Explaining what we do at the Chamber is sometimes best done by example. Our mission is to “proactively empower businesspeople to build a community in which their businesses can thrive and in which they are proud to live.” Said another way, we want your business to be successful and in the process have a strong economy so we can afford great quality of life amenities like first-rate schools, good streets, good parks and open lands, etc.
What you’ll see on the list below is a broad category of issues: support of retail, economic development, relations with elected officials, contact with various city departments, utilities, manufacturing, I-25, highway funding for Colorado, nurturing partnerships with other business organizations, workforce, water, developing community and regional leadership, the future of the community, health care, recycling, downtown, affordable housing, Mid-Town / South College, member events and connections, higher education, the future of chambers of commerce and more.
So, here’s a list of some of the things we’ve done recently to represent the business community and support a strong economy:
- Briefed executives interested in locating a business unit in Fort Collins, 100 – 1,000 jobs
- Briefed executive team of government contractors looking to open Fort Collins office, 100 – 300 jobs
- Hosted elected officials, city staffers and water officials at the Chamber’s Local Legislative Affairs Committee – Kristin Stephens, Ray Martinez, John Phelan, Lisa Rosintoski, Rick Richter, Mark Jackson, Brian Werner, Gino Campana, Lucinda Smith, and more.
- Attended all regular and work session city council meetings
- Met with new executive director of the Downtown Business Association to get acquainted to continue strong working relationship
- Met with the new executive director of Galvanize (www.galvanize.com)
- Advocated for change in state highway funding with Colorado Competitive Council, a business association focused on state issues
- Graduated the 6th class of Leadership Northern Colorado, did debrief from session and year and prepared application material to send out for the next class
- Attended Workforce Investment board meeting
- Attended the Regional Joint Meeting (Fort Collins, Berthoud, Loveland, Estes Park councils, directors and trustees) at which I-25 and Urban Renewal Authorities were discussed
- Attended Army Corps of Engineers public hearing on the Northern Integrated Supply Project for the Glade Reservoir
- Led the planning retreat for the Fix North I-25 Business Alliance to celebrate success so far ($99.5M for North I-25 so far) and plan the next 18 months of work
- Participated in four Fort Collins Futures Forums of UniverCity Connections
- Launched a new website for the Chamber, www.FortCollinsChamber.com
- Attended numerous ‘listening sessions’ for elected officials – Mayor Pro Tem Gerry Horak, Council Member Ross Cunniff, County Commissioner Lew Gaiter
- Participated in Health Care Sector Convener meeting
- Shop Fort Collins First planning meeting
- Met with Mayor Wade Troxell
- Met with City Manager Darin Atteberry
- Attended City Council Legislative Review Committee meetings
- Attended City Council Futures Committee meeting
- Attended City Council Finance Committee meetings
- Attended Community Recycling Ordinance Public Forum (2x)
- Attended Affordable Housing Strategic Plan Public Forum
- Participated in Old Town Neighborhoods Plan Business Focus Group
- Met with Gallegos Sanitation executives to discuss the new recycling ordinance
- Met with Executive Director of the Small Business Development Center for an SBDC update
- Attended City Energy Board meeting
- Participated in City of Fort Collins Planning Department walking tour of the downtown business Innovation Area – Oxbow / River District
- Met with the City’s new Director of Social Sustainability Jackie Kozak Thiel for introduction and update
- Met with Deputy City Manager Jeff Mihelich
- Met with Utility Director Kevin Gertig
- Met with Utility Operations Financial Manager to discuss utility rates in relation to PRPA costs and the Climate Action Plan
- Met with Utility Customer Connections Manager to discuss Climate Action Plan
- Participated in a community panel hosted by Cache Bank about the future of Fort Collins – panel featured Chamber President David May, City Manager Darin Atteberry and Community Foundation President Ray Caraway
- Participated in an all-day Energy Summit at the Ranch
- Participated in an all-day Western Water Conference hosted by CSU
- Participated in the Downtown Creative District brainstorming session
- Meeting of Leadership Fort Collins Alumni Committee
- Participated in City’s Economic Advisory Commission Meeting
- Business After Hours
- 16 Red Carpet Receptions over past 2 months
- Attended 2 press events with U.S. Senator Michael Bennet regarding widening I-25
- Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance Board meeting, Board Retreat, prepared NCLA’s Regional Business Agenda (water, workforce, I-25, energy)
- Met with Colorado Contractors Association to discuss Colorado’s highway funding situation
- Small group breakfasts with human resources directors to discuss worker shortage issues
- Recruited leaders and teams for the Chamber’s annual Moving Fort Collins Forward! campaign
- Held Fridays at the Chamber cookout for members at Chamber building
- Two columns in the Coloradoan and one in BizWest
- Board meeting of the Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation
- Talked with executive recruiter for the Northern Colorado Economic Alliance to provide insights and leads for potential CEO
- Part of interview panel for prospective new City Utilities Power & Light Operations Manager
- Met with the American Chamber of Commerce Executives’ (ACCE) Universities Communities Council to discuss federal research funding for universities
- Held our annual Golf Tournament
- Met with the ACCE Horizon Initiative Task Force to discuss the future of chambers- The Nature of Belonging and Gathering and Resource Alignment
- Serving on the Senior Center Accreditation Review Team
- Lobbied City Council on the addition of permitted use changes
- Released four episodes of the 2 Minute Update to keep members up to date on city hall
- Serving on the Downtown Plan Market and Economy Team
See what I mean? Saying that the Chamber “proactively empowers businesspeople to build a community in which their businesses can thrive and in which they are proud to live” doesn’t fully show the depth of what we do.