Advocacy
Your Dedicated Pro-Business Advocate
The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC believes in the power of a collective voice. We work on your behalf to remove barriers to business, saving you money, time, and red-tape headaches. By prioritizing business owner needs, the Chamber & EDC protects our economy and increases resources available to you to grow and thrive in your work.
- Our Results
- Legislative Agenda
- Advocacy Partners
This year, more than 650 bills were introduced during the state legislative session, many affecting your bottom line and how you run your business. The Chamber & EDC advocates on your behalf, engaging with lawmakers and partners across the state to seek a positive business climate that allows Pikes Peak region businesses to grow and thrive, and secure a strong state economy.
COVID-19 Recovery
- Supported numerous bills that provided funding to upskill workers, allow retailers to retain sales tax they collected.
- Strongly opposed HB22-1355. The bill will create a statewide recycling program, which will be administered by a nonprofit. The bill will mandate businesses to pay dues to a state created non- profit based on the amount of packing material a business uses. Businesses – especially our small businesses – cannot afford this bill as many of them are still recovering from the ramifications of the pandemic (Signed by Governor Polis).
- Championed SB22-234, which pays back the $600 million loan the state took from the federal government to fund unemployment disbursements during the pandemic. The passage of this bill will prevent businesses from seeing large increases in unemployment insurance (Signed by Governor Polis).
Affordable Housing
- Opposed and strongly fought against HB22-1287, which would have established rent control on mobile home lots. With our advocacy the rent control provision in this bill was removed (Signed by Governor Polis).
- Supported HB22-1127, which would have made single tenants who make under $40,000 or married tenants who make under $80,000 a year eligible for up to a $17,500 income tax deduction (Postponed Indefinitely, House Committee on Finance).
- Successfully advocated for over $200 million in funding to support affordable and attainable housing.
- Fought against HB22-1363 and SB22-136, both of which would have drastically altered the way special districts are used to build housing in Colorado. Both bills failed, saving developers and home buyers thousands of dollars (HB22-1363: Postponed Indefinitely, Senate Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs. SB22-136: Postponed Indefinitely, Senate Committee on Local Government).
Workforce
- Advocated for HB22-1350, which will provide $90 million in grant funding to develop regional labor market needs and workforce developments needs. This is especially important as we are still mitigating the effects COVID-19 had on the labor market (Signed by Governor Polis).
- Supported HB22-1050, which addresses the shortage of health care providers in Colorado. The bill reduces the barriers to integrate international medical graduates into Colorado’s healthcare workforce (Signed by Governor Polis).
- Testified in support of SB22-077. The passage of this bill will ensure that military spouses who specialize in counseling will face a lessened administrative burden in receiving their counseling license in Colorado, which enables them to enter our workforce and continue their careers more expediently (Signed by Governor Polis).
- Supported SB22-140, which will provide work- based learning opportunities for youth and adults who have historically been excluded from these opportunities. The bill also aids new Americans and those learning English with skill and language development (Signed by Governor Polis).
The Chamber & EDC evaluates policies based on the following guiding principles:
- Free markets and competition ensure high service levels, innovation, and competitive pricing. To ensure that taxes, fees, and regulations do not stifle a thriving economy or pose undue burden on businesses, they should be narrowly focused on strategic and necessary goals, undergo a cost/benefit analysis resulting in a positive ratio, and be easy for businesses to understand and comply with.
- Proactive economic development programs help our community attract, retain, and expand businesses that provide high-quality jobs for our residents. These jobs, in turn, improve the quality of life for residents.
- Responsive, efficient, effective government provides the infrastructure upon which businesses grow and thrive.
2022 Priorities
The Chamber & EDC will focus on policies that support:
- Mitigating the effects of the pandemic on businesses.
- Attainable workforce housing and affordable cost of living, to support our community’s talent needs and enhance the region’s ability to compete nationally for growth opportunities.
- Our ability to attract, retain, train, and develop a skilled labor pool.
Many of the issues influencing local business are shared with our regional and state peers. The Chamber & EDC partners with organizations, governments, and coalitions across the state to identify and champion pro-business solutions. Some include:
