Business

A number of economic forces continue to lure new buyers to the market even during the winter, a historically slower time for real estate sales.

Last week, Gov. Jared Polis downgraded the 33 Colorado counties that were classified as Level Red on the state’s COVID-19 status dial to Level Orange. On social media, Polis said he was trying to walk the difficult line between the public health crisis and the economic crisis. But the limited loosening of restrictions will not be enough to provide meaningful relief to many restaurant owners in Northern Colorado.

A long list of restaurants, gyms and movie theaters in Larimer County gained the first round of approvals for the program, which allows businesses to operate at one level lower on the state’s COVID-19 dial than the county’s current status.

Colorado has started scaling up a program that allows local businesses struggling under the weight of Level Red coronavirus restrictions to apply for permission to operate at a lower level of the state’s COVID-19 dial.

It's been a tough year for gas and oil prices, but solar power has seen steady growth during this pandemic year.

Many restaurants on the Front Range are struggling to extend the outdoor dining season through the winter, as COVID-19 restrictions have shut down indoor dining completely in 33 counties.

Panic buying has slowed down considerably since this spring, but one thing still lingering is higher demand for meat that's easier for people to cook themselves.

As the spike in COVID-19 cases continues and businesses close, people are finding themselves out of work again. To survive, many are turning to the state's unemployment system for support. It’s a complex, messy system, not built for these unprecedented times and the unprecedented surge in demand. Tamara Chuang of the Colorado Sun tries to help readers navigate these hurdles each week through her “What's Working” column. She spoke with KUNC’s Colorado Edition about what's going on with the State Extended Benefits program.

Between the pandemic, wildfires and a record-breaking drought, it's been a long and difficult year for many of Colorado's farmers and ranchers. Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg spoke with KUNC's Erin O'Toole about how the state is working to help support Colorado’s producers through the pandemic and beyond.

The idea has garnered broad support from Northern Colorado state representatives, local chambers of commerce and Larimer County commissioners, who all say small businesses are being unfairly targeted in the state’s attempt to flatten a spike in new COVID-19 cases.