Colorado Northwestern Community College

In January 1957, a steering committee was formalized to focus on the need for higher education facilities in Northwestern Colorado. Participating counties included Jackson, Grand, Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco. Early on, the communities of Hayden, Steamboat Springs, Craig, and Rangely were the frontrunners to house a junior college in the area. Over the next two years, surveys were conducted by various entities. Dr. Leroy Goode, State Director of Community Colleges, entered the discussions to help facilitate the decision-making process. He brought in Dr. S.V. Mortorana of the U.S. Office of Education in Washington to conduct a survey of the area's communities.[2]