Every mountain community faces challenges. What makes Eagle County different is how we face them. We don’t wait for perfect conditions or ideological purity. We roll up our sleeves, look at the data, talk to one another, and get to work. That’s Colorado pragmatism. It’s not performative. It’s not partisan. And it’s how we protect community vitality.

At Vail Valley Partnership, our mission is straightforward: lead collaboration. Our vision is equally clear: a thriving community. Those aren’t buzzwords or marketing language. They are the filter we use when evaluating public policy, partnerships, and opportunities that shape our economy and quality of life. Collaboration is how a geographically dispersed, high-cost, tourism-driven community like ours functions.

As we look toward 2026, several issues rise to the top, not because they make good talking points, but because they show up every day in the lives of 

our residents and employers.

Workforce is the clearest example. In Eagle County, workforce challenges determine whether a small business can grow, whether a young family can stay, and whether visitors receive the world-class experience that sustains our economy. That’s why we advocate for practical workforce solutions: commonsense immigration reforms that stabilize seasonal labor; state investments in apprenticeships, career pathways, and career and technical education; and tighter alignment between Colorado Mountain College, Eagle County Schools, and local employers. When we invest in people, everything else works better.

Housing affordability and attainability remain defining challenges for our region. Eagle County might never compete on price, but we can compete on planning, collaboration, and smart policy. We need attainable homes (both rental and for-sale) if we want to remain a community rather than a workforce imported from hours away. That means supporting state-level construction defect reform so attainable condominiums can be built again. It means continuing the collaborative work of the Eagle County Housing Task Force. It means flexible zoning, ADUs, infill development, and density tools that reflect mountain realities. It means continuing a transparent and thoughtful conversation about housing funding tools. The cost of inaction is far higher than the cost of doing something.

Transportation and mobility are equally essential. I-70 is our economic lifeline. Eagle County Regional Airport is our gateway. Transit is the connective tissue that keeps our workforce and visitors moving. We advocate for continued federal investment in I-70 and Highway 6, for the long-overdue Eagle/Gypsum Airport Interchange, and for sustained state funding for rural-resort transit systems. Through the EGE Air Alliance, we actively manage and promote air service because air service is economic development. When people can’t get here, the entire economy feels it.

A strong business climate remains the backbone of a healthy community. Regulation should protect people without creating unnecessary friction for the employers who provide jobs, services, and tax revenue. We support predictable taxes, streamlined permitting, and employment laws that recognize the realities of a small, seasonal, service-driven economy. Punitive, industry-specific ballot measures undermine the very employers who fund schools, public safety, and community services.

Health care, childcare, behavioral health, and environmental resiliency round out our priorities because thriving communities require thriving people and a healthy environment. This work spans every level of government and relies on strong partnerships from national organizations like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Travel Association, to state and regional partners, to our neighboring chambers through the Mountain Chamber Alliance.

The issues that matter most don’t stop at town or county lines, and neither should our approach. That’s Colorado pragmatism. And it’s how we’ll continue building an Eagle County where businesses succeed, residents belong, and the community thrives.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, 3-time national chamber of the year. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com