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November 2020 Ballot Initiatives Update
Monday Deadline for Signature Gathering for 2020 Ballot Measures Coloradans will consider as many as 11 initiatives on the November 2020 ballot—1 referendum petition, 3 measures referred by the state legislature, and up to 7 citizen led initiatives. Over 300 citizen led ballot measures were introduced for the 2020 ballot, but so far only 3 citizen led measures have been approved and 4 are awaiting signature verification by the Secretary of State. Today at 3:00pm was the deadline for submitting
COVID Encouraging Work From Home Policies Update
Below are notes from a webinar hosted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade re: work from home policies on Friday. The meeting was led by Betsy Markey, Executive Director, OEDIT; Jill Ryan, Executive Director, CDPHE; and Kacey Wulff, Governor’s Advisor on COVID-19. The presenters in the meeting asked Colorado’s businesses to maximize teleworking and remote work as well as to assist in enforcing the statewide mask order. They
Governor Polis signs three executive orders for COVID-19 extensions
The Governor signed an Executive Order directing the Colorado Department of Human Services to access federal funds for child care services.The Governor also signed Executive Order D 2020 146, extending the ability for Coloradans to continue getting marriage licenses while clerk and recorder offices are closed.He also extended orders suspending certain regulatory statutes due to COVID-19, and concerning petition collection for unaffiliated and independent candidates.
County partners with Tri-County Health Dept. and STRIDE Community Health Center in multi-million dollar initiatives
Commissioners approve more than $3 million in CARES Act funds to reduce local spread of COVID-19County partners with Tri-County Health Dept. and STRIDE Community Health Center in multi-million dollar initiatives. Published on July 28, 2020 in 2020 & Breaking News The Board of Douglas County Commissioners today unanimously approved up to $3,037,696 in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding for community testing and case investigation/contact tracing to assist in the
Governor Polis Final Action on Bills from the 2020 Session and New Mask Order
COVID-19 Questions & answers about the statewide mandatory mask order flyer STATEWIDE MASK ORDER one pagerDemocrat/Republican split in House of Representatives: 41/24Democrat/Republican split in the Senate: 19/16Number of days met: 84Number of days left under 120 limit: 36Number of days in recess: 72 daysNumber of bills, resolutions, and memorials introduced during the 2020 Legislative Session: 710Number of bills signed by the Governor: 326Number of bills vetoed as of June 16, 2020: 3Last day for the
Release of the draft health guidance for reopening schools
Today, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Department of Education, and Governor's Office released the draft health guidance for keeping our kids safe as schools reopen this fall. The guidance is organized by COVID-19 incidence levels and provides specific recommendations on the levels; Stay at Home, Safer at Home, and Protect our Neighbors. This guidance will help local public health agencies and school districts ensure the safest learning environment possible during the
KICKSTART YOUR CAREER VIRTUAL EVENT
KICKSTART YOUR CAREER VIRTUAL EVENT TUESDAY, JULY 28 | 6:30-7:30 PM VIA ZOOM The world has changed – Your dreams haven’t. Don’t let a tough economy put your future on hold. Skill up. Re-train. Or change your career altogether. Now is the time to set yourself apart. ACC can help you: • Explore new careers • Enroll in courses that fit your schedule • Obtain job-ready skills through certificates and apprenticeship opportunities • Renovate your resume ACC advisors will be available to answer your
Colorado Economy Continues Recovery in June
The Colorado economy took another step in the recovery from the COVID-19 lockdown with the addition of 55,000 jobs in June. That is impressive growth, although the number was smaller than expected given the strength of U.S. job growth earlier in the month. The data indicates a majority of the state’s reopening came in May. Over 90% of the employment gains were in retail and leisure and hospitality. This bodes well for the whole state because tourism and retail are an important part of the economy. In
Benefit for our members and their employees
Dear Chamber and Business Association Partners, While metro Denver is not affected as greatly as much of the country, we have seen high rates of unemployment and the loss of health insurance that can result. At HCA Healthcare and HealthONE, we want to remove barriers to care so that our community members feel comfortable seeking routine, preventive, urgent and emergent care. Being insured either through COBRA, Connect for Health Colorado, or Medicaid can support those who need care, and we want to
Gov. Polis Issues Executive Orders in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Gov. Polis Issues Executive Orders in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic DENVER - Governor Jared Polis extended and amended Executive Orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Polis extended an Executive Order to expedite the processing of unemployment insurance claims for Coloradans and will help protect the economic well-being of Colorado’s communities impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor extended an Executive Order to ensure that hospitals and other inpatient treatment
The Outlets at Castle Rock are Hiring!
The Outlets at Castle Rock are Hiring! Are you interested in retail, customer service, flexibility, benefits, and fun?! Current openings at Puma, Asics, White House Black Market, Hanes, and more! Located conveniently between the Denver Metro Area and Colorado Springs, The Outlets at Castle Rock is the perfect place to work! They are the largest open-air center in the State of Colorado, with over 100 name brand stores! Work, live, eat, and shop in beautiful Castle Rock! Apply Today!
Town of Castle Rock Announces 0% Interest $2M CommUNITY loans in Partnership with FirsTier Bank
We are hosting a zoom call on Wednesday, June 24th at 8:00am to share information and answer questions. Zoom link below! Castle Rock Businesses! We are excited to announce the Castle Rock FirsTier 0% interest $2M CommUNITY loan program (*No service charges for 24 months. ) powered by the Town of Castle Rock and supported by Colorado Lending Source and Castle Rock EDC. As many of you know Castle Rock’s short term response to the COVID-19 economic crisis was a multi-pronged approach of PPP/SBA
Colorado General Assembly Adjourns Sine Die, Monday, June 15, 2020
Today the General Assembly completed their final day of session. Rumors circulated in the final week that the legislature would recess, instead of adjourning Sine Die, which would have left the option open to return at a later date. Today, however, the House and Senate passed resolutions to adjourn Sine Die. In order to return in 2020, the Governor could call a special session or the legislature, with two thirds approval, could call a special session. Below, you find the update from the final day of
Castle Rock Named the Best Up-and-Coming Small City Near a Major Metro
Don't Want to Give Up Big-City Life? Check Out These 8 Up-and-Coming Small Cities Close to Major MetrosReady for a slower pace and more space but still want to enjoy the perks of a big city? These small cities offer the best of both worlds.By: Brittany Anas, On Tuesday, June 16, 2020 - 11:15 Over the past few months, the coronavirus pandemic has prompted many people to re-examine their living situations. Amid shutdowns, for instance, having easy access to open space — or a backyard at the very
Colorado General Assembly Daily Update, Monday, June 8, 2020
Today began what could be the last week in the 2020 legislative session. Leadership has indicated that they intend for Friday to be the final day of session. It only takes 3 days to pass a bill, so bills continued to be introduced today. Key Legislative Actions New BillsHB20-1419 State Drug Assistance Program Funding was introduced today. The bill would create a new line item that would receive pharmaceutical rebates that CDPHE currently receives for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The ADAP provides
Colorado General Assembly Daily Update, 6-1-20, Also updated Executive Order
Last week the General Assembly returned to a different work space at the capitol—temperature checks, glass protective shields, spreading out on the House and Senate floor, and other changes due to the coronavirus. This week, the ground shifted again. Today legislators returned to the capitol covered in graffiti after a turbulent weekend of protests and riots. The turmoil of the weekend weighed on the legislators, made apparent by several impassioned speeches on the House and Senate floor. Denver Mayor
DCBA, Under The Dome, Week 21, Week 1 post recess
Under the Dome, Week 21 This week the General Assembly reconvened to complete the 2020 legislative session. The legislature worked Tuesday through Thursday, but after protests turned into riots near the state capitol late Thursday night, leadership decided to cancel work on Friday and Saturday. Protests have erupted in major cities across the United States in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while pinned to the ground by a police officer in Minneapolis earlier this week.
General Assembly Resumes the 2020 Legislative Session
Today the General Assembly reconvened to finish up the 2020 legislative session. Legislators returned to a different atmosphere with many new safety protocols in place, fewer lobbyists and members of the public in the building and temperature checks at the entrances. During the morning floor work in the House of Representatives, some legislators sat in the gallery above the chamber in order to allow legislators on the floor to sit socially distanced from one another. Some legislators chose not to wear
Day 69 of the Legislative Recess
Under The Dome The Joint Budget Committee started this week with a $2 billion hole to fill, down from their starting point of a $3.4 billion deficit. The JBC closed the Long Bill late Friday afternoon, with the final decision to set the General Fund Reserve. The Committee set the reserve for FY2020-21 at $468.9 million or 3.84%, down from the current statutory reserve of 7.25%. Throughout the week, the Committee chipped away at the bottom line slowly throughout the week and still had $802 million to go
Governor Polis Issues Guidance for Restaurants, Summer Camps and Private Camping
DENVER - Gov, Jared Polis today announced updates to Safer at Home and changes to restaurants, summer camps and private camping. “We are still a long way from returning to normal, but these updates are a step in the right direction because Coloradans are doing a good job so far limiting our social interactions. If we can continue staying at home as much as possible, wearing face coverings and washing our hands when leaving the house, then we will be able to slow the spread of the virus while reigniting
State seeks input on draft restaurant guidelines
DENVER, May 19, 2020: Today, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released draft proposed guidelines for restaurants to stakeholders. Stakeholders can submit comments to this draft through Friday, May 22 using this online form. Once final, these guidelines will be used when it is safe to start easing COVID-19 related safety restrictions for restaurants. On May 25, the state will decide if restaurants can begin reopening and at what level. This date does not reflect when restaurants may
TREASURY & SBA RELEASE PPP FORGIVENESS APPLICATION
Urgent Alert: SBA and Treasury Release Paycheck Protection Program Loan Forgiveness Application On May 15, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the U.S Department of the Treasury, released the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan Forgiveness Application and detailed instructions for the application. The form and instructions include several measures to reduce compliance burdens and simplify the process for borrowers, including: · Options for borrowers to
Restaurant Guidance
In case you missed it, here is some of the information that the Governor shared today regarding when restaurants can open to dine in customers. Guidance is expected to be released on Friday. https://kdvr.com/news/coronavirus/some-restaurants-could-open-to-dine-in-customers-next-week-colorado-restaurant-association-says/ Working with the Town, County, School District, Library and several private property owners we have received permission to market the locations shown with red stars below as
DCBA, Day 62 of the Legislative Recess
In a piece of good news, it was announced on Friday that the Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs would be the home to US Space Command for at least the next 6 years. Governor Polis welcomed this news, saying that the state is a natural fit for US Space Command with a strong military community and aerospace community. This week Joint Budget Committee members continued to wrestle with setting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. On Tuesday, economists from Legislative Council Staff (LCS)
Playbook for reopening
Dear Business Leaders, These unprecedented times have been challenging, to say the least. However, we’re proud of you for helping our community succeed, from donating meals to essential employees, to sewing masks, to simply sharing resources on social media. We are truly #CRCStrong. As we move forward, we know you are anxious to reopen your doors. To ensure the safety of our community and to help you navigate the new normal, we have created the Work Hard. Work
Senate strikes deal on $484 billion relief package for small business, hospitals, testing
Senate strikes deal on $484 billion relief package for small business, hospitals, testing PUBLISHED TUE, APR 21 2020 | Lauren Hirsch @LAURENSHIRSCH | Yelena Dzhanova @YELENADZHANOVA KEY pOINTSThe Senate reached a $484 billion coronavirus relief agreement that includes small business loans and funding for hospitals and testing.It hopes to pass the bill Tuesday afternoon and send it to the House. The deal would allocate $320 billion more for the Paycheck Protection Program, $60 billion of which would be
Colorado Employment Declines in March
VIEW SUMMARY OF MARCH INFO AND THE BEGINNING OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT SPIKESThe Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released its Colorado employment data for March. The data shows that seasonally adjusted employment declined by 3,900. As expected, U.S. retail and auto sales and most leading indicators have declined. The Conference Board has provided four scenarios for the economy - pick your poison. Unfortunately, they all indicate that Q2 is going to be tough. Until the volatility subsides, the weekly
DCBA, Under the Dome, Day 34 of the Legislative Recess
Under The Dome, Week 15 Officially, the state legislature is in a holding pattern until the JBC is planned to start in a few weeks. It was announced this week that when the legislature does return, Representative McCluskie will serve as the chair of the House Appropriations Committee and Rep. Esgar will be vice-chair. Rep. Esgar will have her hands full serving as Chair of the Joint Budget Committee, which has nearly $3 billion in reductions to accomplish in a short time frame. Many legislators are
OPENING UP AMERICA AGAIN
President Trump has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. These steps will help state and local officials when reopening their economies, getting people back to work, and continuing to protect American lives. View Opening Up America Again Guidelines
Update to the Population & Development Report 2020, March
The following documents in the Population & Development Report have been updated. Douglas County Growth and Development Profile https://www.douglas.co.us/documents/douglas-county-growth-and-development-profile.pdf Douglas County Housing Summary https://www.douglas.co.us/documents/douglas-county-housing-profile.pdf The link to the entire Population & Development Report is: https://www.douglas.co.us/about-us/demographics/population-and-development-report/
Historic, Under The Dome, Week 10
Highlights of the Week This week was marked by headlines of the escalating outbreak of coronavirus cases and disruptions, closures, and cancellations. The landscape changed quickly since March 5 when the first case of coronavirus was announced in Colorado to the end of this week when the legislature met on Saturday to pass a resolution to go in to a unprecedented two week recess. On Saturday, the House and Senate passed two relevant resolutions: HJR20-1006 asks the Colorado Supreme Court to issue an
DCBA, Under The Dome, Week 9
Highlights of the Week On Thursday this week, a bill to implement a public option for health insurance was introduced. The bill was long expected after a final report on the public option was released in late 2019 by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) and the Division of Insurance (DOI). As expected, HB 20-1349 contains much of the proposal from the executive branch agencies with a few differences. The bill requires health insurance companies to offer a plan, the details of
DCBA, Under The Dome, Week 8
Under the Dome, Week 8 Highlights of the Week It was a week of long nights at the capitol, including one night that stretched into morning. The House of Representative debated the Death Penalty Repeal, SB20-100, from Monday midafternoon until 4:00am on Tuesday. The House ultimately passed the bill by a vote of 38-27. The bill heads to Governor Polis, who has indicated that he will sign the bill. The House Energy and Environment Committee previously heard testimony on HB20-1025, Sales Tax
Update to the Population & Development Report 2020
The Douglas County Demographic Summary has been updated and is available online. This summary highlights the demographic changes in 2019. https://www.douglas.co.us/documents/douglas-county-demographics-summary.pdf The link to the entire Population & Development Report is: http://www.douglas.co.us/about-us/demographics/population-and-development-report/
DCBA, Under The Dome, Week 7
Highlights of the Week This week Representative Cathy Kipp, a Democrat from Fort Collins, was appointed to House Education Committee, replacing Representative Julie McCluskie who now sits on the Joint Budget Committee. Representative Kipp served on the Poudre School District Board of Education from 2011-2017 and was appointed to the state legislature in 2018. SB20-093, Consumer And Employee Dispute Resolution Fairness, which proposes changes to arbitration procedures, was laid over daily this
DCBA, Under The Dome, Week 6
Highlights of the Week This week Representative Richard Champion was sworn in to represent HD 38, a southern metro district that includes Littleton. Former Representative Susan Beckman resigned in January. Representative Champion previously served as Mayor of Columbine Valley and is the founder of a small oil and gas company. He will sit on the House Finance Committee as well as the House Health & Insurance Committee. SB20-093, Consumer and Employee Resolution Dispute Fairness, was laid over
DCBA, Under The Dome, Week 5
DCBA Bill Tracker: https://statebillinfo.com/SBI/index.cfm?fuseaction=Public.Dossier&id=27133&pk=619&style=pinstripe Under the Dome, Week 5 Highlights of the Week The vacancy for House District 6, a Denver district seat left vacant after now-Senator Chris Hansen moved from the House to the Senate, was filled this week when new member Steven Woodrow was chosen for the position by a vacancy committee. Representative Woodrow is a consumer rights attorney. In another change this week,
Encore groundbreaking
Confluence Companies held a ground breaking ceremony last week to kick off the Encore project. Encore, formerly known as Festival Park Commons, is a proposed redevelopment of three lots Downtown, just south of Town Hall. The proposed project is a result of a request for proposals the Town distributed in 2017, specifically for a new parking structure. Construction began in fall 2019 and will likely continue through 2021. The seven-story building that includes 124 condominiums, 17,881 sq. ft. for retail,
Chamber's DCBA takes position on 7 bills
The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Douglas County Business Alliance have taken a position on the following 7 bills. HB 1002 College Credit for Work Experience SupportHB 1025 Sales Tax Exemption Industrial and Manufacturing Energy Use OpposeHB 1089 Employee Protection Lawful Off-duty Activities OpposeHB 1093 County Authority License and Regulate
Under the Dome, Week 3 (2020)
Under The Dome, Week 3 Highlights of the Week On Tuesday this week, advocates from Colorado Families First filed two ballot proposals that would create a paid family and medical leave program. This is the first step in the citizen-initiated ballot measure process and these proposals will still need to go through the State Title Board and gather enough signatures to be placed on the November 2020 ballot. This move both puts pressure on lawmakers to pass their own version of a paid family leave program
Colorado Business Review -- 2020 Outlook Forum Highlights
This issue highlights the 55th annual Colorado Business Economic Outlook Forum held on December 9, 2019 in Denver. Colorado’s employment growth is expected to slow this year compared to 2019, although the state will still be among the top 10 for job growth nationally. Read/Download the Colorado Business Review, Issue 1, 2020
Opening Day of the 2020 Legislative Session
Legislator Changes Under The Golden Dome House Committee Schedule: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/houseschedule2020.pdf Senate Committee Schedule: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/senateschedule2020.pdf House Committee Assignments: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2020_house_committee_membership.pdf Senate Committee Assignments: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2020_senate_committee_membership.pdf Leading up to the first day of the
Growing Forward Population & Economic Trends in Colorado, Douglas County, and Castle Rock
Castle Rock Economic Partnership proudly welcomed Elizabeth Garner, State Demography Office on August 1st at Town Hall for a discussion on Colorado population projections & preparing for Census 2020.View presentationElizabeth Garner | State Demography Office, Department of Local Affairs Demography.dola.colorado.gov
