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PUEBLO, Colorado – The Southern Colorado Economic Development District hosted the Southern Regional Talent Summit in partnership with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce assisted in the coordination of industry group participation.
The summit focused on addressing workforce challenges in key industries, including advanced manufacturing, construction and technology. The initiative is part of the Regional Talent Summits Act, established through House Bill 24-1365, which aims to address workforce shortages by bringing together state and regional stakeholders to discuss economic and workforce needs. These stakeholders include members of the business community, government entities and higher education leaders. The Colorado Chamber and its partners in the Education to Employment Alliance played a key role in the bipartisan legislation to bolster the state’s talent pipeline and elevate Colorado’s workforce.
“These summits will improve workforce outcomes statewide, connecting the right people from the business community, educational institutions and government to identify the curriculum and skills needed to fulfill job opportunities across the state,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “This is a key component of the Chamber’s strategic priority to meet the workforce needs of our growing economy and marks a pivotal step in Colorado’s ongoing workforce development efforts.”
“As Colorado’s economy grows, we’re making sure local workforces are ready to support the industries driving Colorado’s future. These important regional conversations are helping to ensure Coloradans are equipped to thrive in good-paying jobs and businesses have the skills needed to succeed in our state,” said Gov. Polis in a press release.
“Hosting an event of this importance will have a significant impact on economic development throughout our region,” said Southern Colorado Economic Development District Executive Director Leslie Mastroianni. “SDCEDD staff and partners appreciate the time and commitment of all the partners who attended the event and committed to next steps in regional workforce development. These collaborations will have a long-lasting impact as we strive to meet the needs of employers in our region.”
Industry leaders discussed at length how to employ existing but underutilized tools and to create new pathways in order to boost the pipeline of students and adult workers into their sectors in southeastern Colorado. They also focused on the overlap between each industry and the ongoing efforts to lay broadband throughout the largely rural district — and on how the creation of a workforce to install fiber can help to build workforces for other sectors.
The summit is one of seven scheduled across Colorado through June 2025. These industry-led discussions will generate tactical workforce plans that develop career pathways in specified fields facing regional workforce challenges. Insights gathered from these discussions will be included in the 2025 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report, shaping future workforce development strategies across the state.
Learn more about the Opportunity Now Regional Talent Summits here: https://oedit.colorado.gov/programs-and-funding/conferences/workshops/opportunity-now-regional-talent-summits
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The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What the Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.
The Southern Colorado Economic Development District serves as a regional partner in economic development planning and project implementation. It assists local communities with accessing grant and loan funding opportunities, administrative and technical assistance, data and technology resources and other Partner Management Services.