The West End Economic Development Corp. in collaboration with the Southwest Innovation Corridor, has hired Ryan Taylor, for a joint internship between the town of Rico and The West End towns of Nucla and Naturita.
Taylor will work full-time, splitting time between Rico and the West End, said a press release from Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado.
The Southwest Innovation Corridor’s goal is to aid in community-led efforts in the region to ensure economic stability in each of the three towns. Goals include developing a cohesive image for each community in collaboration with its partnering non-profit and business organizations. Taylor will do this through providing technical assistance to local businesses and tackling Rico marketing efforts. In just the first three weeks in Rico, he has updated the website, as well as created information about the attractions found in Rico. In addition, he has taken on the duty of helping to publicize events through KSJD.
Kari Distefano, Rico’s town administrator, has enormous praise for Taylor. “Having him available has been very helpful. It was Ryan who got the community event calendar to be a collaborative effort. He has been working on information about the attractions in Rico and he is going to start working with the Scenic Byway and Colorado Tourism Office.”
Taylor is a senior at Western State Colorado University studying business administration/entrepreneurship. He is a University Innovation Fellow with Stanford University’s d.School, Design and Innovation Program, and a goalie for Western State’s hockey team.
Taylor relishes the role he has been assigned.
“Although I am only here for a short time, I’m excited to be able to play an influential role in these areas and to get to know all the great people that make up these towns,” he said.
“I have learned that these communities and towns mean so much more than just a place to live for the people that reside in them. Both Rico and the West End host some of the most stunning landscapes I’ve visited not only in Colorado, but the country as a whole.”
You can reach Ryan Taylor at rvan.taylor@western.edu.