I’m so pleased to be able to announce the Kiowa County Economic Development Foundation award of Business of the Year. This business was founded by an Eads High School graduate and his wife.  This is a story of what we ideally hope for when we raise our children in our hometown; that they go off for a bit to get a better understanding of the world, get some education and training and experience and then bring it back home for the betterment of the place where it all started.  

I’m not going to wait till the end to tell what business I’m talking about.  I know that I’ve learned so much about what they have to offer, that I want to make sure that know about it, too.  The Kiowa County Business of the Year is 719 Metal Works!  

719 Metal Works was registered in 2014 as an outlet for Brandon Hoffman to use his talent and skill in welding and creative design. Hoffman had spent some time in Kansas City where he picked up much of his skills as a CNC machines programmer.  His interest initially came from growing up on the farm.  It soon became evident of the need here in Kiowa County to have some place where parts for machinery can be fabricated.  Many of you have old equipment that just does the job you need done but a part breaks and no one makes replacement parts anymore.  Or something comes apart and just needs to be put back together.  So, you take it to 719 Metal Works and they make sure that you are back in business.  They not only help local farmers and ranchers, but CDOT and KinderMorgan (Colorado Interstate Gas). I know that those big old engines out towards Kit Carson were put into service in the 1950s and they lean on 719 more and more as replacement parts are becoming harder and harder to find. 

Brandon may be the force behind the business, but I think he depends heavily on his wife and I do see his kids in the parts store helping out.  And of course, it takes special employees like Nick, Bryce, and Morgyn to help make sure that it all happens.

So, Brandon and Angela, thank you for everything you bring to Kiowa County, and we hope that you have found that being here and raising your wonderful children here has been as positive an experience for you as it has been for us.