U.S. Senator Michael Bennet was in Northwest Colorado Wednesday. He got a tour of the Hayden Center to see how the town is using over $2.8 million dollars to expand a child care facility and create cultural arts and technology spaces at the old high school.

Town leaders were on the tour, along with Routt County Commissioner Tim Redmond and Hayden Town Manager Matthew Mendisco.

Commissioner Redmond says transforming The Hayden Center has been a unifying experience in the community as the community is stronger when working together. He calls it the “Community Living Room” where seniors, teenagers, young adults, and kids can all come together.

It will be another year and a half until all of the work is done. Work to improve the gym and auditorium will start in January.

The Hayden Center also hosts day care and after-school programs and a summer day camp.

Matt Mendisco added that Hayden has a little over 2,100 residents and it is growing by about 10 percent each year.

Hayden Town Council Mayor Zach Wuestewald said, “People are starting to realize that the small town mentality has its perks.”