Dear CO|Align Community,

In our last update, we discussed how the Statewide Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) serves as our collective roadmap. This quarter, we shift our focus to the engine of our economy: People and Progress. Strategic alignment is more than just a buzzword; it’s a necessity when resources are tight. When we align talent development with business recruitment, we don’t just create jobs—we create sustainable career pathways that keep our graduates in Colorado and our local businesses thriving.

In this issue, we dive into the Statewide CEDS Strategy #2: Job Creation and Business Development, highlighting how regions are moving beyond traditional industries to build the "next" Colorado economy.

Haven't Signed the CO|Align MOU Yet?  

Now’s the time. The CO|Align Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signals your support for a coordinated, peer-driven approach to economic development that reflects local priorities and strengthens statewide alignment.

Join the growing list of signers today: 

Goals:

• Support the attraction, retention, and training of an adaptable, skilled talent pool—especially in regions transitioning from historical industry drivers.
• Support business creation, expansion, and recruitment to strengthen regional economies and generate job growth.

Strategy:

• Partner with education and training programs across the state to cultivate homegrown talent and attract skilled workers in alignment with regional and state industry needs.
• Collaborate to expand industry-led talent development through registered apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and other types of work-based learning.
• Support employers through talent development initiatives to incentivize skills training aligned with industry needs.

Desired Outcome: A dynamic ecosystem where the workforce is ready for tomorrow’s challenges and businesses have the local support needed to scale. We aim for a Colorado where a resident’s zip code doesn’t limit their access to high-growth industries.

Statewide Success in Action:

Turning Strategy into Jobs

Across Colorado, the CEDS is transitioning from a high-level roadmap into a series of "boots-on-the-ground" victories. These four examples illustrate how regions are pulling together diverse partners to build an adaptable workforce

and a resilient economy.

In a powerful alignment between Pueblo Community College, the City of Pueblo, and the CAE Training Center, Southern Colorado is addressing a critical national shortage of aircraft mechanics. Backed by state support from OEDIT and the Office of Just Transition (OJT), this partnership is specifically designed to provide high-wage career pivots for workers in transitioning industries, such as coal and energy. The program aims to create at least 45 new, high-paying jobs with a median salary of nearly $80,000, ensuring that veterans, high school graduates, and former coal workers have a direct pathway into a high-demand sector that strengthens the Pueblo Memorial Airport’s regional economic footprint.

To maintain Colorado’s status as a global leader in innovation, Elevate Quantum—the federally designated Tech Hub for the Mountain West—has joined forces with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). This unique collaboration universalizes access to the "Quantum Revolution" by integrating specialized career pathways into Connecting Colorado, the state’s primary labor exchange system. By moving toward a "skills-based" matching model, this partnership ensures that employers can find talent based on specific technical competencies rather than just traditional degrees. The desired outcome is a robust, inclusive workforce that can fill the rapidly growing vacancies in the quantum industry while keeping Colorado at the forefront of the national tech landscape.

Recognizing that iconic destination status doesn't always shield a community from rural economic challenges, Startup Colorado has partnered with the Colorado River Valley Economic Development Partnership and OEDIT to launch a new chapter of entrepreneurial support. This initiative focuses on the "connection gap" that often stalls growth in rural areas, providing local founders with the mentorship and visibility needed to scale their businesses where they live. Through programs like the Founder Coopetition // Idea Factory, this partnership is cultivating long-term economic resilience by investing in the local "talent and ambition" already present in the Colorado River Valley, ensuring that small business owners have the expert guidance and peer community necessary to thrive.

Northwest Colorado is facing a major economic shift as coal mines and power plants in Moffat, Routt, and Rio Blanco Counties prepare for closure by 2028. This transition threatens nearly 22% of the regional GDP and approximately 2,800 jobs that have historically served as the area’s economic backbone. In response, the Northwest Colorado Development Council established the Northwest Colorado Innovation Center (NCIC) as a centralized rural development hub. The NCIC streamlines access to business mentoring, workforce training, and specialized resources to foster a resilient, diversified economy that can thrive beyond the coal era.

To drive this growth, the NCIC focuses on bridging gaps in capital and infrastructure through initiatives like Northwest Catalyst Capital, a microloan fund that uses a "character lending" approach for entrepreneurs who might not qualify for traditional financing. Additionally, the NCIC is developing a physical facility within the Craig Business and Industrial Park to provide flexible incubation space and industrial training. By establishing registered apprenticeships and supporting emerging sectors like renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, the Center is actively reskilling nearly 1,000 transition workers and building a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem for the region's future.

How Can You Align?

Across the state, communities are turning strategy into action. From zoning reforms to school site redevelopments, local leaders are reimagining how to meet today’s housing needs—and CO|Align is here to support that work.

Cultivate Homegrown Talent | Don't wait for the talent to arrive. Actively build the bridge from graduation to employment.

• Assess your local training programs by partnering with your local K-12 districts and Higher Ed partners. Ensure that vocational and degree programs are directly mapped to the Regional Industry Needs identified in your regional CEDS document. 

Expand Industry-led Learning | Move training from the classroom to the shop floor. Increase regional capacity by lowering the barrier to entry for high-skill roles.

• Partner with local industry leaders to launch or scale registered apprenticeships and work-based learning models. Use your regional CEDS framework to identify which sectors are most ready for on-the-job training initiatives. 

Incentivize Skill-Building | Create an adaptable, resilient talent pool that can pivot as your regional economies evolve by supporting the employers who support their workers.

• Identify and promote state and local talent development initiatives—such as tax credits or training grants—that incentivize businesses to upskill their existing workforce.

Next Quarterly Spotlight: Growing Key Industries

In our next update, we will dive into the third CEDS strategy: Growing Key Industries. This strategy is the cornerstone of long-term economic stability, focusing on how Colorado communities are moving beyond single-industry dependence to build robust, multi-faceted ecosystems. 

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Share Your Wins with Us!

We’re always looking to highlight what’s working across Colorado. If you’ve got a great example of collaboration, innovation, or progress related to the Statewide CEDS goals—send it our way!

Email your story to Kim Woodworth @kim.woodworth@edcconline.org