Town of Rico Honored with Small Community of the Year Award at EDCC’s 2025 EDIE Awards
Pueblo, CO — October 28, 2025 — The Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) presented the Small Community of the Year Award to the Town of Rico during its annual Drive|Lead|Succeed Conference in Pueblo. The EDIE Awards recognize excellence in economic development and celebrate leaders and communities shaping Colorado’s economic future.
The Town of Rico was recognized for its steadfast commitment to long-term infrastructure investment, community revitalization, and sustainable growth. Despite its small size, Rico has demonstrated remarkable determination to strengthen its foundation through projects that enhance both essential services and quality of life for its residents.
This year, the town undertook the the engineering and working towards the construction of a long-needed sewer system while simultaneously securing nearly $700,000 in grant funding to revitalize its Town Park. The project transforms the park into a multi-use Recreation Hub featuring a bicycle pump track, covered ice rink, and modern skatepark — serving as a year-round asset for residents and visitors alike.
Rico is also leveraging its natural surroundings to become a key Recreation and Trailhead Hub, connecting its mining heritage along the Dolores River corridor to the Colorado Trail and San Juan Scenic Byway. With the addition of new amenities, dedicated parking, and thoughtful planning, the town is poised to become a must-stop destination for outdoor recreation.
Furthering its vision for sustainability, the community is investing in a net-zero public works facility and preserving a historic church as a new Community Center, while converting its attached home into employee housing to support workforce stability. Together, these initiatives exemplify the town’s strategic approach to futureproofing its community and preserving its character.
“The Town of Rico exemplifies what it means to be a resilient and forward-thinking rural community,” said Adam Kruegar, EDCC Board Chair. “Their strategic investments and focus on quality of life demonstrate that even the smallest communities can lead with innovation and vision.”
“Rico’s approach to community building is a model for small towns across Colorado,” said Kim Woodworth, EDCC Executive Director. “Their ability to blend infrastructure improvements, sustainability, and recreation into a cohesive strategy highlights the kind of local leadership that drives long-term economic vitality.”
Hosted annually by EDCC, the EDIE Awards honor the people, programs, and partnerships that exemplify innovation, collaboration, and impact in economic development across Colorado.