Issue Position: Local Economy

Issue Position

To encourage and Enable Innovation and Entrepreneurship I support local efforts, such as the EDC's Operation 6035 Plan; to attract new businesses and nurture new innovative ones by helping them access resources, capital and know-how to grow their businesses. We must also facilitate access to information and provide an "intellectual infrastructure" where courses and collaborations are readily available and connections to trade associations, think tanks and academic institutions are easily accessed. Expanded internet access and broadband are one way to improve this access.

To develop a Statewide Economic Development Plan we need an effective state wide economic development plan that leverages existing community assets and supplements local efforts by selectively using incentives, such as tax credits, rebates, exemptions, abatements, expanded enterprise zones and job training assistance.

Experiences in other states and communities have proven the effectiveness of "economic gardening", a strategy that focuses on supporting high-growth, and high-potential local small businesses to generate a large number of new sustainable jobs. The primary role of state government in supporting these businesses is to cultivate a business environment responsive to the growth needs of this rapidly growing business sector. Linking local homegrown businesses to resources, technology, data bases, training programs, educational institutions and expertise has proven effective in helping them to grow. A statewide economic gardening strategy to nurture Colorado companies is part of my plan to kick start Colorado's economy.

To continue the Focus on a Renewable Energy Economy we must be consistent with the State Climate Action Plan and we must continue to focus on renewable energy technology jobs. The immediate economic benefits of employment opportunities and innovations in technology are supplemented by the long term benefits to the environment.

To encourage Business Lending I will work to enable businesses, and particularly small businesses, to carry on and expand their activities. Because With tightening credit, businesses with legitimate needs have been denied the loans they count on.

To support Tourism I will promote full funding of the Colorado State Tourism Office so it can promote Colorado as a destination across the country for hiking, biking, hunting, angling, and vacationing. Tourism accounts for 200,000+ jobs in Colorado. It is often the impetus for attracting entrepreneurs to become permanent Colorado residents.

To implement a Buy Colorado Initiative I propose a Buy Colorado program to support local businesses and relocalization policies. Our state spends billions on contracts for goods and services -- we should have a preference program for Colorado businesses. Local businesses are unlikely to relocate and they retain and redistribute their wealth in our communities.

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