Northwest Regional Talent Summit Addresses Workforce Challenges in Key Industries 

EDWARDS, Colorado – Vail Valley Partnership today hosted the Northwest Regional Talent Summit in partnership with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. The Colorado Chamber of Commerce assisted in the coordination of industry group participation. 

The summit focused on addressing workforce challenges in key industries, including health care, construction and tourism. The initiative is part of the Regional Talent Summits Act, established through House Bill 24-1365, which aims to address workforce shortages by bringing together state and regional stakeholders to discuss economic and workforce needs. These stakeholders include members of the business community, government entities and higher education leaders. The Colorado Chamber and its partners in the Education to Employment Alliance played a key role in the bipartisan legislation to bolster the state’s talent pipeline and elevate Colorado’s workforce. 

“These summits will improve workforce outcomes statewide, connecting the right people from the business community, educational institutions and government to identify the curriculum and skills needed to fulfill job opportunities across the state,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “This is a key component of the Chamber’s strategic priority to meet the workforce needs of our growing economy and marks a pivotal step in Colorado’s ongoing workforce development efforts.”  

“Vail Valley Partnership is deeply engaged in – and committed to – building a talent pipeline system and a workforce development system that supports our businesses and even more importantly that supports our community,” said President and CEO of Vail Valley Partnership Chris Romer. “Hosting the Regional Talent Summit aligns with our strategic goals of being a catalyst for business growth and strengthening the local economy as well as building business relationships. The Summit brings us one step further in addressing our regional workforce needs in a collaborative, industry-first manner.”  

Leaders from the construction, health care and tourism sectors shared common concerns for the mountain areas of the state, including an inability to keep workers locally because of the scarcity of attainable housing and a need to “share” specialty employees like those in some health care fields to alleviate the cost of smaller businesses having to recruit and retain so many workers in the region. There also was a common push for sector leaders to band together more to create incentives for local students to stay in the area or come back to the area to work. 
 

The summit is one of seven scheduled across Colorado through June 2025. These industry-led discussions will generate tactical workforce plans that develop career pathways in specified fields facing regional workforce challenges. Insights gathered from these discussions will be included in the 2025 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report, shaping future workforce development strategies across the state. 

Learn more about the Opportunity Now Regional Talent Summits here: https://oedit.colorado.gov/programs-and-funding/conferences/workshops/opportunity-now-regional-talent-summits  

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The Colorado Chamber of Commerce champions free enterprise, a healthy business environment and economic prosperity for all Coloradans. It is the only business association that works to improve the business climate for all sizes of business from a statewide, multi-industry perspective. What the Colorado Chamber accomplishes is good for all businesses, and that’s good for the state’s economy. It was created in 1965 based on the merger with the Colorado Manufacturers’ Association.  

Vail Valley Partnership is a regional community development organization dedicated to the economic vitality of the Vail Valley. We support local businesses. We unite key stakeholders. We lead collaborative efforts throughout the community. With a membership of 800 organizations that spans the Vail Valley and beyond, Vail Valley Partnership is dedicated to ensuring local business success and fostering regional economic vitality by offering local business tools & resources, promoting the Vail Valley to destination guests, and initiating economic development efforts.