Rangely, Colorado

A Mountain of Opportunity Awaits

A Community of Connection, Nature, and Opportunity

Situated in the rugged landscapes of northwest Colorado, Rangely is a welcoming town where quality of life is cherished, and neighbors are friends. A low cost of living and slow paced lifestyle add to the charm, making Rangely a perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful but thriving place to call home.

Marketing Director, Jeannie Caldwell describes, “Rangely is a small community full of a lot of wonderful people. Everybody takes care of each other. If there’s a problem, there’s always people who are willing to help out, just good, neighborly people.”

A Gateway to Outdoor Adventure

Surrounded by miles of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, Rangely is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. “We have a river that meanders around the community that people love to kayak and float and enjoy during the summer,” Caldwell illustrates. “We have a reservoir about five miles from town, we have a lot of OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) trails, and a lot of hiking.” She highlights the Kenney Reservoir, which provides opportunities for fishing, camping, and water sports, and the White River, with seasonal rafting trips that extend all the way to the Green River in Utah.

“We would like to see more water features,” expresses Town Manager, Lisa Piering. “Our plan is to put in at least two or three more river put-ins because of private property along the river. We want to make sure the public has access to the river and can recreate on it as well.” The first of these projects, funded by the Just Transition Fund, is already underway, with plans to seek additional grants to support further development.

Economic Advantages

Rangely embraces traditional energy sources, along with a growing interest in green energy. The town’s roots are an oil, gas and coal community which remain very important for economic growth. Piering emphasizes that Rangely is not solely focused on extraction. “We are about all forms of energy as well,” she says, stressing  the importance of ensuring that any move towards green energy is sustainable, and aligns with traditional sources of energy and doesn’t lead to excessive government spending.

In terms of economic drivers, some of Rangely’s employers include Rangely District Hospital, the Rangely School District, and Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC).

Additionally major industrial and energy companies including Scout Energy, Utah Gas, and Deserado Coal Mine, represent the city’s main employers and contribute significantly to the town, county and regional economic base. While Rangely’s retail options may be somewhat limited, Caldwell notes “We have as much retail as you want within an hour’s drive, and it’s a gorgeous drive.”

Infrastructure and Growth

Rangely also enjoys strong  infrastructure in water, gas, and sewer systems. “We are one of the few municipalities that manages our own gas system. We don’t get serviced by another higher utility,” details Piering. “Our cooperative electric company is based out of Utah, and we share that with North Eastern Utah and Northwestern Colorado, so we have a pretty good rate with them too. Our utilities are all fairly reasonable in the big scheme of things.”

The town is well-positioned for future growth, with infrastructure in place to support expansion if needed. “Our boundaries are fairly tight.” Piering admits. “We have room, but we won’t be a large city by any means, unless we were to get some BLM ground.” Despite this, Rangely has room for growth, and is exploring innovative projects such as a thermal energy initiative.

On the housing side, Piering says that Rangely would benefit from more private sector development. Along with this, she says, “We are taking part in Proposition 123, with a land banking program, and we’re looking to build three duplexes that will come up for sale, hopefully for new homeowners or people that haven’t been able to afford homes in the past.”  Rangely’s low cost of living compared to other parts of Colorado, is  another benefit for those looking to relocate to the area.

Challenges and Aspirations

“I think as the population grows we’ll see more businesses and services come to town,” explains Caldwell. Efforts to diversify the economy include the RARE (Retain, Attract, Rebuild, Expand) grant, which provides $500,000 for local business development.

“The RARE grant is made up of two sections, a Pitch Competition and a small business improvement program.  The Pitch Competition will run over a 3 year period and will offer 3 prizes each year.  1^st prize – $15,000, 2^nd Prize – $10,000 3^rd Prize – $5,000.  The second section, a small business support program will offer 8 to 10 grants up to $40,000 each. The RARE program will also offer technical assistance at no cost to the business,” Caldwell elaborates.

The hope is that this opportunity will bring some of Rangely’s home based businesses into brick and mortar locations. “We do have new businesses,” she recounts.

“Dollar General opened here about three years ago. Tractor Supply is putting in a new store here. We do have quite a few things, but there’s always room for growth.”  Caldwell says the community is also well positioned for cybersecurity and aerospace. She elaborates. “We have great internet, one gigabyte, very inexpensive. There’s a lot of room for those types of businesses to be here.”

As Rangely works to attract new enterprises, Piering points out the town’s natural beauty and infrastructure which have the potential to draw new residents. “I think we could really house a lot of remote workers,” she says.

“A lot of that generation does enjoy the outdoors, where they can just do their work and then go out and play in any direction. Plus, we have high speed internet, so you could come here and work. The college is here, and we have a little bit of everything.”

Colorado Northwestern Community College is important to Rangely’s growth strategy,  with diverse offerings such as a popular park ranger program, and a top notch aviation program that offers pilot and mechanic training. “That’s an area that’s going to be severely lacking in the future, because there are a lot of people retiring from that,” Piering explains.

“There’s a lot of opportunity here for that to grow, especially if we’re able to get the right grants to expand our airport and possibly get more planes and hangers.” Caldwell remarks on the unrestricted airspace, which is a further advantage of the town’s location. “Rangely is the perfect place for businesses that need to experiment,” she adds, pointing out that the nearest larger community is 45 minutes away, allowing CNCC planes and other operations to fly freely.”

Revitalization

Rangely’s Main Street, anchored by Highway 64, is a center of activity and development. Spanning over a mile, the street features businesses from end to end, with a central cluster near Town Hall that serves as an informal downtown. “There has been revitalization in the last 5 to 10 years,” Piering relays. “A motel across from us put in some smaller apartments. We’ve had some Main Street grants that have helped some businesses redo their storefronts. There have been opportunities that have really enhanced our main street.”

The private sector has also contributed to Rangely’s growth. The Silver Sage RV Park, located near the town center, was sold three years ago and has since been completely renovated, now featuring high-speed internet and modern amenities. “It’s just a beautiful area now, near the center of town,” says Caldwell.

From a tourism perspective, Rangely offers an array of events that draw visitors year-round, including a three-day OHV rally. “Last year, they had over 200 riders. They have dinners and get togethers in the evening, but really, they just get out and ride the trails,” Piering conveys. “We’re trying to develop more mountain biking in this area. We don’t have specified trails, but you can easily mountain bike on any of the roads or trails that are already existing.”

Another major draw is the TANKCenter for Sonic Arts which illustrates the diverse offerings Rangely can boast in the realm of culture and the arts. Representing a unique arts center, the city is able to cater to those looking for an out-of-the-box arts experience.

A Place to Belong

Looking ahead, Piering says the focus will be on continuing to capitalize on the benefits of both the college and the hospital. “The hospital has expanded a lot of their services, with doctors that visit, rather than having them fully staffed in our community,” she expands. “I think there’s a few areas that we could build on, in addition to working towards more green energy projects.”  Growth in housing and retail are also on the agenda, with the hope of attracting more businesses that supply essential items like food and clothing. “Our True Value Hardware, it’s not just a typical hardware store. He’s got refrigerators, washers and dryers. He really offers a lot for a small community,” Piering illustrates.

Rangely is more than just a place to live, it’s a welcoming and vibrant town, rich with quality of life opportunities. As Piering aptly states, “The people are what make this community so well managed and also a place where people enjoy being.” With its blend of outdoor adventure, economic opportunities, and a strong sense of connection, Rangely offers something for everyone.

AT A GLANCE

Rangely, Colorado

What: A Growing town where natural beauty and community spirit are second to none

Where: Rio Blanco County, Colorado

Website: www.townofrangely.colorado.gov