3 minute read
TACKLING BOULDER’S BIGGEST CHALLENGES — TOGETHER
Three years since COVID-19 first appeared, and now since the full force of this global pandemic has subsided, its lasting effects on our community have become clear: the challenges that Boulder’s workforce faced before March 2020 were only exacerbated by the pandemic.
The lack of affordable housing, heavy commuter traffic, businesses struggling to recruit the right talent, poor access to child care, and slow internet connections are the issues we’ve been focused on at the Boulder Chamber. These challenges are barriers to attracting a strong workforce and helping businesses like yours succeed.
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In response, we’ve expanded and adjusted our Boulder Together initiative to reflect the greatest needs in our community as we work towards a long-term, “strong and inclusive economy.”
Celebrating a Milestone for Housing Development in East Boulder
A recent win for housing accessibility is the approval of the East Boulder Sub-Community redevelopment plan, which will create 5,000 new housing units. “It’s a catalyst for progress and a model for accessible workforce housing that new developments can follow,” says Lauren Lambert, Boulder Together Co-Chair and Google’s Head of Government Relations and Public Policy for the Southwest Region. This office-park-centric area of our community is being re-envisioned into a mixeduse development that combines strong business activity, accessible housing, and retail experiences.
We’re already seeing the fruits of these efforts, with developers making property investments and initiating housing plans. “With the template set,” says Scott Reichenberg, Boulder Together Co-Chair and the Colorado Group President, “we’re certain that the vision for a much more dynamic East Edge, with a range of housing options and mixed-use assets, will become reality.”
Creating Better Transportation Mobility
Consider this scenario: You were recently hired by a Boulder-based business, but finding a place in town is too expensive. So you find a place to live outside the City… and now you need a way to get back and forth from the office. You opt for driving solo in a car — but so have others — and traffic is terrible! Or maybe, you recently switched jobs, and your office is now on the other side of town. What was previously a 5-minute commute has turned into a logistics puzzle. What do you do?
“Even though we’ve seen a trend towards a significant amount of remote work over the past few years and fewer people coming into the office on a daily basis, traffic patterns continue to be difficult,” says Patrick T. O’Rourke, University of Colorado Boulder Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer. “The lack of consistency in daily work routines has initially caused more of our workforce to forgo public transit in favor of the single occupancy vehicle.”
We’re taking steps to make alternative commuting options more convenient. Along with RTD and the City of Boulder, the Boulder Chamber is pushing development of a shuttle service in the Gunbarrel area that will connect commuters to the regional bus between Longmont and Boulder. It will change the paradigm for regional transit ridership, as the connection from bus to work and back will now be seamless!
Investing in transportation infrastructure is important in attracting talent for Boulder businesses. “Boulder Transportation Connections, now part of the
Boulder Chamber, also supports businesses and their workforce in finding convenient commuting options to and from Boulder,” explains Lauren. If you want to find affordable solutions like transit passes that make getting to the office easier for your employees, reach out to BTC!
Bridging the Talent Gap With Apprenticeships
Last year, we partnered with more than 235 organizations to provide development opportunities to bridge the gaps that exist between talent supply and job demand. “Our apprenticeship program identifies individuals who may be interested in career opportunities at local businesses, but don’t have the requisite training and certifications needed for the job,” explains John Tayer, Boulder Chamber President and CEO. “So we coordinate training at Front Range Community College and connect participants with businesses to learn on the job.” It’s a pathway to full-time employment in those careers.
Improving Access to Child Care to Strengthen Our Workforce
A better child care system is needed to give parents the time and opportunity to participate in the workforce. In Colorado, child care services can rack up annual bills ranging from $12,000 to $16,000 (Source: Procare Solutions). A minimum wage worker who has one child and earns $28,392 per year on full-time hours would have to spend about half of their salary on childcare.
The Boulder Chamber is helping secure funding for the development of an expanded child care facility at the Boulder YMCA. It’s a step in the right direction towards affordable child care — and a stronger workforce.
Investing in a Broadband Backbone for High-Speed Internet
A lack of widespread broadband infrastructure is slowing our workforce down. “With more users online, we need to support businesses and residents in their ability to work remotely and do business virtually,” says Patrick. That’s why the Boulder Chamber has been a leading advocate for efforts to invest in a broadband backbone along city corridors. We’re now in the stage of pushing to convert that infrastructure into affordable highspeed internet for our community.
