News Archives - Salida Chamber of Commerce

A Transparent Approach to Salida’s Financial Future

Please read this article from the City of Salida Finance Director regarding information about ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of our community.

-Private English online tutoring
-One-On-One and small group English immersion classes for business professionals who need to improve language skills
-Flexible Hours
-Career Advancement
-Locally-based

Click HERE to see more details about Rice Tutoring/Working English

Check out Winter Specials at Absolute Bikes!
Service specials, Bike sales, and Demo Program!

Chaffee County residents are encouraged to be proactive against wildfires by joining forestry professionals and firefighters during a free open house in May.
Open houses take place on Tuesday, May 6 at the Buena Vista Community Center, and on Thursday May 15 at the Chaffee County Fairgrounds. Both events start at 6 p.m. Attendance is free.

A new year will be here soon and now is a great time to pull your Strategic Action Plan together!

Take action and book your complimentary one-hour strategic coaching session that will jump start your 2025 plan. The effort will leave you feeling even more focused and ready to address any concerns you may have about the future.

Applications are open for the first cohort of the Emerging Early Childhood Educators Program. If you have ever been interested in becoming an Early Childhood Professional and serving the children of Chaffee County please contact Sarah Romack at (719) 221-5114 or email her at sromack@ccecc.org. This program includes 18 credits of free ECE courses at CMC, coaching, career navigation and experience in an early childhood center.

Wilderness First Responder (WFR) + CPR & AED Certifications
Join us for a 7-day, 72-hour Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification—the industry standard for outdoor professionals and backcountry leaders. This intensive course builds essential skills in wilderness medicine, leadership, and emergency response, with a strong focus on hands-on practice and real-world scenarios. You’ll cover patient assessment, trauma care, environmental emergencies, medical conditions, and CPR, spending time outside each day. Certification is valid for three years and recognized by SOLO, NOLS/WMI, WMA, Desert Mountain Medicine, AERIE, Wilderness Medicine Outfitters, and more. Learn more and register: www.bvmountainadventures.com/products/wfr-cert
Dates: 05/17-23/2025 and 09/01-07/2025
Time: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

CarbonKicker, a grassroots startup based in Salida, Colorado, is on a mission to encourage sustainable practices while driving economic benefits to local businesses. By promoting eco-friendly habits such as carpooling, biking, walking, and taking public transportation, CarbonKicker seeks to reduce individual carbon footprints and alleviate parking and traffic issues at busy venues and urban centers.
The innovative platform motivates users to adopt these practices by collaborating with like-minded businesses willing to reward eco-conscious behavior. Participating businesses offer digital coupons through the CarbonKicker app, providing users with incentives while driving customer traffic to their establishments.

To address an emerging trend of inquiries related to the recent and ongoing measles outbreak in neighboring states to Colorado, Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) would like to provide the following information so that the public has situational awareness and can be proactive in protecting itself from measles, especially as Spring Break travel is on the horizon for many households in the county.

The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) is reporting a substantial rise in respiratory illnesses, notably influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Increasing respiratory illnesses are affecting both Colorado and the broader United States, and rates of illness may continue to increase over the upcoming weeks. The CDC monitors respiratory illness activity using the “acute respiratory illness” metric, which currently categorizes Colorado at a high level.
Click Read more to see the Press Release.

The Colorado Department of Transportation’s Bustang Outrider bus service connects rural Colorado to cities throughout the state. Outrider services eight routes across the state, including the Alamosa—Pueblo route.

Central Mountain SBDC, is thrilled to invite you to our upcoming series of live virtual and In-Person Workshops designed to empower you and supercharge your business growth.

The Chaffee Housing Authority invites you to participate in an important survey regarding affordable housing issues and a potential ballot measure this November. Click Read more to see how to participate in the survey.

Kayla Malone, Chaffee County’s Noxious Weed Department Director, has been named the 2024 Colorado Weed Manager of the Year in recognition of her “excellence in education and management of noxious weed species.” Kayla joined the County as assistant weed program supervisor in spring 2016 and was soon promoted to the Weed Department manager in December 2016, where she has led treatment of invasive plant species across Chaffee and Lake Counties for the past 8 years.

Please read the press release from Chaffee County Public Health confirming H5N1 Avian Influenza in local waterfowls.

Updated on Nov. 22, Chaffee County Public Health (CCPH) is excited to announce the completion of its Access to Healthcare Survey which was conducted in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Chaffee County. The survey, which was open from May 15th through July 31st, 2024, is meant to capture the strengths and opportunities for improvement of our local healthcare system while also giving valuable feedback to healthcare stakeholders so that they can make informed and strategic decisions about future programming and systems. CCPH received 1273 full responses to the survey and collected copious amounts of qualitative data. One key highlight is that all healthcare sectors were rated over 4.0 on a 5.0 scale. Another important point to note is that while there are significant perceived needs that exist related to the healthcare landscape in Chaffee County, overall, 76% of respondents said they are satisfied with their physical health while 80% state the same about their mental health.

See the Chaffee County Response to Federal Funding Risks written by the Chaffee County Board of County Commissioners.

Click Read more to see details for the Chaffee County Youth Alliance mini grant application!

The Chaffee Housing Authority, in cooperation with the City of Salida, is asking short term rental owners and vacation home owners within the City of Salida and the surrounding area to transition their short-term rentals, rarely-used vacation homes, unoccupied accessory dwelling units, or other under-used houses to a long-term rental for local workforce. If you or someone you know has a housing unit that is generally empty or generally hosts out-of-town visitors, the Chaffee Housing Authority would happily match your home with members of the local workforce who are unable to find rental homes in this unprecedented rental market. More information can be found by visiting the Chaffee Housing Authority’s website at www.chaffeehousingauthority.org and select the Open Doors Program for more information and to apply to participate in the program.

Every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 5-6pm is After Action Coffee A Veteran’s Meetup! Come enjoy camaraderie, medical resources, vet programs, and coffee!

Clear the Air Foundation Awards The Faricy Boys’ Auto Technician $2,500 Scholarship

The Faricy Boys Automotive, a family-owned, Colorado-based automotive dealership group serving Salida, Cañon City and Colorado Springs for 80+ years, is pleased to announce that Lucas Ortiz, a technician who has worked at The Faricy Boys Automotive for more than a year, has been awarded $2,500 tool allowance scholarship from the Clear the Air Foundation.

Looking forward to River Season? Canyon River Instruction is here to help level up your skills and confidence. They are offering several clinics so sign up now! You can also contact them to create a custom clinic! Click here to see all of their courses from Swiftwater Rescue, Women’s Raft Flip & Recover Practice, Raft Rowing, and more!

The Colorado Green Business Network (CGBN) is a voluntary program that encourages, supports, and rewards organizations that make the move toward the goal of true, operational sustainability.

Their goal is to support organizations throughout the state at any level of implementation in increasing the efficiency and sustainability of their operation through assessing opportunities for growth, recognizing success, and providing connections to like-minded businesses throughout the state.

Guided Cross Country Ski Adventure @ Silver Creek Trail is on April 5 at 9am.

March 10, 2025: The Rocky Mountain Region of the USDA Forest Service is hiring up to 50 temporary wildland firefighters and fire support positions for the 2025 fire year across national forests and grasslands in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Firefighter positions include engine operators, hotshot crew members, handcrew members, helitack crew members, fuels technicians, fire lookouts, dispatchers, and other fire support positions.

Click to see News, Press Releases, and updates from the Forest Service.

Free basic medical, dental, and harm-reduction services. Salida United Methodist Church on Mondays from 12-4pm and Buena Vista Community Center on Tuesdays from 1-4pm. No appointment necessary.

Check out what’s going on at the Heart of the Rockies Radio! They were recently named small market Radio Station of the Year by Colorado Broadcasters Association! Click to read about more awards and honors they have received!

Chaffee County Visitors Bureau (CCVB) invites you to share your vision for live music and music events through a statewide survey conducted by the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. This survey aims to gather diverse perspectives to help craft a comprehensive music tourism strategy that will guide Colorado’s music industry forward. Results from the statewide survey will be customized for Chaffee County if a minimum of 100 responses are received from our county.

Click here to take the survey!

Adults & Children Ages 5+…Give us a try!

Your first 2 classes are FREE! Visit highcountryjiujitsu.com or call 571-334-8719

Click to see the monthly specials at Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors!

Kim’s Gym aims to be a healthy, supportive community for all ages. Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey or have years of experience.

Enjoy a variety of group fitness classes and workout in a fun, friendly, group environment. Classes include HIIT, Senior Circuit, Mat Pilates, Yoga and Strength. Check out our full schedule HERE!

Kim’s Gym is offering a new class that is an inspirational, motivational, and empowering workout for women and young girls of all ages.
This calisthenics based workout will build self-esteem, self-worth and self-love through mindful exercise and motivational speech. It is a workout that encourages personal growth, bravery and confidence. Light weights and body weight are used for resistance.

Click Read More to learn about class information for Laura’s Dog Training classes!

There is a great need for licensed childcare in Chaffee County, especially for infants and toddlers. Please help us mend this childcare crisis and become a licensed home childcare provider!

Get your Wings Pass starting February 18! Ski this season and next season!

skimonarch.com

The City of Salida is pleased to celebrate the grand opening of its new Fire Station. Neenan Archistruction, a fully integrated design-build firm based in Fort Collins, led ground-up development for the state-of-the-art new station, replacing the city’s previous fire station that had aged out of useful life. The city’s original fire station was more than 100 years old, the seventh oldest active firehouse in the country, and lacked the capacity to address the needs of a modern fire station.

Salida’s newest dining experience, Shavano, is open!

Great news! We have an additional private treatment room so that our clients can rehabilitate in a safe environment with one on one care from my staff!

We have a great NEWSLETTER and it is free….. Just go to Website: www. arkansasvalleyPT.com to sign up today!

10 Day full sessions for only $500 AND demo gear available at no extra cost. Click to see more info!

Don’t miss the Metal Art Sale at Salida Garden Supply, located at 1242 C Street in Salida! Enjoy 20% off all metal art and explore their incredible collection of unique and colorful pieces. It’s the perfect opportunity to add charm and character to your home or yard!

The Salida Hot Springs Aquatic Center is excited to invite local businesses to participate in its new Community Partner Pass Program. This program offers businesses the opportunity to purchase discounted day passes, which they can resell for profit or use as part of customer promotions or employee perks.

View the Library’s Monthly Programs!

Salida Mountain Trails (SMT) is launching a new program this spring to teach mountain bike skills to local youth.

The program, Salida Youth Cycling (SYC) is a continuation of the well-established Absolute Youth Cycling (AYC) program. This new chapter ensures the legacy of AYC will continue to inspire and empower the next generation of riders in the Salida community, with SMT aiming to grow the program to provide even more opportunities for young cyclists to develop their skills, confidence, and love for biking.
SYC will offer two six-week-long courses, one in the spring (April 4 – May 9) and one in the fall (dates TBD). Registration for the spring session will open on March 4th at 8:00am.

Courses provide guided instruction from licensed bike coaches and many passionate volunteers. Classes are broken into groups based on school grade, ranging from first through eighth grade.

At Salida Pharmacy & Fountain, we strive to find new ways to help our community with their health. That’s why we’re excited to announce our new membership program, SimpleStep! This program is designed to help save time and money. We all know employee retention is one of the most challenging aspects of running a business and our membership plan could be a cost-effective benefit offered to your employees to assist with employee retention. With SimpleStep, your employees will have access to valuable benefits, including: Preventative health screenings to help manage chronic conditions, In-pharmacy diagnostic test and treatment for flu, strep, COVID-19, UTIs, and more, 800+ commonly prescribed medications at no cost, Discounts on recommended vaccines, Discounts on over-the-counter items and vitamins in the store, and much more…We have two options for employers. Option 1 is to sponsor our membership plan for your employees and provide this membership as a benefit. Option 2 is to set up a referral program for your employees in which they would get a discount on the monthly membership fee if they chose to sign up. Click HERE to see a flyer that provides more information about our plan. If this sounds like it might be a good fit for your business I would be glad to schedule a meeting to discuss further (contact info is on the flyer!).

Salida Pregnancy Resource Center Receives a Grant Providing the Gift of Car Seats to Qualifying Fathers!

FREE CAR SEATS!

“Dad’s” Car Seat Program continues at the Salida Pregnancy Resource Center. We still have car seats to gift to Dads for infants up to one year of age in the Salida, Buena Vista, and surrounding areas. To register for the program, contact the Salida Pregnancy Resource Center at 719-539-7436 or visit the Center at 215 East Third Street. The Center is open Monday 10-3p, Wednesday 12-5p, Thursday 12-5p, Friday 11-4p, closed on Tuesday and Federal Holidays. To read the full press release, click here!

If you are a business owner looking to retire in the next few years, you’ll be happy to know that there are more options now than ever. Most folks try to sell their business to a manager, someone in town, or even someone looking to move into town. When those buyers just aren’t there or can’t afford it, selling the business can feel impossible. A great option to consider is selling it to multiple employees at once. One employee might find ownership expensive and a big burden, but 3 or more employees getting together can open up new doors. The state of Colorado has funding to help rural businesses explore and implement this option, through a statewide nonprofit: the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center. There are already hundreds of businesses in the state that continue to be successful after selling to employees. Give Marion a call or send her an email, the Rocky Mountain Employee Ownership Center will be happy to chat with you at no cost. They also hold monthly webinars and have online resources if you would like to know a little more first.

The Parent Toolkit for Kids, will be running on Monday nights, 5:30pm-7:30pm, from April 21st – May 19th at the Boys and Girls Club in Salida.

440 TONS is a lot of organic wastebut it’s still only a fraction of what ends up in our rural Colorado landfills each year. Read our full annual report for more stats! In 2025, we’re committed to expanding compost service so that more households, restaurants and schools have access to food waste diversion. Want to help?! It’s as easy as telling your friends and neighbors how simple it is to compost with Elements. Word of mouth is our best marketing tool and YOU can play a role in making our communities more sustainable!

We Are Chaffee’s Future (WACF), a local storytelling initiative managed by Chaffee
County Public Health (CCPH), was recently awarded a 2-year grant from Belonging Colorado, a special fund at The Denver Foundation. The Denver Foundation has a 100 year-long history of supporting
community initiatives throughout the state. The “We Are Chaffee Future Belonging Project” is 1 of 15 co-hort projects throughout Colorado to be funded by Belonging Colorado, an effort designed to bring people together in new ways, grow resilience in our state, and expand Coloradans’ sense of who belongs.

HRRMC

Columbine Manor

Mt Princeton Hot Springs

Chili Heads Glass & Vape

Full Circle Real Estate Group

C.P.'s Portables & Mountain High Septic

Woodland Motel

Peaks Integrity Wealth Management, LLC

50West Productions

Heart of the Rockies Radio

First Colorado Land Office

Y & K Excavation

Coffee by Topo

High Country Bank

Barbara Pearson Sawyer

Salida Mountain Sports

Dragonfly Gifts

Collegiate Peaks Bank

Salida Ace Hardware

Kate Woolman State Farm

JVAM

Anytime Fitness

The Mountain Mail

Home & Design

McDonald's

Monarch Mountain