Walsenburg looks to marijuana for economic boost

The City of Walsenburg says a Denver company is planning an industrial agricultural complex that could bring up to 600 jobs to the southern Colorado town.

The city says that in late March, city council passed an ordinance that makes retail stores, cultivation facilities, products manufacturing and marijuana testing legal within city limits.

The city says council is currently reviewing plans to annex a large portion of a 2500 acre parcel known as “City Ranch” into city limits. It says doing so would significantly increase the geographic size of the city.

Walsenburg says a company called Martra plans to build an industrial agricultural complex to serve the cannabis industry. The company has asked Walsenburg to annex the land that its project will be built on. The city says the Mantra facility could bring up to 600 jobs. Groundbreaking is expected later this year.

The City of Walsenburg says it is positioning itself for long term economic growth by embracing the marijuana industry.

In a news release, the city said “The City Council and City Administration have approved the preliminary plans by Martra Holdings and are very excited that a development of this large scale and planned longevity will be making its home in Walsenburg and Huerfano County.” The release goes on to say that “Walsenburg has suffered more than its fair share of economic reversals over the past several decades and the potential for a development that may provide long term economic growth and stability for Walsenburg is very attractive and largely being welcomed by the community.”