Ameille Warner

Ameille Warner, ScSEED Executive Director

For ScSEED Executive Director Ameille Warner, moving to Saguache County wasn’t part of some intentional, long-range plan. In 2010, she and her former husband were both working remotely in the printing industry and had the freedom to live almost anywhere. After discovering Villa Grove, the decision was easy.

“It seemed like heaven,” Warner recalls. “Endless miles of trails, peace and quiet, and genuinely nice people.”

The couple settled in Villa Grove and eventually opened the Steel Horse Grill, balancing the demands of restaurant ownership while maintaining full-time careers. The experience was equal parts rewarding and exhausting, but it also deepened Warner’s connection to the community and the people who call it home.

Looking back, she says there was never a single moment when she realized she was home. Instead, that feeling arrived almost immediately. “The first time I visited Villa Grove, I never wanted to leave.”

When her marriage ended several years ago, leaving Saguache County wasn’t an option. Instead, Warner moved around the bend to Saguache, launched a one-person marketing company, Dandelion Creative Services, and began focusing on work that combined her professional skills with her growing passion for community development. That path led first to work with the Saguache County Tourism Council and eventually to ScSEED, where she now serves as Executive Director.

One of the biggest surprises about rural life, she says, has been the strength of the connections between people.

“In larger population centers, people don’t really know each other. Here, everyone is seen, for better or worse. There is a level of accountability, generosity, and community involvement that you truly don’t find in many places.”

That belief in community shapes Warner’s approach to economic development. She sees ScSEED’s role as helping connect people, organizations, resources, and ideas that can strengthen local communities while preserving the character that makes Saguache County special.

“The solutions we need are already here,” she says. “Our job is to bring people together, listen carefully, and help move good ideas into action.”

That philosophy is reflected in ScSEED’s work, from Community Hour gatherings and business support programs to housing conversations, transportation initiatives, and regional partnerships. A recent milestone is the five-year partnership agreement between ScSEED and the Saguache County Board of County Commissioners, which formalized collaboration on economic development priorities including housing, transportation, business support, community engagement, and long-term planning.

For Warner, economic development is not simply about attracting new businesses or increasing revenue. It’s about creating opportunities that allow people and communities to thrive.

“We face some significant challenges, including affordable housing, transportation, supporting local businesses, and creating opportunities that allow young people to stay here if they choose, or return later in life,” she says. “None of those issues exist in isolation. They’re all connected, and we need to approach them that way.”

One of the things she appreciates most about Saguache County is the diversity of people who have chosen to make their lives here. Longtime ranching and farming families share the landscape with artists, entrepreneurs, outdoor enthusiasts, and newcomers seeking a different pace of life. Warner sees that mix of perspectives as one of the county’s greatest strengths.

Outside of work, she enjoys camping, hiking, exploring the Valley’s backroads with her dog Sasha, attending live music events, and dinner parties with friends. “My friends are my chosen family,” she says. “That’s one of the gifts of living in a place like this.”

Looking ahead, Warner hopes Saguache County remains recognizable to those who love it today. While she supports thoughtful economic development and investment in local communities, she believes the area’s greatest strengths are already here.

“I hope the landscapes, the quiet, and the kind of people who choose to live here don’t change very much,’ she says. “What I’d like to see is more opportunity for the people who already call this place home. If we can create a stronger economy while preserving what makes the Valley unique, that’s a future worth working toward.”

What gives Warner the most optimism is the number of people who continue to step forward to help their communities succeed.

“Every day I meet people who care deeply about this place,” she says. “They’re willing to volunteer, collaborate, solve problems, and support their neighbors. That spirit is what makes Saguache County extraordinary, and it’s what will carry us forward.”

To learn more about ScSEED, visit www.scseedco.org. You can contact Ameille Warner at executivedirector@scseedco.org.