A top official with one of the area's largest employers dismissed rumors that jobs would be relocated out of Cortez.
The Cortez Journal received undocumented information Friday that Skanska would move its base of operations from Cortez to Montrose. Reached by telephone Friday afternoon, Curtis Broughton, senior vice-president and general manager of the local office, described the report as false.
"No," Broughton said emphatically. "We're not going anywhere. It's a rumor, and it's simply not true."
According to one Cortez-based Skanska employee, similar rumors have circulated in recent months since the company's accounting operations relocated to California. But Broughton was clear, calling the media query "one of the oddest" he's ever received.
Skanska is a global company with approximately 55,000 employees worldwide. The Cortez office employs an estimated 300 people.
According to the company's website, Skanska's Cortez headquarters performs a wide range of heavy civil construction work. In 2010, the company put finishing touches on a $1.5 million 258 kilowatt photovoltaic solar array on property adjacent to their local office. The Cortez shop has also helped with logistical support and repair expertise in preserving the remaining rail vehicles for the Galloping Goose Historical Association.The company is also proud of its commitment to the local community. According to the company website, employees actively participate in non-profit groups such as The United Way, and are deeply involved in band, sports and other extracurricular activities at local schools.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com