About Colorado: San Luis Valley Region
Comprised of Saguache, Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Rio Grande and Mineral counties, the San Luis Valley is located at the headwaters of the Rio Grande River and is the largest alpine valley in the world. Home of the oldest town and oldest water right in Colorado, the Valley was settled by families from northern New Mexico in the 1850s. Agriculture is a significant part of the region's economy, as is Adams State College. The Valley hosts the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, which contains the tallest sand dunes in North America, as well as one of the most diversified solar industries in Colorado.
Workforce Training and Educational Resources
The organizations and resources listed below could help you return to the job market or gain new skills to make you more qualified for jobs in the 21st century economy.
Newly Unemployed
Register with the Colorado Workforce Center closest to you. There is one located in Alamosa, and in Monte Vista. Workforce Centers can direct you to employment and job training opportunities in the area.
Job Training
If you need any additional job training or if you are a veteran, Workforce Center staff will connect you with Rocky Mountain Service, Employment, & Redevelopment, or RMSER. RMSER staff will work with you to develop job training tailored to your unique skills and previous work experience. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment also offers a broad array of services and resources for job seekers.
Education
For opportunities to improve your education, the San Luis Valley hosts three well-established institutions. Adams State College and Trinidad State College offer two- and four-year degree programs in technical and academic fields that can make you more competitive in today's economy. Both institutions offer night classes and flexible schedules, as well as staff to help determine whether you are eligible for financial aid.
And Western State College, located in Gunnison, offers many degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as in professional areas such as business, accounting, recreation and teacher education.
Still need help? Feel free to contact my San Luis Valley office: 719-589-2101
Regional News
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Udall, Lamborn Pass Bill to Name New Colorado Springs VA Clinic
Thursday, December 4, 2014Lawmakers Led Bipartisan Effort to Name Clinic After Colorado Native, Medal of Honor Recipient Pfc. Floyd Lindstrom -
Udall Statement on Chuck Hagel's Resignation as Defense Secretary
Monday, November 24, 2014 -
Udall Welcomes President's Decision to Heed His Call, Act on Deportation Relief
Thursday, November 20, 2014 -
Udall: Senate's Failure to Advance USA Freedom Act Not the End of NSA Reform
Tuesday, November 18, 2014Renews Call to Rein In Overbroad Surveillance, Protect Americans' Privacy
Regional Blog
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Rebuilding Stronger, One Year Since the Flood
Thursday, September 11, 2014Coloradans have shown time and again that we are not defined by tragedies and disasters, but rather by how we stand united to face them and rebuild together as one community. From the first rainfall in September 2013 until the flood subsided, this unprecedented disaster tested our strength. Though this destruction shook us, it did not break us.
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Keeping Faith with the Wilderness Act
Wednesday, September 3, 2014From Colorado's earliest days, connecting with wilderness has been part of what defines us as Westerners. As a lifelong outdoorsman and leader of the Colorado Outward Bound School for 10 years, I can attest to the importance of Colorado's wilderness to our economy and our special way of life.
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Celebrating Colorados Wilderness
Friday, August 29, 2014Colorado is home to awe-inspiring public lands and natural treasures. We can thank the Wilderness Act of 1964 for preserving special places like Maroon Bells, the Great Sand Dunes and large swaths of Rocky Mountain National Park. This forward-thinking legislation ensures generations of Coloradans can experience and enjoy these places — and many others across the country — in their natural states.
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Wrap-Up: The Colorado Womens Forum on Economic Opportunity
Monday, August 18, 2014Our great state has been shaped and molded by the strong Colorado women who lead their communities, bolster our economy and provide for their families. One of the best parts of my job representing Colorado in Washington, D.C., is to promote policies that open up economic opportunities for everyone — and last week, I co-hosted the Colorado Women’s Forum on Economic Opportunity to bring all those ideas and idea-makers together.