A group of 10 business and industry organizations in the Grand Valley and Western Colorado have called on Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to support efforts promoting growth in rural areas of the state.

The leaders of the Fruita, Grand Junction and Palisade chambers of commerce and Grand Junction Economic Partnership sent a letter to Polis.

They were joined by the leaders of the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, the Colorado and Mesa County cattlemen’s associations, Club 20, Western Colorado Contractors Association and West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Association.

The groups promote business and economic development and also represent businesses and industries recruiting young professionals to work in Western Colorado.

The letter followed comments Polis made during a candidate debate at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction.

A CMU student asked Polis, a Democrat seeking a second term, and Republican challenger Heidi Ganahl how they’d support young professionals looking to start careers outside the Interstate Highway 25 corridor. Polis cited the expansion of remote work opportunities.

“While we recognize and appreciate the importance of incorporating remote work into our local economy, we invite you to explore and support opportunities that encourage growth and expansion of existing and new industries that provide stable professional careers within the local workforce which bring a variety of positive impacts to the overall community and economic health,” the letter stated.

“By encouraging and promoting incentives and grants from the State of Colorado that target rural Colorado as prime locations for everything from tech startups to advanced manufacturing, we are able to create a sustainable future that features a healthy workforce within diverse industries,” the letter added. “When not burdened by over-regulation, our legacy industries such as energy, agriculture, construction and outdoor recreation maintain a strong heartbeat to our economic base.”