Good morning and welcome to Montrose Fresh, from The Montrose Daily Press. It’s MondayFebruary 22nd and we’re here to bring you a closer look at our top stories, events and more that matter to us here in Western Colorado. 

Today -  We’re taking a look at how some of Governor Jared Polis' plans align with developments in Montrose.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Elevate Internet. Whether it’s for your home or your business they offer the best speeds at the best price. Right now, if you refer a friend you can get $25 off! Give them a call for more information at 844-386-8744 or visit them at elevateinternet.com

Standing before lawmakers in his State of the State address on Wednesday, Governor Jared Polis discussed year long challenges the state has faced because of the pandemic and other factors.

He also talked about the future in Colorado, a future that could be aided by tax cuts, the expansion of broadband internet access, and upgrading roads.

Polis has alluded to his more-than-$1 billion economic stimulus plan - a plan that could create thousands of jobs for the economy.

During his speech, Polis said he wants to get rid of special interest tax breaks and use the savings to lower taxes. 

He also said he’s focused on eliminating the business personal property tax to benefit thousands of small businesses.

In addition, he wants to provide up to $600 per child through the Colorado Child Tax Credit and stop taxing Social Security benefits for seniors.

Polis noted that meeting these goals should not only help jumpstart Colorado and boost the economy, but will improve the quality of life for Coloradans.

The message drew applause from the crowd.

The $24 million raised for the Colorado COVID Relief Fund was also highlighted.

But how do these goals align with current developments in Montrose?

A few topics in particular that were brought up, aligned with the potential future of Montrose. 

One of those has been a hot topic in recent months. Affordable housing.

Montrose’s push for affordable housing dates back to at least 2016.

Montrose’s City Council’s support for affordable housing in the community has been well documented.  And the councilors have been vocal about the need during city council meetings and work sessions for several months.

And housing developments are potentially on the way. The Basecamp Subdivision, a multi-family development could bring 276 units. The HUB at Montrose Crossing also presents another opportunity for apartment units.

The wealth of new dwelling spaces could become attractive options for locals residents, and open up housing for others in the area.

Polis also mentioned the need to invest in rural communities. Though Montrose has already seen an influx of new business on Main additional funds may give a significant boost to the Montrose downtown area.

And then there’s the proposal to stop taxing seniors’ Social Security benefits. This could help those in Montrose relying on such a plan. People aged 65-74 lead the pack among all age groups in Montrose -- that’s 71% higher than the state average.

The move to expand broadband access has already made some headway in Montrose. Earlier this month, Montrose County School District, in partnership with Elevate and Clear Networx, received a state grant to address the need for high-speed internet within the community. This will aid students, educators and other staff who lack stable and reliable internet access needed for online learning.

Finally, any sort of relief on tax burdens for middle class families may be welcomed, too, as 27% of household income in Montrose is below $25,000.

And before we go,  we’d like to highlight Fran Noonan. Noonan was experiencing numbness in her hand and so, went to the emergency room. She wasn’t thinking that she would soon be headed to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction by ambulance after an MRI turned up something suspicious, or that two days later she would be undergoing surgery.

And she wasn’t thinking about brain cancer.

The lab results confirmed the worst.

Although the prognosis then was grim, Noonan today stands as a so-far successful clinical trial, after enrolling in one at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland for pioneering treatment entailing an immunotherapy drug and brain surgery.

And Noonan became a 'pioneering' case study.

Noonan and her family want others to know they can seek clinical trials, too, rather than just accept a terminal diagnosis.

Her daughters were determined to save their mother and aggressively researched options, she said.

They found support groups — and hospitals offering clinical trials.

To help Noonan keep up with expenses, her daughters and friends are holding an auction on Facebook Live at 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 27. On the block are several goods and services donated by local businesses.

For all the details visit the full story at montrosepress.com

The Noonan family urges people not to shy away from thorough research and not to settle for just one medical opinion. Noonan is determined to continue helping others. Part of that is sharing her story; part of it is deciding to one day become a research item herself.

That’s all for today, thank you for listening! For more information on any of these stories visit us at montrosepress.com.

And don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Elevate Internet. Visit them at elevateinternet.com to learn more.

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