April 22, 2015 VOLU M E 5 0 | I S S UE 1 6 | 7 5 ¢
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Organization brings business to Tri-Lakes
Tri-Lakes Economic Development Corp. functions as liaison for primary businesses By Jennifer Cunningham
Contributing writer
Behind the scenes of our community are numerous organizations whose sole purpose is to help local businesses prosper. Some are more noticeable, like the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce and the Historical Monument Merchants Association. But there is another organization, the Tri-Lakes Economic Development Corp., which exists to increase the economic base, growth and prosperity for the entire region. The TLEDC focuses on primary businesses, defined as employers who generate more than fifty percent of their revenue from outside the region. Companies such as Depuy Synthes, CodeOne, Maxx Sunglasses and Diacut, Inc., all in the Tri-Lakes area, provide goods and services throughout the country and the world. Secondary employers include restaurants, grocery and department stores who support local residents. At first glance, this organization seems inconsequential to attracting business to the area.
Saturday, the Tri-Lakes Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors met for its annual planning retreat. Led by Danette Lilja (standing), they reviewed the previous year and planned for an even more effective year ahead. Photo by Jennifer Cunningham
POSTAL ADDRESS
Danette Lilja, TLEDC’s current president and chairman, would not disagree this was the case when the group launched in 2000. She acknowledges Monument was not viewed as a business-friendly town and past members struggled to overcome this perception. But Lilja believes they are overcoming, thanks to the hard work of previous boards and the willingness of area stakeholders to make the Tri-Lakes region attractive to new and existing primary businesses. “The hardest thing about changing sometimes is people letting you change,” she stated. “But, you have to show people you are willing to change – not just talk about it. Thankfully we are seeing a lot of doing and less talking.” The TLEDC does not fall under the town of Monument governmental structure. It is its own entity that instead works closely with many boards and districts. If com-
munications between businesses, developers and the many governing agencies breaks down, the TLEDC acts as a liaison to explain concerns in an unbiased manner, paving the way for productive dialogue. They do not solicit businesses, but instead make themselves available upon request. Manitou Springs, Woodland Park and Fountain also have economic development corporations, but unlike the TLEDC, they do fall under their respective town leadership. When asked why her organization does not, she said, “Our mission is to serve the entire Tri-Lakes community, not just the town of Monument.” This regional philosophy is at the heart of Lilja’s endeavors. After much discussion, the TLEDC is now an ex officio member of the Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance. This gives them a seat at the
table and provides information and comment on primary employer interests and prospects throughout El Paso County. “Helping employers understand there are development opportunities just to the north of Colorado Springs is critical,” said Lilja. Lilja has set a precedence for including smaller, surrounding communities on the CSRBA, giving them a voice to promote their business opportunities. Her next goal is to become a true voting member, but she admits this will take time. The TLEDC is all-volunteer, including eight directors and five advisory committee members. All have full-time occupations, leaving the organization manpower-challenged to accomplish their altruistic goals. Lilja spends, on average, twenty hours per week attending meetings, communicating with numerous business and town leaders and completing mundane duties.
This is on top of her responsibilities as a partner in BL Speer & Associates law firm. When asked why she became involved with the TLEDC, Lilja shared, “I’m passionate about businesses in general. I’ve been an entrepreneur my entire life and I am passionate about this community.” She also said it was a perfect way to pair economic growth with service to the community. Lilja has been a part of the TLEDC since late 2011. She learned from the previous chairman, Mike Law, and watched him repair relationships previously damaged by inconsistent practices and muddy procedures. She now feels the organization is poised to prove its worth, assisting local and regional stakeholders with expanding presence in the region. For more information or to get involved with the TLEDC, visit trilakesedc.com or contact Danette Lilja at dlilja@trilakesedc.com.
Plans unveiled to improve Monument parks TRI-LAKES TRIBUNE (USPS 418-960)
OFFICE: 325 Second Street, Suite R Monument, CO 80132 PHONE: 719-687-3006 A legal newspaper of general circulation in El Paso County, Colorado, the Tri-Lakes Tribune is published weekly on Wednesday by Colorado Community Media, 1200 E. Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT MONUMENT, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210 Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 11 a.m. Legal: Thurs. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 10 a.m. GE T SOCI AL WITH US
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Four parks could get major upgrades and improvements By Danny Summers
dsummers@colorado communitymedia.com Monument town parks may get a unique facelift. That’s what principal planner Mike Pesicka, public works director Tom Tharnish and Mark Nemger, senior associate planner of Matrix Design Group in Denver, are hoping for after giving a one hour presentation on their first iteration of a conceptual plan for “themed” improvements. The four Monument parks affected would be Limbach, Dirty Woman Creek, Lavelett, and Park Trail. Pesicka said those parks were chosen based on results from the parks survey mailed to all town residents last fall. Costs mentioned for estimated design development and construction did not reflect possible savings if the town did some of the work. Limbach Park would be geared for children up to 12 years of age and have a train theme. Pesicka said
that possible hard scape includes additional parking at the south end, a motion-activated splash pad fountain, fencing, a pavilion at the northeast corner, and more. The estimated design development and construction costs were $391,000. The Dirty Woman Creek Park draft plans called for an estimated $470,000 in design, development and improvements. They include teen-friendly features such as a loop trail around the park, concrete trails in the flood plain, replacing playground equipment with a skate park developed with design ideas from teens, a play area for young children near the picnic pavilion, a climbing wall, an underpass under the railroad, new official parking at north side and along the road, and a dog area. The Park Trail Park draft plans include adding a community garden, parking, planting buffer between homes and additional parking, demonstration xeriscape garden, benches, a grass play area, a BMX bike track or multisport play area, a berm for sound barrier and/or seating for people and windbreak for garden area. The estimated cost of the project is $334,500. Improvements and changes to Lavelett Park would cost an estimat-
Limbach Park in Monument could be getting a facelift in 2016. Limbach is one of four town parks that could have improvements. Courtesy photo ed $87,000. The draft plans include fitness stations and a walking area, a gazebo (already scheduled to be installed this year), art display areas and a swing set. The park would be themed for seniors. Three open houses soliciting more input from residents will be scheduled between now and October. Budget estimates must be submitted in the fall for 2016.
You can learn more about these projects by going to townofmonument.org. Pesicka said the town will do some work in-house to save money and will search for grant money. Input from residents, the school district and senior organizations will continue to be solicited at open houses and via links on the town website and Facebook pages.