Garfield County business leaders, city officials and members of the Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce gathered Tuesday to discuss their successes over the past year while also looking ahead to the future.
Among the many Western Garfield County municipal projects and goals for 2019 that were discussed on Tuesday was an impassioned speech from Garfield County Commissioner Mike Samson advocating for the controversial Jordan Cove natural gas pipeline and terminal project.
“I will do whatever I can to move that forward,” he said. “I hope to be at a podium a like this and tell [you all] of our success.”
Currently under review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Jordan Cove project is a proposed natural gas terminal to be set up in Coos Bay, Oregon.
Samson also spoke to how proud he was to see some of the many economic development projects brought up by the Rifle, Silt and Parachute mayors and other representatives at the Tuesday State of the Community Luncheon, held at the Ute Theatre.
Parachute Mayor Roy McClung outlined his hopes for the town’s growing recreation opportunities such as rafting, mountain biking, ATV riding and more.
He said the town of Parachute plans to build new soccer fields at Cottonwood Park. And, like neighboring Rifle, Parachute also has plans to open a coworking space in a recently acquired property this year.
Rifle Economic Development Corporation Assistant Director Katie Mackley said the Rifle coworking space should be opening sometime in March.
That same month, Grand River Health also plans to host a groundbreaking for its new long-term care facility. The expansion is also planned for 2019.