Featured photo: Migrant workers from Mexico make up a large portion of the agricultural labor needed across the state. John Moore/Getty Images

Written by Ernesto Sagás, Colorado State University

In Colorado, a national debate about the role of Latinos in American society has deep roots in the state’s history, current identity — and future.

I’m a professor of ethnic studies at Colorado State University. I recently published a book titled “Latino Colorado: The Struggle for Equality in the Centennial State.” In it, I explore how Latinos in Colorado have bridged Old West and New West industries to help our state grow. As a longtime resident of the state, I have witnessed many of these socioeconomic phenomena firsthand and through my research.

Latinos have always been a part of the Colorado story. Let’s look at some ways Latinos help drive the state’s economy and contribute to its unique culture and lifestyle.

Latino labor in Colorado

Latinos were the first Coloradans.

San Luis was founded in 1851 by Hispanic settlers from northern New Mexico. It is the oldest continuously inhabited town in the state. In the late 19th century, Hispanic Coloradans and immigrants from Mexico fanned across the territory and later the state to work in mining, the railroad industry and the emerging agricultural sector.

Workers harvesting potatoes in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado in 1939.
GHI/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

In the first decades of the 20th century, Colorado’s sugar beet industry relied heavily on Latino workers. Those workers then established Hispanic neighborhoods in cities along the Front Range and the Eastern Plains.

Colorado’s geographic diversity has led to the development of numerous economic sectors from so-called Old West industries like agriculture, cattle ranching and mining to New West industries like tourism, real estate and tech startups.

The running thread of Colorado’s diverse economic picture is its reliance on Latino labor, whether from U.S.-born or immigrant workers. The state has relied on this labor practically since the territory was acquired from Mexico in 1848. The region known as the Western Slope is a good example of this trend.

In the Western Slope, Latino workers were the muscle behind the building of railroad lines and the growth of the sugar beet industry in the early 20th century. Latino immigrants still work in the oil and gas industry and the fruit orchards that dot the region. But, more recently, their descendants have moved into the middle class. They’ve opened small businesses, and some have even become white-collar professionals.

As tourism began to flourish in the Western Slope in the 1990s, Latinos quickly became the indispensable labor force that kept the ski resorts, hotels and restaurants running. And as Baby Boomers began to retire and move to the region, Latino labor supported the construction boom fueled by this demographic shift. There is practically no sector of the Western Slope’s — and the state’s — economy that does not rely on Latino labor.

Latino demographic shifts

Latinos have also driven the Western Slope’s demographic growth. The expansion of the real estate and tourism sectors around the turn of the 21st century attracted tens of thousands of Latinos to the region. They came from Colorado’s Front Range, other U.S. states, and Mexico and Central America.

Their presence has revitalized towns historically afflicted by the woes of the boom-and-bust cycles of the oil and gas industry. For example, along the west I-70 corridor, towns such as Eagle, Edwards, and Gypsum in Eagle County, and towns like Glenwood Springs, Parachute, Rifle and Silt in Garfield County, have seen their Latino populations soar with the arrival of families attracted to job opportunities in resort destinations like Vail and Aspen. By 2020, Latinos made up more than a third of these counties’ total populations compared to the 1990s when Latinos made up less than 10% of the population in the region.

Further west, Montrose’s Latino population has grown in tandem with the popular resort town of Telluride’s economic expansion. Nowadays, Latinos represent more than 20% of the Montrose County population compared to 12% three decades ago. Mesa County has the largest number of Latinos on the Western Slope, about 25,000, who make up 15% of the population. Latinos are mostly clustered in and around Grand Junction, the largest metro hub between Denver and Salt Lake City.

Like most working-class Coloradans, these Latino families typically cannot afford to live in the ritzy communities where they work. Many make long commutes over treacherous mountain roads to get to their workplace. Some juggle multiple jobs and rely on carpooling because they don’t own cars and don’t make enough money to afford their long, potentially dangerous commutes.

While the first-generation immigrants who came to Colorado’s Western Slope in the 1990s- 2000s have a limited educational background and speak little English, their second-generation children are trying to realize the American Dream by moving into the middle class. This second generation benefits from a public education, command of the English language, and greater knowledge of American society than their parents.

The U.S.-born descendants of Latino immigrants represent a tip-of-the-iceberg phenomenon. They currently make up a large component of the school-age population in these counties. In another decade or two, they will join the labor force, pay taxes, vote, and likely transform the demographics, culture, and political status quo of these mountain communities.

Challenges facing Latino Coloradans

Latino Coloradans’ story is fraught with challenges, too.

First-generation Latino laborers often endure long work hours for low pay, a high cost of living, occupational hazards and the stigma of racial discrimination. Moreover, shifting political winds represent a significant challenge for Latinos concerned about changes in U.S. immigration policies.

President Donald Trump’s recent immigration dragnet has reached the Western Slope, where Latino individuals have been routinely arrested and Latino families fear deportation. Many Latino families in Colorado are mixed-status families, in which some family members may lack U.S. citizenship or work visas and are subject to deportation. They feel targeted for the color of their skin, their accent or the jobs they do. The immigration operations are having an impact on the economy and social fabric of the communities where Latinos live and work.

Still, Latinos have grown deep roots in Western Slope communities. Grand Junction has a thriving Latino middle class and is home to the Western Colorado Latino Chamber of Commerce. Latinos, such as State Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, are running for office in the region and getting elected. Velasco represents House District 57, which covers Glenwood Springs and Aspen.

Latinos have always been an intrinsic feature of the Western Slope’s socioeconomic landscape, as ubiquitous as the area’s mountains, mesas and canyons. In cities like Grand Junction and Durango, and ski towns like Aspen, Telluride and Vail, they enrich the region’s economy, society and culture.

Read more of our stories about Colorado.

Ernesto Sagás, Professor of Ethnic Studies, Colorado State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The post From The San Luis Valley To Vail, Latino Labor Powers Every Sector Of Colorado’s Economy appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Featured Photo: Spokane Valley Fire Department crews assist with a prescribed burn at a nearby wildlife refuge. ©SVFD, 2015.

For Immediate Release – February 20, 2026

Contact: Chris Arend, Communications Director, Department of Natural Resources

303-264-8615, chris.arend@state.co.us

Governor Polis and Colorado DNR Announce Largest Investment in Wildfire Mitigation Grant Round in Program History: $6.9M Awarded to Protect Communities

(DENVER) — With Colorado facing an urgent need for proactive forest management, today the Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) announced its largest Workforce Development grant investment to date. A total of $6.9 million has been awarded to 24 projects across the state for strategic wildfire mitigation and training in partnership with the Colorado Youth Corps Association and the Department of Corrections’ State Inmate Wildland Fire Team (SWIFT) crew.

Launched in response to the record-breaking 2020 fire season, COSWAP’s dual mission is to protect Colorado’s lives, property, watersheds, and critical infrastructure while bolstering a professional pipeline for the next generation of forestry and wildfire professionals. This grant cycle saw an unprecedented level of interest, with 35 applications requesting over $13.3 million, demonstrating the high demand for local mitigation needs.

“Colorado is no stranger to devastating wildfires. This year we are experiencing record drought numbers, now more than ever it is important to invest in wildfire prevention strategies to protect our communities,” said Governor Jared Polis. “By investing $6.9 million into these local wildfire prevention initiatives, we are reducing fire risk for our communities and watersheds while creating good-paying jobs and training the workforce Colorado needs to build a more resilient future.”

The 2025 Workforce Development grant funds high-impact fuels reduction projects suitable for early career hand crews. Using chainsaws and chippers, crews will create fuel breaks, reduce hazardous fuels in high-risk areas, and improve evacuation routes. When selecting projects for funding, COSWAP considers the strategic placement of the project on the landscape connecting with other recent or planned treatments to amplify landscape-scale protection and nearby values at risk to protect the most critical infrastructure, property, and water resources.

Additionally, the COSWAP program is funding a number of projects facing impacts from the mountain pine beetle outbreak along the Front Range, which is occurring in the areas of the state with some of the highest wildfire risk and population density. COSWAP has invested over $20 million dollars through 56 projects along the Front Range since 2022.

Recognizing that effective mitigation requires a skilled workforce, the grant program also funds statewide training opportunities, including basic wildland firefighting, wildland chainsaw operations, and Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges.

“This funding enables us to focus where wildfire risk is highest,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “From the Front Range to the Western Slope, we are putting crews to work on federal, state, local, and private lands. These awards will turn plans into progress by providing the boots on the ground required to thin overgrown forests and protect our communities.”

This grant round includes several unique partnerships and high-priority locations:

Frisco Wildland Urban Interface in Summit County ($448,640): In partnership with the Department of Corrections’ SWIFT crews, this project was selected for its proximity to population centers and services. Crews will remove dead and downed trees in the White River National Forest to protect residential areas and popular recreation sites around Frisco.

Colorado National Guard near Steamboat Springs ($173,314): Building on a successful pilot season in 2025, the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps will recruit Colorado National Guard members to provide dual service to their country by also serving as conservation corps members working on wildfire risk mitigation with the Bureau of Land Management on Emerald Mountain. Guard members gain invaluable wildland fire experience while protecting one of Steamboat’s most iconic recreation areas.

Hotchkiss Fire Chainsaw Training in Delta County ($6,188): The Hotchkiss Fire District is an all-volunteer fire and rescue department serving a rural, low-income town in western Colorado. They will receive local chainsaw training to expand their services to include mitigation work when not responding to fires. This training also increases opportunities for these volunteers to turn their service into a professional career in forestry and wildfire mitigation.

La Plata County Cross-Boundary Work ($412,875): This project is a collaborative effort between the Southwest Conservation Corps and COSWAP’s newest partnership with the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps to bridge the gap between the San Juan National Forest and the Durango Hills subdivision to build fire resiliency across both public and private property boundaries.

“This historic round of funding is a testament to the power of partnership in Colorado,” said Scott Segerstrom, Executive Director of the Colorado Youth Corps Association. “We are particularly excited to welcome the Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) into this work. By integrating ALCC’s deep connection to the land and Indigenous-led stewardship with our statewide efforts, we are ensuring that wildfire resilience is built by, and for, all of Colorado’s communities.”

“Partnering with COSWAP has allowed us to fill our calendar for the next two years, providing stable, meaningful work for our crews,” noted Mitch Karstens, Director of Colorado Correctional Industries. “Our members aren’t just clearing brush; they are gaining certifications and real-world experience that will allow them to step immediately into forestry jobs upon their release.”

These 2025 Workforce Development grants are awarded on a two-year cycle, with the next funding opportunity anticipated in the fall of 2027. For a full list of awardees and more information on COSWAP’s impact, visit our website.

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Editor’s Note: Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole.

Courtesy of Butterfly Pavilion.

Westminster, Colo., June 13, 2024 – Butterfly Pavilion — the first Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited stand-alone, non-profit invertebrate zoo in the world — recently began a “Survey of Colorado Diurnal Pollinators & Other Invertebrates on BLM Managed Land in Colorado” through a cooperative agreement from the Bureau of Land Management – Colorado (BLM CO) to further state-wide invertebrate research and conservation efforts. With more than 8.3 million acres of public land in Colorado, the BLM, working with Butterfly Pavilion scientists, can aid in understanding pollinator species populations and distributions through surveys focused on providing baseline data on these important species.

“As a global leader in invertebrate research, conservation, and education, Butterfly Pavilion proudly collaborates with the Bureau of Land Management – Colorado to begin the important task of understanding the invertebrate species, particularly pollinators and their associations with plants, that occur in our state,” said Rich Reading, Vice President of Science and Conservation at Butterfly Pavilion. “We expect the project to enhance invertebrate knowledge leading to more effective conservation and education action in Colorado and beyond. Such work is crucial because these small creatures comprise 97% of all animals, form the foundation of life on Earth, and are declining at alarming rates.”

The cooperative agreement aims to estimate the diversity and species richness of diurnal pollinators (insects that pollinate during the day) and other invertebrates that inhabit BLM CO-managed land. This includes species of concern that are currently being evaluated for threatened or endangered status such as monarch butterflies and western bumble bees.

“Managing public lands to help protect invertebrate species is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health,” said Carol Dawson, BLM Colorado state botanist. “The BLM Colorado botany team takes a proactive approach to conservation and is eager to promote pollinators, manage habitat efficiently and effectively, and support the recovery of populations where they have declined on public lands in alignment with the BLM Strategic Plan for Pollinator Conservation. Through Butterfly Pavilion’s research into pollinator habitat and invertebrate conservation, we will be able to ensure our lands are managed to benefit every user, no matter how big or small.”

Conservation biologists report a 45% decline in invertebrate populations over the last four decades, with the IUCN estimating that 30% of all invertebrate species face extinction risk, yet less than 1% have been adequately evaluated. Invertebrates represent 97% of known animal species on Earth and form the foundation of every ecological community, responsible for pollination, nutrient cycling, soil aeration, biological pest control, water purification, and serve as food sources for wildlife.

Beginning in June, Butterfly Pavilion entomologists and field experts began field surveys of invertebrates across 48 land plots inside BLM CO’s four largest watersheds (Upper Colorado, Rio Grande, Arkansas-White-Red, and Missouri Rivers). Each of the sampled plots represents different ecosystems found throughout the state. The team will also document floral preferences to provide valuable insights for future management strategies to support pollinators.

In addition to the survey and identification efforts, Butterfly Pavilion experts will conduct annual data analyses comparing invertebrate diversity and pollinator-plant richness between sites to provide scientific recommendations for conservation and education actions. This project will assist in fulfilling the mission for BLM CO’s Threatened and Endangered Species Program aimed at conserving and recovering sensitive species on public lands, and their goal to conserve species now, preventing endangered listings in the future.

Upon completion of this project, Butterfly Pavilion will submit a dataset of observed invertebrates and plants to BLM CO. A final report comparing diversity and richness between sites and evidence-based recommendations will also be provided for the protection of sensitive species and sustainable management on land managed by BLM CO.

About Butterfly Pavilion

Butterfly Pavilion has been part of the Colorado community since 1995 and is the first Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)-accredited, stand-alone, non-profit invertebrate zoo in the world, located in Westminster, Colorado. Butterfly Pavilion’s mission is to foster an appreciation of invertebrates by educating the public about the need to protect and care for threatened habitats globally, while conducting research for solutions in invertebrate conservation Beyond Colorado and the United States, Butterfly Pavilion conservationists are doing important invertebrate research, conservation and education projects around the world from Mongolia and Tanzania to Turks and Caicos and Sumatra, Indonesia. www.butterflies.org.

About Bureau of Land Management Colorado

The BLM manages 8.3 million acres of public lands and 27 million acres of federal mineral estate in Colorado, ranging from alpine tundra, colorful canyons and sagebrush steppe to mountains rising more than 14,000 feet above sea level. Most of our public lands are concentrated on Colorado’s Western Slope. We manage this land for a variety of uses like recreation, energy development, conservation, wild horse and burro habitat, cultural resource protection and livestock grazing.  We work to balance these multiple uses and interests to sustain the health and productivity of BLM lands now and for generations to come. https://www.blm.gov/colorado.

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