing plant that are intended to mitigate the harm caused by its past emissions. Specifically, DCP will install a dry seal recompression system on two turbines at the Kersey/Mewbourne plant. This project will cost an estimated $1.15 million and is expected to reduce VOC emissions by 26 tons per year and methane emissions by 375 tons per year.
The Denver Metro/North Front Range nonattainment area, which includes Weld County, does not meet national air quality standards for ground-level ozone pollution. Equipment leaks at DCP’s plants emit VOCs, which lead to the formation of ground-level ozone. Ozone contributes to serious public health concerns, including respiratory illness, aggravation of existing heart disease and temporary breathing difficulty for people with asthma. Young children and the elderly are especially sensitive to these impacts. Leaks from equipment at DCP’s plants also emit methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Working with CDPHE, EPA’s enforcement program is increasing efforts in Colorado to ensure compliance and protect the health of vulnerable populations. Several of the natural gas processing plants covered under this settlement are located in disproportionately impacted communities.
The consent decree is available for public viewing at https://www.justice.gov/enrd/press-room. The United States will publish a notice of the Consent Decree’s lodging with the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado in the Federal Register, and will accept public comment for 30 days after the notice is published. The Federal Register notice will also include instructions for submitting public comment.
