The Town of Rico received statewide recognition this week when the Economic Development Council of Colorado named it the 2025 Small Community of the Year at the EDCC annual conference in Pueblo. The award, announced by the council and supported by a nomination from Region 9 Economic Development District, cited a slate of recent community projects that officials say strengthen local infrastructure, expand recreational opportunities and preserve historic assets.

Region 9’s nomination emphasized several collaborative initiatives. Rico worked with the Rico Trails Alliance, the U.S. Forest Service and partners along the Rio Grande Southern corridor to create all‑season trailhead parking, improving access for hikers, bikers and winter recreationists. The town also revitalized a neglected parcel along the Dolores River into a bicycle pump track and a covered winter ice rink that doubles as a summer picnic pavilion, bringing year‑round public use to an underutilized riverside site.

Addressing municipal operations and sustainability, the town replaced an aging public‑works shed with a new energy‑efficient, net‑zero building to house Public Works, Engineering, and Parks & Open Space staff. In another move to preserve local heritage while addressing housing and community needs, Rico purchased a historic church with plans to preserve it as a future community center; the attached home is intended for employee housing.

Town Manager Chauncey McCarthy framed the award as the result of years of work to strengthen infrastructure and build welcoming public spaces, and Region 9 EDD noted that the accomplishments stand out given Rico’s small staff and resources. The recognition at the Pueblo conference marks a regional validation of locally driven strategies that blend historic preservation, sustainability and outdoor recreation development.

For residents of Dolores County, the projects translate into tangible local benefits. Improved trailhead parking and year‑round recreation facilities are expected to draw more visitors to Rico and support nearby businesses, while the newer municipal building reduces operational costs and models energy resilience. The adaptive reuse of the church aims to create a gathering place that can host events and services, and the attached employee housing addresses a persistent challenge for small mountain towns: retaining skilled workers.

Rico’s approach reflects broader trends in rural and mountain communities leveraging outdoor assets and historic character to foster economic vitality and quality of life. The award could also help the town attract further partners and funding for future projects by raising its profile among regional agencies and philanthropies.

As Rico moves from recognition to implementation, officials will face the familiar tasks of maintaining infrastructure, managing visitor impacts, and ensuring that new developments serve long‑time residents as well as newcomers. For a town with limited staff and deep community commitment, the EDCC honor underscores the strategic value of partnerships and the potential for small, targeted investments to produce outsized returns for local life and the county’s economy.