Paonia on board for Vision 2020

Of the three towns including Hotchkiss and Crawford, Paonia was the last to vote on the partnership agreement for the Orton Foundation grant and North Fork Vision 2020. The Paonia Town Council also voted on Feb. 28 to be in favor of a North Fork Valley Creative District.

At last Tuesday's council meeting, Elaine Brett, project coordinator Alexis Halbert and Sally Kane represented North Fork Vision 2020 and Orton's Heart and Soul project.

The three had just returned from a meeting with members of other communities who had won Orton grants. Brett stressed that there is more to the process than just receiving a grant. Good tools and training will be given to each of the communities. The Heart and Soul process is designed to help rural communities be successful.

The Town of Paonia committed up to $5,000 for in kind donations which will probably be filled with town clerk Barbara Peterson's time helping with the project.

Mayor Neal Schwieterman said that the city of Golden had won an Orton grant. The city benefited from identifying values important to citizens which the local government had never addressed. The city changed its processes to align with the values of the community.

Halbert said the Heart and Soul process will help the North Fork communities build social capital.

The council unanimously approved the partnership agreement.

A Creative Coalition developed from the early meetings of the North Fork Vision 2020. Artists of every variety in the valley want to be designated as a Creative District by the state. As a recognized district, grants will help provide resources to benefit the artists and help bring tourism to the valley.

The council approved supporting the Creative District effort.

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