While metro areas across the nation struggled with stagnant economies caused by the pandemic, Pueblo was vaulting its way up the list of 2021Â Best Performing Cities.
Released by the Milken Institute Center for Regional Economics, the list saw Pueblo ranking higher through a combination of increased connectivity, innovation, planning and business support.Â
The Milken Instituteâs annual index ranks economic vitality in 200 large metropolitan areas and 201 small metro areas, measuring job creation, wage growth, and innovation industry metrics. Housing affordability and broadband access were added as criteria this year, to better reflect the inclusiveness of local economies. For the first time, metro areas were grouped into five tiers, allowing policymakers, business leaders and residents to more easily compare economic performance among equivalent cities.
A long-awaited program that will enable qualifying and approved businesses to operate with fewer COVID-19 restrictions was officially kicked off in Pueblo on Tuesday at 1129 Spirts and Eatery.
The restaurant is one of the initial businesses, alongside Brues Alehouse, to join the county s COVID-19 health restrictions variance program. About 30 businesses are currently in the queue to become certified through the program and raise capacity.
Dubbed the Five Star Variance Program, Commissioner Garrison Ortiz has championed the program and sought state approval for its enactment since at least early December. Implementation was stalled due to the high number of active COVID-19 cases in the state, as well as the indicator level for COVID-19 in Pueblo County that remained at level Red. Others who have been involved in getting the project off the ground included the Latino Chamber of Commerce.
One Pueblo Project to help small businesses
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) The Pueblo Business Economic Recovery Team held a press conference Monday to discuss a new program designed to help businesses in the city.
The One Pueblo Project looks to give relief to small businesses.
Watch the press conference here:
For Ray Romero, owner of My Friend The Printer a printing business in Pueblo, this year has been nothing short of challenging.
It s been an uphill battle trying to keep the business running during a time like this. Business is down 40 percent, said Romero, owner of My Friend The Printer.
There is no way to avoid seeing the economic impact COVID-19 health restrictions have created across the nation, and many business owners in Pueblo County are watching the climate with concern.
However, local officials are confident in a program designed to help ease restrictions for approved businesses to operate at one level higher than the county s COVID-19 metrics would ordinarily allow.
Pueblo County Commissioner Garrison Ortiz has worked with many stakeholders to ensure that Pueblo County will qualify for Colorado s 5 Star variance program, and has been pursuing the matter since at least early December. On Monday, a statewide order from Gov. Jared Polis shifted all counties that were listed as Level Red in the statewide COVID-19 scale to the less-restrictive level Orange.