South-Central Region: South-central Colorado has its own hard-working vibe.

• Author: Romig, Suzie
• Position: REGIONAL REPORT

Don't call Colorado Springs southern Colorado; that just won't fly with longtime residents of the San Luis Valley or folks who live in the scrappy counties that border New Mexico. The Springs is where south-central Colorado business owners often go for technical parts and repair services, but the region has a welcoming, hard-working atmosphere all its own.

The 10 counties--from Mineral to the west, Pueblo to the north and Las Animas to the east--evoke the heavy manufacturing history in Pueblo or potato farms around Monte Vista. The region is home to 232,800 residents, according to State Demography Office 2014 estimates. Economic development leaders and business owners say the area is holding its own in population and business development, pointing to trends such as growth of agricultural diversity with more niche and organic crops, continued attraction of international companies that support manufacturing jobs, and a push to nab more of the lucrative tourism pie from busier areas of Colorado.

Aside from pockets of retiree and second-homeowner growth in Custer County and communities such as Creede and South Fork, locals say south-central Colorado remains a solidly hard-working middle class to lower-middle class region.

"Everybody down here has to wear a lot of hats; that's just kind of where we are and how we get things done," says Randy Wright of the Alamosa County Economic Development Corp. "You have to be tougher and more creative to live in the San Luis Valley."

Wright says the uber growth and strong business climate in north-central Colorado requires south-central Colorado to work harder to attract businesses.

"We need a little extra push in the form of financial incentives for relocating companies," Wright says.

By Suzie Romig

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