The Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland chambers of commerce today hosted the Northeast 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 summits focused on addressing workforce challenges in key industries, including advanced manufacturing, construction 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.”
“We are so proud to have hosted the first summit. Our industry attendees from construction, health care and manufacturing were in full force sharing their needs, assets, opportunities and possible solutions,” said Yvonne Myers, vice president of strategic initiatives for the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce. “The public partners were in true support mode, and we look forward to where we will go next as the Northeast region. Adding more industry partners and working with our public partners will ensure regional success!”
With over 100 people in attendance, a wide range of concerns and problems were brought to the table by manufacturing, construction and health care leaders. Challenges in workforce development included job applicants’ lack of basic manufacturing skills, students’ limited exposure to construction careers and concerns about limited upward mobility in health care professions. After daylong discussions, leaders in each industry pledged to develop comprehensive new pathways to benefit their entire sector.
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
Photos for media use can be found online here.
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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 Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce proudly stands as the leading membership-based business organization in Northern Colorado. Rooted in ownership and leadership by its members, the Fort Collins Chamber is the trusted business champion, catalyst and convener creating shared economic prosperity for Northern Colorado.
The Greeley Chamber of Commerce serves as the lead business voice for the Greeley Area for over 100 years, standing on the front line representing our 700 investors. We represent some of the most innovative businesses in the region and are a convener and collaborator who gets things done.
The Loveland Chamber of Commerce is the vehicle through which businesses, professionals and individuals can work together for the common good of the community. By providing high-value opportunities and activities for our investors they are able to build their business, strengthen relationships, market their business and develop as community leaders.