You’re Invited: June 9 Advancing Tactical Workforce Plans Webinar
Join the CWDC and Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) for the “Advancing Tactical Workforce Plans Webinar" on June 9 at 1:00 p.m. This session follows the 2025 Opportunity Now Regional Talent Summits and creation of seven Tactical Workforce Plans.
You’ll learn how regions statewide are leveraging Workforce Colorado to address industry-identified challenges. You’ll also hear directly from industry leaders about how workforce development boards are equipping regions with the services necessary to advance regional goals and align with Regional Workforce Opportunity and Innovation Act (WIOA) Plans. |
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2026 Session In Review: Legislation Impacting CWDC and Talent Development
The 2026 legislative session ended on Wednesday, May 13. High relevance bills that passed this session include:
Throughout this year's session, the CWDC monitored legislation that would specifically impact the council and partner agencies as well as those impacting talent development more broadly via the 2026 Talent Development Bill Tracker. |
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Growing an Inclusive Workforce to Support Colorado’s Clean Energy Future
As Colorado moves toward a sustainable future, we need new strategies to make sure our workforce includes everyone. In Pueblo, the shift to renewable energy has led to coordinated efforts to prepare the workforce through community engagement. Local leaders co-designed the Pueblo Ways Report, establishing 12 Inclusive Design Principles that serve as a strategic roadmap for workforce development. From supportive services to culturally relevant outreach, these principles help make the emerging green economy more accessible to those traditionally excluded from the industry. |
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Northeast Colorado Digital Access Coalition
The new Northeast Colorado Digital Access Coalition is a partnership between the Office of eHealth Innovation (OeHI), Colorado State University (CSU) Extension Northeast Regional Engagement Center in Sterling, and the CWDC. OeHI provides funding for the work, with CSU Extension convening stakeholders to develop digital access priorities for the region. Director of the Northeast Regional Engagement Center and coalition program leader Tim Stahley summarized the coalition’s first meeting: one of the most important takeaways was a shared understanding that digital access is about much more than just internet connectivity. It includes devices, digital skills, accessibility, and the ability for people to confidently use technology. The work is deeply connected to education,
workforce participation, healthcare access, and overall community well-being. Barriers such as affordability, access, security concerns, and fear of technology continue to limit engagement for many. Opportunities moving forward include building more welcoming and non-judgmental pathways into digital learning, improving outreach and awareness, and gathering better data. |
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Upcoming Changes to My Colorado Journey
Changes are coming to My Colorado Journey, the free online tool that helps Coloradans with academic and career exploration. The updated platform, designed by partner Indigo Impact Initiative, is scheduled to launch on July 1. The updated experience will be built on the same Colorado-specific data, but have an updated user experience, as well as two new pathways: Electrician and Project Management. |
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COBRT Future of Work Summit
The CWDC was one of the sponsors for the Colorado Business Roundtable (COBRT)’s Future of Work: From Data Signals to Strategy summit Tuesday, May 19, at Empower Field at Mile High. CWDC’s Managing Director Lee Wheeler-Berliner was featured as a speaker at the event, which focused on transforming talent data into actionable, skills-first strategies for Colorado employers and job seekers.
In addition to the insights shared, COBRT released its Future of Work Video Series. The series features Wheeler-Berliner and other state leaders breaking down the long-term trends shaping the future of the state's workforce. |
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June 4 Statewide Sectors Community of Practice
Join the CWDC for this month’s Statewide Sectors Community of Practice call on June 4, at 1:00 p.m. This interactive space is open to all active and exploring sector partnerships across the state, spanning all industry sectors, including Construction, Healthcare, and Retail. These sessions share promising practices and tackle all-industry topics at the statewide level to solve our shared challenges. We’ll discuss industry engagement to make sure initiatives from career pathways to the upcoming Annual Impact Survey for sector partnerships are rooted in industry voices.
Register for the June 4 Sectors Community of Practice Call.
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Digital Access Coalition Monthly Meeting
If you are interested in making sure all Coloradans have the digital skills, tools, and connectivity to fully participate in an increasingly digital economy, join the monthly Colorado Digital Access Coalition meetings. Participants include staff members from nonprofits, libraries, local and state government, and others who want to work toward closing the digital divide. The next meeting is on June 5 at 1 p.m. Register to Attend an Upcoming Coalition Meeting.
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June 11 Education & Training Learning Circle
The next Education & Training Learning Circle will be held virtually on Thursday, June 11 at 9:00 a.m. Jodi Terwilliger-Stacey, program director, and Darrick Hildman, program advisor, with Project Self-Sufficiency, will discuss the Selfpower Model. It offers high-quality education and training to single parents, who are a significant portion of Colorado's college students. They will present key data and outcomes illustrating how targeted funding and guided navigation help overcome barriers, complete degrees, and enter careers with sustainable wages, thereby representing a high-quality career pathway.
Register for the June Learning Circle.
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June 16 Healthcare and Behavioral Health Community of Practice
Join the Healthcare and Behavioral Health Community of Practice call on June 16 at 11:00 a.m. This interactive space is for active and exploring healthcare sector partnerships across Colorado, welcoming conveners, supporting public partners, industry leaders, and any regional collaborations focused on health workforce solutions. These sessions are dedicated to sharing strategies that are working on the ground to solve industry-identified challenges. We will hear directly from healthcare industry leaders as Brianna Huber, Director of Employer Partnerships from WorkLife Partnership, moderates an exclusive conversation with two local employers sharing promising practices on improving job quality.
Register for the June 16 Healthcare and Behavioral Health Community of Practice Call.
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June 26 Colorado Workforce Impact Investing Landscape Scan Webinar
The CWDC, in partnership with Impact Finance Center, has launched the Colorado Workforce Impact Investing Landscape Scan to explore how private, philanthropic, and public capital can work together to support workforce education and training statewide.
We invite investors, foundations, financial institutions, and mission-aligned organizations to join a two-part webinar series focused on exploring how to make workforce education more investable, examining emerging capital structures in Colorado and nationally, detailing how investors can collaborate with public systems, and sharing early insights from the statewide investor opportunity scan.
The session will feature guest speakers from across Colorado’s workforce, policy, and investment ecosystem, along with practical examples and facilitated discussion. Reserve your spot for the June webinar.
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NEWS FROM AROUND THE NETWORK
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Colorado Employment Situation – March 2026 | According to the survey of households, the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 100 to 127,100 from February to March. Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged over the same time period at 3.9 percent. The national unemployment rate decreased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.3 percent from February to March. Read the latest employment situation. -
The Colorado Work-Integrated Learning Survey | The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) is preparing to submit formal recommendations to the state legislature to help shape the future of work-integrated learning. CDHE needs your perspective to make sure the recommendations in support of House Bill 25-1186 reflect real-world capacity and priorities. Feedback will help with program design, equity frameworks, and the technical supports needed to make work-integrated learning sustainable and scalable statewide. Complete the brief, 5-10 minute survey by Friday, May 22.
Complete the CO Work-Integrated Learning Survey. -
Governor Polis, Business Leaders Highlight Positive Role of Immigrants in Colorado’s Strong Workforce and Economy | Governor Jared Polis and FWD.us recently joined Colorado business and workforce leaders to discuss a new report detailing how immigrants are essential to the state's economic success. Representing 14% of Colorado’s workforce (~480,000 workers), immigrants contribute an estimated $29 billion in income and $9.5 billion in taxes annually, playing a critical role in key sectors like construction, healthcare, and hospitality.
Read the report, "From the Plains to the Peaks". -
Power Ahead Colorado supports local heat pump shops; builds skilled trades workforce | The Denver Regional Council of Governments' Power Ahead Colorado initiative is gaining momentum by supporting small heat pump contractors and building a skilled workforce for the region's clean energy transition. Funded by a nearly $200 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, the program provides a free Colorado Contractor Hub
. It offers training, leads, and up to $1,500 in business support to help small HVAC firms meet rising demand for efficient electric heating and cooling. The program addresses the challenge of finding skilled tradespeople for heat pump installation. Read the full story.
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