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 Canyonlands beckon
11/7/2007 By: Melanie B Mazur
This rock formation is one of hundreds awaiting exploration in the Canyonlands Needles District in Utah
BAYFIELD, IGNACIO SEEK INPUT ON GROCERY STORES
Both the Bayfield and Ignacio town governments are surveying residents on what they want for local grocery shopping.
Concerned about estimates that up to 85 percent of grocery shopping is done in Durango or Farmington, town managers are trying to find ways to expand local offerings.
Ignacio is working with the owners of the local Shur-Valu, La Tienda Foods of New Mexico, to see if an expansion of the store is possible.
Town Manager Balty Quintana told members of the Ignacio Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday that La Tienda might be interested in expanding into a 30,000-square-foot store. Local property owners are working with the Region 9 Economic Development District to see if they could construct a larger building for Shur Valu to lease. The November town newsletter, sent to everyone who receives utilities in Ignacio, asks residents if they would “support using the public funding process for a new grocery store if taxes are not increased?” It also asks people to answer the question, “Do you believe Ignacio needs a new grocery store?”
In Bayfield, Fort Lewis College students are conducting a marketing survey for the town asking what residents want for local shopping.
An online survey is available on the town’s web page, www.bayfield.govoffice.com or at the Times’ website, www.pinerivertimes.com.
Surveys also are available at Town Hall and need to be returned by Monday, Nov. 19.
The students, Tomas German-Palacios and Jeff Norgard, said part of their study is asking regional grocery chains what they’re looking for in a new location, and seeing if Bayfield can provide it.
The students also will talk with local landowners about which sites are availb.e The survey consists of eight questions, asking for preference in supermarkets and where people shop.
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