Colorado Capitol Report

Colorado Chamber Responds to Workforce Shortages

Colorado Chamber Responds to Workforce Shortages

Colorado Chamber of Commerce members have expressed the significant challenges they are experiencing in filling job opportunities for their operations. Despite offering high wages and benefits, businesses across the State continue to experience this problem which remains one of the biggest challenges for jump starting Colorado’s economy.

In response, the Colorado Chamber will be promoting its members’ job opportunities on its website, social media and through other resources.  If your company would like the Colorado Chamber to promote the opportunities your company is offering, please notify Laura Moss at [email protected] with a link to your career or job opportunity page or if you have any questions!

Commission Submits New Congressional Map to Supreme Court for Approval or Rejection

Colorado’s Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission has been meeting for several months around the State with the goal of developing a new redistricting map that will determine the district lines for congressional seats in Colorado.  After many public hearings and tenuous Commission meetings, the members finally approved a map on an 11-1 vote this week and submitted it to the Colorado Supreme Court for approval or rejection.  Highlights regarding the new maps are outlined below:

  • Creates eight congressional districts;
  • Protects all seven congressional incumbents including:
    • Congresswoman Dianne DeGette (CD 1)
    • Congressman Joe Neguse (CD 2)
    • Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (CD 3)
    • Congressman Ken Buck (CD 4)
    • Congressman Doug Lamborn (CD 5)
    • Congressman Jason Crow (CD 6)
    • Congressman Ed Perlmutter (CD 7)
  • Creates challenges for those who announced their candidacy for certain seats including State Senator Kerry Donovan (D) who planned to run against Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R) for CD 3.  The new map as proposed includes a significant Republican advantage in that seat;
  • Creates a new CD 8 that will have a high Hispanic demographic and will be a competitive seat for either party.  Current House Representative Yadira Caraveo (D) has announced her candidacy and current State Senator Kevin Priola (R) is considering a run for the seat.

Next steps:

The deadline for the Supreme Court to approve the new map is November 1, 2021.  However, if the Court chooses to reject the Commission’s proposed map, the Commission will be forced to make revisions.

Please contact Loren Furman at [email protected] with any questions.

Common Sense Institute Releases 2021 Ballot Guide

From property tax rate decreases to establishing a learning enrichment program, this November Colorado voters will face 3 different questions on their statewide 2021 election ballot. City & County of Denver residents will face 13 unique questions on their 2021 election ballot.

The Common Sense Institute, a non-partisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Colorado’s economy, has put together a 2021 Ballot Guide that outlines the facts and provides an objective analysis of the economic impacts. Based on economic models and comprehensive fiscal analysis, each issue is presented in a clear and concise manner that gives voters the information they need to make educated and informed decisions on each question.

The 2021 Ballot Guide features research on the following measures:

Statewide Measures
Proposition 119 – The Learning Enrichment and Academic Progress Program (LEAP)
Proposition 120 – Reduce Property Tax Assessment Rates

City & County of Denver Measures
Initiated Ordinance 303 – Let’s Do Better
Referred Question 2B – Denver Housing and Sheltering System Bonds
Initiated Ordinance 304 – Enough Taxes Already

EXECs | EDENS Tour

 

The EXECs 2021 cohort returned to in-person programming in June! The cohort has safely visited Footers Catering, Golden Aluminum, Five Rivers Cattle Feed, Lincoln Tech, and most recently, retail and community developer, EDENS. Each tour has been packed with information, networking opportunities, and unique experiences.

Highlights of the EDENS tour include: the impact of COVID on retailers, difficulties facing entrepreneurs in Colorado, funding for entrepreneurs, community development, social responsibility, and sustainability. EDENS is proud of the impact they’ve had in the RiNo district, and they continue to focus on creating a diverse community, one that puts a priority on giving back.

EDENS

Panelists:

Charlie Billingsley, Museum for Black Girls

Julian Donaldson, Be A Good Person

Darian Simon, Be A Good Person

Jevon Taylor, Founder, False Ego

 

Happy National Manufacturing Day!

Today is MFG Day, Manufacturing’s biggest annual event that helps inspire the next generation of creators.

Since 2012, MFG Day has helped students discover financially rewarding job opportunities. Between now and 2030, over 4 million manufacturing jobs will need to be filled across the nation. MFG helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders.

Join us in celebrating MFG Day and learn more at https://creatorswanted.org/mfgday!