Governor, OEDIT Receive Competitiveness Council's Roadmap, Will Review Recommendations to Enhance Colorado's Business Competitiveness

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DENVER – In July 2026, Governor Jared Polis, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), and members of the business and innovation communities announced the formation of a new public-private partnership, the Governor's Competitiveness Council. Led by the business community, the Council was established to develop a collaborative long-term vision to enhance Colorado's business competitiveness nationally and foster a top-ranking economy and leading innovation ecosystem across the state. Today, Governor Polis announced that he and OEDIT have received the Council's roadmap, which includes data-informed policy recommendations about how to make Colorado more competitive.

"Thank you to everyone who worked on this. Today I received the Competitiveness Council's Roadmap and recommendations on how we can make Colorado more competitive. This council was formed to bring together business, labor, education, and investors to recommend how we can streamline our business regulation, strengthen our economy, and make Colorado more competitive. I look forward to reviewing the recommendations, and seeing how we can use this roadmap to support homegrown businesses, attract new companies to Colorado, and make our economy stronger," said Governor Polis.

"Colorado's ability to compete depends on our ability to develop, retain, and advance the talent already here while attracting new investment and opportunity to our state. A competitive economy requires more than a skilled workforce today; it requires the infrastructure to continuously develop talent as industries evolve, ensuring that learning retains its value as Coloradans move between educational institutions and into the workforce. The Council's recommendations recognize that economic competitiveness and economic mobility are inseparable. When we connect the skills Coloradans have with the opportunities employers are creating, we strengthen businesses, communities, and the economic future of our state," said Dr. Marielena DeSanctis, Chancellor, Colorado Community College System.

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"It's been an honor to work with business and community leaders to identify the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities facing Colorado right now. Aligning around our shared values as Coloradans will ensure that Colorado regains its footing as the best place in the country to start a business," said Cory Finney, Managing Partner at Howdy Partners.

"I spend my days with entrepreneurs who chose Colorado on purpose. This coalition came together because we care deeply about the collective future of businesses in our state: large and small, urban and rural. The roadmap is our shared vision and commitment to a Colorado where companies have even greater room to build and grow, and where the opportunity it creates reaches every Coloradan," said Zaneta Kelsey, CEO of Access Mode and co-lead of the Governor's Competitiveness Council Marketing Working Group.

"Colorado has fallen behind. Fewer companies are starting here, and too many that do leave to scale. This council came together to change that. The roadmap we're proposing gives us a clear, data driven framework to make Colorado the premier state for starting and scaling businesses once again," said Seth Levine, Partner and Co-founder at Foundry.

"The Council heard directly from businesses of every size, across a broad spectrum of industries and across our state to ensure every region's voice and unique economic perspective were captured. With increasing competition for companies and talent, it was essential that this report be grounded in data to inform how Colorado can strengthen its competitive position for years to come," said Eve Lieberman, OEDIT Executive Director.

To develop its recommendations, the Council brought together the public and private sectors to benchmark Colorado's competitiveness and analyze the current business landscape. This work was informed by a series of seven listening sessions across the state, including over 490 participants from 60 industries and all 14 of Colorado's economic development regions. Over 80% of participating businesses were small to medium-sized enterprises and approximately 50% represented rural communities. Over 50% of private sector attendees were primary employers.

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Additionally, the Leeds School of Business at University of Colorado Boulder conducted an analysis of the leading economic indicators of competitiveness to identify Colorado's competitive advantages and emerging constraints on future growth.

The Council's findings outline short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations focused on six priority areas: regulatory reform and execution; tax and fiscal policy; capital and scale; talent and workforce; affordability and housing; and infrastructure and site readiness. The Council will share this report with all gubernatorial candidates as well as the state legislature.

An Executive Committee and Working Group Co-Chairs guided the work of the Competitiveness Council, including:
  • Jania Arnoldi – President and CEO, Valley-Wide Health Systems
  • Albus Brooks – Vice President, Milender White
  • Debbie Brown – President, Colorado Business Roundtable
  • Lorena Cantarovici – Founder and CEO, Maria Empanada
  • Dan Caruso – Founder, Caruso Ventures
  • Michael Coors – CEO and Board Member, CoorsTek
  • Dr. Marielena DeSanctis – Chancellor, Colorado Community College System
  • Binh Diep – Senior Managing Director, Slalom
  • Mike Ferrufino – President and CEO, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver
  • Cory Finney – Managing Partner, Howdy Partners
  • Mike Francolino – Chief Customer and Enterprise Services Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities
  • Loren Furman – President and CEO, Colorado Chamber of Commerce
  • Raymond H. Gonzales – President, Metro Denver EDC
  • Christine Heitz – CEO, Colorado Thrives
  • Zaneta Kelsey – Co-founder and CEO, Access Mode
  • Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer – President and CEO, Colorado Springs Chamber and
  • EDC Wendy Lea – Founder and Chair, Energize Colorado
  • Seth Levine – Partner and Co-founder, Foundry
  • Eve Lieberman – Executive Director, OEDIT
  • Chris Romer – President and CEO, Vail Valley Partnership
  • Brittany Morris Saunders – President and CEO, Colorado Technology Association
  • Marc Nager – Managing Partner, Howdy Partners
  • Dr. Justin Schwartz – Chancellor, University of Colorado Boulder
  • George Sparks – President and CEO, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
  • Hollie J. Velasquez Horvath – Regional Vice President, Xcel Energy
  • Richard Werner – President and CEO, Upstate Colorado
  • Kim Woodworth – Executive Director, Economic Development Council of Colorado

About the Governor's Competitiveness Council

The Governor's Competitiveness Council is led by the business community in partnership with government leaders to develop a collaborative long-term vision to enhance Colorado's business competitiveness nationally and foster a top-ranking economy and leading innovation ecosystem across the state. The Council's vision is for Colorado to be the world's most attractive innovation ecosystem where every Coloradan shares in the economic prosperity and cultural vibrancy it creates.
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