A Meeting with Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland There are amazing things going on all over our state, and I'm honored to be able to celebrate and support what makes Colorado special. As I hear from people all over the state, I am inspired by the positive spirit and optimism of Coloradans. - Jared Polis POWERING THE COMEBACK ARAPAHOE/DOUGLAS WORKS! Our workforce centers help connect people looking for jobs with employers and provide training for those looking for work including resume preparations and computer skills. I visited Arapahoe/Douglas Works! Workforce Development Center for a tour and roundtable discussion with Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Executive Director Joe Barela and local officials and chamber of commerce leaders. Colorado Workforce Center partners like Arapahoe/Douglas Works! hold regular, no-cost training aimed at helping Coloradans get rehired after being out of work, explore new career changes, and develop specialized skills that are sought after in the current labor market. As we pave the road to recovery for all of Colorado’s communities, a historic $75 million investment in workforce development included in the Colorado Recovery Plan state stimulus package and millions in federal American Recovery Plan funding will help fast track our progress. PHUNKSHUN WEAR As part of our Powering the Comeback tour, I was thrilled to visit Phunkshun wear, a sustainable outdoor gear supplier and maker of the iconic “Colorado Mask.” This Denver-based company traditionally made masks for skiing, cycling, and other outdoor activities. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, they worked with the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, The North Face, Colorado Creative Industries and the Mile High Workshop to provide over 4,000 masks to the Colorado Department of Education free of charge for teachers and students across the state. This company is just one of so many great examples of the Colorado spirit, and how small businesses across our state stepped up in creative ways to help get us through this pandemic. FWD MOBILITY On Thursday, I toured FWD Mobility in Aurora with Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera and Senior Advisor Josh Winkler. FWD stands for “Friends with Disabilities” and Co-Owner John Vcelka specializes in making Durable Medical Equipment (DME) for people with disabilities. John’s leadership and advocacy for the community is crucial for meeting accessibility needs across the country. Powering the Colorado Comeback for all of our communities means empowering and celebrating businesses that create products that help Coloradans with physical disabilities achieve independence and gain access to opportunities that contribute to our economic recovery -- indoors or in our vast backyard. MESA COUNTY ON FRIDAY MEETING WITH SECRETARY HAALAND On Friday, we headed to Grand Junction where I joined Secretary Haaland, Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper, and others on the Western Slope for a roundtable discussion on the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Our world-class outdoors are what makes so many people love our great state, and it’s in our DNA as Coloradans to celebrate and protect our public lands every day. That’s why I advocated for Secretary Haaland and the Biden administration to ensure BLM has a national home in Grand Junction and explained the importance of having public servants engaged in public lands stewardship to better serve the communities they represent. We were proud to welcome Secretary Haaland to Colorado for this important, productive conversation. The day before, Secretary Haaland joined me for a discussion of drought and fire in the west, and how the federal government can better support our needs. MESA COUNTY COVID-19 RECOVERY I joined Mesa County leaders at Colorado Mesa University to discuss the Delta variant and ways we can partner together to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19. We know that to get over the virus and to power our comeback we need an all hands effort across the state regarding vaccines. Everyday more Coloradans are choosing to get the lifesaving vaccine. To find a vaccine site near you, please visit covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine. CELEBRATING THE PALISADE PLUNGE Along with Senator Hickenlooper, Congressman Neguse, and Secretary Haaland, I was proud to join in the Town of Palisade’s celebration of the Palisade Plunge opening. The Palisade Plunge is a long distance mountain bike trail and not one for the faint of heart! The trail takes riders from the top of the Grand Mesa (10,700’) to Palisade (4,700’) - a descent of more than 6,000 feet - via a visually stunning singletrack trail on BLM-managed land. I wouldn’t dare attempt it, but I admire those who do. It is expected to contribute a minimum of $5 million annually to the local economy and is one of only a handful of such trails in America. PALISADE PEACHES & PIES! While on the Western Slope, I couldn’t resist picking up some Palisade Peaches that will be sold across our state. I took exit 45 right off of I-70 to stop by Kokopelli Farms and met with Brant Harrison. Brant has been growing peaches since 1979, and he went organic in 1991. Brant took me first to his orchard to meet with his team of dedicated workers, and they even taught me how to pick peaches! There’s nothing quite like picking your own produce right off the tree. Next, we went to his Farm Market to meet the rest of the Harrison Family and grab the state's best Fried Peach Pies. Peach season in Colorado is from July through September, so if you have a chance make a trip out to Palisade to enjoy a staple of Colorado-proud produce and our ever-growing agriculture industry. WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM IS READING Colorado Springs Business Journal: Colorado ranks 7th as place to start a business  Toronto Star: Will women play professional baseball? A growing group of girls is swinging for the majors Summit Daily: Sen. Michael Bennet: How to claim your monthly Child Tax Credit We grow stronger when we grow together. Thank you, Colorado, for going above and beyond in your daily lives to power the comeback for all. This summer, we're already beginning to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Office of Governor Jared Polis | Website State of Colorado - Governor's Office | 136 State Capitol , Denver, CO 80203 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About Constant Contact Sent by [email protected]