Glenwood Springs Chamber Working to Solve Challenges through Collaboration
During the beginning of the pandemic, a group of local businesses and organizations came together to support our local businesses during those challenging times. The collaboration has continued and evolved into Prosper Glenwood, a group dedicated to enhancing the economic sustainability and vibrancy of Glenwood Springs through community partnership.
This partnership includes the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association, City of Glenwood Springs, Downtown Development Authority, Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Colorado Workforce Center and local businesses. Prosper Glenwood is working to solve challenges and to develop new resources to support local businesses.
Earlier this summer, a survey was launched from which a few themes emerged:
Challenges:
- Staffing
- Cost of Living
- Housing
- Canyon Closures
- Wildfires
Needs (over the past two years):
- Financial Resources
- Housing
Addressing the Challenges and Needs:
A variety of organizations are working on creative ways to begin tackling these challenges and addressing the needs. Below you will find the status on a few of the projects and programs currently underway or that exist today. However, the Glenwood Springs Chamber and Prosper Glenwood are working to expand these resources and communications with businesses to better address business support. Later this month the group will be working on additional outreach to continue to listen and learn from local businesses.
STAFFING
In today’s economy, we understand attracting and retaining talent is a top concern. Below are a few resources and opportunities available.
Job Posting/Recruitment Resources:
A great place to start is to reach out to the local Colorado Workforce Center or contact Carolyn Tucker, Regional Business Services Coordinator, at carolyn.tucker@state.co.us.
- Glenwood Springs Chamber Job Postings (FREE for Glenwood Springs Chamber Members)
- Connecting Colorado
- Career Connect (powered by Purple Briefcase) is the platform Colorado Mountain College Career Services uses for employers to post jobs.
- Post Independent Job Postings
- Hot Jobs provides temporary staffing, temp-to-hire and executive recruitment.
Creative Employee Attraction and Retention Benefit Options
Available through Glenwood Springs Chamber Membership Savings Programs
- Ski Pass Savings Programs
Offering employee benefits, such as ski passes, can go a long way in employee attraction and retention. Chamber members can take advantage of significant savings on ski passes through Aspen Skiing Company and Sunlight Mountain Resort. - RFTA Zone Passes
Chamber members receive a discount on RFTA Zone Passes. The RFTA Zone Pass is a heavily discounted alternative to cash, stored value card (SVC) or monthly passes. It is issued according to where the passenger lives, and the available zones include: Aspen Village, Basalt, El Jebel, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs and New Castle. - Health Solutions by Mountain Family Health Centers
Health Solutions is an annual membership program offering an affordable, fully integrated, comprehensive approach to health and wellness for your employees in one health care home.
Learn More about these and other membership savings programs.
HOUSING
At the September 2, 2021, meeting, City Council approved the formation of an Ad-Hoc Housing Committee to review and recommend policies for a dedicated funding source to provide affordable and workforce housing. Ad Hoc Housing Committee, which was recently renamed the Glenwood Community Housing Coalition, held “Workforce Housing Roundtable Meetings” to engage small group discussions about Glenwood Springs housing challenges and the role of creating a dedicated source of local funding as part of a larger housing strategy. As a result of this work, City Council voted to place a 2.5% lodging tax proposal on the ballot in November. More information coming soon on this initiative.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
Although PPP loans and certain grant funding from the C.A.R.E.S Act have significantly decreased or are no longer available, there are still resources available locally and from the State. Please find a few local resources below. In addition, please check out the following link that provides a variety of resources from the state, regional, and local entities. Click here for complete list of business resources. This list will consistently update as new resources become available.
- Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association Business Resource List: https://www.glenwoodchamber.com/business-resources/
- Northwest Loan Fund: https://www.nwccog.org/programs/northwest-loan-fund/
- Glenwood Springs Revolving Loan Fund: https://cogs.us/513/Revolving-Loan-Fund-RLF
- Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Façade Grant Program (must be in the DDA Boundary): https://www.glenwoodspringsdda.com/facade-grant-program/
CANYON CLOSURES & WILDFIRE
In an effort to better help businesses prepare for the unexpected such as wildfires and canyon closures, the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association is launching a Fall Business Resiliency Learning series, sponsored by FirstBank. Stay tuned for more information.
Please find more information at the Prosper Glenwood and the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association website. More to come!