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 felt on the Western Slope, where our margins are often razor-thin.

Tariffs, those taxes on certain goods coming across our borders, are intended to protect domestic industries by leveling the playing field when foreign competitors offer artificially low prices. Sometimes other countries respond with their own tariffs, which can impact local producers trying to export products.

This can matter for rural and remote Colorado businesses that sell goods internationally. For a small manufacturer trying to sell handcrafted products here in Colorado, tariffs might be the difference between survival and closing up shop.

But if you rely on imported materials, even something as simple as metal or specialty equipment, rising import costs could slow you down or squeeze your profits. Before we know it, that extra cost might show up in the price of a local product or service, and it could become a cycle that affects us all.

Not all small businesses will be affected in the same way. For instance, a local craftsperson who imports only a small number of materials might handle higher costs differently than a larger farm or a manufacturing plant deeply tied to global supply chains.

The question is how do we take charge of our own story, especially when decisions about tariffs and trade are made far from our region? The answer, in my view, isn’t to wait on outside forces to lower or raise tariffs for our benefit. It’s to double down on our local strengths.

We can start by keeping our supply chains close to home whenever possible, supporting the farmers, craft producers and entrepreneurs who source or create the very materials we need. That’s how we reduce our vulnerability to market jolts and ensure more of our dollars circulate right here.

It also means making sure we have the broadband, the roads and the training programs in place, so our entrepreneurs can pivot fast if tariffs hit their bottom line. Good infrastructure and a skilled local workforce are the foundation for any kind of growth, whether you’re running a cattle ranch that suddenly finds an international market or a solar startup trying to manage higher input costs.

Also, state or regional policies (like grants, tax incentives or infrastructure spending) can offset tariff-related pressures in rural and remote areas by encouraging local sourcing or helping entrepreneurs pivot to new markets.

Most importantly, we need to keep building communities where people want to live, work and create. Yes, tariffs matter, but so do vibrant downtowns, strong schools and open spaces that feed the soul. When we develop our own entrepreneurship hubs, mentorship networks and local incubators, we keep local talent in town and spark new ventures.

That’s how we turn big, unpredictable factors such as tariffs into manageable challenges.

The future of our economy won’t be shaped solely by national trade policy; it’ll be shaped by the smart and innovative decisions we make in our own backyards. We might not control tariffs, but we do control how well we prepare for them, how connected we are to one another and how deeply we invest in our own people.

This is about taking the reins of our local destiny. Even if outside forces shift, rural Colorado can still cultivate a robust, enduring economy, one that grows from the inside out and stands on the strength of our own entrepreneurial spirit.