Widening I-25, finding workers for area employers, standing up for business, and retaining key existing employers are all big priorities for the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce.
As reported in this space several times during 2017, the Chamber hired a consultant in mid-2016 to interview business and community leaders about the area’s biggest challenges. That led to the public launch in March of Northern Colorado Prospers, a 5-year key strategic initiative campaign to tackle those four priorities.
The fund raising part of the campaign ended in mid-July though additional investors have continued to join. Ninety-eight investors have pledged $3.8 million over the next 5 years.
Last Wednesday Northern Colorado Prospers Investors gathered at the Marriott for the first quarterly update breakfast. Altogether, eight speakers shared a blizzard of information with the 80 attendees. Among other things, they learned that $350.5 million has been committed to North I-25 and that significant additional money is pending. They also got an update on the newly launched Talent 2.0 workforce development initiative.
An update report was distributed to attendees. You can view it here.
In addition to the update breakfast, the Northern Colorado Prospers Investors Advisory Council also met last week. This is a group of key investors who are providing oversight of NCP on behalf of all of the investors. Members of the Advisory Council are: Shawn Osthoff, Bank of Colorado; Gerry Agnes, Elevations Credit Union; Lucia Liley, Liley Law; Paul Taylor, Guaranty Bank; Stephanie Tuebner, Blue Federal Credit Union; Gene Bocis, Anheuser-Busch; Carrie Baumgart, Markley Motors; Yuval Wasserman, Advanced Energy; Mike Dellenbach, Dellenbach Motors; Kevin Brinkman, Brinkman Partners; Curt Richardson, Otter Products; Steve Stiesmeyer, Woodward; Dan Dirksen, Heath Construction; and Kevin Unger, UC Health, who chairs the Advisory Council.
A lot is happening as explained in the update report. The effect of Northern Colorado Prospers has been to turbocharge our work on key issues that the business community has told us matters to them.
Call me if you have any questions about Northern Colorado Prospers and how you can participate. David May 970 482-3751 x 102