With the severe damage still fresh, the likely long-term economic impact of the tornado that hammered Windsor and other parts of Weld County last month will be positive.

While the damage and disruption from the storm that hit Windsor, west Greeley and the Platteville and Gilcrest area on May 22 is significant, the economic boost that comes from rebuilding also will have a large impact. The economic infusion of repairs -- through disaster relief money and insurance payments -- is likely to be double the actual cost of the repairs, said regional economist John W. Green. Estimates for insurance claims have reached about $200 million.

David Tschetter owns Colorado Custom Homes, 1204 W. Ash St. in Windsor, with his brother John. Tschetter said while disasters like the tornado are difficult, what comes after can be a major boost economically.

"I know, having been in New Orleans in the last 60 days, if you look at what's going on in New Orleans with real estate, it seems to be one part of the country that's doing well," he said. "It's a tough way to get it."

Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado Executive Officer Dotti Weber, whose offices are located in Windsor but weren't damaged, said she doesn't think the storm will provide a jump-start for a lagging home building industry in the region.

She did say, however, the fact the storm hit during a slow time for builders represents some good luck for people who are rebuilding.

"They should be able to get a reliable contractor right away and not have to wait," she said.

Bret Hall, chief operating officer for Hall-Irwin Construction in Milliken, said that while devastating, the tornado will bring its own economic stimulus package to the region.

"And the government is offering loans at 4 percent to businesses," Hall said. "If you're in business today, you can't get a 4 percent loan. It's difficult. The town and the townspeople are getting a lot of help. That's a lot of dollars for one region. That will have ripples" through the economy.

Hall said he's already had three conversations about reconstruction that could equate to millions for the company: one to rebuild a destroyed church, another from a business owner who wants to rebuild in Milliken, and a roofing company owner who wants to lease space at Hall-Irwin's Windsor concrete company.

"From an economic situation, it's a fairly significant impact," Hall said. "It could be millions of dollars worth of work if it all plays out."

Tschetter said the whole region will benefit from the economic boon associated with the rebuilding process. He said when his company buys lumber for example, that gives the lumber yard money it wouldn't otherwise have had. The lumber yard can use that money for other purchases and so on.

The only real economic negatives, Green said, would be from lost revenue to businesses that must close while they are undergoing repairs and from lost productivity at businesses that are open but have employees who must deal with repairing damaged homes.

Martin Lind, president of Water Valley in Windsor, said every one of his company's roughly 80 employees suffered at least automotive damage from the storm and many had worse damage. He said many companies in Windsor are dealing with lost productivity from the storm. He said business is slow in Windsor, but once the rebuilding process begins in earnest, business will come back strong.

At the Water Valley golf courses -- Pelican Lakes and Pelican Falls -- the company faces significant lost revenue. He said the courses were shut down in the aftermath of the tornado, but their operation costs nearly tripled because they hired extra people to help get the courses back in shape. Loss of business insurance covered some of it, but not all.

"We want to be the best of the best," he said. "You can't do that without adding extra horsepower."

Tschetter while the economic boost is nice, that isn't the point in a time like this.

"We're doing everything we can physically to help," he said.

Lind said because the storm caused no deaths in Windsor and no serious injuries, the future looks bright for business in the town.

"I haven't heard of one person wanting to leave Windsor," he said. "I have heard of about 1,000 people wanting to move in because of the camaraderie, so long-term, I think it's going to be good."

Rebuilding help

The Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado has established a fund through its foundation to help home owners whose homes were damaged in the tornado. The association also is compiling a list of professional builders, remodelers and suppliers who can be contacted for immediate assistance with repairs and rebuilding. For information about both, visit www.hbanco.com

Source: Nate A. Miller