About Colorado: San Luis Valley Region
Comprised of Saguache, Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Rio Grande and Mineral counties, the San Luis Valley is located at the headwaters of the Rio Grande River and is the largest alpine valley in the world. Home of the oldest town and oldest water right in Colorado, the Valley was settled by families from northern New Mexico in the 1850s. Agriculture is a significant part of the region's economy, as is Adams State College. The Valley hosts the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, which contains the tallest sand dunes in North America, as well as one of the most diversified solar industries in Colorado.
Workforce Training and Educational Resources
The organizations and resources listed below could help you return to the job market or gain new skills to make you more qualified for jobs in the 21st century economy.
Newly Unemployed
Register with the Colorado Workforce Center closest to you. There is one located in Alamosa, and in Monte Vista. Workforce Centers can direct you to employment and job training opportunities in the area.
Job Training
If you need any additional job training or if you are a veteran, Workforce Center staff will connect you with Rocky Mountain Service, Employment, & Redevelopment, or RMSER. RMSER staff will work with you to develop job training tailored to your unique skills and previous work experience. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment also offers a broad array of services and resources for job seekers.
Education
For opportunities to improve your education, the San Luis Valley hosts three well-established institutions. Adams State College and Trinidad State College offer two- and four-year degree programs in technical and academic fields that can make you more competitive in today's economy. Both institutions offer night classes and flexible schedules, as well as staff to help determine whether you are eligible for financial aid.
And Western State College, located in Gunnison, offers many degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as in professional areas such as business, accounting, recreation and teacher education.
Still need help? Feel free to contact my San Luis Valley office: 719-589-2101
Regional News
-
Udall Questions House Lawmakers' Failure to Take Up Watershed-Relief Funding
Wednesday, January 2, 2013Legislation Would Have Helped Colorado Communities Confront Lasting Effects of 2012 Wildfires -
Udall Heralds Successful Effort to Extend Wind Production Tax Credit
Wednesday, January 2, 2013Credit Supports Colorado Workers, Pursuit of True Energy Security -
Udall Welcomes Bipartisan Agreement to Protect Middle Class, Pledges to Pursue Long-Term Fiscal Solution in 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013Deal Includes Extension of Wind Production Tax Credit, Which Udall Championed -
Colorado Lawmakers Welcome Senate Passage of Bill to Boost Watershed Protection Funds
Friday, December 28, 2012If Passed by House, Bill Will Help Address Damage from Summer Wildfires
Regional Blog
-
One Step Closer to Protecting Colorado Water, Remediating Our Mining Legacy
Wednesday, December 19, 2012Our great state - and much of Colorado's history - began with a mining boom. However, this heritage, literally the state's foundation, left behind 7,000 abandoned mine sites and the toxic runoff they often create. These sites, the legacy of past decades of irresponsible mining, today threaten the foundation of much of our outdoor economy and what makes our state great: our land and water.
-
Live-Streamed Conversation with Energy Secretary Chu
Tuesday, December 18, 2012In an effort to keep this discussion going, I will be joining Energy Secretary Steven Chu on Wednesday for a live-streamed discussion about the wind PTC, renewable energy and our pursuit of an all-of-the-above energy strategy.
-
Compromise isn't a dirty word
Wednesday, December 12, 2012Two weeks ago, small-business owner Lisa Goodbee, president of Goodbee & Associates in Centennial, and 14 other small-business owners met with President Obama in Washington, D.C. They asked him to continue working with Congress to reach a balanced deal that fixes our budget.
-
Leading the way toward energy independence
Tuesday, December 4, 2012What do GPS, flat-screen televisions and the Internet have in common? Before each became commonly available consumer goods, they were developed by the military. Alternative fuels are on the cusp of similar cutting-edge development.