For over a year, we’ve been wearing masks, social distancing and staying home as much as possible – all with the focus on protecting others. Now, millions of Coloradans are getting vaccinated. The vaccine represents an end to this pandemic and the opportunity for Coloradans to get back to work and grow our economy.
In partnership with Chamber member SE2, we want you to join us in encouraging Coloradans to get vaccinated. Download the “V campaign,” a suite of graphics in English and Spanish, that you can:
We encourage all our members to connect a graphic with the reasons they got vaccinated. See below for examples.
I got the vaccine so I can:
A special thank you to SE2 for making these graphics available to our members! We’re excited to see how you use them. For more COVID-19 resources and information, visit denverchamber.org/COVID.
Colorado Launches CLIMBER Fund to Help Small Businesses
Speaking of COVID-19 resources, the Colorado Department of Treasury, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade launched a new fund last week to help small businesses through 2023. The Colorado Loans for Increasing Mainstreet Business and Economic Recovery (CLIMBER) fund will provide loans from $30,000 to $500,000 at below-market interest rates and with a one-year deferred payment option. Special consideration will be made for businesses in rural, distressed and underserved areas, including communities with low to moderate incomes.
The CLIMBER fund is possible through a bill passed during the 2020 legislative session that the Chamber supported. The bill established the $250 million program with an oversight board and funding from state and private investors.
This great example of a public-private partnership is an incredible resource to businesses with five to 99 employees that are focused on recovering, creating jobs and rebuilding Colorado’s economy. Employers that are interested should apply through participating lenders. To learn more, visit climber-colorado.com.
Members Kept Us in Business During Pandemic
We’re always thankful for our members. The last year has really shown us how much you come together especially during challenging times to support our economy, our community – and most definitely the Chamber. Just like many of you, we had to change directions quickly when the pandemic hit to make sure we were still providing the value and benefits you expect from us every day. As we look back over the last year or so, there are a few of you who we want to recognize.
Perhaps nobody’s job changed more than our events team, which immediately jumped into action to bring our events to you at home. They couldn’t have done it without CEAVCO and Comcast. Both companies turned our in-person events into engaging video productions that we could bring directly to your homes and offices. On that note, Footers Catering & Events, KM Concessions and Occasions Catering helped us find innovative ways to serve you for events like Boots ‘n Business and the 2021 Business Awards.
In addition to video production, our Trustee Comcast has helped thousands of us stay connected as we work from home. Our ability to stay close and be productive really depended on the great service that so many of us receive from Comcast, AT&T and Xcel Energy.
Now, as our team returns to the office and we prepare to welcome you back to our building, we’ve tapped into the expertise of OfficeScapes to help us safely and smartly make this transition. Also, thank you to all our furniture providers, like Workplace Resource, who have been thinking about how we can create the best workplace environment for teams across our state.
About that team – our Chamber staff has done a tremendous job over the last year. I’m grateful for all our teammates who showed just how innovative and collaborative they can be in the face of challenge. Every employee put in the hard work during a challenging time to serve you. It’s been fun to see the pets and kids wander in on these Zoom calls, but I’ll really enjoy finally seeing these employees in person. I want to give a special shout-out to the communications and marketing staff who kept the lines of communication open with you, bringing you the most up-to-date resources and information to help your businesses navigate the pandemic.
And of course, thank you to all our 3,000 members – You are the key to putting more Coloradans to work!
Together, we are building an economy that works for everybody.
Kelly Brough is the president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber
You may have read the articles, heard lawmakers speak or even seen the television commercials about a proposed public health insurance option in Colorado. There’s a lot of information flying around right now. But what’s the truth? The Chamber has done the research. Here’s what we know.
What is House Bill 1232?
Rep. Dylan Roberts (D-Avon), Rep. Iman Jodeh (D-Aurora) and Sen. Kerry Donovan (D-Vail) introduced House Bill 1232, “Standardized Health Benefit Plan Colorado Option.” It is scheduled to go to the Committee on Health & Insurance on Wednesday. The legislation requires that health insurance carriers reduce premiums for individual and small business market plans by 20% by the end of 2024. If the Commissioner of Insurance believes that carriers failed to meet that goal, a public health insurance option implemented by a government authority would be authorized in Colorado.
The Chamber has been working hard for the past few years to truly reduce health care costs for everybody. This bill doesn’t do that. At its core, this bill simply shifts costs. And, if implemented, it will shift those costs to people who get their health insurance through the private coverage offered by employers – the majority of Coloradans.
Here’s why the Chamber opposes the bill:
But the bill’s supporters claim the opposite. How do we know what’s true?
We, along with the Colorado Competitive Council, did some digging into supporters’ numbers and here is what we discovered.
MYTH #1: The private industry has a chance to compete to lower premiums before a public option is implemented.
TRUTH: The legislation would immediately require the state to apply to the federal government for a waiver. The funding that would come from the waiver would be used to start building a new government authority right away, meaning that legislators are assuming the private market will fail at reducing costs. In addition, the bill sets arbitrary and unrealistic targets for premium reductions. Colorado’s reinsurance program has cut individual market health insurance premiums by nearly 21% so far. However, because the reinsurance program isn’t expected to expand and House Bill 1232 would require a 20% reduction in the nominal price from 2021, which does not account for inflation or medical cost trends, private insurers would need to drop premiums closer to 35% of what premiums would be in 2024 without reinsurance. Source: Common Sense Institute
MYTH #2: Colorado’s individual market premiums are among the highest in the country.
TRUTH: Insurance premiums in the individual market in Colorado have come down 30% since 2019, compared to 6% nationally since 2018. Colorado’s five-year individual market premium reduction trend is second best in the country. These insurance premium reductions have occurred at the same time that Colorado has improved in overall health care quality and access, moving from 12th to 10th in the nation. Health care costs in Colorado are still too high and more work is needed, but we need practical solutions that address the true drivers of health care costs, not quick-fix solutions that shift costs from one segment of the market to another. Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation, Common Sense Institute and U.S. News & World Report
MYTH #3: Some Colorado counties, like Eagle and Routt, have only one option for residents who buy insurance on the individual market.
TRUTH: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield offers 20 plan offerings in its Bronze, Silver and Gold plans through the Connect for Health Colorado exchange. Cigna also operates in the market and offers plans for employers. Source: Connect for Health Colorado
MYTH #4: Coloradans want government health care.
TRUTH: Coloradans want affordable, accessible health care that works, and there is no evidence that public option plans work. Voters in our state also rejected government health care by overwhelming margins in 2016 when they shot down Amendment 69. Nearly 79% of Coloradans voted against the amendment.
What is the solution to health care costs and access in Colorado?
We share the goal of making health care more affordable for Coloradans and firmly believe that the best way to achieve that is through a robust, competitive marketplace. Through public-private partnership and industry innovation, Coloradans in the individual market have experienced meaningful reductions in insurance premiums, expanded product choice and increased competition in the private market in recent years.
We can keep up this work but not if a public option is forced on the market. Contact your legislators today to share your opinions.
Conversations around this bill are ongoing, and we’ll continue to keep you updated. If you have questions, you can always reach out to our Public Affairs team.
On Friday, 2.5 million more Coloradans became eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as the state rolled out phase 1B.4. Who knew a year ago that we’d be lining up by the millions to get a shot in the arm – let alone two? But we know these vaccinations bring new hope that we may be nearing the end of this pandemic. We will finally be able to hug our loved ones, get all our kids back to school, open up more restaurants and hospitality businesses, gather at events and celebrations and get back to working together.
It’s been a long haul. And, we’ve all done are part by wearing masks, social distancing and staying home as much as possible – all with the focus of protecting others. We know we aren’t done with these actions either, but we can start thinking about the good to come, now that more than 1.9 million vaccination doses have been administered in Colorado, and it’s anticipated that all the adults in Colorado who want the vaccine should be eligible by mid-April to access it.
Here’s the latest updates on vaccines:
Who is eligible?
As of March 19
Where can you get vaccinated?
The state began opening long-term mass vaccination sites this month at locations throughout Colorado. Health care systems have launched vaccination registrations through their websites and at individual hospitals and clinics. Several websites, including vaccinefinder.org and vaccinespotter.org, have also popped up with listings for available appointments at various retail pharmacies.
Providers who are interested in administering vaccinations can learn more here.
What do employers need to know?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has put together a resource page with information for employers to consider when it comes to the vaccine, such as vaccination options for employees, best practices and a “resuming business” toolkit.
The state has also made available several digital graphics and signs for employers to use. Visit the COVID-19 Communication Resources webpage.
Can employees be required to be vaccinated?
Husch Blackwell released a blog this month with state-by-state information on whether legislation exists to allow employers to mandate vaccinations for employees. Colorado is not currently considering legislation, and according to the state’s website, “Employers may be able to require COVID-19 vaccination for in-person work for their employees, but an employee may be entitled to an exemption through the ADA and Civil Rights Act of 1964.” The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission offers more information on its pandemic preparedness page.
Most of our members have simply asked for assistance in helping their employees who want vaccines to find them – like the information we provided above. We’ll continue to bring you the latest information on COVID-19 and what it means to the business community and our economy moving forward. Please visit denverchamber.org/COVID for the latest resources.
Welcome to Our New Vice President, Sales and Investor Strategy
And, as our economy opens more and more, our timing is perfect to welcome Katherine Rizzuto as our new vice president, sales and investor strategy. Katherine will take the lead on developing and executing strategies to meet our sales goals, allowing the entire team to deliver the exceptional value and engagement our 3,000 current members and investors expect from us. Katherine is an accomplished executive, having worked in advertising technology, media and marketing, and most recently with Salesforce in Denver, where she was the strategic account executive, manufacturing industries.
We look forward to telling you more about Katherine in our upcoming issue of the Business Altitude digital magazine. In the meantime, please join us in welcoming her! You can send her an email that she’ll see after she starts next week.
Updates from Gov. Polis and City and County of Denver
With more than 4,000 COVID-19 cases on average a day and one in 110 Coloradans actively contagious with the virus, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued a call Sunday for businesses to continue to allow their employees to work remotely as much possible. Read Gov. Polis’ press release. He also announced last week that he has ordered the State Emergency Operations Center to return to level 1, bringing together all state agencies, federal partners and voluntary organizations to better coordinate and synchronize the state’s response to the pandemic. He issued an executive order directing all general hospitals to submit a plan to the state with their maximum surge bed count by Wednesday, as well as a complete surge plan to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment by Friday. Read the Executive Order.
As infection rates soar, the City and County of Denver is providing additional support to the smallest businesses and nonprofits that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing them with additional free PPE kits. These kits will help offset the expense of purchasing PPE and assist their employees, volunteers and customers in staying safe and healthy this winter. The kits include hand sanitizer, surgical masks and gloves and disinfectant wipes. If your business has 50 or fewer employees, register for the program today.
SEE HOW OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
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!
Even though we were warned that another wave of COVID-19 was likely this fall, that didn’t make last week’s announcement of new metro area COVID-19 restrictions any easier. Coloradans have done a great job following the guidance of our public health experts – washing hands, wearing masks and social distancing – and that has enabled us to begin to rebuild our economy. Controlling the virus is key to our economic recovery.
As a new wave hits our region, we must double down on our efforts to get this virus under control, so we can reopen our businesses and get employees back to work. Here’s what we know about the restrictions.
As we have been throughout this time, the Chamber family is here to support you with the resources you need to adjust to these new rules. Below we highlight a few of those changes. To see a comprehensive list of resources, visit denverchamber.org/covid.
Our Denver Metro Small Business Development Center is staying on top of the latest information to help small businesses access funding and restructure to meet the changing environment. Learn more at denversbdc.org.
Also, be sure to visit our new job board at denverchamber.org/jobs where you can find job listings in Colorado’s diverse industries, resources to gain new skills and information for entrepreneurship.
We know that uncertainty makes business decisions difficult. That’s why we are urging our federal and state leaders to do all they can to focus on relief for our small business community. Please continue to reach out to us at any time with your questions, concerns and ideas.
On a final note, we wouldn’t be the Chamber if we didn’t make one last push for you to vote. Tomorrow is Election Day! If you haven’t turned in your ballot yet, you have until 7 p.m., Tuesday. Find your nearest polling center and check out our ballot guide for our take on the key issues for Colorado’s business community.
Stay well and vote.
Kelly Brough is the president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber.
When we looked out across the landscape in March 2020, and saw 500,000 Coloradans out of work and 500,000 students out of school, we knew the only way to help Colorado recover was to help employees safely return to work and help students safely return to school. To do that, employers needed timely and accurate information on the prevalence of COVID-19 within their organizations to help guide their decisions about how to reopen safely. We knew this would require an integrated approach to providing employees access to regular, affordable COVID-19 testing and daily symptom tracking, alongside local public health departments’ contact tracing efforts. That’s what inspired Gary Community Investments to establish COVIDCheck Colorado, a social benefit enterprise designed to do just that.
Today we’ve conducted more than 40,000 tests and helped 200,000 students from early childhood through college return to in-person learning, which has made it possible for many employees to return to work. But we need even more Coloradans heading back to work, waiting in line at their favorite lunch spots, and re-engaging with the small businesses that helped catapult Colorado’s economy to #1 back in January.
While working from home has proven to be effective for many businesses, our economy can never fully recover until more businesses bring their employees back in person. And, many of our lowest-wage earners working service and retail jobs are depending on it.
So how do we bring the business community back to Denver safely?
For a nominal fee, members of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce can use our integrated platform to provide their employees access to schedule an appointment to get tested for COVID-19 every two weeks at any of COVIDCheck Colorado’s drive-thru testing sites. Employees receive results in 48-72 hours, and those who test positive for COVID-19 receive a phone call from a telehealth provider who offers support and guidance on self-isolation. Positive cases are reported to local public health agencies and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Those who have been exposed to the virus get notified in accordance with the state’s contact-tracing protocols. Employees can also attest to the symptoms they may be experiencing through a mobile-friendly website. Designated leaders at every organization have access to a HIPAA-compliant dashboard displaying the organization’s test results and symptom data to help stop potential outbreaks before they start.
Fast and accurate COVID-19 testing remains one of the most critical public health strategies to keep each other safe and healthy. It’s also a critical strategy in our community’s efforts to put more Coloradans to work.
Interested in partnering with COVIDCheck Colorado? Contact Courtney Steele, Director of Private Partnerships, at csteele@covidcheckcolorado.org.
Mike Johnston is the president and CEO of Gary Community Investments
