Business View Civil and Municipal | April/May 2022

46 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 simultaneously allowing businesses to expand and thrive. It’s a very active process.” She also highlights the easy walkability of downtown, noting there are lots of bike racks throughout the community. Over the last few years, the city has even received grant funding to expand The Connect Trail. “You can get all over town without a vehicle,” Kuczmarski says. “It’s important, especially for youth that they can safely travel around without worry.” The Connect Trail now reaches the Montrose Urban Renewal Authority (MURA) land in the northern section of town. Located on the 164- acre site is the Colorado Outdoors campus – a commercial, light industrial, retail and residential development along the Uncompahgre River Corridor. “It’s a successful and fast-moving project that’s only been around four years – the result of a combination of public and private partnerships,” says Bell. “We’ve put in about $13 million of public money for infrastructure like G E T O U T I N O N E ! V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E W W W . C O L O R A D OY U R T . C O M We handcraft yurts, tipis and rugged canvas wall tents.