Durango, CO: **The City of Durango has agreed to sublease office and collaborative space within the Fort Lewis College Center for Innovation in downtown Durango to advance a key partnership among a consortium of local groups designed to strengthen economic development, entrepreneurship, workforce initiatives, and community connectivity.
Council approved the action at the Aug. 4 regular meeting. Adoption was required under City Charter provisions mandating an ordinance for municipal real estate transactions. Terms of the lease include an annual rent of $23,870 for the 1,240-square-foot space, which is equivalent to $19.25 per square foot. The rate is slightly below market value and aligns with other city leases.
Partners in the center, located at the Main Mall, 835 Main Ave., include FLC@Work, the La Plata Economic Development Alliance, the Southwest Colorado Small Business Development Center, and the Durango 2030 Mountain Bike Championships, among others.
“We want to do more than just co-locate at the center,” said city Prosperity Officer Mike French. “This gives us an opportunity to consolidate some staff while we gain value in partnerships that the collective will create.”
The city’s Prosperity Office staff of nine is currently working at 215 E. 12th St. in the Community Development Department and Engineering Division building, as well as at the Durango Community Recreation Center. The building at 215 E. 12th St. is scheduled to be demolished as part of the new City Hall project and the City identified a need for temporary office space. Staff from both locations plan to begin moving on Aug. 15 to the center along with two representatives for the local organizing committee of the 2030 world championships. The lease is for a year with an option to renew for an additional year if necessary. The anticipated occupancy move-in dates are subject to change due to ongoing construction deadlines related to the new City Hall project.
“At Fort Lewis College, we’re grateful to welcome the City of Durango’s Prosperity Office into our collaborative downtown space,” said Nardy Baeza Bickel, public information officer at FLC. “This continues work the City and FLC have been building together over the last year, including the Fundamentals of Water Operations training (a Project RUN partnership with FLC@Work and the La Plata Economic Development Alliance) and the work between the City and the AI Institute. We look forward to growing this partnership in service of the Durango community.”
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Media Contact**Tom SluisPublic Information Officer Phone: (970) 375-5090Email: Tom Sluis