News

Library reading program makes pit stops for summer fun

Douglas County Libraries (DCL) is going places this summer! The library is taking its summer reading program on the road to favorite community locales, offering cool treats and fun giveaways for Douglas County residents.   “We are meeting great people out in our community, and we keep hearing stories about their summer adventures and how they use our libraries,” said DCL Special Events Coordinator Kristen Kallio.   Stops on the Great Summer Reading Road Trip have included Discovery Park and Downhill

FAMLI Task Force, July 16, 2019

The Paid Family and Medical Leave Task Force held its first meeting today.  The objectives of the meeting were to discuss the Task Force’s purpose and deliverables, establish voting procedures and leadership, and discuss contracting for the Task Force.  The Task Force members include Trish Sullivan, Edwin Zoe, Dana Hagood, Judith Marquez, Jared Make, Stacey Campbell, Terra McKinnish, Kathy White, Hadley Manning, Lydia Waligorski, Sandra Parker Murray, Romona Gommoll, Kevin Duncan, Diana Petrak, and Joe

Brookside Inn Seeks Business Office Manager

Join the Brookside Inn Team!   Did you know that Brookside Inn is one of Castle Rock’s largest employers? We are a strong, passionate and growing team and would love for you to join the ranks! See below for a few specific roles we’re looking to fill and feel free to share any of the opportunities with your circles. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.Seeking a Business Office Manager We are looking for a Business Office Manager to oversee accounts payable, payroll, human resources and to

Arapahoe Community College Sturm Collaboration Campus Grand Opening

DRCOG Regional 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program now available for review

Learn more about and provide input on transportation funding in Metro Denver, including Douglas County, by July 17 The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) Board of Directors has released the draft 2020-2023 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for public comment. They will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at its 1001 17th Street office in Denver to allow submission of in-person comments. If you won’t be attending the hearing, you are encouraged to submit

Grant funding available for local nonprofits; applications due Aug. 1

Do you know of a program that helps make Castle Rock a better place to live? The Town may have a great funding option. Nonprofit organizations again have an opportunity to apply for grant money through the Philip S. Miller Resource Grant Program.   In 2019, up to $40,000 is available for up to five nonprofit organizations. Eligible organizations include those that administer projects or programs geared toward the support of social and human services for Castle Rock residents and the community.

Fireworks in Castle Rock on Thursday, July 4th

Fireworks will blast off from the Santa Fe Quarry butte above Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course.Because of the elevation of the butte – about 6,700 feet – and because this is a high-flying show, there will not be a designated park for show-goers to attend. The fireworks are expected to be seen from most places in Town. However, visibility may be limited in Crystal Valley Ranch, Plum Creek, Founders, Castlewood Ranch and Sapphire Pointe.There is no formal event along with these fireworks. If you’re parking in

ACC Sturm Collaboration Campus grand opening - Aug. 16

Mark your calendars for the grand opening of the Arapahoe Community College Sturm Collaboration Campus at Castle Rock on Friday, Aug. 16, from 2pm-6pm (4500 Limelight Ave.).   Enjoy an interactive tour of our amazing new facility. Ribbon cutting at 2:30pm. Open to the community. Meet with faculty, staff and education/industry partners.   A joint venture between ACC, the Town of Castle Rock, Colorado State University and the Douglas County School District, the ACC Sturm Collaboration Campus brings

Colorado Job Growth Remains Steady Through May

The most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows Colorado is on track to add 49,000 jobs in 2019. Nationally, the unemployment rate was stable in 42 states and it rose in 2 states. Colorado was one of six states where the unemployment rate declined. The seasonally adjusted rate fell from 3.2% to 3.1%. Colorado’s low unemployment rate continues to be a drag on the economy, as employers continue to struggle to find qualified workers. The state unemployment rate has been below 4.5% for over 4½

Gas station purchase will make way for future interchange improvements

What’s presently a former gas station will be torn down this year to allow for future improvements at one of the Interstate 25 interchanges in Town. Town Council last year authorized the purchase of the property at 830 N. Wilcox St., which at that time had been operating as a retail gas station. The property is on the east side of Wilcox Street near the Wolfensberger Road interchange with I-25. Following environmental reviews, the sale closed this spring. The gas station ceased operations, and the Town

Report highlights Castle Rock’s financial transparency

Conservative financial management and transparency are important values to the Town of Castle Rock. The Town’s Financial Report to the Community for the year ended Dec. 31, 2018, spotlights these principles. The report is online at CRgov.com/FinancialReports. The 18-page report – formally known as the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) – provides an overview of the Town’s financial position as fully reported in the Town’s 200-page Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The reports feature

County hosting Draft 2040 Transportation Master Plan public open house

Referral and public comment period June 17 - July 22, 2019 Published on June 20, 2019 in 2019, Breaking News & Multimodal Transportation You are invited to a public open house to review the 2040 Transportation Master Plan on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, from 4-6 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 100 Third Street, Castle Rock. We look forward to hearing from you — the Draft 2040 Transportation Master Plan is currently available for review with a  referral and public comment period of June 17 through

Population & Development Report

The following document in the Population & Development Report has been updated.   Residential Project Status Summary http://www.douglas.co.us/documents/residential-project-status-summary.xlsx This is a spreadsheet showing the number of zoned, platted, and built lots in residential subdivisions in Unincorporated Douglas County.     The link to the entire Population & Development Report is: http://www.douglas.co.us/about-us/demographics/population-and-development-report/

Please Join us for our FREE Seminars, on various days through November 2019!

  6/8Teaching Kids Financial ResponsibilityGreen Mountain Branch10am-11:30am6/22Money Management Through Life's TransitionsAurora City Place Branch10am-11:30am7/13Home ReadinessAurora City Place Branch10am-11:30am7/16Roadmap to Financial SuccessCherry Creek Branch in Sunshine Peak A6pm-7:30pm7/20Steps to Financial FreedomGreen Mountain Branch10am-11:30am8/3Money Concepts for Teens and Young AdultsAurora City Place Branch10am-11:30am8/10Homebuying 101Green Mountain Branch10am-11:30am8/1410 Ways to

Master Magnetics, Inc. is pleased to announce, Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Brown is named Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce 2019 Business Person of the Year.

CASTLE ROCK, Colo., May 10, 2019 – Brown received the award at the Chamber of Commerce 2019 Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony. The ceremony highlighted local business leaders, honoring winners in multiple categories, including Small Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year and Castle Rock Advocate, among others. Fellow Business Person of the Year Nominees were John Saunders of Where Food Comes From and Joe Weber of Chick-fil-A. In addition to her daily responsibilities at Master Magnetics, Brown is

Under the Dome- 2019 End of Session Report

VIEW THE SINE DIE REPORT HERE2019 Session FactsDemocrat/Republican split in House of Representatives: 41/24Republican/Democrat/Unaffiliated split in the Senate: 19/16Number of bills, resolutions, and memorials introduced during the 2019 Legislative Session: 653Number of bills signed by the Governor as of 5/3/19: 155Number of bills vetoed as of 5/3/19: 0Last day for the Governor to Act: June 2, 2019   Introduction The 2019 Legislative Session commenced with a new political landscape. Democrats entered

Chamber Announces Best of the Best at Annual Awards Ceremony

The Chamber's vision of igniting passion for business success and community prosperity was evident at this year's annual banquet where award nominees, community leaders and members reflected on the Chamber’s sixty-four years of commitment to our business community. The annual passing of the gavel ceremony, a time-honored tradition, provides the opportunity to announce new leadership, recognize the Chamber's successes, and to celebrate the outstanding business leaders in our community. Castle Rock Chamber

Castle Rock Water registered apprenticeship program in Water Operations.

Castle Rock Water and Arapahoe Community College have partnered to create a registered apprenticeship program in Water Operations. You can work up to 30 hours a week for Castle Rock Water in a paid apprenticeship program while attending Arapahoe Community College’s new Sturm Collaboration Campus. Castle Rock Water will also sponsor up to 50% of tuition! We have two info sessions coming up to find out more. You need to attend an info session to be eligible to apply. Please see the attached flyer or click

Castle Rock Landscape Makeover Contest – Summer 2019

Castle Rock Water is transforming the landscape and we’d like you to be a part of it! Castle Rock Water is ensuring the Town has a strong water future and one way is by promoting conservation in the landscape. We are encouraging homeowners to transform their landscape into a ‘ColoradoScape’, which is a low-water use landscape with a lot of color and plant variety that blends in with our native surroundings. During summer 2019, Castle Rock Water will host a landscape makeover contest, valued at $8,000,

Under The Dome Week 14 (2019)

Highlights of the Week This week the General Assembly passed the most comprehensive oil and gas reform in decades, the sponsor of the bill to repeal the death penalty voluntarily pulled the bill, and the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act moved forward in the Senate.  The House passed the budget bill on Thursday and Friday and next week the JBC will meet as the conference committee to reconcile differences and ensure it is a balanced budget.   The House added several amendments to the Long Bill during a

Under the Dome, Week 13 (2019)

Highlights of the Week This week the Senate debated the FY2019-20 Long Bill, the budget for the state, and several amendments were added.  One of the more significant amendments increased transportation funding by $106 million General Fund, adding to the $230 million for transportation already in the budget.  This was a last minute deal struck between the Senate majority and minority leadership to prevent the Senate GOP from requiring the budget bill be read at length which would have taken approximately

Pegasus Restaurant marks 30 years in Castle Rock

Owners credit customers, staff for eatery's successJanie, John and Sheridan De Lay are the mother, father and daughter operation behind Pegasus Restaurant, which celebrates 30 years in Castle Rock this month. They credit supportive staff and customers for their success.JESSICA GIBBSPosted Monday, April 1, 2019 1:30 pmJessica Gibbsjgibbs@coloradocommunitymedia.com The numbers each mark a different milestone — 20 years in the first building they bought instead of rented, 30 years in Castle Rock, and 35 years

Leadership Douglas County Now Accepting Applications

Leadership Douglas County (LDC), a program of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce, is committed to ensuring the continuity of knowledgeable and effective leadership in Douglas County. Douglas County is virtually the geographic center of Colorado and provides an enviable blend of quality lifestyle and business environment.Download 2019-2020 application information (word doc)Click Here for 2019-2020 application information (PDF)Leadership Douglas County Application Application Deadline: June 20, 2019

Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce announces the 2019 best of the best nominees

And the nominees are….  Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce announces the 2019 best of the best nominees for their Annual Awards:  Businessperson, Small Business, Citizen, Castle Rock Advocate, P.S. Miller Philanthropist, Ping Lee Jung Volunteer, and Ambassador of the Year.  Winners will be revealed at the Chamber's Annual Banquet ceremony on May 4, 2019.  Please help us congratulate all of our nominees!   The Businessperson of the Year Award recognizes business owners and/or management who have competitively

Arapahoe Community College Receives Historic Gift Of Up To $10 Million from Sturm Family Foundation

State-of-the-Art Sturm Collaboration Campus Will Establish Industry-Aligned Higher Education Model  Castle Rock, Colorado (March 15, 2019) – Arapahoe Community College (ACC) has received a gift of up to $10 million from the Sturm Family Foundation, the largest in the history of the 13-institution Colorado Community College System.  A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY With an over $5 million match opportunity, bringing the full potential of the gift in excess of $15 million, the funding will be used in its

Under The Dome, Week 10, 2019

Highlights of the Week   This week, the Joint Budget Committee began setting the budget for the larger departments including the Colorado Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing which runs the state’s Medicaid program, K-12 education in the Department of Education, and the state’s behavioral health programs in the Department of Human Services.  Under the Dome, there were several late nights in committee debating newly introduced, controversial bills and the legislature finally reached the halfway

Under the Dome, Week 9 (2019)

Highlights of the Week   On Monday, the House Energy and Environment Committee met to discuss a bill to distribute plastic straws only upon request in restaurants and a second bill to extend and modify Colorado’s innovative vehicle tax credit.  HB 1143, Distribute Plastic Straws Upon Request Only, was brought by the Colorado Restaurant Association in an attempt to get in front of a potential full plastic straw ban. However, environmental groups testified in committee that the bill did not go far enough

Under the Dome, Week 8 (2019)

Under The Dome, Week 8   Highlights of the Week   Two high priority bills for Democrats saw lengthy hearings this week and, in each case, moved ahead.  SB19-085, Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, combines several policies from attempts in previous sessions to address the wage disparities based on sex.  HB19-1177, Extreme Risk Protection Order, or the Red Flag bill, was heard in committee on Thursday late into the evening.  The bill would create a temporary order to remove and restrict access to firearms

Under The Dome, Week 7 (2019)

Highlights of the Week   HB19-1174, Out-of-network Health Care Services, and SB19-134, Out-of-network Health Care Disclosures And Charges, are two bills to require disclosures about out-of-network care to patients and to sets rates of reimbursement to providers and facilities for services provided that were out-of-network.  Recent years have seen bill to address this issue fail, but bi-partisan support has brought the issue back to the forefront this session with insurers/consumer groups supporting

Under the Dome, Week 6 (2019)

Highlights of the Week   On Tuesday, Perry Will was appointed to the last vacant House seat. The House District 57 seat was left open when Senator Rankin was appointed to the Senate to replace Senator Randy Baumgardner, who recently resigned from his position.  Representative Will spent 40 years of his career working for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, most recently as a supervisor.  Senator Rankin’s wife, Joyce Rankin, was one of the contenders for the vacancy.  This is the first week of the session where

Mixing Old With New in Historic Downtown Castle Rock

  Rapid growth in suburban community has not affected its identityBY KEVIN TILSON        Published: 2019.01.24 03:00 PM  A Castle Rock building that dates back to 1918, the B&B Café, was once the site of an infamous gunfight where a fugitive shot and killed the Town Marshall. A bullet hole from the gunfight can still be seen in the café’s tin ceiling, reminiscent of Castle Rock’s rich western history. The streets of Castle Rock are lined with historic structures with stories of their own about

Under the Dome, Week 5 (2019)

Highlights of the Week   This week at the Capitol the perennial bill to take Colorado off of daylight savings time died in Committee, the building was filled with members of the public on Wednesday to testify on a bill to update Colorado’s comprehensive sex education requirements, and legislation to create a program to import drugs from Canada passed its first committee.  On the Senate Floor Monday, there was a lengthy debate about SB19-042, National Popular Vote.  The bill would enter Colorado into an

Under the Dome, Week 4 (2019)

Highlights of the Week    It was a busy week under the gold dome with a filibuster on the Senate Floor, several health bills moving forward in committee and on the floor, and Governor Polis signing his second executive order to create a new state office.    A lively debate took place on the House Floor this Wednesday about SB19-039, Interdistrict Transportation of Students.  The bill would remove language from a section of statute created last year by HB18-1306, Improving Education Stability for

Political Advocacy Update from Chamber President, Pam Ridler

The Douglas County Business Alliance is in full swing and monitoring legislation that affects business. Today we took the following positions on these bills:HB 1008 - Include Career and Technical Education in Building Excellent Schools Today Program (Support)HB1013 - Child Care Expenses Tax Credit for Low Income Families (Support)HB1096 - Colorado Right to Rest (Oppose)SB5 - Import Prescription Drugs from Canada (Oppose)SB6 - Electronic Sales and Use Tax Simplification System (Support)SB34 - Local

Castle Rock celebrates community successes through annual report and video

The start of a new year often brings a mix of reflection and anticipation. The Town takes great pride in looking back on community accomplishments, while planning for the year ahead.   Several major accomplishments from 2018 include: ·         Opening Fire Station 152 in Crystal Valley, and adding 12 new Fire staff positions ·         Reconstructing Meadows Parkway and installing new traffic signals ·         Beginning to receive WISE water in the Town’s journey toward a sustainable

Ridler Graduates from U.S. Chamber Foundation Education and Workforce Fellowship Program

Fellowship Provided State and Local Chambers with Opportunities to Engage Nationally on Critical Education and Workforce Issues  WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced Pam Ridler, President/CEO of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce graduated from its premier business leadership program. The inaugural Business Leads Fellowship Program trained and equipped leaders from state and local chambers of commerce with resources, access to experts, and a network of peers to build

Under the Dome, Week 3 (2019)

Capitol will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Day DCBA bill tracker:  https://bit.ly/2SDrzzp     Highlights of the Week   On Thursday, Governor Polis signed an executive order containing directives to create a Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Program, to use Volkswagen settlement dollars to electrify the state’s fleet of vehicles, to form a Transportation Electrification Workgroup, and to develop a clean transportation plan.  Under the Executive Order, the Colorado Department of

Colorado Economic Growth Will Taper off in 2019

From an economic perspective, 2019 is going to be an interesting year. The 2019 cber.co economic forecast projects that momentum from 2018 will carry into 2019. There will be solid growth in the first half of the year followed by slower growth in the second half. There is more downside risk than upside potential. A few of the things to watch for in 2019 are:The slowing in the global and U.S. economies will be felt in Colorado.Colorado will add 61,000 jobs in 2019.The economy is operating inefficiently

Best Places to Live in Colorado

Learn more about the best places to live in Colorado, and why you should consider moving to each.By Kevin Litwin on August 19, 2016 21:37 PMShareMattInden/MilesHere are the best places to live in Colorado:Aurora, COBoulder, COCastle Rock, COColorado Springs, CODenver, COFort Collins, COGrand Junction, COLakewood, COLittleton, COLoveland, COPueblo, COWestminster, COAurora Aurora has dozens of neighborhoods along with current and former military instillations, led by Buckley Air Force Base and its 12,100

U.S. Chamber Awards Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce with 4-Star Accreditation

U.S. Chamber Awards Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce with 4-Star Accreditation The United States Chamber of Commerce today awarded the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce with 4-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community. “Business leaders are a critical voice in conversations about promoting economic growth and job creation in their communities.” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, U.S. Chamber vice president of Federation Relations and

Community Recognition

Castle Rock is a top Town The numbers, facts, research and databases help tell the story residents live every day - Castle Rock is a great place to be. In fact, our Town ranks among the best both locally and nationally, according to a variety of national publications and studies.Money Magazine: Top Place to Live Money magazine recognized Castle Rock in its top places to live in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Most recently, Castle Rock ranked in the Top 10, coming in at No. 4. Narrowing the list is difficult, of

6 Reasons Solopreneurs Need a Chamber Membership

If you’re a solopreneur, you’re likely putting in some long hours building your business. Anything that helps you be more productive for little money is a necessary investment for you at this point. You may have thought briefly about the chamber and then decided against it because when you think of older people standing around talking about business, you probably figured it wasn’t for you. It’s not how business gets done nowadays. But the chamber offers a lot more than what you imagined and a lot of it

4 OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO SELL YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE

If you own a business you probably spend a lot of time thinking of different ways you can sell your product or service. Maybe you’ve investigated neuro-marketing or tried one of these sales approaches. A hard, persuasive sell is getting more difficult these days, isn’t it? Relationships are becoming incredibly important to brands, especially with social media. So is content marketing. Everyone wants infotainment. They long for information that is engaging and solid, not too long, not too short. Consumers

4 Reasons You're Losing Customers (or soon will be)

Do you track the number of sales you make along with the revenue? Of course you do. How do your numbers look? Are you increasing or remaining the same? Hopefully you’re not down this year but if you are, these may be some of the reasons why and what you can do to fix them: You Can’t Compete on PriceI’m making a broad generalization here, but as a small business you can’t compete on price with the big chain stores just as I can’t compete with writers who are overseas and on Fiverr. I don’t want to. Neither

6 Tips To Selling Online

If you’ve been considering opening up your business to online sales, or maybe you already are but are wondering if your online store is all that it could be, take a look at the following tips on how to make your online store a success.  Design for ExperienceWhile there are some people who don’t mind digging through clutter to find a great deal, most people prefer shopping in well-lit stores, with wide aisles, and organized shelves/racks. This translates to the online world as well. A cluttered website, with

5 Tips on How You Can Start Using Video for Your Business

5 Tips on How You Can Start Using Video for Your Business  Video content has exploded as a marketing tool and if you’re on the sidelines wondering why, it may help to know that according to eMarketer, daily time dedicated to digital video watching (for adults) has increased exponentially over the past 5 years. From a measly 6 minutes a day in 2010, to 55 minutes in 2014, we’re certainly getting our time in front of the screen.But it’s not just the amount of time spent that causes marketers to flock to this

4 Tips to Make Your Business More Likeable

4 Tips to Make Your Business More Likeable  © GraphicStockPeople buy from people they know, like, and trust. While you might be in the right place at the right time when someone is up against it, and they may buy from you once without knowing, liking, or trusting you, for them to return, you’ll need more than luck.Know and trust generally come along when you establish yourself as a likeable business with a human behind it. It’s difficult for people to like you if they don’t trust you, unless you’re a

5 best communities in the West, Castle Rock named as a Runner Up

Sunset Magazine searched the West for towns, cities, and neighborhoods that are easy to love. All the winners boast a strong sense of community—the gift of making you feel like you belong.View entire article here.Best suburb: Runners-upCampbell, CA. This San Jose suburb has long been overshadowed by its immediate neighbors, wealthy Los Gatos and Saratoga as well as Apple-HQ Cupertino. Now it’s coming into its own, with a newly vibrant downtown and the soon-to-be-revamped Pruneyard shopping center. Housing

Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Recruits Pamela Ridler to Board of Directors

The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is proud to announce to its national Board of Directors Pamela Ridler, CCE representing Colorado.  Ridler became the President/CEO of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce in 1998. Prior to her position with the Castle Rock Chamber, Ridler held the position of Vice-President of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce.  Ridler got her start in the non-profit arena as director of the United Way of Ellis County in Hays Kansas.  Established in 1914, ACCE