Two years ago this month, I began a horseback ride across Colorado. It was a fascinating, exhilarating and often grueling 650 miles across the plains, valleys and mountains of our spectacular state. I had criss-crossed Colorado countless times in my car, but this was an up-close, slow-paced opportunity to see what was on the minds of people and what was happening in their communities.

In too much of rural Colorado, not enough was happening. Small town people were-and are-worried. While parts of the Western Slope benefit from tourism, small communities like Dove Creek, Nucla and Naturita rely on agriculture. Mining has pretty much vanished. On the broad expanse of Eastern Plains, agriculture is also the staple of small communities. Some have added corporate hog farming to their economic base, an industry welcomed by some, but not by all.

In every administration and legislature, there is talk about what to do for rural Colorado's economic development. There is talk of transferring tax breaks and subsidies from cities to small towns. There is a limited effort to persuade some relocating companies to look at outlying areas of the state. A couple of state workers get moved to Pueblo or Greeley or Grand Junction, which doesn't really help Eads, Wray and Rico.

But, none of this amounts to much. The reality is that companies relocate where they want to go, where their needs will be met, where they can hire trained workers in sufficient numbers. And, that is usually along the Front Range or the larger towns of the Western Slope.

The answers to economic development in rural Colorado are not easy. Over the years, I have talked to many small town leaders who have substantial wisdom to offer. We should be listening to them.

For example, many say that they would like to recruit a small company that would provide long-term employment for perhaps 25 or 30 people. They want a company that isn't just looking for financial incentives, but for a good community in which to live and grow. They worry about the impacts on their schools and roads and housing supply if a large employer comes to town.

Some rural leaders have tried to raise the money to buy a small company. Local ownership would guarantee that the jobs would stay in town, not move to the place that makes the next best offer. But, they don't have the resources to scour the country for such a company.

The state could help. If state economic development employees worked directly with rural Colorado leaders, some of these dreams might be realized. Instead of offering tax incentives for relocation, why not dedicate some state funds to financing the purchase of a small company? Help find small companies that want to move to Colorado and show them rural towns. Work with local governments on the infrastructure and training that would be required for such a move.

The communications revolution offers great opportunities for rural Colorado. Many people would prefer a small town lifestyle, but need high-speed communications to run their businesses. It's important to link Albuquerque, Durango and Grand Junction by fiber-optic cable. But, we also need to make sure Cortez, Holyoke and Julesburg have equal access.

Colorado needs a plan for getting this done, a plan that includes the "last mile" to people's homes, not just their schools or libraries. If we can have universal phone service, surely we can manage universal Internet access. One suggestion is to require companies using public rights-of-way (i.e., state roads) for laying cables to extend service to a nearby rural area. Eventually, satellite companies will offer Internet access across rural America.

Probably most important, however, is ensuring the quality of education in small towns. That means competitive teachers' salaries, help with building and maintaining schools and ensuring modern equipment in every building. Likewise, community colleges are essential assets in small communities, providing a cultural and social center, academic programs and job training and access to technology. They need the attention and resources to do their jobs well.

Colorado can encourage rural economic development. We need to listen to the experts-local community leaders.