Welcome back to The NoCo Pulse for the week of June 15, where we keep our finger on the pulse of what's moving in Northern Colorado. Kurt Bear joins Kelsi Harris to bring you the latest community news, business updates, and local highlights as baseball season heats up and Northern Colorado families navigate the whirlwind that is summer.

What's moving features insights from the FCP Insider event with Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics, revealing that Colorado is experiencing negative migration for the first time in years. The biggest challenge holding Northern Colorado back is workforce availability, with workers moving out for more affordable housing and lower taxes in other states. The young and educated workforce isn't growing fast enough to support business expansion, which is why Chambers and the NoCo Foundation are focusing heavily on housing production and affordability. In related real estate news, the NoCo Foundation announced the purchase of the Council Tree Library from Poudre Libraries, with plans to move in around 2028 when the new community center is completed. Behind the scenes at the Greeley Stampede, which runs June 24th for its 104th annual event, the dirt of the rodeo arena is constantly on the move. The footing award winning surface requires year round maintenance including a dirt zamboni for grading, rock removal machines working over the old riverbed, and immediate overnight dirt turning after concerts to keep it fluffy for the next day's rodeo.

Community gatherings spotlight Ginger and Baker's second murder mystery event called Farm to Floor on August 18th, with tickets available now after the May event sold out. FoCo's fifth annual Juneteenth celebration takes place Friday June 19th and Saturday June 20th, starting with a youth gathering at the Cultural Enrichment Center and kickoff concert at Foothills Mall on Friday, followed by a community bike ride from Washington Park to Foothills Mall on Saturday featuring yoga, concerts, and vendors throughout the day. Ken's Automotive hosts the second annual Power Wheels 500 electric car race on Saturday June 20th from 10 AM to 1 PM, featuring classes from 12 volt to 24 volt in modified and non modified categories, free to attend with food and drink available.

Keeping the beat features Off the Hook Arts Music Spoke Series running all week with the COA String Quartet Recital on Friday June 19th at 5:30 PM in the gorgeous Northern Hotel building lobby, featuring members of the Dolly String Quartet. Verboten's 5th Street Block Party happens June 20th from 1 PM to 10 PM, co hosted with 477 Distilling and Comic Chicken, featuring live music from Black Joe Lewis and the Honey Bears, the Grant Saban Trio, food trucks, vendors, and abundant shade as three downtown Loveland businesses come together to activate 5th Street.

Community support highlights the Junior League of Fort Collins Garden Tour on June 27th from 8 AM to 1 PM in the old Fort Collins High School neighborhood near the CSU University Arts Center, featuring open gardens, a block party, kid zone, vendors, and food trucks including the Taco Man. Bike to Work Day returns June 24th with free tune ups available all around town at stations along bicycle routes, perfect for businesses looking to serve the community and get staff involved for a couple hours.

Business news celebrates the State of Business event by the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce on June 24th from 4 to 6 PM at the Anheuser Busch Beer Garden. This signature annual event draws three to five hundred people for just $25 and features regionally known speakers, updates from city and county leaders, and highlights from the recently released workforce study that the Chamber heavily funded.

Food picks feature Tres Amigos Mexican Restaurant in downtown Greeley, the second location from their Cheyenne Wyoming original that took over the Luna's space. Despite being overwhelmed during their first or second Friday coinciding with Blues Jam, the busiest night of the year in downtown Greeley, the food was amazing and the large margaritas are only $9. Canyons and Coals at Riverside presents an exclusive private chef event with Chef Billy on June 18th for $153, featuring a premium four course meal cooked over coals followed by a concert by At Least Wonder, perfect for that special date night experience.

Special shout out to Friday Fest in downtown Greeley on June 19th, which will be Juneteenth specific in partnership with the Marcus Garvey Center for UNC, featuring traditional Juneteenth colors of black, green, red, and yellow.

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