First Half of 2018 Great for Chamber and Community

The region continues to do well as demonstrated by the hard numbers like the low unemployment rate and anecdotally as you see new residential, commercial and public construction projects all over the area.

At the mid-year point of 2018, it has been a strong year for the Chamber. Here’s a quick overview on the top goals and activities.

  1. Be a Bold Voice for Business
  • Help identify candidates for the Fort Collins City Council. The Chamber does not get involved in partisan politics but does endorse candidates for local offices including city council. With 4 of the 7 seats up next April, we are encouraging people to run for public office. So far, we know of 8 people considering running
  • Make sure the business perspective is heard in the update of City Plan. A 20-year update to the City’s strategic framework document is underway. Chamber officials and businesspeople are working on the various committees, participating online, and attending relevant meetings
  • Advocate for maintaining a supply of clean, affordable and reliable electricity for the region. A task force of employers is studying various proposals that could impact how the region produces electricity. An external consulting team is being hired and major business power users are being interviewed
  • Support an appropriately funded local government. Local government services matter to us as residents and businesses. To that end, a Chamber task force is studying the “Keep Fort Collins Great” tax which may be up for renewal next April
  • Research City budget proposals for climate action to understand their costs, benefits and impacts on business and the economy. A task force of employers is researching the City’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) and current budget recommendations
  • Develop and implement a ‘business for the community’ public information campaign. The purpose is to help make the connection between business success, economic vitality of the community, and our ability to afford great public quality of life amenities like good schools and parks. The campaign is in the development stage
  1. Lead the lobbying effort to secure funding to widen I-25 to 3 lanes between Highway 14 and Highway 66 (Fix North I-25)
  • A total of $590M has been secured for North I-25 so far; most recently an additional $9.8M was committed to rebuild the bridge over the Big Thompson River
  • Construction to add an additional lane between Highway 14 in Fort Collins and Highway 402 south of Loveland begins this summer/fall
  • Currently lobbying the Transportation Commission for an additional $250M
  • Evaluating two proposed transportation funding measures that may be on the ballot this fall
  1. Implement Year 2 of talent development plan

Finding workers has become increasingly difficult. The Chamber is leading a coalition called Talent 2.0.

  • Held inaugural Talent Summit on May 8
  • 12 downloadable PDFs recruiters can use
  • Launched NoCoTalent2.com website
  • Piloting EMSI talent identification database tool
  1. Interview at least 100 primary employers
  • Chamber and partners have conducted 30 interviews
  1. Conduct successful Moving Fort Collins Forward! campaign
  • Deb Kelly of Guaranty Bank and Mat Dinsmore of Wilburs selected as co-chairs
  • Vice Chairs and teams being recruited

Other notable activities

  • 2018 Goals and Budget Adopted in January
  • Horizon 2025 strategic discussions held by Board
  • Successful Annual Dinner
  • Hired new communications coordinator
  • Investors Recognition Wall installed
  • Quarterly updates (events and print publications) and Flash updates for Northern Colorado Prospers investors
  • Graduated Leadership Fort Collins class in May
  • Graduated 9th Leadership Northern Colorado class in June
  • Won ‘Outstanding Program Award’ from Western Association of Chamber Executives for Northern Colorado Prospers Campaign
  • Dozens of networking and education events: Business After Hours, 12@12 Luncheons, Leads Groups, Red Carpet, Envision
  • Regular communication with members: eWeekly SmartBriefs
  • Represented business at dozens of government meetings – state, county, city hall
  • Celebrated small business: May 24 Small Business of the Year Breakfast
  • May 21 Board Retreat