MOUNTAIN VILLAGE – The New Community Coalition invites the greater Telluride community to attend a presentation about shaping the regional economy. To that end, the Regional Economic Futures Task Force hosts a presentation of goals and findings at the Monday, Dec. 7, Intergovernmental Meeting, 9 a.m. in the Mountain Village Town Hall (above the Mountain Village Market.) The public is encouraged to attend.

REFTF is working on the premise that the Telluride region’s economy has been shaped in large part by outside market forces, and that to move forward, the community should take a larger role in shaping its own future.

With real-estate sales and construction projects languishing, and with our governments committed to lowering carbon emissions, it’s essential to examine our values and shape our economic future.

To do this, the task force needs community participation, solid data, knowledge of the region’s baseline parameters, agreement on our community values and vision, and a plan to move forward that supports those values. The group includes representatives from each of the local governments as well as representatives from Telski, Marketing Telluride, Inc., the Telluride Foundation, the business community, the Commission on Arts and Special Events, TNCC, the U.S. Forest Service and individual citizens.

The Regional Economic Futures Task force hopes to engage all members of the regional community who care to help shape the future in a way that protects the community and the environment. The Dec.9 presentation is just the first step, and the task force will hold numerous public workshops in the months to come.

For more information, contact San Miguel County Commissioner Joan May, 970/728-3844 or joanm@sanmiguelcounty.org, or the New Community Coalition, 970/728-1340.