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virtually connecting and look to see where you can
engage at denverchamber.org/calendar.
NATIONAL EXPERTS OFFER INSIGHTS & ADVICE DURING EDC’S FIRST VIRTUAL SITE SELECTION CONFERENCE
In September, the Metro Denver EDC hosted its annual Site Selection Conference – a series of conversations with national consultants who are hired by America’s Fortune 1000 companies to scout communities on their behalf. Site selectors joined the EDC to tour the Metro Denver region, meet with economic development partners and investor companies, get a broad overview of the business environment and regional assets, and
they offered insights and feedback as to how we, as a community, can best position Metro Denver relative to the needs of prospective companies.
This year’s virtual discussions focused on the pandemic’s impact on economic development, new strategies for recruiting and retaining companies, job creation and our region’s position on expansion and relocation relative to the nation’s top metropolitan areas. One theme consistently rose to the top of our conversations – talent. A focus on people is paramount to helping their clients either choose Colorado – or another state for relocation and expansion. Check out the recap video for 10 key takeaways of the panel.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS ON ISSUES OUR COMMUNITY IS FACING AT THE LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION’S VIRTUAL VOICES
Our Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation’s Virtual Voices aims to keep alums informed and engaged as our community works through this challenging time. Each virtual meeting brings together leaders on the front lines of impacted industries to share their knowledge, perspectives and leadership lessons. Alumni have convened to talk about mental health, how to talk to their kids about race, creating an inclusive workplace, the power of storytelling and more! Join the upcoming Virtual Voices on Technology Today on Nov. 12.
WELCOMING NEW IMPACT DENVER AND LEADERSHIP DENVER CLASSES
This past September our Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation virtually kicked off the Impact Denver fall 2020 class and Leadership Denver 2021 class. Throughout their program experience leaders will dive deep into issues facing our community, work on group projects, connect with civic leaders and grow their network. We’re excited to see what these leaders will accomplish.
Interested in taking the next step in your leadership journey? Check out the Leadership Foundation’s programs to see which program is right for you.
Applications are open for Access Denver, Colorado’s’ Civic DNA Fellows and Impact Denver spring 2021 class .
CONNECTING BUSINESS AND POLICY AT COLORADO COMPETITIVE COUNCIL’S (C3) BUSINESS BASECAMPS
This year C3’s Business Basecamp had to adapt due to COVID-19, and it was able to continue forward in a safe, responsible and fun way. Over four basecamps, participants were hosted by Representative Perry Will (R-57) and Representative Julie McCluskie’s (D-61), Representative Mark Baisley (R-39) and Senator Tammy Story’s (D-16), Matt Soper (R-54) and Representative Janice Rich’s (R-55), and Representatives Yadira Caraveo (D-31) and Kyle Mullica’s districts (D-34). They were able to learn about local districts — from local business at the top of Breckenridge Mountain to touring the housing development Sterling Ranch to visiting a working cattle farm and riding RTD’s newly opened N Line.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANIES WERE ON THE MENU AT DENVER STARTUP WEEK
Trout Tank CPG Pitch Event highlighted consumer packaged goods (CPG food) and beverage entrepreneurs and businesses in Colorado, giving them opportunities to sharpen their pitching skills, gain exposure, secure funding, and build connections with lenders, investors, decision-makers and key stakeholders within the Colorado business and investing community.
During Denver Startup Week, four companies showed off their innovations in the CPG food and beverage space. Sweet Logic, Patterbar, Green Belly Foods and Mad Lemon competed for a prize pack worth over $3,000 with Sweet Logic taking the final prize.
Applications are currently open for Trout Tank H2O. All businesses with a focus on water, new or old, can participate in order to sharpen pitching skills, gain connections with expert mentors and get awesome exposure opportunities, along with a $5,000 cash prize!
This was originally shared on Sept. 11, 2020 via the B:CIVIC Newsletter.
While it sounds like an agreement in Washington over the next federal stimulus bill is a ways off, Colorado is launching a new program today that will provide grants and loans to businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees.
The Energize Colorado Gap Fund will begin accepting applications today for grants up to $15,000 and loans up to $20,000 for a combined total of $35,000 in financial assistance. The good news is that the grants and loans will not be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, but on the quality and strength of the applications. Energize Colorado is also providing support for businesses during the application process through its mentorship program.
Who should apply?
Applicants must be able to show how COVID-19 has caused economic hardship to their businesses, and priority will go to businesses owned by Black and Indigenous individuals, people of color, veterans and women, as well as businesses in rural areas.
Gov. Jared Polis and the state legislature designated $20 million from the CARES Act to Energize Colorado, and private donors and other state funds are providing an additional $5 million. The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority is holding and distributing the funds.
If you have questions about the Gap Fund, call the Energize Colorado hotline at (800) 471-0628 or email GapFundSupport@energizecolorado.com.
Learn more about Energize Colorado.
Our Denver Metro Small Business Development Center also has consultants available to help small business owners navigate available funding sources. In fact, our SBDC consultants were recently named Chamber Champs. Read about them in the recently released issue of Business Altitude. Contact the Denver Metro SBDC at 303-620-8076 or info@denversbdc.org.
Annual Meeting to Feature Panel on Racial Equity
We hope you’ll join us Thursday for our Annual Meeting. This will be the first virtual annual meeting we’ve had (Thanks COVID! ?), so no excuses not to join us. Even more compelling is the panel of Colorado business leaders who will speak about the role their organizations are playing to address the racial inequities we see in the workplace and in our community. Joining us are:
These executives will share what they and their companies are doing to be more inclusive with relevant ideas for all of us to act upon – whether you are a small business, a start-up or a Fortune 500.
We’ll also share the Chamber’s official positions for this year’s November ballot. And, of course we will conduct the official business of handing the gavel to our incoming Board Chair to Trey Rogers, shareholder with Recht Kornfeld. And, you won’t want to miss the chance to honor Craig Hospital President and CEO Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis as she receives the 2020 Del Hock Lifetime Achievement Award.
We think it will be an Annual Meeting to remember – for many reasons. Register today.
Kelly Brough, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber.
Virtual Event Will Feature Recap of Year, Ballot Issue Positions and Panel on Racial Equity in Business
The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 3. At this virtual event, the Chamber will release its official positions for issues on the November ballot, as well as hold a panel discussion on the role businesses play in increasing racial equity in the workplace and our community. The panel features local leaders Makisha Boothe, founder of Sistahbiz Global Network, Steve Rendle, chairman, president and CEO of VF Corporation, and Bijal Shah, chief technology and payments officer for Guild Education. The Chamber will also honor Craig Hospital President and CEO Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis with the 2020 Del Hock Lifetime Achievement Award, and incoming Board Chair Trey Rogers, shareholder with Recht Kornfeld, will take the gavel to lead the Chamber for the 2020-2021 year.
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020
11 a.m. – Virtual Networking
11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Program
WHERE: Online
SPEAKERS:
Joe Bertsch, regional managing partner, Plante Moran
Kelly Brough, Denver Metro Chamber president and CEO
David Eves, Denver Metro Chamber 2019-2020 board chair
Trey Rogers, Denver Metro Chamber 2020-2021 board chair
PANELISTS:
Makisha Boothe, founder of Sistahbiz Global Network
Steve Rendle, chairman, president and CEO of VF Corporation
Bijal Shah, chief technology and payments officer for Guild Education
If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Jennifer Kostka Beck at 303-263-4561 or jennifer.kostkabeck@denverchamber.org.
Learn more about the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting online.
RESPONSE TO PANDEMIC REQUIRES REGIONAL COLLABORATION, ACCORDING TO MAYORS AT DENVER METRO CHAMBER’S ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY
Denver, Arvada and Lone Tree Mayors Discussed Economy, Homelessness and Budget Woes at Virtual Event
Although metro Denver has seen COVID-19 cases decline, the region is still in the midst of a pandemic that requires a collaborative response from citizens, local governments and the business community. That was the sentiment shared by three mayors, including Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Annual State of the City on Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020.
Mayor Hancock gave the keynote address at the virtual event, which had over 550 attendees. Then, Kelly Brough, Chamber president and CEO, moderated a Q&A discussion where Mayor Hancock was joined by Lone Tree Mayor Jackie Millet and Arvada Mayor Marc Williams.
“Our goal is to bounce back better than before,” Mayor Hancock said, noting that the suddenness of this economic downturn presents different challenges than the nation experienced during the Great Recession. “We will bounce back, but it’s going to take all of us.”
Homelessness is one of the issues that Mayor Hancock said called for regional and statewide solutions. Denver voters will decide in November whether to raise the city’s sales tax by 0.25% to help pay for homelessness services, including housing, rental assistance and supportive services.
Mayors Millet and Williams talked about their municipalities’ contributions to county programs, as well as the Metro Mayors Caucus’ fund of last resort to help local nonprofit organizations in their efforts to house and help families avoid eviction.
“(Homelessness) is impacting all of our communities and it’s more visible,” said Mayor Williams, who is chair of the Metro Mayors Caucus.
Mayors Hancock and Millet also discussed their cities’ priorities as both Denver and Lone Tree face sharp declines in sales tax revenue as a result of the pandemic. They also called for the next federal relief package to include direct support for state and local governments.
Lone Tree depends heavily on sales from Park Meadows Mall, which has reopened but is seeing fewer shoppers as people turn more to online purchasing.
“We rely on people coming in and out of our community to shop, to dine, to receive health care services,” Mayor Millet said. “The way people are spending money is different today, and we wonder if it’s going to be a long-term change.”
Brough noted the connection between a city’s revenue and the business community. “If we can keep businesses up and running, it actually helps the government,” she said.
Arvada has actually experienced a 3% increase in sales tax revenue over this time last year, because the city doesn’t rely on a shopping mall and includes some big box hardware stores, which have been busy as people complete home improvements during the shutdown, Mayor Williams sad.
All three mayors called on citizens to continue to wash hands, keep a social distance and wear facemasks, so our region isn’t forced into a second round of closures. Mayor Hancock also encouraged businesses to allow their employees to work remotely for as long as possible until a COVID-19 vaccine is available.
Brough thanked the mayors for their leadership and willingness to work with the business community. As we enter election season, we may see more divisiveness, but hopefully, we can get beyond that as leaders, she said. “The takeaway here is that working together is what makes us successful.”
Other speakers included David Eves, Chamber board president, and Jeff Dolan, vice president of external affairs for the Mountain West Region of Comcast, the event’s presenting sponsor. Comcast announced at the event that the company would donate $150,000 in cash and in-kind services to Denver’s small business and nonprofit relief funds.
Other supporters of the event included Gold Sponsors Plante Moran and Southwest Airlines; Premier Sponsors BOK Financial, Danone North America, Denver Water, FirstBank, Husch Blackwell, The Denver Post, The Kenney Group and Xcel Energy; and Chamber Trustees Boettcher Foundation, CenturyLink, FirstBank, HealthONE, U.S. Bank, VF Corporation, Wells Fargo and Xcel Energy.
Thank you to our speakers for sharing their expertise, insight and inspiration on engaging employees, diversity, equity and inclusion, measurement and making the business case. (more…)
