The personal stories of Estes Park’s workforce are the subject of a new docuseries produced by the Rocky Mountain Channel in partnership with Visit Estes Park. The first of six planned episodes will begin streaming at 7 p.m. this evening.
The series named “Building Community” will focus on how an additional 3.5% lodging tax collected on hotel and short-term lodging stays throughout the Estes Park Local Marketing District is providing funds that are channeled to the Estes Park Housing Authority for workforce housing and to the Town of Estes Park for childcare.
Following state legislative and governor approval, Estes Park voters approved the lodging tax ballot measure, locally known as 6E, by a 63% margin, in November 2022. The campaign to garner support for the ballot initiative was dubbed “the tax you don’t pay.”
Last year, the additional lodging tax generated $5,650,243. By law, the bed tax revenue, which does not sunset, is dedicated for workforce housing and childcare.
“These funds support the foundation of the community by not only helping enhance the visitor experience, but they also allow our community to thrive by providing housing and childcare solutions,” said Rachel Ward Oppermann, marketing director for Visit Estes Park.
The first episode in the docuseries features Apelles Morales, a local pastry chef and single mother who has lived and worked in Estes Park for nearly a decade and who has faced the challenges of rising housing costs.
The next episode will focus on Mountain Top Preschool. When the owners put the building up for sale last year, the Town bought it with 6E money to make sure it remained a childcare center.
“We want to be partners in destination stewardship and an important part of that is storytelling. We are a supporter of telling this story and helping Rocky Mountain Channel do that,” said Oppermann.
Click here for a sneak peek at the first episode.