SAN LUIS — Costilla County officials, business owners, heads of non-profits and long-time residents spent time with U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper in San Luis on Wednesday afternoon, discussing accomplishments, challenges and goals going forward.  

Hickenlooper’s longtime relationship with some in the room was apparent as several people spoke of their gratitude for “all [he] had done” to support people in their efforts to improve lives in San Luis and Costilla County. 

Devon Peña spoke at length at the beginning of the discussion, speaking of the extreme impact “climate chaos” has on the county. “The weather is unpredictable – one year it’s great, the next year it’s awful. There’s less snowpack and less moisture content in the spring snow. That has a big impact on us down here.”  

He also spoke of “the market”, referring to R&R Market that he bought and is restoring. He described that process so far as “one long slog,” including dealing with environmental contamination, such as lead-based paint, asbestos and black mold. 

A grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment addressed the mold, and he has also received significant support from the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), including new gondolas and a rotisserie. “CDA and others have been very supportive in getting the market going,” he said. 

Peña spoke of raising $500,000 for an endowment for a revolving mutual aid fund with zero interest loans to help “all of the women and some of the men” to start microenterprises. “All they have to do is agree to produce product for the market.”  

The overall goal, he said, is to create agriculture wealth and address questions of diabetes, obesity and other co-morbidities. “The diabetes rate is 15% here.”  

He also discussed taking over the “old Head Start” building for an incubator that will provide space for the micro-enterprise project.   

“One big problem we have down here is power outages,” he said. “We’ve lost power probably more than a dozen power outages. Every small business down here is impacted by this.  It’s a threat to our economic viability. Even if you have a generator to keep the refrigerators going, you’ve lost your point of sale. The power outages will go for more than a day sometimes.” 

Peña also mentioned that the state of the buildings along Main Street. “It’s one long reclamation project all along this block.” 

Susan Sanderford, San Luis Town Manager, corroborated what Peña was saying, “San Luis really needs a lot of help with the buildings.” 

Sanderford said they had brought in “about $3 million,” in grant funding for the town and the Main Street community and funds for local businesses that are up and running.” She also spoke of a $500,000 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownsfield grant that is doing a comprehensive assessment of how the buildings can be used. “That’s what I like about the EPA grant,” she said. “It’s not just about clean up.” 

Sanderford also listed off other funding they had gotten, including support for building a new town plaza. “We really need that because we have hardly any community outdoor space.” She mentioned that Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Department of Local Affairs and the Colorado Department of Transportation have been great. 

Teddy Leinbach, Sanderford’s assistant, discussed “Soul Players of the Valley”, a small group of community leaders who did a survey polling community members on what they felt were the greatest needs. “Youth programming was the biggest need,” said Leinbach said.  Currently, they’re looking at more public recreation and are considering what to do with 26 acres owned by the town, again asking the community what they would like to see. He also mentioned that the San Luis Valley Boys and Girls Clubs would like to have a chapter in San Luis. 

The consensus around economic development related to the purchase of buildings that need significant investment to restore. “And then we don’t have the foot traffic needed to support the business,” Sanderford said. “How can people start a business and make it?” 

Community leader Shirley Romero Otero discussed the 8-foot fence surrounding Cielo Vista Ranch which greatly interferes with the migration corridor of wildlife and local residents’ who have been granted legal right to access. 

Affordable housing was also brought up. Lynette Ramirez said there were plenty of empty buildings, but all required huge investments of time, funding and energy. She also described the myriad of problems from the difficulties in being able to access loans for buildings in significant need of repair. 

Funding needed to help with the construction of a new jail was mentioned by Commissioner Quintana. Currently, prisoners are having to be transported to Archuleta County, which is a long and arduous trip over Wolf Creek Pass. 

Former Costilla County Commissioner Lawrence Pacheco reminded the senator of a time when they had been down by the Lobatos Bridge, specifically mentioning the petroglyphs. “It was very peaceful. I hope when you are in Washington D.C. you remember that time,” he said. He then turned to the others in the room. Although he didn’t provide specifics, he said, “This man has done so much for us. What he has done is huge.”  

Throughout the entire conversation, Hickenlooper just listened, occasionally making comments. Afterward, the Valley Courier asked him what he thinks can be done to support the town and people of San Luis when the problems seem so many and so overwhelming? 

“They’ll find a solution,” he said, smiling. “We can help out with some things, like the jail. It may not be for the projects they would most like to do but we can help with maybe one or two. We also have a good relationship with the state and they should be able to help. They got billions from the federal government during COVID, and they still have some of that funding to use.”