Business

David Graham has always been a supporter of Mount Evans Hospice, but about a year ago he decided to show his support in a more “constructive” way.

The longtime Evergreen developer pledged to donate 1 percent of the sale price of each home site in Cub Creek Ranch at the end of Little Cub Creek Road south of downtown Evergreen.

At stake are 49 luxury home sites (from 4 to 9 acres) selling for $500,000 to $600,000 each.

Over the the life of the project, the lots could be worth $250,000 to Mount Evans Hospice.

Quick! Name an Earth-friendly business in the mountain area. If you said Cactus Jack’s Saloon & Grill, give yourself a green star.

In an industry not often associated with ecological innovation, Cactus Jack’s owners, Gary and Megan Mitchell, are fast transforming their downtown Evergreen watering hole into a model of environmentally conscious efficiency.

“We’re trying to lead by example,” says Megan. “It’s not only great for the community; it saves us money.”

Evergreen’s small businesses are about to lose an important resource and, worse, an old friend.

After 15 years providing efficient and personalized service from her Evergreen North Shopping Center storefront, D&J Office Supply owner Lori Mason is folding up her tent and moving on. To understand why, one need only look to the usual suspects.

There’s been a sudden proliferation of used-clothing receptacles about town, many of them advertised as charitable enterprises. Roberto Feuereisen, on the other hand, hopes to make Evergreen’s castoffs pay.

“We’re a very, very small company,” Feuereisen says. I paint the boxes, I place the boxes, I empty the boxes, I clean the boxes. You want to see my office? It’s my house.”