OCTOBER 13, 2021, ARVADA, CO – This week, the Arvada Chamber of Commerce concluded its inaugural Candidate and Elected Official Bootcamp, a two-part series designed to help foster the mutual understanding and opportunity that exists between those who serve our region and the businesses that drive the local economy.
The Arvada Chamber recognizes the participation of all 2021 Arvada City Council candidates in this Bootcamp: Michael Griffith and Lisa Smith (At Large); Chelsea Canda and Randy Moorman (District 1); and John Marriott and Suzie Schuckman (District 3). The Arvada Chamber also thanks the participation of the following elected officials: Representative Brianna Titone, Representative Lindsey Daugherty, and Senator Rachel Zenzinger.
The first session of the Bootcamp, “Understanding Business Challenges,” welcomed a local business panel (Alphagraphics, Lakeside Insurance, Hope House, and Kokoro) to provide a crash course in the latest business concerns and the impact of local and state policy. The session also provided an overview of the role of City Council in business-related decision-making and the latest Arvada business demographics.
The second session, “Tactics and Tours,” offered an in-person tour of Odyssey Beerwerks and Barber-Nichols and an intimate opportunity to engage business owners on policy-related barriers and opportunities.
During the Bootcamp, multiple business owners expressed the burden of new regulatory changes and called on elected officials to work towards understanding the impact of policy on small businesses versus corporations. Examples of recent burdensome policy included sick pay leave, salary transparency, and minimum wage requirements. Workforce is also a leading concern for many Arvada small businesses. Businesses today are scrambling to fill weekly open positions in response to “The Great Resignation,” and continue to need long-term solutions to recruit and train local skilled labor.
“The value of connecting the community members and the businesses with elected officials is that it gives us a hands-on applied understanding of how that business operates within our community. That makes us better at our jobs,” said Senator Zenzinger. “When we can learn what it takes for a business to be successful here—the barriers and some of the advantages of operating within Arvada—then you can be better partners.”
The Arvada Chamber of Commerce does not endorse candidates at any level but is grateful for the participation of all the candidates and local officials to further develop a critical dialogue within the region to help ensure success for all involved. Learn more about the Arvada Chamber’s advocacy efforts at arvadachamber.org/advocacy.
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