Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC Highlights a Year of Momentum at Annual Business Snapshot
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC brought together 450 business and community leaders for its Annual Business Snapshot, Presented by Underline, on Wednesday offering a comprehensive look at the organization’s impact and the region’s economic momentum over the past year.
Hosted at COS City Hub, this year’s event centered on the theme “From Ideas to Impact,” reflecting how collaboration, innovation, and decisive action translated into tangible outcomes for businesses and the regional economy in 2025. The event featured a keynote address by Steve Lerch, sponsored by UCHealth, along with updates from Chamber & EDC leadership highlighting economic development wins, advocacy efforts, and community initiatives.
Lerch, former Google executive and President of Story Arc Consulting, delivered a keynote focused on creativity, change, and the power of culture in driving innovation. Lerch shared insights from his decade at Google – where he advised on digital strategy and taught thousands of employees the building blocks of innovation – and encouraged the audience to move beyond “good enough.”
He reminded attendees that innovation is accessible to everyone and urged them to look for it everywhere, iterate based on feedback, and lean into their passions, curiosities, and skills to create meaningful impact. Top of FormBottom of Form
Lerch’s message set the stage for the Chamber & EDC’s work over the past year — turning ideas into action through collaboration, strategy, and measurable results.
“What mattered most in 2025 was delivering outcomes,” said Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC President & CEO Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer. “From business growth to infrastructure and workforce alignment, we focused on work that moves the region forward.”
The Chamber & EDC’s focus on outcomes was reflected in the year’s results across economic development, advocacy, workforce, and community initiatives. The organization’s leadership highlighted key achievements and milestones that demonstrate the region’s continued growth and momentum.
Economic Development and Investment
Over the past year, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC helped advance nine new and expanding business projects, resulting in 1,115 jobs created and $499.4 million in capital investment across the Pikes Peak region. Major announcements included Swire Coca-Cola USA’s planned $475 million manufacturing facility at Peak Innovation Park, expected to bring 170 jobs to the region as well as Swisspod’s hyperloop innovation project, expansion in aerospace and defense technologies, and ITS, LLC’s expansion in Colorado Springs, bringing 500 new aerospace and defense jobs to the region.
The Chamber & EDC also played a key role in advancing long-term infrastructure and site readiness, including securing agreements for a $56 million substation and a $100 million-plus transmission line to serve Peak Innovation Park. In addition, the Chamber & EDC supported and testified in favor of the annexation of the Southern Colorado Rail Park into the City of Colorado Springs, a project expected to be operational within five years.
In 2025, the Chamber & EDC also completed 156 business retention meetings with employers in its primary target sectors, strengthening relationships, identifying growth opportunities, and helping businesses navigate workforce, infrastructure, and regulatory challenges.
Innovation, Workforce, and Talent Development
A major milestone in 2025 was the launch of the Colorado Aerospace and Defense Economic Council (CAD-EC), uniting industry leaders, government partners, and investors to strengthen the region’s aerospace, defense, cybersecurity, and technology sectors. The council hosted its inaugural Defense Innovation and Business Growth Summit at Catalyst Campus, drawing more than 100 participants and signaling strong regional demand for collaboration within the defense industrial base.
Last year also marked the launch of Innovate Pikes Peak, a regional talent initiative designed to align education and workforce needs. Co-founded with Peak Education, Innovate Pikes Peak grew out of the Titans of Economic Development Council and culminated in the signing of memorandums of understanding with nine school districts, creating clearer pathways from classroom to career across urban and rural communities.
Housing and Community Growth
Housing remained a central focus in 2025 through the work of the Pikes Peak Housing Network, which helped clear barriers for five major housing developments, advancing more than 1,200 apartments toward construction. The organization hosted its inaugural State of Housing event, launched a regional housing data initiative, led a successful housing tour for community leaders, and expanded its advocacy base by more than 100 new champions.
Small Business Support
Supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses continued to be a priority. The Colorado Small Business Development Center Serving the Pikes Peak Region delivered nearly 100 educational events, more than 1,200 advising sessions, and 1,800 hours of free one-on-one consulting in 2025. The SBDC earned the SBA Region 8 Excellence and Innovation Award for the third time and hosted its largest Veterans Small Business Conference to date, alongside Small Business Week programming that celebrated local entrepreneurship.
Elevating the Region’s Story
Source Colorado Springs launched in 2025 to elevate the profile of Colorado Springs and El Paso County and support talent attraction efforts across the Pikes Peak region. Through targeted storytelling, digital campaigns, and media engagement, the platform highlighted Colorado Springs’ quality of life, career opportunities, and community assets. By connecting prospective workers and relocating professionals with employers and regional resources, Source Colorado Springs strengthened the region’s ability to attract and retain a skilled workforce.
Advocacy and Regional Voice
The Chamber & EDC remained an active advocate for the business community during a challenging legislative year. In 2025, the organization reviewed and took positions on 52 bills, successfully opposing proposals that would have increased costs and liability for employers while advancing policies that support economic competitiveness.
The Chamber & EDC convened nearly 120 business leaders at a Legislative Roundtable and led a D.C. Fly-In with more than 90 participants from El Paso and Douglas counties. These efforts elevated Southern Colorado’s priorities through direct engagement with state and federal policymakers and resulted in national media coverage highlighting the region’s economic and defense assets.
Membership and Engagement
Membership growth and engagement remained strong in 2025, with the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC continuing to broaden its reach and deliver value across the business community. The organization’s membership surpassed 1,000 businesses, supported by expanded benefits that connect employers to key resources, workforce development partnerships, and strategic networking opportunities.
Participation grew in 2025 with networking events such as Business After Hours, Breakfast and Business Cards and the newly launched Rise & Share program selling out throughout the year. Business and community leaders also came together at signature events, including State of the City and State of the Region, Annual Business Snapshot and the first annual Boots, Business, and Boogie. These events brough business professionals together for learning, collaboration, and community building.
These efforts were recognized by the Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest at the Best in Business Awards, where the Chamber & EDC earned gold medal awards for Best Chamber of Commerce, Best Corporate Networking Event (Business After Hours), Best Local CEO/Head of Business (Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer), and silver for Best Nonprofit Event (Annual Business Snapshot) honors in a community-wide vote – underscoring the organization’s role as a central hub for connection and economic vitality in the region.
Leadership Recognition and Looking Ahead
The event also recognized the leadership and service of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC’s outgoing and incoming Board of Directors and council chairs, whose guidance helps shape the organization’s priorities and regional impact.
Ryan Klein, a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP and 2025 Chair of the Board of Directors, was recognized for his leadership during a year focused on execution and strategic progress. As past chair, Klein will continue to serve on the organization’s Executive Committee in 2026, supporting continuity in governance and long-term planning.
Seth Harvey, co-founder and CEO of Bluestaq, was introduced as the incoming Board Chair. Harvey helped launch the Colorado Aerospace and Defense Economic Council (CAD-EC) and served as its inaugural chair in 2025, in addition to serving as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors – bringing deep industry expertise and a strong regional perspective as the organization looks ahead to 2026.
In 2026, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC remains focused on turning collaboration into measurable results for the business community and the region. With a strong foundation of partnerships, proven execution, and engaged leadership, the Chamber & EDC is positioned to continue advancing economic opportunity, advocating for employers, and supporting sustainable growth across the Pikes Peak region.