US Senator Gardner: BLM Move to Grand Junction Earns Praise from Leaders Across the West
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Gardner’s (R-CO) announcement that the Bureau of Land Management will be relocating its headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Grand Junction, CO is earning praise from leaders in Colorado and across the West. The move is supported by numerous Coloradans and local officials, including Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, Mesa County Commissioner, Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, Colorado Farm Bureau, and Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado.
What They Are Saying:
Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce’s President/CEO Diane Schwenke: “As the voice of the Western Slope business community and on the behalf of over 900 businesses that are the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, we could not be more pleased with the news received today regarding the BLM Headquarters moving to Grand Junction. This was a team effort between our economic developers and public officials that resulted in a “win” for diversifying the economy, which will have a lasting impact on the strength of our local economy. This is a move that will truly put Grand Junction on the map, providing new opportunities and benefits to all our existing businesses, from restaurants to car dealers. I particularly want to [thank] Senator Gardner and Congressman Tipton for getting the ball rolling by introducing the bill to move the headquarters west.”
Mesa County Commissioner Rose Pugliese: “We are excited to have the BLM headquarters relocating to Grand Junction. This is a perfect example of our partners coming together and pushing in the same direction for the betterment of our community. We are incredibly grateful for Senator Gardner and our Congressional delegation for this opportunity.”
Northwest Colorado Council of Governments: “NWCCOG congratulates Senator Gardner on bird-dogging this agency relocation on behalf of each of us who consider ourselves citizens of the West whose most prized shared spaces are often on public lands. Through his effort, BLM can bring the management of these multi-use assets closer to the people.”
Colorado Farm Bureau’s Executive VP Chad Vorthmann: “Colorado Farm Bureau members from across the state were gathered in Grand Junction today for our summer meeting when the news came from Sen Gardner’s office about the BLM’s move. The news was met by enthusiastic cheers from the folks at the meeting. Grand Junction as the new home for the nation’s largest land management agency is great news. Western Colorado is right in the heart of federally managed lands and is well situated to host the agency, sooner rather than later.”
Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado’s Executive Director Bonnie Petersen: “AGNC members thank Senator Gardner and Congressman Tipton for their efforts in moving the BLM headquarters to Grand Junction. The members of our five-county planning region as well as our associate members all came together to support bringing the BLM to Grand Junction. Our members believe this move will be good for the region, the state and the western states with public lands. We look forward to having decision makers here where they can see the impact of public lands and its influence on the way we live, work AND play.”
Governor Jared Polis: “I have been proud to support moving the BLM to Colorado as a Congressman and now as Governor and I am thrilled to see that hard work of so many Colorado leaders pay off. As I stated to Secretary Bernhardt many times, Grand Junction is the perfect location for the BLM because of community support, location closer to the land BLM manages and the positive impact it will have on our western Colorado economy. Hard to think of a better place to house the department responsible for overseeing our beloved public lands, and I hope that the presence of BLM in Mesa County grows significantly over time, but this is a start!”
The Congressional Western Caucus applauded the BLM proposal with statements from members on their website here.
Senate Western Caucus Chairman Steve Daines: “This is welcome news to the West and all Americans who love our great public lands. Moving public land decision makers out of the marble halls and buildings of DC and closer to the people and vast public lands they manage is common sense. I applaud Secretary Bernhardt and President Trump for finally getting this done.”
Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Paul Gosar: “Any day where the West adds at least 222 new, permanent jobs is a good day. BLM will be more efficient and responsive to the needs of local communities with its new Headquarters in Grand Junction. Ensuring employees live alongside ranchers, farmers, energy producers and other hard-working Americans who are most affected by agency decisions will increase transparency and accountability. I applaud Senator Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton for spearheading this monumental victory. Ensuring Westerners have a stronger voice on issues that impact their livelihoods is a no brainer.”
Cory Gardner is a member of the U.S. Senate serving Colorado. He sits on the Energy & Natural Resources Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, the Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee, and is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy