Like a phoenix rising from the proverbial ashes, 2022 felt like a brand new start as the year brought some exciting new accomplishments for the Norwood Chamber of Commerce. Read on for some of the chamber’s proudest achievements and highlights of 2022!
The Main Street Banner
The biggest undertaking of the year went to the banner across main street. The chamber had been working on the project since its inception in late 2019 when the chamber was approached about rehanging the banner. Due to Covid, location of the banner poles, and CDOT restrictions/requirements, many delays held up the project. But the chamber decided 2022 would be the year the banner would finally hang. And the deadline, the San Miguel Basin Rodeo!
Because CDOT owns the Highway 145 through town, not the Town of Norwood, every aspect of hanging a banner across the highway needed to be approved by CDOT. Insurance was also needed in case of accidents. To make hanging the banner a possibility, one of the banner poles needed to be moved, which of course also required approval by CDOT.
When it comes to hanging the banners, there are very strict parameters which must be followed around the design and material, and the chamber has had to be mindful of those parameters. With their plethora of experience with banners (and being a local business and current chamber member), the chamber chose to work with The Coach’s Mother to create its banners.
CDOT is also quite strict about when the banners must go up, and when they must come down. Thanks to a partnership between the Town of Norwood and the chamber, the process for hanging banners across main street has been streamlined and you will now see a banner hanging in Norwood as often as allowed. If you have an event coming up that you would like to promote across Grand Avenue, please reach out to the chamber [email protected] to learn how we can help make it happen!
Visitor Center Improvements and Regional Marketing
As the chamber continues its work to develop the visitor center space within the Lone Cone Library, this past year the chamber decided to partner with Certified Folder to provide and stock a brochure rack featuring brochures of local and regional interest.
Along with this partnership came an advertising opportunity in Certified Folder’s regional map brochure. Norwood has been promoted in this brochure, across the state, all year long!
Be sure to swing by the visitor center within the library from time to time to see what’s new.
New Community Star Program
Another exciting new development started this year was the Community Star Program. Traditionally, on Noel Night, the chamber choses a heritage member of the community to lead the Parade of Lights as the Grand Marshal. For 2022 the chamber decided to revamp things in a way that would recognize and give thanks to community members and businesses of Wright’s Mesa who dedicate themselves to volunteering and giving back to the community. The Community Stars receive recognition by leading the Parade of Lights down Grand Avenue, and the Business Community Stars are given a banner to display in their business for an entire year.
The Divide Restaurant
The Divide Restaurant was awarded the 2022 Business Community Star, a long overdue recognition for their extraordinary efforts to support the community by giving back to those in need. And what’s the quickest way to the heart? Food! In partnership with the Town of Norwood, The Divide provides meals for Norwood’s Senior Lunches. Because senior meals were put on hold during Covid, The Divide took it upon themselves to provide our community’s seniors with free meals of soup five days a week, which seniors could pickup or The Divide would happily deliver, also free of charge. Roughly 20-30 senior soups were prepared each day. The Divide also hosts Norwood’s annual Easter egg hunt. In addition to the easter egg hunt, The Divide offers a free breakfast prior to the easter egg hunt which is open to everyone in the community. Can you say, “pay it forward?”
Nikki and Glen Colson
Nikki and Glen Colson were awarded the 2022 Individual Community Star for their involvement in Norwood’s school system over the years. Nikki and Glen’s children started in the Norwood school system in 1976 and since then they have not missed many games. They support all of the children, no matter the sport. Glen has driven school buses for Norwood, Telluride, Nucla and Naturita for many years, including buses for out of town sports. Glen has gone out of his way to find clothing for his school bus children if they were in need. Nikki has cooked hundreds of gallons of chili over the years for concessions as a means for classes to earn money. Supporting our community’s children is one of the single most important ways we can give back to the community.
Wondering how to get nominated as a Community Star for 2023? Start thinking about how you plan to give back to the community. Community Stars will be chosen in November, prior to Noel Night.
Highlighting Chamber Business Members
Each quarter of 2022, the Norwood Chamber of Commerce highlighted some of its business members via a Q&A on the chamber’s website. Each quarter featured a different category of chamber businesses.
To kick off the year, the chamber featured its Non Profit and Community Organization members which lie at the heart of Wright’s Mesa. These organizations, many of which are entirely volunteer run, provide a plethora of services to the community that would not be otherwise available. These organizations are vital to the community and the key to Norwood’s future growth and success.
For the second quarter of 2022, the chamber featured its Outdoor Recreation and Adventure business members. We all know that Norwood is a hidden gem when it comes to recreational activities and adventure in Colorado. And we are lucky enough to have a number of local businesses and organizations advocating for and promoting recreation on Wright’s Mesa.
For the third quarter of 2022, the chamber featured its Lodging business members. Lodging just happens to be the lifeblood of Norwood’s tourism economy and the primary funding source for the Norwood Chamber of Commerce thanks to the county lodging tax that is collected within the Norwood School District, which is earmarked for tourism marketing and promotion. The chamber’s lodging business members are vital in helping to sustain a vibrant and prosperous local economy.
And for the final quarter of 2022, the chamber featured its Services business members. Whether they are brick and mortar businesses or offer their services remotely, the Norwood Chamber’s service business members offer just about any type of solution you might need. And thanks to the high speed fiber internet that came in a couple years back, Norwood is attracting more and more service providers to the area who can help with whatever needs you may have!