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DURANGO, Colorado – The Attainment Network, La Plata Economic Alliance and Fort Lewis College today hosted the South Central 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 agriculture, technology and health care. 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.”
“The Attainment Network is focused on creating lasting, productive partnerships with employers and educational institutions to expand upskilling opportunities to foster economic mobility for learners and earners while meeting the evolving talent needs of rural communities in Colorado,” said Rana Tarkenton, chief executive officer of The Attainment Network. “We are excited to work with regional partners to strengthen the work already happening — aligning education, training and workforce systems to drive long-term economic opportunities for individuals, their families and their communities.”
“At the Alliance, we believe lasting solutions start with strong partnerships,” said Sarah Tober, executive director of the La Plata Economic Development Alliance. “The Regional Talent Summits are an opportunity to bring forward the progress already happening in our region and to listen closely to what our industry leaders are seeing on the ground. What comes out of today will help shape statewide strategies that also reflect the unique needs of Southwest Colorado and the collaborative spirit that defines our region’s approach to building a thriving, resilient economy.”
Attendees at the summit focused on how to improve career pathways in southwest Colorado and the San Luis Valley in the fields of agriculture, health care and technology. A common theme in each of the sectors was the need for more industry-wide collaboration in working with educators, particularly in more rural areas.
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 La Plata Economic Alliance’s mission is to create a vibrant and resilient economy through the recruitment, retainment, and growth of business to preserve our quality of life. This mission is achieved by workforce development, enabling business capacity, supporting affordable housing for the community workforce that is essential for long-term economic sustainability, and fostering public and private partnerships.
The Attainment Network connects partners and drives collaboration to build education-to-workforce systems that support every learner on their path to earning family-living wage employment and economic opportunities through education and skills training.