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TRINIDAD – The streets of Trinidad on a summer afternoon are packed with cars, and the sidewalks are teeming with people taking advantage of the small businesses downtown.
A very different sight to that of 2003, when Kim Schultz, owner of a downtown business, first moved to town.
“There was nothing there, it was abandoned, there was a restaurant, a lot of empty storefronts.”
Schultz hails from Pueblo in Trinidad to lead the Chamber of Commerce, hoping to rebuild the city. More than 15 years later, his dream is on the way to come true. She says that when recreational cannabis was legalized in Trinidad in 2014, “everything changedâ€.
“People bought the vacant buildings. Shops have opened. We were able to put people to work, so they stayed!
Schultz’s cannabis store has grown from just eight employees to 33.
“My proudest moment is being able to employ people with a good job, to give them benefits and something reliable, to do something they love.”
Cy Michaels, another business owner in the city, says the pandemic has actually helped Trinidad to some extent.
“People came here to enjoy the atmosphere of a small town where they didn’t feel like they were one above someone else. People have come here to enjoy our city’s crafts, craft beers, craft restaurants! “
Wally Wallace, director of economic development for the city of Trinidad, says many people who move to the city come from Denver and bring new businesses with them. He moved to Trinidad over two years ago after spending 10 years in Denver himself.
“Most of my friends thought I was crazy and didn’t see the point in moving to this city they had never been to!
However, he now says that many friends have followed in his footsteps.
“There are a lot of opportunities for people who are willing to work to start something. “
Wallace expressed several ideas for upcoming events in Trinidad, including summer and fall festivals to watch for a weekend.
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