THE COST OF REMOTE WORKING

Words by Lexi Riech

LIGHTBULB MEDIA

The coronavirus has introduced the world to many once-foreign concepts. Who knew cloth face masks would become a new outlet for starving artists? However, there’s one large trend that has particularly altered the way we live and work for what looks like years and years to come. We’re talking the “work-fromhome” phenomenon.

It’s no secret Colorado is a desirable place to live. The omnipresent access to national parks and vivacious western culture earns the state prime spots on many national news outlets’ top places to call home.

However, the treasure of living in towns along the Western Slope is quickly gaining traction — whether locals like it or not. According to Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP), Grand Junction in particular has received an influx of remote workers since the pandemic started. Who wouldn’t want to live in a town where the cost of living is nowhere near what it is on the Front Range, outdoor recreation is at your fingertips and business is booming? (Did you know Grand Junction is projected to be the next tech hub of Colorado?)

According to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the percent of remote workers is expected to have doubled in 2021 with more than two thirds of employers planning for remote work to be a permanent part of their staffing plans.

As work-from-anywhere continues to take hold, once “small” towns like Grand Junction are becoming hubs of economic, cultural and social activity as they move away from oil and gas reliance and into a digital economy. Many are worried this will exacerbate the already dire housing crisis consuming the Mountain West and if local businesses will be able to keep up with a dwindling service workforce.

Cilia Kohn, GJEP marketing and communications director, says the key to supporting these towns, Grand Junction included, is to be employed by companies based in that area who are already invested in the local community’s success. In an effort to support remote workers and employers without sacrificing the vitality of Mesa County, GJEP launched a website dedicated to matching people interested in moving here with local businesses offering flex-work opportunities.

“We launched a website called workremoteco.com to provide links to jobs based in the Grand Valley that are hiring remote or hybrid positions,” Kohn says. “The state has a website, as well, that lists remote opportunities throughout Colorado, but we will also offer other resources if you want to be in the Grand Valley whether you’re a remote worker or an employer.”

Launched in November 2021, workremoteco. com serves as an information hub with resources such as available financing programs, relocating assistance and community support resources.

Among the employers on this initiative is Pax8, a Colorado-based cloud distribution startup working with GJEP as part of its latest hiring push for remote workers. The company’s Rural Empowerment Program works to target more diverse talent that previously wouldn’t have had access to careers in the tech industry.

“Our relationship with GJEP is essential to our success in Western Colorado. We rely on GJEP for connections in the community and our relationships with community partners and the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” explains Ashlie Arnold, Rural Empowerment Program manager. “Pax8 is investing in job creation in two ways. Firstly, by bringing technical and knowledge-based jobs to smaller communities for geographically dispersed talent. Secondly, by increasing the representation of smaller communities in the tech industry by investing in people to develop their skills, build their careers and help their communities grow.”

Arnold says Pax8 will be using GJEP’s new website to help further their mission to diversify jobs in mountain communities. She says remote working brings opportunities to various fields, such as technology and the outdoor industry, in addition to other sectors.

“Remote working has brought the Pax8 team closer together,” Arnold shares. “Our supportive and collaborative culture has been the connective tissue holding us together as we continue our growth trajectory.”

The CDLE even worked with other government organizations to develop a remote work certificate program designed to help workers and employers alike prepare to succeed in a virtual workplace environment. The two online courses launched last March and each costs $75 to enroll. It appears remote work is here to stay.

The work-from-anywhere trend is everpresent in Colorado; to keep up with the flood of people moving in, many are turning to essential programs like those developed by GJEP to ensure community members’ best interests are prioritized.

“Grand Junction is set to be the Western Colorado Hub,” Kohn says. “There’s more of a push to view us as a leader in terms of how to support workers, how to get more business in, how to build the economy. We want to continue to support that and be on the forefront of wherever the industry leads us … we’re seeing the digital economy really grow, and we see a lot of potential in rural communities to support that economy.” :

Learn more at gjep.org.

NATHAN DUMLAO

Compiled by Olivia Lyda | Photo by Matt Brooks

“Fire On The Mountain” from the Telluride Fire Festival

The Polar Express Train Ride

Recreate the magical story of a child’s Christmas Eve at the Polar Express Train Ride! The excursion is full of enchanted holiday surprises, all with a beautiful snowy backdrop. durangotrain.com

Vail Snow Days

This free concert series in Ford Park is sure to have you jamming out to great music. Various performers and artists come together to put on incredible live music for the community. Check online to see dates and artist announcements. uncovercolorado.com

Telluride Fire Festival

The Telluride Fire Festival, inspired by Burning Man, truly brings together fire and ice during the winter season. Celebrate community, fire and art in the mountains and watch inspired artists and their dynamic visual fire performances. Visit their website for COVID-19 guidelines. telluridefirefestival.org

Lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas

Watch as the streets of downtown Breckenridge light up like a Christmas tree to kick off the holiday season — all while a parade of Santa Clauses crowds the street. The lighting of Breckenridge & Race of the Santas will be sure to put you in the holiday spirit! Times will be posted once the event draws near. gobreck.com

Powabunga Music Festival

Experience an epic mountain music festival weekend at Ford Park. Featured artists include Rufus De Sol, Bob Mosses, Vintage Culture and others. Doors open at 4 p.m. on both festival nights, so make sure to get there early. Continue to check their site for future artist line-up

releases and planned activities for the highly anticipated return of Powabunga. powabungafestival.com

Annual Ullr Fest

Ullr Fest offers 10 full days dedicated to all fun-loving activities involving snow. What better way to get into the holiday spirit? The festival celebrates the Norwegian god of snow, with traditions such as the Ullr Ball, the Ullr Bonfire, the Ullr Parade, Snow Sculpting, Ullr King and Queen, the Ullympics and the Ullr Dating Game. Check out the long list of activities occurring during the festival online! colorado.com

2021-22 Community Race Series

Experience these community fun Nordic races throughout the winter season this year. cbnordic.org

Christmas Tree Bonfire

Enjoy the cozy and intimate atmosphere of this small-town event. Residents may leave their undecorated trees at the end of their driveway on designated dates for free pick-up by the Minturn Public Works Dept, and enjoy free hot cocoa and smores around the bonfire. minturn.org

The MusicFest Steamboat Springs

The perfect getaway filled with music, relaxation and the beautiful champagne powder of Steamboat Springs lies just at your fingertips with a trip to MusicFest. MusicFest Steamboat Springs has a venue for everyone, with over 200 hours of live performances. Grab your ticket before the event sells out! themusicfest.com

Wintersköl

Toast to Aspen’s majestic winter with this festival dedicated to the town’s unique lifestyle. The fourday fest features on-mountain activities, film screenings, a winterfest, broomball, fat-biking competitions and other celebratory events. aspenchamber.org

Ouray Ice Festival

Ice climber pros, novices and fans alike can experience the nailbiting competition of the Ouray Ice Festival. The three-day festival includes qualifying rounds, finals and speed rounds along with an educational experience for all ice climbing enthusiasts. More information regarding the festival to come. ourayicepark.com

Winterfest

Celebrate with your family and friends at this fun-filled festival! Spectate or participate in events like The Hot Air Balloon Mass Ascensions, Sled Races, Cross Country Ski Clinic, Fat Bike Race, BB Gun Biathlon, the ever-popular Penguin Plunge and much more! pagosachamber.com

Grand Mesa Summit Challenge Dog Sled Race

Sign up to race or watch amazing racing dogs compete in this twoday competition. rmsdc.org

Snowdown Durango

This jam-packed event has everything you could ever ask for. Snowdown Durango showcases more than 100 events packed into this five-day event — everything from the annual Parade of Lights down Main Avenue and adults-only fashion shows to winter sporting contests and beer dunks are on the agenda. durango.com

International Snow Sculpture Competition

This world-renowned snow sculpting competition consists of sixteen teams from around the world that descend on Breckenridge, Colorado to handcarve 20-ton blocks of snow into enormous, intricate works of art. Make sure to visit to view these masterpieces! gobreck.com

Rio Frio Ice Fest

Enjoy a jam-packed weekend with the Rio Fest 5K on the frozen Rio Grande River. A polar plunge, ice craving, fire & ice bonfire and many more winter fun activities await. Register for the 2022 event now! riofrioice.com

3 Lakes Ice Fishing Contest

Join in on the longest-running ice fishing tournament West of the Mississippi. Sign up for one, two or all three days of fishing on beautiful lakes in the Granby area. All proceeds from this fundraiser benefit Destination Granby. destinationgranby.com

Montrose Farmers’ Market

Pick up the freshest seasonal fruit and vegetables at the year-round Montrose Farmers’ Market! Peruse the local entrepreneurs’ stands and listen to the live performances. Join this event every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. bestfarmersmarkets.org

Laugh to your heart’s content over this fun and undeniably “funny” festival! Watch live performances from both big name and up and coming comedians. Dates TBA for this February’s event. sheridanoperahouse.com

NBS Black Ski Summit 2022

This is a historical summit, because it marks a return to the slopes after the pandemic; it is also the 50th Anniversary of the NBS (National Brotherhood of Skiers). Join and celebrate this amazing event that brings over 1,500 people of color together on the mountain. eventbrite.com

Rocky Mountain Ski Fest

The Rocky Mountain Ski Fest includes an exclusive concert with headliner Old Dominion and an on-mountain activity, all raising awareness and funds for pediatric cancer. Learn more and reserve tickets online! rockymtnskifest.com

Steamboat Winter Carnival

Say goodbye to your cabin-fever during late winter months and take part in the Steamboat Winter Carnival. The event highlights outdoor activities for local youth to participate in, as well as traditional experiences around town, such as the soda pop slalom, snow sculptures and the recognition of Winter Carnival Royalty and Grand Marshals. sswsc.org Pabst Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament

Get ready to gather your friends for this old-school ice hockey tournament! The Pabst Colorado Pond Hockey Tournament is a great opportunity to play against other motivated teams on a frozen solid pond. coloradopondhockey.com

Banff Mountain Film Festival

Explore the world of mountain sports and make your way to the Banff Mountain Film Festival. Watch the most inspiring and thought-provoking action, environmental and adventure mountain films. The event goes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. both days, with proceeds supporting BOEC’s programs for adaptive recreation and outdoor education. boec.org

WinterWonderGrass Festival

Gather together with friends and family to join this community event. This year, listen and dance to headliner Trampled by Turtles while enjoying beer tastings, food trucks and coffee bars. Reserve your tickets and plan your trip before it sells out! winterwondergrass.com

Queer Climbing Night

The last Sunday of every month is a great time to be a part of an inclusive environment at the Eagle Climbing and Fitness Gym! Visit this event from 5 - 7 pm. eagleclimbing.com :

Words + Photo by Melanie Wiseman

Many people are morning people; however, Terry Hancock is not one of them. His favorite time of day is nighttime — the darker and clearer the better.

As the director of the Grand Mesa Observatory, this Australia native who now calls the Grand Valley home feels extremely fortunate to share his astrophotography passion with so many other people.

“I consider myself more of an artist than a scientist,” notes Hancock. “I’m using scientific equipment to look deep into the universe, but when I’m processing my images, it’s more of an artistic approach.”

Hancock’s works have been published by NASA, in astronomy magazines and books, in National Geographic and well-known online media. Most recently, of 4,500 submissions,

his photograph of the California Nebula won first place in the Stars and Nebulae category at the largest astrophotography competition in the world: the Royal Museums Greenwich in London.

The winning photo was actually 185 individual five-minute exposures totaling 11 hours over five nights. Narrow band filters coated with either oxygen, hydrogen or sulfur created the color for dramatic detail that could not otherwise be seen.

As a child, Hancock used to look at the night sky with a pair of binoculars. At 12, his parents bought him the book Astronomy by Sir Patrick Moore. At 13, he was gifted his first telescope.

“Although it was an inexpensive store model, I remember the fun I had with it, seeing the details of the moon, Jupiter and four of its moons, and the rings of Saturn for the first time,” he grins.

Following school, Hancock worked at a professional camera shop where he honed his knowledge of the camera, literally inside and out. He became a freelance photographer, then spent years in the commercial sign business.

“Once I started taking photos through a telescope, that was it. I was hooked,” says Hancock. “I wanted to come to the United States to photograph the northern skies, like the Andromeda Galaxy, which I was fixated on. Objects we see in Australia are really cool too but different, being in the Southern Hemisphere.”

A self-taught photographer and astronomer, Hancock has been teaching others through online tutorials for the past 11 years. His astrophotography tutorial service operating under downunderobservtory.com reaches students all over the world.

Five years ago, one of his students, 75 year-old Kannah Creek resident John Mansur, had a dream of being able to create his own astrophotography (also known as data) right from his property. Mansur brought Hancock out to have a look and the rest is history.

Hancock supervised the building of an observatory dome stocked with their combined six personal telescopes and a 50 x 50 observation pad. The Observatory’s location has an excellent night sky quality (based on the Bortle scale) making for outstanding viewing and photography.

“John’s simple plan mushroomed when he decided to sell his data, then make his legacy community, hands-on astronomy and science educational outreach,” shares Hancock.

The Grand Mesa Observatory now has non-profit status and solid partnerships with District 51, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and the Western Colorado Astronomy Club. It also now touts a second dome, CMU’s impressive telescope and is being used remotely by the NYC University and a division of NASA.

“The most frequently asked question I get is whether I’ve seen any UFOs and the answer is no,” chuckles Hancock. “I always think of that possibility, but it’s not why I spend so much time looking at night skies.” :