There are amazing things going on all over our state, and I'm honored to be able to visit 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 A Quick Look Back MEETING WITH TELLER COUNTY LEADERS I joined the Teller County Board of Commissioners for a roundtable discussion with local leaders. We spoke about recovery efforts in Teller County helped by the community, state and federal programs stimulating local economies, public-private partnerships, education opportunities, workforce development, affordable housing, and fast-growing industries like gaming. I also got to hear from Superintendent Miriam Mondragon about the progress of our state RISE investment in helping local high school upperclassmen and adults in need of employment skills to benefit from internships and on-the-job training, "a true skill-building to employment program," as Mondragon described it. In Teller County, we’re excited about opportunities provided by my administration's Roadmaps Program, RISE, Community Revitalization grants and more that will ensure the progress made by local leaders continues leading to successful outcomes and sustainable growth. ASPEN MINE CENTER I visited the Aspen Mine Center in Cripple Creek, operated by the Community of Caring Foundation in Cripple Creek to highlight the one-stop-shop for social services and community resources with Teller County local officials and community leaders. The state is helping fund some of Community of Caring’s programs with Gaming Impact dollars. This year, our state is funding an expansion project for the center with Community Development Block Grant funds administered through the City of Cripple Creek. THE BLOCK COMMISSARY KITCHEN  On Friday I was in Fort Morgan hearing from local officials and small business owners. I visited The Block, a newly founded shared-use commissary kitchen and community event space. The Block is located in the former location of Country Steak Out, a well-known Ft. Morgan restaurant that closed in August, and the owner retired after a successful 22 years. Working with the former owner, the space was recently purchased by a group of investors who intend to keep the bones of the Country Steak Out and fill out the new space with commercial-grade kitchens for community members to prepare, cook, and store food and equipment. Now that The Block is officially open for business, partners at the State look forward to realizing the potential for a space that serves businesses in Fort Morgan and all over Northeastern Colorado, creates more job opportunities and overall, helps communities thrive. KERSEY TOWN HALL  I was invited to tour the new Kersey Town Hall, which completed construction in 2020. The project was partially funded by the state. Kersey’s Town Hall was an important improvement to Main Street and an initial step in revitalizing Downtown Kersey. We applaud the work of our Department of Local Affairs in awarding a $1 Million DOLA Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Grant toward construction of a new Town Center, which includes rehabilitation of an historic building for a new Town Hall/Police Station, and outdoor public gathering space, and will serve as an anchor to help revitalize Downtown Kersey. We also look forward to continued collaboration between local communities and our Department of Agriculture to ensure that our hardworking farmers and ranchers can benefit from sustainable ag technologies, like agrivoltaics and hydroelectric powered systems. LUNCH WITH WELD COUNTY LEADERS  On Friday afternoon, I was joined by Weld County leaders for a roundtable lunch at Palomino Mexican Restaurant in Evans, CO. Representatives from Weld County, CIty of Greeley, Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6, and the Greeley Chamber of Commerce discussed supporting the the local agriculture sector, early childhood education, workforce development, and affordable housing. As Weld County builds back stronger, we look forward to ensuring that American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) and Colorado Recovery Plan stimulus dollars are helping to speed along growth within both rural communities and urban centers. LIGHTNING EMOTORS I was very excited to tour Loveland’s Lightning eMotors with Colorado Energy Office’s Executive Director Will Toor, and CEO Tim Reeser. Lightning eMotors is the Largest manufacturer of zero emission medium-duty vehicles in the Americas. Through technological insight, quality manufacturing, and strong customer service, Lightning eMotors provides commercial fleets with the vehicles needed to make our air cleaner and our streets quieter.. The company is the only electric commercial vehicle manufacturer in the United States that sells and delivers zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) in several large truck classes, including passenger vans, ambulances, shuttle buses, last-mile delivery vans, box trucks, school buses, and motor coaches for customers in parcel and delivery, micro transit, airport parking operations, and electric utilities. Loveland’s manufacturing facility already employs over 200 people and will build the components needed to provide the electric shuttle buses. A BOULDER PHARM I made a final stop on Friday at A Boulder Pharm, a family-owned hemp farm in North Boulder. Joined by officials from the Colorado Department of Agriculture, we toured the field operations and discussed opportunities in Colorado for hemp farmers and the industry at-large. I’m proud of the strides we’ve made with legislators, farmers, and advocates to cut the red tape and empower the industrial hemp market. The 2014 FARM Bill made history as the first federal hemp legislation passed in eighty years. Since then, farmers across the country have been able to legally grow hemp and laid the foundation for hemp pilot programs grown in states. A Boulder Pharm is a testament to the innovative spirit and smart growth of the incredibly versatile hemp crop. That’s why, to continue supporting this innovation, my administration is working to provide a one-stop resource bank hosted on the Office of Economic Development and International Trade’s (OEDIT) website that aggregates all of the unique programs and services for stakeholders in the hemp and cannabis industries as well as those who provide ancillary services that support plant touching operators. WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S TEAM IS READING Gov. Jared Polis visits Lightning eMotors campus in Loveland as part of push for electric transportation Governor Polis makes several stops in Morgan County WE GROW STRONGER WHEN WE GROW TOGETHER. 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