More housing options can help small businesses succeed and Colorado’s economy thrive

As housing prices and cost of rent continues to soar throughout Colorado, so does the strain on our small businesses. e consequences of the housing crisis we nd ourselves in ripples throughout communities across Colorado: hurting families, businesses and our economy.

I’ve lived and worked in Je erson County for the last 25 years as the CEO of a manufacturing small business and I’ve experienced rsthand the rami cations of the housing crisis. While Je co is a beautiful place to live with local shops and scenic views, its housing expenses have risen to be 62% higher than the national average and the average rent for a one bedroom apartment is $2,171 – making it hard for my employees to live in the same community where they work.

e lack of a ordable options places a heavy burden on my employees. Like many Colorado workers on

The scal year for Colorado state government begins on July 1 and ends on June 30 of the following year. Like any other large entity, the agencies of our state government work year round on the budget for the following year. It is important to understand some basics about the state budget before examining it in depth.

Ultimately the Governor of Colorado presents a budget to the legislature for its approval or rejection. e budget bill known as “ e Long Bill” is the result of year round planning by di erent state agencies, the Governor and those who assist him. e O ce of State Planning and Budgeting assists the Governor with planning his budget and making various spending recommendations to the legislature much like the O ce of Management and Budget assists the president.

Once the legislature has debated the “Long Bill” both houses will vote on that bill and send it to the governor for his signature or veto. e

A publication of

Contact Us: 27972 Meadow Dr., #320 Evergreen, CO 80439 - 303-566-4100

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

Phone: 303-566-4100

Web: CanyonCourier.com

To subscribe call 303-566-4100

GUEST COLUMN

nearly impossible to keep up with the cost of housing, and adjusting salaries to accommodate unreasonably high costs of living is unsustainable and unfair to small business owners.

Liz Geisleman

the front range, my employees have to commute about an hour each way to get to work. Not only does that daily commute increase tra c on the highways during rush hour, it also forces my employees to absorb additional costs that hurt their ability to provide for themselves and their families. Our employees that live a distance from our headquarters and rely on child care are put in a difcult position.

A long commute is just one example among many of how the lack of a ordable options hurts my small business. I’ve adapted to the needs of my employees by making their work schedules more exible, but there’s a limit to how much my small business can bear. It’s become

Other businesses in the manufacturing industry based in Golden have encountered similar problems and many have explored moving out of Colorado to reduce their overhead costs. If costs of living don’t come down, this could eventually trickle down to small businesses and incentivize them to leave in order to save money, hurting Colorado’s economy.

Small businesses make up about 80% of Colorado’s economy, and losing small businesses because of high costs of living will have lasting consequences for decades to come. If we continue moving in this direction, communities will lose vital subsects of professions and families will end up decentralized.