Press Room

Senator Newell introduces bill to protect Colorado jobs

Wednesday, January 11 2012

“Retaining and supporting our existing businesses”

DENVER—Today, Senator Linda Newell (D-Littleton) introduced an important Colorado jobs protection bill during the opening day of the Colorado General Assembly’s 2012 legislative session. The legislation establishes the Colorado Business Retention and Expansion Program in an effort to continue supporting local businesses and the employment opportunities they provide. The Colorado Business Retention and Expansion Program will be established by the Colorado Office of Economic Development, and will expand upon the “Colorado Blueprint,” a bottom up approach to economic expansion developed by Governor John Hickenlooper.

The program will be responsible for engaging and protecting existing businesses in Colorado, gathering relevant information about their current needs and obstacles, and facilitating the relationship between businesses and government. The Colorado jobs protection bill introduced by Senator Newell today is one component of the Senate Majority’s “Colorado Works” jobs package, a series of bills that will be introduced throughout the session that are focused on continued job creation and economic growth in the state.

Senator Newell offered the following comment on the Colorado jobs protection bill introduced today:

“I come from business. Small businesses in Colorado employ 95 percent of our citizens and are critical to our state’s economic success.  As we continue working to attract new industry to our state, we must also ensure that we are retaining and supporting our existing businesses.”

The program will be responsible for:

• Coordinating regional resources and regional programs to ensure that they are being utilized in an efficient way to effectively benefit state businesses
• Build strong relationships between local governments and businesses
• Anticipate problems, research solutions, and respond to statewide business related concerns
• Provide businesses with access to important information necessary to make successful choices, and develop seminar and training programs.