MONTE VISTA—The Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce met Jan. 30 for their monthly meeting, and the board heard an update on the status of the Friends of Ski-Hi’s efforts to renovate Ski-Hi Park and discussed upcoming events.

Wanda Hawman presented an update on the penny jar project for Ski-Hi, stating stickers would be printed soon for the jars, which will be brought to community organization meetings for change and cash donations and the jars will soon be at various businesses in town as well.

The jars have also been at the Ag Conference for donations, which all board members agreed was essential because attendees can observe the condition of the building and will benefit directly from its renovation.

Gary Wilkinson presented an update from the Friends of Ski-Hi organization, which has been spearheading the efforts to renovate the park through grants and fundraising. Wilkinson reported the organization recently received another $150,000 commitment from Rio Grande County in addition to $50,000 each from Rio Grande Savings and Loan and SLV Federal Bank. In addition to the $2 million pledge from the Outcalt Foundation and the numerous other commitments and donations, the Friends of Ski Hi currently have $2,390,271.

They are planning to apply for a Gates Foundation grant, which Wilkinson believes may provide a significant portion of the funds necessary, but the organization can’t apply for the grant until they have 30% of the full $8.75 million that the full project is expected to cost. They are currently at 27.3 % and are thus in dire need for an additional $235,000 within the next month to make the grant application deadline. The Chamber voted to donate $1,000, and Wilkinson stated Mineral County also recently committed to donating $1,500 and they are waiting on answers from other neighboring counties.

Wilkinson encouraged donations of all sizes, citing previously successful community projects that raised thousands of dollars through mostly small donations of $5 or $10. He stated the website, www.friendsofskihi.org, is set up to accept PayPal donations. Wilkinson also answered other inquiries about how the donations are divided, stating there are two accounts at Rio Grande Savings and Loan.

The first is for enterprise funds, which require a minimum $100 donation but allow 25% of that as a state tax credit.

The other is set up under the Monte Vista Community Fund for all other donations. Wilkinson reminded the attendees that numerous studies have been done on the building’s structure and it has “…two years before it’s gone,” potentially meaning the loss of events like the Ski-Hi Stampede, Ag Conference and the Crane Festival’s Craft Fair to further illustrate the urgency of the need for donations. Chamber member Ramona Archuleta also volunteered to contact local retail businesses like Safeway and Top Value to inquire about the possibility of soliciting donations at their checkouts. For more information about the Ski –Hi park project see these articles:

https://montevistajournal.com/article/city-shares-information-on-ski-hi-project

https://montevistajournal.com/article/ski-hi-project-awarded-funding

https://montevistajournal.com/article/friends-of-ski-hi-present-building-design

The Chamber also discussed their appreciation for Jerene Wilkinson, who has been donating her bookkeeping services to the Chamber.

The Chamber voted to donate $500 to the Conour Animal Shelter, a nonprofit she also works hard for, to show their gratitude.

Chamber President Linda Burnett announced the annual Hot Rod Dirt Drags event in June has been relocated out of Monte Vista for 2020 and will be held at Pikes Peak International Raceway near Colorado Springs instead.

The owner of Nick’s Hot Rod Garage, who helped coordinate the events previously held at the Movie Manor, felt the new venue would provide better attendance and relayed he faced issues in 2019 with the venue.

Although the attendees sadly acknowledged this loss means a significant loss of revenue to local hotels and other businesses, the Chamber will look at better promoting the Thunder in the Valley motorcycle rally June 12 and 13 and building other events up in order to help compensate.