Agriculture still is king in such towns as Fort Morgan, Sterling and Julesburg. Beef, sugar, condensed milk and mozzarella cheese for the pizza industry are among food processors' major products here. Interstate 76 connects the region to the rest of the state and Denver International Airport. Washington County's Akron Airport provides additional access with its 7,000-foot runway. The county also is home to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Great Plains Research Station.
Community colleges offer technical training and teleconferencing facilities.
Regis University and Colorado Christian University have outreach campuses in the area.