My oh my, I think BM chose this area in Saguache County to bury SM for a couple of reasons -- first, the proximity to the Maysville and the phony bike ride but more importantly, I came across some info that Moffat and Crestone are Colorado Cannabis grow Districts.
Didn't BM's first throw up the MJ retailer as a suspect? That's going to be BM's defense! Not me, look over there!
Moffat didn't just approve Area 420. The town annexed land from Saguche County for the development.
www.westword.com
9//21/18
Moffat didn't just approve Area 420: The town annexed land from Saguache County for the development — 420 acres, to be exact. Moffat residents hope that creating a concentration of pot businesses will bring new revenue to a town where the estimated household median income is less than $30,000. Potential tenants, meanwhile, hope Area 420 will reduce the cost of doing business that pot enterprises face in Denver and other Colorado communities already saturated with cannabis outfits.
By Kim Black Scattered along Highway 17 are greenhouses dedicated to the cultivation of marijuana, an industry that seemed to explode overnight after legalization of recreational use in 2012. The influx of cannabis growers to the San Luis Valley (SLV) has brought notable changes to our economy...
crestoneeagle.org
5/4/23
Scattered along Highway 17 are greenhouses dedicated to the cultivation of marijuana, an industry that seemed to explode overnight after legalization of recreational use in 2012. The influx of cannabis growers to the San Luis Valley (SLV) has brought notable changes to our economy, population, landscape, and trajectory. The town of Moffat has seen these changes perhaps more than most with the arrival of one of the largest commercial cannabis farms in the state, Area 420.
Spanning 420 acres across from the highway, the Area 420 Cannabis Business Park attracts independent cannabis farmers from all over the world who run small operations at the location. Their plans as a collective are to become licensed for centralized distribution channels, and to be able to sell their product direct to market.
Zoned for licensed, commercial grows, marijuana-infused product laboratories, testing labs and research facilities, Area 420 is an attractive prospect for anyone in the industry. In fact, owners Mike Biggio and Whitney Justice report that 12% of all licenses in the state come from Area 420. They boast that production is a fraction of the cost of other locations in the state and country because of the natural sunlight, low excise taxes, and licenses authorized by town ordinance.
To Moffat’s Mayor Cassandra Foxx, “Area 420 is bringing nothing but good things to the community” as well as “possible solutions for the town.” Increased tax revenue from the business park is planned to help fund Moffat infrastructure, improve water and sewer systems, roads, and assist with plans for a geothermal power plant. The increased tax revenue for Moffat comes from a 2% marijuana excise tax and licensing fees. Growers also pay a 15% excise tax to the state of Colorado, which was approved by Moffat registered voters.
Allocating these funds to installing a water and sewer system for the town is a top priority for Mayor Foxx, who says they are “just at the beginning stages.” The town is currently collaborating with Biggio and Justice to improve Moffat’s multiple municipal wells by installing Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved distribution lines, chlorination systems, and wastewater treatment systems.
The town of Moffat and Area 420 owners are also collaborating to propose two 5-megawatt geothermal power plants for the area in attempts to solve energy problems. Grant money will be used to cover the exploratory portion for geothermal spots; once located, investors can begin building. Advocates urge that geothermal power could connect neighboring towns and SLV communities.