Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Hosts 2021 State of the City Presented by United Airlines
Live Event Featured Mayors of Englewood and Wheat Ridge, with a Keynote Speech from
Denver Mayor Hancock
DENVER – Three metro area mayors, including Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, joined the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce at the Denver Botanic Gardens to reflect on the past year’s impact on the Denver metro region and discuss what’s ahead at the 2021 State of the City Presented by United Airlines. This annual event also recognized the recipient of the 2021 Monte Pascoe Civil Leadership Award, Karen de Bartolomé.
Mayor Linda Olson of Englewood and Mayor Bud Starker of Wheat Ridge joined Kelly Brough, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, for a panel discussion on issues facing the region. Their conversation touched on many topics, including economic recovery, civic engagement and housing affordability.
Both mayors discussed the important collaboration that occurred among metro area mayors during the pandemic as they tackled closures, mandates and economic recovery. All three mayors – Mayors Olson and Starker during the panel and Mayor Hancock during his keynote – said they hope for the continued collaboration of metro area mayors as they strategize on issues facing their cities, particularly homelessness.
Brough echoed the importance of that collaboration, not just among mayors, but between the private and public sectors.
“Our business leaders value our working relationship with mayors throughout the region,” added Brough. “It is clear we will only solve the challenges we face by working together.”
Following an introduction by Matt Miller, vice president of United Airlines Denver hub, Mayor Hancock delivered a keynote address that built off the comments of Mayors Olson and Starker, emphasizing how quickly metro mayors were able to work together to protect their constituents during the pandemic. He credited Colorado’s resilient spirit as part of the reason the region has reached a 70% immunization rate among eligible residents, continued to invest in its infrastructure and hosted Major League Baseball’s Midsummer Classic at Coors Field this July.
“People predicted that Denver would be one of the first cities to roar in terms of our economy,” said Mayor Hancock. “Signs of recovery are all around us. We have survived time of loss, hardship and change, but it is not over yet.”
Mayor Hancock also spoke about the Denver’s vaccine mandate for city employees and high-risk workers announced Monday and the $450 million bond package that he first outlined in detail in July.
Karen de Bartolomé, retired founder of WorldDenver, was honored as this year’s Monte Pascoe Civil Leadership Honoree. Mayor Hancock presented the award to Bartolomé, thanking her for her years of civic engagement in Denver and her leadership of WorldDenver, which promotes cross-cultural connection and brings the world to Denver and Denver to the world through international outreach and exchange programs.
In addition to Presenting Sponsor United Airlines, Plante Moran was a gold sponsor. See a full list of sponsors.
