"Prowers County represents rural life at its finest. The wholesome vitality of our friendly attractive communities reflects the diversity of our agricultural heritage coupled with the opportunities of modern technology and exportation of renewable energy."

The City of Lamar (County Seat of Prowers County) serves as the industrial and retail center for southeast Colorado. Located in the fertile Arkansas River Valley, the surrounding agricultural landscape features wide-open spaces with panoramic views of irrigated corn and alfalfa fields, as well as dryland wheat fields. This semi-arid climate is favorable to livestock production and offers an average of 340 days of sunshine annually. Communities within Prowers County are known for their hometown friendliness and character, and offer many incentives for those relocating businesses and homes.

Visitors and guests can find a variety of recreational activities, historically significant sites and western traditions to visit or attend year round in Prowers County. Many fine restaurants and places to stay afford comfort and convenience.

Colorado Green (Shell WindEnergy and PPM Energy) has located the world's fifth largest wind farm in the world south of Prowers County. Xcel Energy purchases the energy created from Colorado Green and Prairie Wind Energy and converts it at the AC/DC Electricity Converter Station in northern Prowers County. This is one of seven such transfer stations located along the nation's heartland.

The Pierre Auger Observatory has selected southeast Colorado as the site in the northern hemisphere to build a world-class observatory to study the highest energy cosmic rays. A visitor's center and scientific conference center will be built on Lamar Community College grounds.

The entire region of Prowers County and Southeastern Colorado is connected with high speed redundant fiber optic networks providing T-1, DS-3, & OC-3+ speeds.

LOCATION
Southeast Colorado Latitude - 38° 04' N Longitude - 102° 37' W Elevation - 3,622
DISTANCE TO MAJOR CITIES
Population Miles City
5,000 - 9,999 60 La Junta, CO
10,000 - 49,999 103 Garden City, KS
126 Pueblo, CO
100,000 - 1 Million 150 Colorado Springs, CO
237 Amarillo, TX
Over 1 Million 200 Denver, CO
POPULATION
1999 2000 2002 2004 2010 Projected
City of Lamar 8,841 8,869 8,724 8,628 9,668
Prowers County 14,122 14,483 14,180 14,023 15,374
HOUSING
1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004
Houses Sold 186 165 50 144 50 86
Average Price $59,370 $60,922 $69,994 $74,730 $69,765 $86,610
Average Rent Estimate for single family dwelling - $680.00/month
INCOME (Per Capita Personal Income)
1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003
Prowers County $20,566 $22,853 $25,046 $28,660 $23,856 $24,406
Colorado $27,015 $27,203 $31,533 $38,446 $34,228 $34,561
Source: U.S. Dept of Commerce; (8) provided by SECED, INC.
TAXES
SALES TAX %
Municipal 3.25
County 1.00
Reg. Trans. Dist. 0.00
State 2.90
Total Sales Tax 7.15
Property Tax Mill Levies %
Municipal (Lamar) 13.239
Average Municipal Levy 19.752
Range - Lowest 8.830
Range - Highest 26.570
County 27.170
School District (Avg. in County) 27.458
Special Districts (Avg. in County) 4.500
Total Average Mills in County 71.916
County figures reflect those of Prowers County
2005 Assessed Value of Jurisdiction $127,091,340
2006 Total Property Tax Revenues $8,511,770
Sources: Sales Tax - Colorado Department of Revenue; Property Taxes - Prowers County Assessor, Andrew B. Wyatt * (719) 336-8000
Information Current as of May 2007
©Prowers County Development, Inc.
TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION
TRANSPORTATION
HIGHWAYS
East to West U.S. Highway 50
North to South U.S. Highway 287 and U.S. Highway 385, Ports-to-Plains
TRAINS
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Freight Only (800) 795-2673
Amtrak - scheduled passenger stops 109 East Beech Street (800) USA-RAIL
BUS LINES
TNM&O Coaches 1209 South Main Street (719) 336-5291
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
Prowers Area Transit (PAT) 210 South 3rd Street (719) 336-8034
Dee's Limousine Service 123 South Main Street (719) 336-2242
TRUCKING LINES
Alonzo Trucking LLC 518 East Elm Street, Lamar (719) 336-9474
HVH Transportation 209 East Poplar Street, Lamar (719) 336-7401
Heath & Son & Turpin Trucking, Inc. 313 South 5th Street, Lamar (719) 336-2273
Larry E. Beckett, Inc. 302 Main, Wiley (719) 829-4688
Western Transportation 708 North Main Street, Lamar (719) 336-2221
PACKAGE DELIVERY
U.S. Postal Service 300 South 5th Street, Lamar (719) 336-8720
111 S. Main, Granada (719) 734-5358
100 East Santa Fe, Holly (719) 537-6434
301 Main, Wiley (719) 829-4953
United Parcel Service North of Lamar (800) 742-5877
Federal Express www.federalexpress.com (800) GOFEDEX
Purolator Courier www.purolator.com (888) SHIP123
AIR SERVICE
Lamar Municipal Airport 3652 County Road GG.2 (719) 336-3325
4 miles West of Lamar on Oak Street
Fixed Base Operator Lamar Flying Service (719) 336-7701
Elevation - 3,703 Runway Length - 6,384
Uncontrolled Services: Lighted Runway * VASI * ASOS * VOR * Flight Instruction * Charter Service
Rental Planes * Private aircraft storage and maintenance available


COMMUNICATION SERVICES
SECOM

SECOM is a telecommunication provider serving Southeastern Colorado. SECOM offers FTTB (Fiber To The Business) and provides numerous services including: Point to Point T1 Circuits; Native Ethernet Circuits; High quality bandwidth to the internet; Internet to Businesses; and Dark Fiber leases. Contact SECOM at P.O. Box 521, 901 W. 3rd St. La Junta, CO 81050; telephone (719) 384-2551 or (800) 332-8634; web page: www.secom.net.

NEWSPAPERS
Lamar Ledger Circulation - 2 Days per Week P.O. Box 1217, Lamar (719) 336-2266
Tri-State Trader Circulation - Weekly P.O. Box 1217, Lamar (719) 336-2266
Tri-State Exchange Circulation - Weekly P.O. Box 552, Lamar (719) 336-5515
RADIO STATIONS
KLMR AM 920 Classic Country (719) 336-2206
KLMR FM 93.3 Classic Hits (719) 336-2206
KVAY FM 105.7 Country (719) 336-8734
KANZ FM 90.7 Public Radio (800) 678-7444
KJIL FM 99.1 Christian Radio (316) 873-2991
CABLE/SATELLITE TV
Bresnan Communications Cable (719) 546-1090
DISH Network Satellite (800) 333-3474
DirecTV Satellite (800) 238-7177
TELEPHONE SERVICES
Century Tel Local and Long Distance Phone Service }
AT&T Communications Amateur Radio Repeater } Enhanced 911 Service
Cellular One Digital/Analog Cellular Service (800) 635-0304
Verizon Wireless Digital/Analog Cellular Service (800) 922-0204
Nextel Digital/2-way Cellular Service (800) 639-8359
LOCAL INTERNET SERVICES
Bresnan Communications Cable/Dialup (800) 333-3474
Century Tel DSL/T1/Dialup (719) 546-190
Colorado Mobile, Inc. Wireless/Dialup (800) 238-7177
Earthlink Dialup (800) 327-8454
Rural-Com Wireless/Dialup (888) 925-7695
Information Current as of May 2007
©Prowers County Development, Inc.
EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, LOCAL AMENITIES
EDUCATION
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Lamar School District RE-2 Administration Office - 210 West Pearl Street (719) 336-3251
Current Enrollment (Sept. 2006) 1604 (K-12)
Number of Schools in Jurisdiction 9
3 Preschools, 4 Elementary (K-6), 1 Middle School (7-8), 1 High School (9-12)
Number of Teachers in Jurisdiction 113 (K-12)
Student/Teacher Ratio 14/1
Average Funding Per Student $6,408
COLLEGE/VO-TECH SCHOOLS
Lamar Community College 2401 South Main Street (719) 336-2248
Enrollment (Fall 2006): 1,000 (Headcount)
Student/Teacher Ratio 15/1
Offerings: Transfer (Associate of Arts, Associate of Science) and occupational degrees (Associate of General Studies, Associate of Applied Studies) and certificates of study in a variety of fields, including Agriculture, Business, Cosmetology, Equine Business Management, Information Technology, Horse Training & Management, Nursing (LPN and RN levels), and Small Business Management. Additionally, students can complete their Bachelor's degrees at LCC or on-line through partnerships with several universities.
**Lamar Community College has been designated as the Outreach & Education Host Institution for the Northern Hemisphere Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory to be located in Southeast Colorado. The 25+ year international project is expected to be worth $50 million dollars.
PRIVATE AND STATE FUNDED SCHOOLS
Pre-Schools Private 3
Day Care Centers Private 2
Head-Start Centers Private 1
Charter Schools Private 1
Handicapped/Developmental State-Funded 1


HEALTH CARE AND ASSISTED LIVING
Facility Name Location Phone Number
Assisted Living The Legacy at Lamar 650 Kendall Drive (719) 336-7004
Dental Clinic High Plains Community Health Center 200 Kendall Drive (719) 336-8445
Dialysis Services Fresenius Medical Care West Lee Avenue (719) 336-1170
Hospital Prowers Medical Center 401 Kendall Drive (719) 336-4343
Medical Clinic High Plains Community Health Center 301 Kendall Drive (719) 336-0261
Nursing Care Center Holly Nursing Care Center 820 North 8th, Holly (719) 537-6555
Nursing Care Center Juniper Village at Lamar 250 South 10th (719) 336-3434
V.A. Services High Plains Community Health Center 301 Kendall Drive (719) 336-0261
MEDICAL PERSONNEL
Dentist 6 Chiropractor 2
Radiologist Group 1 OB Gyn 2
General Surgeon 1 Orthopedic Surgeon 1
Pediatrician 2 Internist 1
Family Practice 10 Specialists available on Rotating Schedule


LOCAL AMENITIES AND ACTIVITIES
ART, HISTORY AND CULTURE
Big Timbers Museum 7515 U.S. Highway 50, Lamar (719) 336-2472
Open 7 days a week 1:30 - 4:30pm Kathleen Scranton, Curator
Camp Amache Japanese Relocation Memorial
Contact: Fred Dorenkamp, Bristol, CO (719) 734-5226
Comanche National Historic Site Springfield, CO (719)523-6591
Picture Canyon pictographs & Crack Cave, Equinox tours
Frame Works 101 Hughes Court, Holly (719)537-6574
Custom framing to showcase your treasures, frameworks@centurytel.net
Madonna of the Trail 109 East Beech Street
Historic Monument
Prairie Sky Art Gallery Web Gallery - www.prairiesky.net
Prowers County Brush & Palette Art Club
Contact: Carol Demas 1304 South Parkway Drive, Lamar (719) 336-4772
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site National Park Service, Eads (719) 438-5916
Sand Creek Tours www.sandcreektours.com (719) 336-5082
Contact: Chuck & Sheri Bowen, Lamar
Southeast Colorado Arts Council
Contact: Rose Ann Yates PO Box 1763, Lamar (719) 336-2185
Southeast Colorado Arts Guild
Contact: Jeff Alexander 706 East Cedar, Lamar (719) 336-4780
"tHeArt" Gallery 1006 South Main Street, Lamar
Open Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm Closed at Noon
CHURCHES
Apostolic Episcopal
Assembly of God Foursquare Gospel
Baptist Friends
Brethren Jehovah's Witnesses
Catholic Lutheran
Christian Nazarene
Christian Family Fellowship Center Presbyterian
Church of Christ Redeeming Love
Church of God Seventh Day Adventist
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints United Methodist
Information Current as of May 2007
©Prowers County Development, Inc.


EMPLOYMENT, COMMERCIAL INFORMATION
EMPLOYMENT
LABOR FORCE 2002 2003 2004
Prowers County Labor Force 6,908 6,891 6,847
Unemployment 245 336 284
Total Labor Force 7,153 7,227 7,131
EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR IN PROWERS COUNTY
2002 2003 2004 Average Weekly Wages 2004
Agriculture, Forestry, Fish 729 512 463 $709
Construction 150 141 122 $410
Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 238 283 281 $462
Government, Government Enterprises 1,497 1,494 1,491 $563
Manufacturing 928 889 943 $539
Mining 89 72 77 $610
Retail Trade 796 762 790 $364
Services 716 1,068 1,037 $295
Transportation & Public Utilities 84 180 204 $596
Wholesale Trade 231 189 185 $553
Total 5,323 5,590 5,593 $510 Average Wage
MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA
Name Product/Service Provided Contact Information Phone #
Alco Discount Center Discount/Retail 300 Savage Avenue 336-1340
All-Rite Paving & Redi-Mix, Inc. Concrete Sales & Delivery 200 Speculator Avenue 336-2451
Altek Systems Electrical Harnesses 7776 US Highway 50 336-3403
Big R of Lamar Retail 8625 Highway 50 336-7728
C.F. Maier Custom Fiberglass Containers/Molds 500 East Crystal Street 336-8745
City of Lamar Government 102 East Parmenter Street 336-4376
Heritage Farms Pork Production 109 West Lee Ave. #13 336-1111
Lamar Community College College 2401 South Main Street 336-2248
Pioneer Pork Pork Production 308 South Main Street 336-3070
Prowers County Government, Nursing Service, Social Service, Day Care 1001 South Main Street 336-7486
Prowers Medical Center Hospital 401 Kendall Drive 336-4343
Ranch Manufacturing Bottom Dump Trailers PO Box 856 336-9041
School District Re-2 Schools 210 West Pearl Street 336-3251
Wal-Mart Super Center Grocery & Discount/Retail 1432 East Olive Street 336-0530
WHO Manufacturing Tub Grinders PO Box 1153 336-7433
VALCO Concrete Sales & Delivery PO Box 591 336-2223
AVAILABLE BUSINESS SITES
Airport Industrial Park 50 acres, zoned industrial, 4 miles west of Lamar
Lamar Industrial Park Zoned industrial sites available, Northeast Lamar near Crystal Street
Willow Creek Development I-1 Industrial sites approximately 70 acres total, streets and utilities ready for immediate occupancy. Forty (40) available lots, average size 1 acre.
Source: Local Government Survey - 2001 Data
FINANCING AVAILABLE IN THE AREA
Small Business Loans Revolving Loan Funds
Industrial Revenue Bonds Venture Capital
Tax Free Leasing Land Concessions
Local Financing Community Lending Institutions
Enterprise Zone - Tax Credit Programs
Source: Local Government Survey - 2002 Data
CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Prowers County Development, Inc. 201 South Main Street (719) 336-2384
Contact: Roger Jones pcdi@procolorado.org
Lamar Chamber of Commerce 109A East Beech Street (719) 336-4379
Contact: Chana Reed lamarchamber@bresnan.net
City of Lamar - City Hall 102 East Parmenter Street (719) 336-4376
Contact: Nelva Heath www.ci.lamar.co.us
Small Business Development Center 2401 South Main Street (719) 336-1583
Lamar Community College Contact: Aubrie Humburg aubrie.humburg@lamarcc.edu
Information Current as of May 2007
©Prowers County Development, Inc.


LODGING, SHOPPING, RECREATION, ORGANIZATIONS
LODGING
Type Quantity Rooms Available
Motels and Hotels 9 350
Bed & Breakfast 1 3
RV Park 2 63
RECREATION
Big Timbers Motosports Park 9053 Highway 196 - 1 mile East of Big Timbers Museum. Contact: Dean Reed (719) 688-4823
Colorado Welcome Center 109B East Beech Street, Open 7 days a week, Winter 8am-5pm * Summer 8am-6pm (719) 336-3483
Great Plains Reservoirs Division of Wildlife, Camping/Fishing/Boating/Hunting (719) 336-6600
John Martin Reservoir Corps of Engineers Office, Camping/Fishing/Boating/Swimming (719) 336-3476
Lamar City Parks Willow Creek Park - 3rd Street & Parkway Avenue (719) 336-2774
Escondido Park - 11th & Washington Streets
Northside Park - 5th & Maple Streets
Enchanted Forest - 4th & Beech Streets
Lamar Community Building 610 South 6th Street, Indoor Walking Track and Fitness Center, Open Monday - Friday 6am - 9pm, Saturday 9am - 4pm, Sunday 12 - 4pm (719) 336-2774
Lamar Lanes Bowling 1704 South Main Street (719) 336-5781
Lamar Public Library & Cultural Events Center 104 E. Parmenter Street (719) 336-4632
Lamar Theater 219 South Main Street (719) 336-5737
Lamar Rollerblade Park 1107 Parkview Avenue by Swimming Pool
Lamar Swimming Pool Parkview Avenue & Cedar by Willow Creek Park (719) 336-7665
Lamar Tennis Courts 1107 Parkview Avenue by Swimming Pool (719) 336-2774
May Valley Speedway 8 Miles North of Lamar on Highway 196 (719) 336-9407
Southeast Colorado Activities Area Located at Savage Avenue & Main Street, Baseball, Softball, Rodeo Activities (719) 336-2774
Spreading Antlers Golf Course 1 mile South of Lamar on Highway 287 (719) 336-5274


©Prowers County Development, Inc. 2007, Designed and Built by Geoff Ruedeman gruedeman@hotmail.com