I've been pondering a particular phenomenon in Basalt and the mid-valley and wondering how it might affect community engagement and our economic health. It won't come as a surprise that a large percentage of people who live in Basalt work elsewhere, at least 19 miles away typically up the valley, and many of those employed here drive from other communities generally further down valley.

According to a 2014 Regional Travel Patterns Study , only 29 percent of our workforce calls Basalt home. Further, only 10 percent of Basalt residents work in their home community, down from 24 percent in 2004. 

How does a growing schism like this affect shopping, volunteerism, community participation and local identification? Where do the nearly 71 percent of Basalt residents who work mostly in Aspen or Snowmass shop, dine or play after work. And do those who make up our employment infrastructure hang around at the end of the day to support the local economy or do they head west homeward?

In a peripheral way the subject came up both at the Town Council meeting Tuesday night and in discussion with those who stopped by Saxy's yesterday morning for the Mayor's Table (coffee with Jacque Whitsitt every second and fourth Wednesday). It's one leg in a multi-legged stool: economic sustainability, wide-ranging job opportunities, affordable "accessible" housing and demographic diversity.

This conundrum consumes nearly every municipality, large or small, particularly during and after periods of economic shake-up. Tuesday night, the Basalt Town Council took steps toward amending Basalt's Community Housing Guidelines to conform more closely with neighboring municipalities, to accommodate changing economics and in a roundabout way to motivate inclusion of lower-income housing in future development. Listening to the public and council members, I heard a sincere commitment to problem solving but also recognition that it's a monumental work in progress.

At the Basalt Chamber, I consider every day what businesses would fill out the downtown core, how to support the dynamic balance of the multi-use Willits Town Center and if there are incentives we and the Town might offer to build a healthy balance and local economy that will survive natural ups and down.

A demographic study the Chamber conducted for the Town at the beginning of the year revealed few easy answers. The Market Opportunity Gap Report - local consumer demand compared to revenue actually generated in Basalt itself - showed that the majority of lost revenue was related to purchases typically made in larger retail shopping venues, including automobile sales, general merchandise stores and grocery stores (the opening of Whole Foods Market in 2012 invites further data collection). Areas where Basalt earns a trade surplus include dining and shopping boutiques common to downtown and the Willits area.

Other than possibly attracting a Tesla auto showroom which I understand consists of one or two cars, the footprint needed by the typical new and used auto dealer is likely not to be practical given Basalt's land resources. The data continues to point to retail goods, service-based industries and entrepreneurship and substantiates local survey results and the Town and others' efforts to further develop arts and entertainment.

Do you have business analysis and development experience? Have you done small business consulting? The Chamber's Economic Development Partnership is gearing back up and we'd be very happy for your input and participation. Please write and let us know of your availability or just to share your ideas.

Meanwhile, have you been out in the back country? The photo at the top of the page is by local photographer-for-fun Mary Beth Reckinger Weaver. Traveling up Frying Pan Road toward and beyond Ruedi Reservoir, she captured and posted to our Basalt Community Facebook Page some lovely early shots of the changing leaves. For more tips (before it's too late), visit the Chamber's website.

Happy leaf peeping!

Robin

Robin Waters

President/CEO

was born in 1958 when Patricia Bays Haroski registered the holiday with the US Chamber of Commerce. Then an employee at State Farm Insurance in Deerfield, IL, she chose October 16, her father's birthday, to show appreciation for her boss and other bosses and to spur improved relations between employees and their supervisors. Four years later in 1962 the observance became official across the nation.

Co-Hosts Basalt Fitness, Rock Canyon Coffee, Albright & Associates and Daly Property Services chose the theme to highlight this month's Business After Hours on Thursday, October 15 and invite Basalt businesses and Chamber members to submit your thoughts on what makes a good boss.

Email us by Oct 12 . Tell us who you think has been an exceptional boss and why. If you're the head honcho, share what you think is most important in how you approach the supervision of others. Work for yourself? Well then, toot your own horn. Do you speak to yourself politely, manage your time well and reward yourself enthusiastically.

We'll put all the comments together for everyone to read and enjoy and to share at the October 15 Business After Hours. Schedule here .

The Basalt Chamber of Commerce is accepting proposals from qualified website designers to consolidate, enhance and upgrade the functionality of our Basalt, CO website and create a separate Economic Development website.

On October 1 an RFP will be available to view. The purpose of the RFP will be to provide candidates with the evaluation criteria against which their applications will be judged. 

If you would like to receive a copy of the RFP when available, please write me here.

The public is invited to a community meeting to learn more about the Roaring Fork School District (RFSD) proposed bond issue Thursday, October 1st from 5:00 to 6:30pm at the Basalt Regional Library, Community Room.

Join us for a panel discussion with RFSD Superintendent Diana Sirko, Chief Academic Officer Rob Stein, Chief Financial Officer Shannon Pelland, Chief Operating Officer Jeff Gatlin, Basalt Middle School Principal Jen Ellsperman and Board of Education Members Matt Hamilton and Karl Hanlon.

The panel will provide an overview of the bond issue and projects included. They will also discuss the changing shape of our school district, important infrastructure considerations and the process that led the District to this ballot question.

The event is hosted by the Basalt Area Chamber of Commerce, Town of Basalt and Basalt Regional Library to provide an opportunity for residents and voters to learn more about regional education needs and the bond issue and to ask questions directly of our educators and school administrators. Click here for more information on the bond election. Download the poster here.