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B.O.L.D. 2026

Housing

B.O.L.D. 2026 (BOLD – Big Opportunities for Leaders to Deliver) is a five-year regional economic strength and resiliency initiative of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber developed BOLD 2026 in consultation with private and public sector leaders and partners in Arvada, Jefferson / Adams Counties, Metro Denver and the state of Colorado.

Our B.O.L.D. 2026 Housing Goal

C

Ensure access to income-aligned housing so that workers can attain housing within reasonable proximity to their jobs.

Summary

C

The workers we have and need in our region on a daily basis should be able to live here. Workers across the income spectrum – from teachers and firemen to hospitality and tech workers – should be able to find attainable housing within reasonable proximity to work. To achieve this end, we need accommodative public policy and direct action. The Chamber will convene key regional partners and stakeholders, and catalyze a program that solves this problem.

Housing Advocate Workbook

 

The Housing Advocate Workbook is a resource for any business leader, regardless of industry of business size. The workbook aims to help leaders understand how housing barriers affect their business, learn how to provide testimony, and develop their own narrative for future advocacy efforts. Through testimony, specifically, leaders can share their experiences and support policies and initiatives that improve housing access for the workforce.

Download Workbook
B.O.L.D. 2026 Housing

Events

B.O.L.D. 2026 Housing Summit

Thursday, November 21, 2024
9:00 – 12:00 pm

Arvada Chamber of Commerce
7502 W 80th Ave #180

Did you know over 80% of Arvada’s workforce live outside of Arvada? Over 40% of Arvada’s workers commute more than 30 minutes one way to their place of employment. Businesses are noticing more and more that cost of housing and long commute times are impacting their ability to recruit and retain top talent. Are there opportunities for businesses to get involved?

Join a half-day informative and informational event to learn about how businesses of all sizes and industries can support access to housing for the workforce. Businesses can play a pivotal role in expanding access to housing through advocacy, investments, and key partnerships.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Housing Advocates Coffee Convening

Thursday Dec 12, 2024
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Arvada Chamber of Commerce
7502 W 80th Ave #180

Business leaders have an opportunity to champion advocacy efforts at the local, regional, and state level aimed at enhancing access to income-aligned housing for their workforce. Have you already completed a Housing Advocacy Training or would like to learn more about this opportunity? Join the Arvada Chamber’s Housing Advocates Convening to connect with current and prospective advocates, learn from state and local housing advocacy partners, and learn what is needed to become a Housing Advocate.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

Our B.O.L.D. 2026 Housing Work

Catalyze: B.O.L.D. Leadership to Increase Housing Access

Work to Understand: Housing Needs in the Region

Stories of Impact 

Employer Resources

Business Housing Advocacy

B.O.L.D. 2026 Housing

Challenges

Inadequate supply.

The supply of workforce housing (appropriate quantity at reasonable price) has not kept up with demand. Colorado will need to develop 54,190 NEW housing units over the next five years if we want to stabilize the housing to population ratio

Cost prohibitive.

Owned and rental housing costs prohibitive for many middle-income earners

  • Housing costs in Arvada are higher than in the state
  • The median home sale price in Arvada is $612,500; the average income needed to purchase a home is $130,000+
  • Rent for a two-bedroom apartment is 47% higher in Arvada ($1,605) than in Colorado ($1,088)
  • 1 in 4 is paying more than 30% of their income for housing costs
  • The living wage in Colorado for a family of 3 is $31.19 / hour (approximately $5,000 / month for a full-time worker)

Existing incentive programs skip middle-income earners.

Federal and state programs generally focus on incentivizing housing projects for earners making less than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI); these programs do not commonly address housing for earners making up to 120% of AMI; we want and need housing in our region for such middle-income earners.

Barrier to talent availability.

Given the high cost of housing in the region, many workers are forced to look outside the region to purchase a home; this often means long commute times to the job site; many workers cite having a one-hour commute or longer to work in the region; it is no surprise that these workers resign from their positions when they find work closer to home or are unwilling to accept a job in the region because of the commute time.

Lack of regional coordination.

As with Talent and Childcare, Arvada and Jefferson / Adams Counties have long lacked a coordinated effort to grow our stock of workforce housing.

Housing Updates

See our B.O.L.D. 2026 Investors

B.O.L.D. 2026 Goals

1

Grow Your Talent

Grow our talent to meet the needs of employers and job seekers.

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2

Increase Stock of Workforce Housing

Increase the stock of workforce housing to ensure workers can attain housing within reasonable proximity to their jobs.

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3

Increase Childcare Capacity

Increase Childcare Capacity to enable caregivers to join / rejoin the workforce and give children the quality early learning experience they need to thrive.

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4

Strengthen Business Environment: Advocacy

Ensure elected leaders effectively represent business interests in legislative and policy matters at the local, regional, state and national levels.

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5

Strengthen Business Environment: Entrepreneurship

Increase our ability to provide direct one-on-one support and broader collective resources to all businesses.

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B.O.L.D. 2026 Accomplishments to Date

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