Governor Hickenlooper Photo from Westword.com

Governor Hickenlooper begins a statewide economic development tour today, Friday, January 14. We would like to urge you and your colleagues to attend the meeting in your community, and help articulate the importance of healthcare as an economic driver in rural Colorado:

• A rural hospital is often one the largest employers that offers one of the largest payrolls in rural Colorado counties
• A single rural Family Physician generally directly creates 3 jobs and indirectly creates 18 additional jobs
• “Leakage” of healthcare dollars to larger towns and across state lines hurts local economies
• Companies take access to healthcare for their workers into account when considering whether or not to relocate to rural Colorado

Friday, Jan. 14, 2011

• 10:00 a.m., Singletree Community Center
  1010 Berry Creek Road, Edwards, CO
• 3:00 p.m., Fruita Community Center
  324 North Coulson St., Fruita, CO

Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011

• 10:00 a.m., Strater Hotel, Pullman Room
  699 Main Ave., Durango, CO
• 3:00 p.m., Rio Grande Annex Community Room
  965 6th St., Del Norte, CO

Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011

• 1:00 p.m., Spradley Community Center, Pueblo County Conference Room
  1001 N. Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo, CO
• 4:00 p.m., Cheyenne Mountain Resort
  3225 Broadmoor Valley Road, Colorado Springs, CO

Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

• 10:00 a.m., Limon Community Center
  477 D Ave., Limon, CO
• 3:00 p.m., The Ranch, McKee Community Building
  5280 Arena Circle, Loveland, CO