Phil Castle, The Business Times

Two events will offer a look at coworking spaces as well as discussions about how to attract remote workers to Western Colorado

“The Western Slope is a perfect place for those working in the remote economy to land,” said Brian Watson, co-founder and co-owner of Alt Space.

The company has scheduled grand opening parties at its coworking spaces in Montrose and Grand Junction. The events also will feature discussions with Aaron Bolzle, founder of a remote work recruiting program.

The events are set for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 9 at the Alt Space location at 210 E. Main St. in Montrose and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 10 at the Alt Space location at 750 Main St. in Grand Junction.

The events are open to the public at no charge. Online registration is required at www.riseofremotemontrose.com or www.riseofremotegj.com.

Watson and his wife, Bonnie, purchased three coworking spaces from Proximity last year, including a space in the Maverick Innovation Center at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction as well as spaces in Montrose and Ridgway. They opened two more spaces in downtown Grand Junction and Telluride.

Brian Watson said they wanted to host grand opening parties last year to celebrate the new ownership, but postponed them because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upcoming events will offer food and beverages as well as an opportunity to check out the coworking spaces, Watson said. Moreover, he said he’s looking forward to the events as a way to talk with participants about the resources they need from coworking spaces.

Bolzle will join in what are billed as fireside chats from 6 to 7 p.m. at both events to discuss his experiences in recruiting and retaining remote workers and best practices that could work in Western Colorado.

Bolzle was founding executive director of the Tulsa Remote Program, which offers grants and other benefits to remote workers who move to and work from Tulsa, Okla. He now operates a consulting firm that helps communities attract and retain remote workers. 

Watson said Alt Space caters not only to entrepreneurs starting ventures, but the coworking locations also serve the growing number of remote workers who’ve moved to Western Colorado and are looking for an alternative to working from home.

The pandemic accelerated the trend toward remote work, Watson said. What was envisioned at the beginning of the pandemic as a temporary measure has for many companies become a permanent transition to remote work forces.

That’s freed remote workers to live where they want. Many of them have relocated to Western Colorado to enjoy the quality of life, recreational opportunities and comparatively lower cost of living, he said.

With high-speed internet access, dedicated workspaces and conference rooms, coworking spaces offer an alternative to working from home, he said.

The Watsons operate one of the first fully automated operations of its kind in the country. They use Proximity software to handle most functions — from memberships to access to scheduling the use of conference rooms. They also offer access to any of their five locations, enabling members to travel and work throughout the region.

Rates vary from a daily drop-in rate of $30 during business hours to a $199 monthly flex rate that offers round-the-clock access. Dedicated desks are available for $350 a month.

Watson said Western Colorado is well positioned to attract even more remote workers, and coworking spaces constitute an important part of the resources they need.

For more information about Alt Space and coworking spaces, log on to https://altspacecowork.com.