ALAMOSA — The San Luis Valley Development Resources Group (SLVDRG), in partnership with the San Luis Valley Council of Governments (SLVCOG), is moving forward with plans to develop a comprehensive GIS Strategic Plan for the region. The project, which aims to ensure the continuation of critical Geographic Information Systems (GIS) services in the Valley, has been awarded two State of Colorado grants. 

For approximately 25 years, the San Luis Valley GIS/GPS Authority and its affiliate Integrated Land Services (ILS) provided essential GIS products and services to local governments, nonprofits, and businesses across the San Luis Valley's six counties. These services included maintaining E911 data for all counties, providing parcel data updates, and producing digital and paper maps. 

However, the passing of the Authority's Director and President of ILS, Pete Magee, has left the future of these services uncertain. In response, SLVCOG has been collaborating with the Authority to determine a sustainable path forward. 

"GIS technology should be a standard resource available to our local governments," emphasized Sarah Stoeber, Executive Director of SLVCOG. "We are grateful to our state partners for their support in finding a solution that will keep these vital services in place." 

To inform the development of the GIS Strategic Plan, SLVDRG has allocated $40,000 received through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to conduct a GIS Needs Assessment and Feasibility Study. This initial phase, currently underway, is being led by Geographic Technologies Group (GTG), a national GIS consulting firm. 

GTG is surveying stakeholders to gather input on current GIS capabilities, data needs, and priorities. The survey results will provide a foundation for the Feasibility Study, which will evaluate options for reviving a regional GIS program that effectively serves the needs of the San Luis Valley. 

With a $20,000 planning grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) secured, SLVCOG and SLVDRG are prepared to move forward with creating the GIS Strategic Plan which will support GIS services such as economic development, emergency response & recover, water management, and other critical areas. The organizations have each set aside matching funds to further support the planning process. Completion of the Strategic Plan is anticipated by May 2025. 

"Nearly all of our local governments lack the capacity to fully utilize GIS internally," Stoeber noted. "By investing in this project, we can develop an economical, efficient, and reliable framework for delivering GIS services that will support the Valley for years to come."

In a related effort to bolster GIS capabilities in the region, SLVCOG has also been awarded a substantial Workforce Resilience Program grant from the Colorado Community College System. These funds are available to local governments to increase skills and capacity in GIS, GPS, and mapping technologies. 

Interested entities can learn more about the training reimbursement program and apply on the SLVDRG/COG website at www.slvdrg.org/slv-gis-training-reimbursement/.  

SLVCOG and SLVDRG encourage all stakeholders who could benefit from GIS to participate in the Needs Assessment survey, if they haven’t already. Interested parties may contact Craig Barraclough, the project lead, at CBarraclough@slvdrg.org to receive a survey link. The organizations plan to share additional updates with the community as the project progresses.