2023 Priorities

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Support the continuation and creation of state economic development tools and incentives.
• Endorse local and state legislative policy that proactively supports business retention, expansion and attraction activities.
• Endorse land use policy and infrastructure expansion that support the basic needs of both a growing population and economy of Northern Colorado.

AGRICULTURE

• Support proactive innovative practices that strengthen the agriculture industry as a major contributor to the region and state economy
• Support our industries that built our area as they continue to navigate change to their industry
• Support policies that reflect best industry practices for use of the land, water and environmental mitigation
• Amplify synergy and coalition building with like industries who can advise on regulatory impact to their respective industries
• Monitor and proactively defend the sector from overly expansive policies that contribute to a decline in an already low-margin industry.

WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

Support regional collaboration to create clean water resource management strategies, promote efforts to retain water in Northern Colorado, protect the integrity of water law, and support increasing water storage available to Northern Colorado including:

• Support incentivizing regional collaboration (i.e. Windy Gap Firming Project) and reducing competition for water.
• Support Northern Water’s efforts on Colorado River issues.
• Support Northern Colorado communities in pursuing water supply and storage to meet future growth and climate resiliency needs.
• Support and encourage innovative conservation approaches to water stewardship.
• Encourage preservation of native supplies in Northern Colorado.
• Support and monitor construction progress for the Northern Integrated Supply Project including Glade and Galeton Reservoirs and related infrastructure.
• Proactively protect and preserve existing local land use authority.

CLIMATE CHANGE

• Ensure that laws and regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions are transparent and objective about the economic and financial costs through comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and measurement standards demonstrating ongoing benefits.
• Advocate for objective and un-biased evaluations of technologies and strategies to achieve targeted GHG reductions while preserving access to affordable, sustainable energy to preserve and encourage healthy economic development.

ENERGY

• Protect and support the growth of the traditional energy sector while encouraging the innovative alternative energy sector
• Engage in the broad and comprehensive Legislative and regulatory processes and climate policy legislation.
• Support local control related to energy and property rights issues.
• Avoid the temptation to pick winners and losers and allow the consumer to choose the form of energy to use.
• Oppose laws and regulations that prevent utilities from offering competitive electricity rates and reliable service with clean sources in a timeframe that appropriately aligns with the timing of available technologies that assure no dramatic rate increases or decrease in reliability.
• Encourage utilities to factor the environmental and financial costs of the “end of life” cycle of alternative energy source infrastructure.

COMMUNITY ISSUES

Issues such as crime, homelessness, behavioral and mental health, substance use, and housing affordability have affected business across the State.

• Support and encourage communities to preserve their legislative authority for their own communities, to balance the rights of individuals and property owners with public safety.
• Oppose initiatives related to crime that have a negative impact on business development or economic health.
• Proactively work with legislators to find solutions that create housing affordability.

TRANSPORTATION

Colorado should fully fund and complete the I-25 Corridor vision, which includes express lanes and enhancements of the interstate.

• Active pursuit of all available funding options, priority spending and modifications to SB 260 to elevate interstate roadways are high priorities.
• Advocate for improvements to regionally significant roads in the two-county region that improve mobility.

HEALTH CARE

• • Support the availability of high quality, accessible and affordable health care for the region.
  • Support legislation that empowers healthcare workforce training programs and eliminates barriers to training, education and certifying workers.
  • Ensure access to care, including behavioral health and primary care, remains close to home within Northern Colorado.
  • Identify and address regulations that create administrative burden and excessive costs but do not contribute to quality patient care.