Find Your COS: Helping Talent and Businesses Connect in Colorado Springs
Talent looks for many things when considering new places to live, but one of the most important aspects they consider are the available career connections and quality of life. Colorado Springs’ abundant outdoor activities include 375 miles of trails, natural landmarks like the Garden of the Gods, and Pikes Peak. Moreover, a robust professional and personal networking community is baked right into this picturesque city, providing access to a thriving business community with growing employment opportunities.
One of the programs that facilitates talent attraction in Colorado Springs and the growth of careers and lifestyle in the Pikes Peak region is Find Your COS (pronounced “cause”) — a set of talent initiatives led by the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. In its second year, the program has more than doubled its partnerships, participating companies, and young professional registrations, with the 2023 cohort including 75 young professionals representing 16 states (42 from Colorado), three countries, and 30 universities.
Read more about the program’s first two initiatives that have helped hundreds of connect to communities and careers since its launch in 2022.
Connect Colorado Springs
Establishing a connection is imperative for talent to see themselves living and working in a new city. Connect Colorado Springs is a concierge program that helps professionals become acquainted with Colorado Springs by offering engaging events, workshops and volunteer opportunities.
Newcomers to Colorado Springs are matched with a local volunteer based on similar interests and demographics. They are then provided with an introduction to the region based on their specific needs — from childcare options to religious communities to recreation ideas.
The initiative also works to build a spirit of community with its emphasis on local businesses, introducing new residents to Colorado Spring’s diverse range of shops, restaurants and markets. If your small business is interested in mentorship and participation in the Connect Colorado Springs program, complete the company interest form to find out more.
Hello Colorado Springs
Designed with summer interns and young professionals in mind, Hello Colorado Springs helps participants fall in love not only with the company they are interning for, but with the Pikes Peak region on the whole. From extra-office social gatherings that strengthen employee culture to affordable community-oriented housing for intern cohorts, Hello Colorado Springs is a wraparound program that helps companies encourage new talent to make the region their permanent home.
Whether participants want to explore Colorado Springs’ abundant outdoor recreation, top attractions like the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, dining hotspots, sporting events, or community celebrations, Hello Colorado Springs strengthens talent attraction in Colorado Springs by boasting the region’s most attractive quality of life options.
In 2022, 36 interns from 21 different universities and 13 states participated in the program, led by companies like Bluestaq, Microchip Technology, UCHealth, Altia, Biggs Kofford and presenting sponsor Kratos. Businesses can register for the next Hello Colorado Springs cohort by completing the company registration form.
Interested in learning more about the diverse talent and workforce development programs in Colorado Springs? Read about our highly educated community and robust veteran population, and contact us to see how Find Your COS can help fulfill your specific workforce needs.