About Colorado: San Luis Valley Region

Comprised of Saguache, Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Rio Grande and Mineral counties, the San Luis Valley is located at the headwaters of the Rio Grande River and is the largest alpine valley in the world. Home of the oldest town and oldest water right in Colorado, the Valley was settled by families from northern New Mexico in the 1850s. Agriculture is a significant part of the region's economy, as is Adams State College. The Valley hosts the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, which contains the tallest sand dunes in North America, as well as one of the most diversified solar industries in Colorado.
Workforce Training and Educational Resources
The organizations and resources listed below could help you return to the job market or gain new skills to make you more qualified for jobs in the 21st century economy.
Newly Unemployed
Register with the Colorado Workforce Center closest to you. There is one located in Alamosa, and in Monte Vista. Workforce Centers can direct you to employment and job training opportunities in the area.
Job Training
If you need any additional job training or if you are a veteran, Workforce Center staff will connect you with Rocky Mountain Service, Employment, & Redevelopment, or RMSER. RMSER staff will work with you to develop job training tailored to your unique skills and previous work experience. The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment also offers a broad array of services and resources for job seekers.
Education
For opportunities to improve your education, the San Luis Valley hosts three well-established institutions. Adams State College and Trinidad State College offer two- and four-year degree programs in technical and academic fields that can make you more competitive in today's economy. Both institutions offer night classes and flexible schedules, as well as staff to help determine whether you are eligible for financial aid.
And Western State College, located in Gunnison, offers many degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as in professional areas such as business, accounting, recreation and teacher education.
Still need help? Feel free to contact my San Luis Valley office: 719-589-2101
Regional News
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Udall Promises Strong Oversight Over New Drone Policy, Supports Closure of Guantanamo Bay Facility
Thursday, May 23, 2013Udall Welcomes President's Renewed Focus on Transparency, Promises to Hold Obama Administration Accountable -
Udall Introduces Bill to Protect Americans' Privacy from Private Drone Operators
Thursday, May 23, 2013Safeguarding Privacy and Fostering Aerospace Innovation Act Ensures that Unmanned Aerial Systems Do Not Infringe Upon Americans' Privacy Rights -
Udall Introduces Proposal to Strengthen Wildfire Prevention, Ensure Fires Are Treated the Same as Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Floods
Thursday, May 23, 2013Udall Also Introduces Farm Bill Amendments to Strengthen Forest Management, Wildfire Mitigation -
Udall Welcomes Xcel Energy Effort to Turn Beetle-Killed Timber into Electricity
Monday, May 20, 2013'Colorado is Showing the Nation How We Can Turn Brown Trees into a New Kind of Green'
Regional Blog
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Protecting Your Privacy Rights
Friday, May 17, 2013Our constitutional right to be free from "unreasonable searches and seizures" applies regardless of whether we are talking about letters kept in a desk or emails stored online. Even though the way we connect as Americans has changed - with emails, tweets and Facebook replacing more traditional forms of communication - our constitutional right to privacy must remain protected.
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Celebrating Cinco de Mayo
Sunday, May 5, 2013Today, as we gather in our communities to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, let's not forget the historical significance of May 5, 1862, when Mexican forces courageously stood their ground against France's attempts to establish its rule in the Americas during the Battle of Puebla.
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WHAT I'M WORKING ON: Fixing Sequestrations Impact on Travelers, Businesses and Commerce
Wednesday, May 1, 2013 -
Strengthening Our Families and Communities
Tuesday, April 30, 2013When I came out in support of marriage equality in August 2011, I joined a small core of 18 senators who publicly stood for progress on that issue. Like many Americans, there was a point when I struggled with accepting the idea of marriage for gay and lesbian couples; I thought perhaps civil unions would be a workable compromise. But over my years in Congress, I have met more and more Coloradans who understand what this issue really boils down to: It is about love and commitment, about basic dignity and about being able to protect your families.
