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The Galloping Goose Historical Society was approved as an enterprise zone contribution project in November.
The project was approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission. This designation will allow the society’s donors giving $250 or more to claim a 25% state tax credit and a 12.5% state tax credit on in-kind donations.
This is in addition to the federal tax deduction for those who donate to a nonprofit organization.
The society started working with Region 9 in May. Region 9 administers the project.
“Region 9 EDD administers the Enterprise Zone program for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade,” Region 9 program administrator Terry Blair-Burton told The Journal. “Approved EZ projects must have an economic development focus and align with the EZ mission, which is job creation, job retention, business expansion and community development. The Goose was approved as a tourist attraction, bringing visitors from all around the world to experience this corner of the state.”
Lifetime member Kent Aikin said the Enterprise Zone designation helps promote museum tourism.
“(Region 9 tries) to support economic growth in an area,” Aikin said. “One of those things that they try to do is support tourism. We fall into the tourism category.”
The Rio Grande Southern Railroad was built in the area in the 1890s and was primarily used for silver mining in Telluride and Rico. The track was 169 miles long.
The society was founded in Dolores in 1987 as a way to “preserve historical Rio Grande Southern Railroad artifacts and equipment,” including the Rio Grande Southern Dolores Depot Museum and The Galloping Goose No. 5, which is only one of seven rail vehicles made of its kind.
The Galloping Goose No. 5 was purchased by five members from the Rotary Club of Dolores in 1953 for $250. It was then moved to Flander’s Park in Dolores where it sat until the society’s founding.
“It’s really interesting that railroads transformed our society,” Aikin said. “Before railroads, people depended on horse and buggies and walking to get to one place or another … the Rio Grande Southern Railroad, which was one aspect of railroads in Colorado. It went right through our area. It started in Ridgeway, it went down through Telluride, it went down through Rico to Dolores, over to Mancos, over through Hesperus and to Durango.”
The designation as an Enterprise Zone Contribution Project was approved “as they (the society) seek to increase their excursions, visitation and scope of regional history preservation,” according to a news release from Region 9.
“The Rio Grande Southern Railroad was vital to the economic development of southwestern Colorado. Our society is an important link to the history of that era and promotes tourism in our region,” society board president Joe Becker said, adding that field trips to the museum present a great learning opportunity.
Right now, there are only 29 projects of this kind that are designated as enterprise zones in Southwest Colorado.
More information about the historical society can be found online at gallopinggoose5.org.
