Owners of the high-altitude running club and athletic training center, the Mancos Project, have put the 2-year-old business on the market.
Since Ben Hahn announced he and his wife were moving to Southern Montana and selling the business, he says he has fielded several inquiries from across the U.S., and is in talks with a group of Mancos residents who are interested in taking it over.
Hahn is asking for $25,000 with no money down, according to a Mancos Project Facebook post.
To start the operation in 2013, the Mancos Project received a $25,000 micro-enterprise loan from the Region 9 Economic Development District.
"I've seen quite a bit of interest. The business is doing well," said Hahn. "We still receive phone calls and interest and different countries from athletes looking to train. I think the biggest draw is it's a turnkey operation. It's already ready to go."
In addition to the Mancos Project running club name, the sale price includes the High Altitude Training Center. Although the business started out geared toward distance runners, last year it added training for cyclists. Hahn also says that the prospective buyers from Mancos are considering further diversification of the offerings.
"Right now, it's looking like a group of residents of Mancos are interested in purchasing it, which would be great. It can stay local and should be a good economic driver for the town," said Hahn. "Last season, we were experimenting with cycling programs, and I think the potential new owners are going to be continuing and promoting cycling, and possibly adding a rock-climbing component."
Hahn says he expects to know more about the status of the sale by the end of July but notes that nothing is pending yet, and he is still fielding offers.
A big part of the Mancos Project was organizing and promoting the Cowboy Half Marathon. Hahn says he's donated that race to the Mancos Public Library, which stands to net any future proceeds from the event.
"I was the race director for the last two years, and it could potentially raise $5,000 annually," he said.
Looking back at the past two years, Hahn says he's happy with how the business has grown and hopes the new owners, whoever they may be, continue the seed he planted.
"I've been surprised at how fast it's grown. I was going to be happy with a few athletes, but we got to a point where we had 20 athletes at the facility at a time. There is a strong demand for this, and I'm excited about someone local taking it over," he said.
