Advocating for Local Business

From the CEO's Pen
Jack Llewellyn
​Chief Executive Officer
​Durango Chamber of Commerce

Summer is in full swing here in Durango. And after the winter we just had, it’s safe to say we are all ready for warmer days. 
 
Here at the Chamber, we are excited about all the opportunities the season provides to gather as a community to participate in some good old fashion fun.  While we have been busy at the Chamber hosting programs and events, from Get To Know The CEO, to Eggs and Issues to this month’s Business After Hours at Sky Ute Casino, I wanted to take a moment to highlight some other ways The Chamber is working behind the scenes to support the businesses that call Durango “home.”
 
Our membership consists of 700 local businesses and organizations comprised of approximately 20,000 employees. Subsequently, our role as an advocate for these members, 80% of which employ fewer than ten people, is at the core of who we are as an organization. 
 
Representing our members and businesses that form the backbone of our community is a mission we don’t take lightly. This means it is essential to partner with other local organizations to ensure that Durango businesses receive fair representation at the city, county, and state level when impactful decisions are made.
 
Recognizing this need, the Durango Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Durango Area Association of Realtors (DAAR), La Plata Energy Council, and the Home Builders Association of SW Colorado, formed the Legislative Affairs Coalition (LAC). 
 
The LAC monitors city, county, and other governmental agencies, participating in various commissions and meetings. In April-May alone, the LAC attended 30 meetings. It monitored more than 35 pieces of legislation, from important housing and healthcare initiatives to ones addressing land use and labor/employment. After close review, each LAC organization determined whether to support, oppose, or monitor each piece of legislation in the best interest of the businesses we represent.
 
The LAC writes monthly summary reports, which the Durango Chamber of Commerce shares to keep our members in the loop. These reports can be found on our website, under the Program/Workshops tab, then select Government Affairs Reports.
 
This spring, we also wrote letters of support for businesses like Durango Motor Company, which recently applied for a Plaza Grant from the Colorado Energy Office to help support the necessary infrastructure and installation of a DC FastCharge (DCFC) station in Durango. In addition, we advocated postponing changes to the Lodgers’ Tax allocations and supported boundary adjustments for the Enterprise Zone program in the “Mid-Town area” of Durango.
 
We recently hosted a wrap up of the state legislative session during our quarterly Eggs and Issues with executive director of the Colorado Competitive Council, Rachel Beck, and Travis Berry, lobbyist with PoliticalWorks.   They gave a recap of the state legislative session and discussed pertinent issues with attendees. 
 
If you want more information on decisions impacting Durango businesses or to register to attend upcoming chamber programs, we encourage you to refer to our website at DurangoBusiness.org or call us at 970-247-0312, ext. 2.