Something big is shifting, and it isn’t moving slowly. Global supply chains that took decades to build are being rerouted in real time. Trade relationships that seemed permanent are being renegotiated. Corporate hiring has stalled, layoffs are accelerating, and workers who once waited for stability are done waiting. According to the Reshoring Initiative, approximately 240,000 […]
Every few months, there’s an announcement worth celebrating. A ribbon cutting, a company moving in, a grant coming through, a groundbreaking with hard hats and a photographer. Everyone claps, and they should. These moments matter, they signal momentum, attract attention and remind a community that growth is possible. But the story of how those moments […]
In conversations about economic development, centralization is often presented as a sign of progress. If programs are consolidated, if funding streams are aligned, if decision-making is elevated to a single coordinating body, the assumption is that outcomes will improve. It looks orderly. It looks efficient. It looks fair. But in rural regions, centralization and access […]
For a long time, outside forces have shaped our local economies, especially in Colorado, where one shift in global policy can echo through our farms, our small businesses and our communities. Tariffs are one of those forces. You might hear the word and picture far-off debates in Washington, D.C., yet their impact can be deeply […]
It’s time to face facts, the U.S. economy is not delivering the growth or opportunity that American workers and families deserve. October’s job report tells us that only 12,000 jobs were added nationwide. This means stagnation, pure and simple. Over the last 12 months, tech employment, a sector once hailed as the growth engine of […]
With everything going on today, it’s hard not to feel the impact of massive changes. From the growing influence of artificial intelligence to the erosion of trust in our institutions, we’re at a critical moment. But as historian Yuval Noah Harari points out in his book Nexus, this isn’t a new problem. Throughout history, the […]
We’re in a strange moment right now. As the world shifts so quickly, the way we’ve always understood economic progress feels like it’s fading into irrelevance. The Industrial Age, the engine of growth for more than a century, seems behind us. Even the Information Age, once hailed as the future, feels like it’s lost its […]
For decades, the mantra of economic development in America has been simple. Offer big incentives, woo big businesses and hope the jobs follow. But here’s the problem: those jobs rarely do. When they do, they don’t last, leaving communities with broken promises and empty storefronts. This approach is outdated. The traditional model of economic growth […]
Entrepreneurship drives economic growth and prosperity. When entrepreneurs start new businesses, they create jobs, increase demand for goods and services and generate new revenue streams. This leads to economic growth and increased prosperity for all. Innovation drives gains in productivity. Much of this innovation comes from entrepreneurs and new businesses. A strong entrepreneurial ecosystem attracts […]
The problems rural America faces often go unnoticed and unaddressed in the hustle and bustle of urban life. Rural communities struggle with deep-seated geographical imbalances that weaken economic opportunities and quality of life. In many cases, wages stagnant and populations dwindle as economic activity concentrates in larger cities. But new and innovative responses in rural […]