The Journal

JoDee Powers, a longtime Colorado and Montezuma County resident, will be joining the Montezuma Community Economic Development Association to serve as the organization’s economic development specialist, according to Terry Blair-Burton, program administrator of Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado.

In the past 8 years, Powers has focused on mobilizing communities around local economies through Livewell Montezuma to help the county examine self-sustaining food systems as well as created greater access to healthy foods for area residents.

Powers’ work with Livewell Montezuma in partnership with Livewell Colorado, assisted programs like Farm to School, Montezuma School to Farm, development of a countywide food system framework and supported the successful creation of the 20 member distribution cooperative, Southwest Farm Fresh, Blair-Burton said.

MCEDA, which formed in 2007, assists businesses with their growth, expansion and retention plans by being a “boots on the ground resource.”

Powers replaces Chelsea Jones, who relocated to Denver.

For more information on MCEDA, visit www.montezumaceda.org.