Economic Summit

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2026 Economic Summit Recap

Over 150 business leaders and community members gathered at Colorado Mountain College for an honest, data-driven look at where our economy is headed — and what it means for the Yampa Valley. Here's what stood out:

Colorado's Economy: Growing, But Watch the Signs

ColoradoCast projects healthy growth through mid-2026 — but consumer sentiment is at its lowest since the pandemic
Job growth is slowing; in some months Colorado would have lost jobs without the healthcare sector
Credit card delinquencies rising steeply; inflation re-accelerating toward 2022 levels
Routt County retail sales lagging the state; net migration near zero; workforce aging rapidly

ColoradoCast | CODI

The Coal Transition: Real Money, Real Stakes

~900 Yampa Valley coal jobs averaging $90K+ in salary are transitioning by 2030
Routt County grants include a $900K Business Park, $400K Entrepreneurship Center, and $229K Aviation Business Park in Hayden
Xcel Energy committed an estimated $27.2M in community assistance for Routt/Hayden
Individual coal workers can access up to $11,250 each through free transition navigator services

Colorado Office of Just Transition

Water: The Clock Is Ticking

The Colorado River Compact is 100 years old and the current operating agreement expires in 2026
No long-term agreement between upper and lower basin states — federal intervention is on the table

A River Running Out | WaterCard.org

2026 Legislative Session: What Employers Need to Know

$1.5B budget shortfall drove cuts to affordable housing, tourism, behavioral health, and higher education
HB26-1005: Reduces barriers in the Labor Peace Act, expanding collective bargaining rights. Effective August 12, 2026
SB26-189: Regulates the use of AI in hiring and other consequential decisions — employers must notify applicants and allow appeals. Effective August 12, 2026

Colorado Competitive Council

Philanthropy: The Third Leg of a Healthy Economy

The Yampa Valley Community Foundation holds $119 million in assets and granted $16.4 million locally in 2025
The Yampa Valley's ~277 nonprofits contribute $72.7 million to the local economy and $6.2 million in taxes and fees annually
Colorado's nonprofit sector employs more people than agriculture, mining, and information industries combined

Yampa Valley Community Foundation

Join us next year.

Presented by Colorado Mountain College | Hosted by the Steamboat Springs Chamber and the Routt County Economic Development Partnership