Press Releases

 

Promoting Strong Women-, Minority-, and Veteran-owned Businesses Across the State

 

DENVER - Today, Gov. Polis and the Cannabis Business Office (CBO) within the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) announced the Cannabis Business Loan Program for social equity licensed cannabis businesses in Colorado. The CBO has partnered with mission-based lender NuProject to provide financing that is not otherwise available to cannabis businesses through traditional lenders. 

DENVER — This week, Colorado launched an auction for the rights to 20 official state license plate configurations with cannabis-themed phrases including MJ, LIT, CHRONIC, and 420LIFE. Auction proceeds will support the Colorado Disability Funding Committee, which provides grants to support disability application assistance and programs that provide Coloradans with disabilities the resources they need to thrive. The 2021 auction raised over $45,000 and the 2022 auction raised over $41,000. 

DENVER - Colorado Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment announced today that the state’s unemployment rate has fallen again to 2.8%.

DENVER- Governor Polis signed the following bills into law in a ceremony:

STATEWIDE — The Colorado Department of Transportation is redoubling efforts to improve road conditions after one of the most intense winters in recent decades has damaged some roads beyond what they normally sustain each year. Earlier today, CDOT received an additional $45 million from the Transportation Commission of Colorado to fund snow and ice removal for the remainder of the winter season and to address pavement problems that reflect the unusually severe conditions over the past several months. 

DENVER — Today, the Polis administration and Rural Opportunity Office within the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced implementation grants for economic development regions across Colorado, providing $40,000 grants to help fund the development and implementation of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS). A planning tool encouraged by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), CEDS have been shown to help regional economic development initiatives attract new investments and lead to more consistent, positive outcomes when funding is secured. 

COLORADO SPRINGS - Today, in Colorado Springs, Governor Polis and Lt. Governor Primavera highlighted the Polis administration’s ongoing work to make Colorado the best place to live, work, and thrive, touting Colorado’s thriving and growing aerospace industry, high-achieving schools, and ongoing work to provide more housing for every Colorado budget. 

COLORADO SPRINGS – The Polis-Primavera Administration and the Global Business Development Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) announced today that defense industry startup Nooks, a veteran-owned Classified-Space-as-a-Service leader, has selected Colorado Springs for expansion. Here, Nooks will open its third and largest national location offering flexible access to classified facilities and associated networks for use by industry and government partners.

DENVER -  Today, Governor Polis announced that the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Human Services, Michelle Barnes, will serve as the interim Commissioner of the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) effective immediately. 

“The Behavioral Health Administration was developed during a crucial time of need in our state,” said Governor Jared Polis. “The BHA has invested over $150 million in behavioral health services while improving accountability, and we are getting ready for the next phase.”