La Junta Economic Development

Not too shabby...
Jul 6th, 2021

What a joke plain and simple from a business owner point of view who has first hand seen what this place has to offer! No real workforce to back your business needs and requirements. A place that lacks what most manufacturing business look for in community or city. In the past some companies have come to the area only to leave due to geographic location, workforce nightmares, logistics cost, or worse bankruptcy due to high start-up cost. utilities are high in the area with bad communications services or internet provider's. old dilapidated buildings that need alot of work. Industrial park that sits quite a ways out from the city limits. No resturants near by so staff & employees can grab a quick bite to eat without wasting 15 to 20 minutes getting to a place to eat. Plus in a bad snow storm the small 2 lane road leading to and from the industrial park is not a priority to be cleared of snow like the major highway. in an emergancy situation where ems, fire or police are needed this location falls out of city jurisdiction as it is located at the old military base that was once here a long long long time ago. i do believe their is a unmanned auxiliary fire & ambulance department that the rural fire department has located her to cover the small airport but the volunteers still live a bit away from the area. O you do get the local sheriff department that in a emergency situation would take them longer then a few minutes to get to your location when needed. no new nice places (new construction) to buy or rent if you do have to bring in your own crew or workforce. good luck finding any good safe housing. No new housing or building construction in the area. Call city engineering and see for yourself. Alot of vacant run down building in need of repairs In the end looks can be deceiving. Yes the economic development organization may paint a pertty picture and say everything is fine here in the area but do your research beforehand. Yes they do have a Junior College but nothing to anchor the younger citizens to stay in the community. Most young people move out of there in a hurry as they know their is nothing here in this dead end community. La Junta has not taken off like Alamosa, Sterling, Pueblo or the rest of southern & northern colorado. The smile high city is dead on the vine with no real growth in the past 40 years. Yes a few business do open up just to have 4 or 5 close right behind them. And to say this place is growing when it has been given a reputation of a retirement community when they in fact can't even take care of the seniors in the area. Like most people in la junta they have to go out of town to see specialist or even doctor's as this place has only a few doctors but no real medical specialist or care. Even the hospital flys most patients out on a daily basis, now that has to say something. I feel the city needs as so many others in the community new blood to make it grow and prosper then the same old small town thinking that has kept this place in a stagnate slump for so so long. Don't take my word for it come and look for yourself. Do this before you contact anyone at the rural economic development or the city. Look around and see all the depressing looking buildings. Poor housing and a city that sits in an out of the way location that would make logistics a nightmare. As myself i tried to run several business in the area and had an uphill battle all the way. Like most i was looking for a small community to settle in but should of went somewhere else before waiting my time in this community!
Nov 8th, 2017