The Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado is pleased to announce the release of new regional data sets, now available on the Region 9 website.
These data sets provide up-to date, easy-to-access information about key indicators that shape Southwest Colorado’s economy, workforce, and communities across Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, and San Juan counties.
The data covers areas such as:
• Employment and industry trends: workforce numbers, wages and top industries by county.
• Demographics and population: age, household and migration patterns across the five-county region.
• Housing and affordability: housing costs, availability and income comparisons.
• Commuting and mobility: insights into where residents live, work and travel.
“These tools are designed to make credible, current data accessible to everyone — from local governments and businesses to nonprofits and grant writers,” said Audrey Royem, economic development coordinator. “Having a trusted source of information means stronger decisions, more effective planning and greater opportunities for our communities.”
From data to decisions: the DDD Framework
Region 9 sees these data sets not as an endpoint, but as the foundation for a more inclusive decision-making process.
Relying on numbers alone doesn’t guarantee sustainable results — true resilience comes when data is paired with dialogue and community voice.
That’s why Region 9 is introducing the DDD Framework (Data + Discussion = Decisions):
• Data provides a reliable baseline, ensuring all stakeholders are working from the same facts.
• Discussion layers in lived experience, local realities and community values — creating understanding, trust and buy-in.
• Decisions become stronger, more equitable and longer lasting because they are informed by both facts and voices from the ground.
“Data alone can point us in a direction, but when we open it up to discussion — to the emotions, stories and perspectives of our communities — we get decisions that last,” Royem added. “That’s the goal of the DDD Framework: moving from information to action in a way that truly reflects the region and invites meaningful, sustained change.”
The data is updated regularly and can be embedded by local governments or organizations on their own websites as a free resource, creating a consistent, shared baseline for decisions across the region.
The new data sets can be accessed at www.region9edd.org/dashboards.
>