Southwest Colorado: regional businesses make the most of natural assets.

• Author: Romig, Suzie
• Position: REGIONAL REPORT - Brief article

Southwest Colorado conjures images of Durango, or Telluride for the skier types. Economic development leaders and local business executives don't mind those associations, as long as they bring recognition to the lesser-populated portion of the state. In the nine closest counties. the total year-round population is roughly 107,000, about one-sixth that of El Paso County, the state's most populous.

Still, this beautiful region. including the San Juan Mountain range, is home to a wide variety of businesses and internationally known products, despite the lack of rail service or interstate highway. The area includes creative and artistic businesses covering anything from music to model trains, entrepreneurial efforts supported by two business accelerators...