On June 26, local leaders and representatives will gather in Rifle to discuss the regional housing crisis at the Glenwood Springs Association of Realtors’ inaugural Garfield County Housing Summit.
Designed to be a think tank, the summit will provide a space for a network of private developers, employers, nonprofit representatives and local government workers to brainstorm ways to improve access to housing in Garfield County.
“The purpose of this summit is to bring together key people and organizations that want to see positive change in our county, for housing attainability and affordability,” said Shandice Churchill, governmental affairs committee chairman for the Glenwood Springs Association of Realtors. “The conversation is going to be a solutions-based dialogue, and the hope is that we can increase collaborative efforts between everyone involved to address the housing crisis in Garfield County.”
Co-hosted by organizations including the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, Housing and Building Association of Western Colorado and the Western Colorado Contractors Association, the half-day event will include a host of panel discussions and speakers.
This year’s keynote speaker is DJ Summers, the director of communications and research operations at the Common Sense Institute, a research organization that aims to boost and protect Colorado’s economy.
Panels slated for the event include a local reaction to data from the Common Sense Institute and the role of nonprofit and local governments in addressing housing needs. The summit will close with a discussion of how local leaders can continue to work together to tackle the housing crisis. Panel participants include representatives from Colorado Mountain College, Grand River Hospital District, Rifle, Parachute, Silt, Glenwood Springs, Garfield County and many more.
Although the summit is an industry-level event, anyone is welcome. Register to attend the summit at members.gsar.realtor/ap/Events/Register/DgFemvkf1CQCW.