Community assessment team coming to Wellington

Economic development experts from across Colorado will perform a community assessment in Wellington for three days: Oct. 26, 27 and 28. The assessment will provide information on the community's business climate and future direction for economic development efforts.

The community assessment team will be touring the town, meeting with community residents and leaders while working diligently to provide recommendations to encourage the town's economic development strategies.

"This is an excellent program and opportunity for the community," said Wellington town administrator Larry Lorentzen. "...the ability to have an expert team assess our unique situation and give us ideas that we can realistically undertake to enhance the business culture and further local economic development should prove invaluable."

A community assessment is a formal process of evaluating the economic, social, educational and political conditions within a community as they pertain to economic development. The team of economic development experts will conduct detailed interviews with business, education and governmental leaders. These interviews will help identify realistic economic development strategies, goals and objectives.

Community assessments are the result of a partnership between the Governor's Office of Economic Development and the Economic Developers Council of Colorado.

"The combination of expertise from the governor's office and professional economic developers provides invaluable knowledge to the rural communities," said Debbie Woodward, president of the EDCC. "In return, our participating members gain immeasurable experience and a realistic education of a variety of issues facing Colorado communities."

Team members will review Wellington's background data prior to their visit so they are ready to work when they arrive in town. "It's a very intense process with long work days," said Darlene Scott of the OED. "This approach provides the most efficient use of volunteer time and provides immediate results to the community."

On Oct. 26, the assessment team tours the community.

The public will have the opportunity to meet with the team to discuss issues on Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This time slot is also scheduled for four focus group sessions with invited leaders on the following topics: community - opportunities for improvements, 9 a.m.; business, 11:30 a.m.; government, 2 p.m.; and utilities, 3:30 p.m. The forums will cover such issues as enterprise zone benefits, sites for new businesses, housing and transportation.

The team's community findings and recommendations will be provided during an all-community meeting on the morning of Oct. 28. All of the sessions will be in the Leeper Community Center at 3800 Wilson Ave. in Wellington.

For more information, contact Lorentzen at town hall, 3735 Cleveland Ave., P.O. Box 127, Wellington, CO 80549; phone 568-3381; fax 568-9354; or e-mail LorentLL@co.larimer.co.us.