Under the Dome, Week 4, 2023
Highlights of the Week Representative Kyle Brown was appointed to HD 12 on Saturday by a vacancy committee. He was sworn in on Wednesday and has been assigned to the House Heath and Insurance Committee, replacing Rep. Willford, and the House State, Civic, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. Rep. Brown previously served as the Deputy Commissioner of Insurance for Colorado and a Louisville City Council member. The General Assembly has introduced 282 bills so far, 111 in the Senate and 171 in the
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Launches Resource to Help Prevent Business Identity Theft
Denver, Colo – A new tool allowing Coloradans to report fraudulent business filings is now available at www.ColoradoSOS.gov. The resource, which launched on February 1, protects Colorado businesses and individuals by allowing them to report when a bad actor has:formed a new business fraudulently using someone else’s address or personal information.taken over a legitimate business filing in an attempt to leverage it for fraud. “As Secretary of State, I will always work to ensure Colorado remains a great
Connecting Passion to Pathway at DCSD Legacy Campus
On Monday, January 31, the Workforce and Community Programs and Sturm Collaboration Campus teams toured the DCSD Legacy Campus in Lone Tree, which is slated to open in Fall 2023. With our hardhats on, we were able to see the spaces where Douglas County high school students will soon participate in pathways such as EMT, Nursing and Robotics. Starting next fall, Douglas County high school juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to attend the DCSD Legacy campus part-time, and take classes in a
Castle Rock Water launches upgraded billing system and online portal
Castle Rock Water’s new billing system and online portal are now available to provide customers with the most up-to-date service options. Using upgraded security and advanced technology, the online customer portal allows 24/7 access to account information, additional ways to pay, and enriched consumption data. More than 75% of Castle Rock Water customers already use our online services, and with more automation and better report generation, our billing specialists can now provide more personalized service
Chamber announces opportunities to increase your visibility, Secure your sponsorship now
Promote your brand and image through targeted exposure to the business community and Douglas County residents. Showcase your business through sponsorship of Castle Rock Chamber's annual community events, programing, and unique marketing opportunities. These sponsorship opportunities are a great way to gain visibility for your business, as well as to align your company with the Chamber's strategic initiatives.2023 EVENTS Annual Banquet - April 22 (Marriott at Denver South) Chamber Golf Classic - June 12
Under the Dome, Week 3, 2023
Highlights of the Week This week was the first week that bills were heard in committees of reference. The committees also heard overview presentations from departments of interest to their topic areas. Given the number of new members (32) in the General Assembly, the focus on issue education from agencies has been greater than in years past. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) unanimously approved the finalized 2023 Colorado Water Plan this week. First released in 2015, the Water Plan provides a
Douglas County Business Alliance Policy Positions, January 27, 2023
DCBA Policy Positions January 27, 2023The following reflects positions that the DCBA has taken to date on a select number of bills, resent with updated links. HB23-1006 Employer Notice of Income Tax Credits Requires employers to notify employees of the availability of the federal earned income tax credit, the state earned income tax credit, the federal child tax credit, and the state child tax credit. This is in addition to the required annual statement showing the total compensation paid and the
Colorado Springs Airport Sees Highest Enplanements in 22 Years!
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Colorado Springs Airport (COS) ended 2022 with record-breaking enplanement numbers and higher overall traffic. In December of 2022, COS enplaned a total of 80,485 passengers and ended the year with a total of 1,071,826 enplanements - the highest amount since 2000. COS saw a total of 160,467 passengers travel through the terminal in December capping the year with 2,134,618 total passengers. This represents a 14.5 percent increase when compared to last year. “This was a
FAMLI Newsletter — January 31, 2023
FAMLI Newsletter — January 31, 2023 Welcome to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE)'s newsletter for Colorado’s new paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. You’re receiving this newsletter because it includes important legal updates that will impact your business in some way. 2023 is here, and it’s a busy year for the FAMLI Division! Remember you can also get these updates sent directly to your mobile phone, just add your mobile number to your subscription preferences,
An Exciting Announcement from CORE
We are excited to announce our partnership with Invenergy, which will begin in 2026. As the largest electric cooperative in the state of Colorado, we are proud to be a leader in reducing carbon emissions and providing our members with the cleanest, most reliable, most affordable electricity in Colorado. Please see below for more information and reach out with any questions. Today we announced a new wholesale power supply partnership. The partnership will provide CORE with over 1.2 terawatt-hours of
2023 Property Tax Notifications arriving now
Do you know where the money goes? Visit yourdougcotaxes.com If you are a property owner in Douglas County, watch your mail for the delivery of your 2023 property tax bill or tax notification. As you review your property tax bill or tax notification, know that while you pay your taxes to the County Treasurer’s Office, the County Treasurer is tasked with distributing the funds to the various taxing authorities associated with your property. View an interactive map to review the breakdown of taxes paid and
PREMIER MEMBERS CREDIT UNION APPLICATION WINDOW OPEN FOR NONPROFIT GRANTS
Premier Members Credit Union to Award FIVE $5,000 Nonprofit Grants Boulder, Colo. (January 10, 2023 ) Nonprofit organizations who meet the criteria, can now apply for one of five $5,000 grants from Premier Members Credit Union at https://www.pmcu.org/grant-opportunities/. “The impact of our nonprofit partners is vital to the credit union’s membership in the communities we serve. It is essential that businesses support the work of these organizations,” Jeffrey Kash, AVP Community Relations. While
2023 Castle Rock Water Rebates
2023 rebate Summary. View Powerpoint presentation The 2023 rebate program is currently under review, but will include the following: ColoradoScape Renovation for both residential and non-residential customers. This rebate encourages the removal of high water-use plant material (primarily Kentucky Blue Grass) and replacement with low water use ColoradoScape or no water use hardscape. Rotary Nozzle Retrofit. This rebate covers the removal of traditional, less efficient fixed spray nozzles,
Under the Dome Week 2
Highlights of the Week On Monday, January 16th the Colorado General Assembly observed the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday after commemorating the holiday on the floor in both chambers last Friday. Tuesday, Governor Polis presented his State of the State address to a joint session of the General Assembly. Due to the weather on Tuesday evening through the day on Wednesday, the legislature was closed on Wednesday. SMART Act hearings continued this week with Joint Transportation and Local Government, Joint
Colorado Unused Vacation Pay: Employers Must Pay Out
Accrued vacation and the new rules that it must be paid out. We spoke to the chamber and did some digging and this actually didn’t come from legislation but a court ruling that could impact your businesses. This came from a supreme court ruling Nieto v. Clark's Market, Inc.. In fall of 2021, the court held that employers must pay all earned vacation pay on separation and any agreement permitting forfeiture of earned vacation pay is void. The ruling reverses an appellate court decision upholding
Town of Castle Rock highlights 2022 achievements, looks forward to 2023
2022 was a banner year for the Town of Castle Rock, receiving national recognition as one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live (Livability.com) and additional accolades for public safety and healthy living. Guided by the following key priorities, the Town achieved a number of milestones in 2022: ensuring outstanding public safety, securing our water future, maintaining strong parks and recreation, conservative management of Town finances, enhancing our roads, preserving our community character and
Jan. 17 Council update: Meadows Town Center development proposal and contract for Mitchell Gulch
A proposal for a mixed-use, multifamily site development plan in the Meadows Town Center and a contract for Mitchell Gulch retention pond improvements were approved at Town Council’s Jan. 17 meeting. Here is a closer look: Meadows Town Center site development plan – Town Council approved a proposal for a mixed-use, multifamily development in the Meadows Town Center. The 3.93-acre site is located northeast, southeast and southwest of the intersection of Mercantile and Future streets. The plan
Governor Jared Polis’s State of the State Address
This morning Governor Polis gave his State of the State speech in the House chambers surrounded by members of the General Assembly and invited guests. He began by touting successes from past years to protect women’s reproductive health care, ensuring Coloradans can love who they love, and welcoming migrants to our community. Then Governor Polis spoke to the need for affordable housing, touting the implementation efforts currently underway from last year’s investments and the need to break down government
Free workshops about pre-planning needs
We would like to invite you and your spouse or a guest to one of our free workshops about pre-planning needs. We will be hosting limited seating discussions in person at Olinger Anderson Caldwell Gibson with complimentary lunch or dinner catered by Angie’s Restaurant. Call 1-800-903-0669 today to reserve your space. Reservations are required as seating is limited. If this has reached you at a time of illness or loss, please accept our sincere apologies. If you have already secured prearrangements with a
FREE Eyelashes ~ Don't Miss this Amazing Opportunity
LASH MODELS NEEDED We are Training! Come to our PARKER locationFREE Service for members and non-members if you haven't been to the studio in 3 months. NO LASHES ON BEFORE SERVICE, NO CHOICE OF LASH STYLE. Remember Trainees are in training and are beginners...PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL. Contact us: PARKER WEBSITE (schedule your own 2.5 hour appointment) -------- https://dekalash.com/find-a-studio/colorado/parker/ --------ORLASH MODEL LIST - Add your information to our list and we will contact you to
Under the Dome, Week 1 (2023)
Highlights of the Week On Monday, the first session of the 74rd General Assembly was called to order. The 120-day legislative session must adjourn by midnight on Monday, May 8, 2023. Both chambers are held by Democratic majorities – the Senate is split 23-12 and the House 46-19. Governor Jared Polis’s inauguration for his second four-year term was held on Tuesday. The returning Democratic incumbents for statewide office, Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Attorney General Phil Weiser, and State Treasurer
Colorado Economy 2023 - Tough Year Ahead
Colorado and the U.S. had record increases in employment for 2022; however, the battle to contain inflation will take its toll in 2023. The country is projected to experience a recession in 2023, with real GDP growth of 0.0% and the addition of 660,000 jobs for the year, or an average of about 55,000 jobs per month. Colorado will only add 24,000 jobs this year. For additional details, please click here or go to https://cber.co/.
The Changing American Workplace
More Flexibility & Higher Pay Are The New Normal for the American Workplace Third annual study finds organizations must cope with high turnover and increasing employee burnout By MindEdge American workplaces are returning to the "new normal" -- but for most organizations, "normal" does not mean "the same." Post-pandemic American workplaces are still returning to the "new normal." Organizations must cope with higher-than-average turnover and high levels of employee burnout, according to the latest
A hot meal and community resources offered at 2023 Strive to Thrive event
Access 20 local services at free resource fair Tuesday, Jan. 31, in Castle Rock Posted on January 11, 2023 2023Breaking NewsHealth and Human Services Share Douglas County residents enduring hard times can take advantage of a free hot meal and more than 20 local service organizations available at the Strive to Thrive Resource and Service Fair from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, at Calvary Castle Rock, 1100 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock. This free event provides attendees with information on where to
The Town begins initial Downtown train horn quiet zone construction
This week, Union Pacific Railroad will begin initial construction on portions of Second and Third streets as a first step to create the highly anticipated Downtown train horn quiet zone. Once all work for the quiet zone is complete, residents will routinely not hear a horn sound when a train passes through Downtown Castle Rock. “We are pleased to share that initial quiet zone construction work by Union Pacific is moving forward. We know this project has been top of mind for our residents and Downtown
New and returning elected officials sworn into office in Douglas County
× Six Douglas County officials completed the swearing in ceremony on Jan. 10, 2023. Pictured Left to Right: Surveyor Darrell E. Roberts, Clerk and Recorder Sheri Davis, Sheriff Darren Weekly, Commissioner Abe Laydon, Coroner Raeann Brown and Assessor Toby Damisch In one of the first official actions of 2023, 18th Judicial District Court Judge Theresa Slade completed the swearing in ceremony for Douglas County’s re-elected Commissioner and newly elected Assessor, Clerk and Recorder, Coroner, Sheriff and
2023 Colorado Legislative Session | Opening Day
This morning, the 74th General Assembly of Colorado convened for the first regular legislative session. The 120-day legislative session must adjourn by midnight on Monday, May 8, 2023. Both chambers are held by Democratic majorities – the Senate is split 23-12 and the House 46-19. Democratic Governor Jared Polis, will be inaugurated for a second four-year term on Tuesday, January 10. This legislative session will see many new faces in both chambers and in leadership as a result of the 2021 redistricting and
Castle Rock Chamber Sponsorship Opportunities
Stand out from your competitors, Sponsor our events or programs! To learn more, please contact Stacy Garmon - Chamber President/CEOStacy@castlerock.org | 303.688.4597 EVENTS PROGRAMSAnnual Banquet Golf Tournament WineFest Fair Parade ArtfestStarlightingBusiness Trainings-eXcelerate Women's Luncheon | Tours for Teachers Business Advocacy Networking | Ambassadors Talent Pipeline Workforce Development Leadership Douglas County Government Interests | DCBA
Castle Rock Chamber Brings Expert Speaker Lineup to Sturm Collaboration Campus Feb 3rd & 10th
These globally influential speakers will help develop the skills and amplify the leadership impact of Douglas County’s community of leaders.CASTLE ROCK, CO NOVEMBER 21, 2022 – Leadercast, the leadership development company that propels the growth of leaders worldwide through transformative event and video content, has partnered with Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce to bring Leadercast 2023—The One Thing digital leadership conference to the leaders of Douglas County on February 3rd & 10th, 2023. To attend
Castle Rock Chamber announces new board of directors
The Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce our 2022-23 Board of Directors. This knowledgeable and diverse group of community leaders will provide great representation from a variety of business perspectives. We look forward to their leadership and participation as we address new opportunities for our membership and community moving forward.Executive Committee: Kris Brader, (Chair) Brader Agency-Farmers Insurance Thuy Aragon, (Treasurer) FirstBank of Douglas County Kevin McHugh,
6 Popular Misconceptions About the Chamber That Could Be Limiting Your Business
Chamber membership is good for business because it influences the community's perception of you. However, many business owners don't know exactly what the chamber does and so they don't take advantage of the help and resources it offers. For a minimum investment, the chamber can help your business grow in ways that may be difficult for you to do on your own. But if you believe these popular chamber misconceptions, you've likely put off joining and that could hurt your business. 1.Membership Costs a Lot
MONEY magazine ranks Castle Rock 40th Best Places to Live
The Best Places to Live in America, Castle Rock's #40From cities to towns to neighborhoods, here's where you should — and can afford to — settle down. See all 100. by Shaina Mishkin, Prachi Bhardwaj, Olivia Raimonde, and Chloe Wilt Photo Credit: NickLucey.com View the entire list at: http://money.com/money/collection/best-places-to-live-2019/How MONEY Chose the Best Places to Live 2019 To create MONEY’s Best Places to Live ranking, we looked only at places with populations of 50,000 or greater.
Mixing Old With New in Historic Downtown Castle Rock
Rapid growth in suburban community has not affected its identityBY KEVIN TILSON Published: 2019.01.24 03:00 PM A Castle Rock building that dates back to 1918, the B&B Café, was once the site of an infamous gunfight where a fugitive shot and killed the Town Marshall. A bullet hole from the gunfight can still be seen in the café’s tin ceiling, reminiscent of Castle Rock’s rich western history. The streets of Castle Rock are lined with historic structures with stories of their own about
Best Places to Live in Colorado
Learn more about the best places to live in Colorado, and why you should consider moving to each.By Kevin Litwin on August 19, 2016 21:37 PMShareMattInden/MilesHere are the best places to live in Colorado:Aurora, COBoulder, COCastle Rock, COColorado Springs, CODenver, COFort Collins, COGrand Junction, COLakewood, COLittleton, COLoveland, COPueblo, COWestminster, COAurora Aurora has dozens of neighborhoods along with current and former military instillations, led by Buckley Air Force Base and its 12,100
U.S. Chamber Awards Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce with 4-Star Accreditation
U.S. Chamber Awards Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce with 4-Star Accreditation The United States Chamber of Commerce today awarded the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce with 4-Star Accreditation for its sound policies, effective organizational procedures, and positive impact on the community. “Business leaders are a critical voice in conversations about promoting economic growth and job creation in their communities.” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, U.S. Chamber vice president of Federation Relations and
Community Recognition
Castle Rock is a top Town The numbers, facts, research and databases help tell the story residents live every day - Castle Rock is a great place to be. In fact, our Town ranks among the best both locally and nationally, according to a variety of national publications and studies.Money Magazine: Top Place to Live Money magazine recognized Castle Rock in its top places to live in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Most recently, Castle Rock ranked in the Top 10, coming in at No. 4. Narrowing the list is difficult, of
6 Reasons Solopreneurs Need a Chamber Membership
If you’re a solopreneur, you’re likely putting in some long hours building your business. Anything that helps you be more productive for little money is a necessary investment for you at this point. You may have thought briefly about the chamber and then decided against it because when you think of older people standing around talking about business, you probably figured it wasn’t for you. It’s not how business gets done nowadays. But the chamber offers a lot more than what you imagined and a lot of it
4 OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO SELL YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE
If you own a business you probably spend a lot of time thinking of different ways you can sell your product or service. Maybe you’ve investigated neuro-marketing or tried one of these sales approaches. A hard, persuasive sell is getting more difficult these days, isn’t it? Relationships are becoming incredibly important to brands, especially with social media. So is content marketing. Everyone wants infotainment. They long for information that is engaging and solid, not too long, not too short. Consumers
4 Reasons You're Losing Customers (or soon will be)
Do you track the number of sales you make along with the revenue? Of course you do. How do your numbers look? Are you increasing or remaining the same? Hopefully you’re not down this year but if you are, these may be some of the reasons why and what you can do to fix them: You Can’t Compete on PriceI’m making a broad generalization here, but as a small business you can’t compete on price with the big chain stores just as I can’t compete with writers who are overseas and on Fiverr. I don’t want to. Neither
6 Tips To Selling Online
If you’ve been considering opening up your business to online sales, or maybe you already are but are wondering if your online store is all that it could be, take a look at the following tips on how to make your online store a success. Design for ExperienceWhile there are some people who don’t mind digging through clutter to find a great deal, most people prefer shopping in well-lit stores, with wide aisles, and organized shelves/racks. This translates to the online world as well. A cluttered website, with
5 Tips on How You Can Start Using Video for Your Business
5 Tips on How You Can Start Using Video for Your Business Video content has exploded as a marketing tool and if you’re on the sidelines wondering why, it may help to know that according to eMarketer, daily time dedicated to digital video watching (for adults) has increased exponentially over the past 5 years. From a measly 6 minutes a day in 2010, to 55 minutes in 2014, we’re certainly getting our time in front of the screen.But it’s not just the amount of time spent that causes marketers to flock to this
4 Tips to Make Your Business More Likeable
4 Tips to Make Your Business More Likeable © GraphicStockPeople buy from people they know, like, and trust. While you might be in the right place at the right time when someone is up against it, and they may buy from you once without knowing, liking, or trusting you, for them to return, you’ll need more than luck.Know and trust generally come along when you establish yourself as a likeable business with a human behind it. It’s difficult for people to like you if they don’t trust you, unless you’re a
5 best communities in the West, Castle Rock named as a Runner Up
Sunset Magazine searched the West for towns, cities, and neighborhoods that are easy to love. All the winners boast a strong sense of community—the gift of making you feel like you belong.View entire article here.Best suburb: Runners-upCampbell, CA. This San Jose suburb has long been overshadowed by its immediate neighbors, wealthy Los Gatos and Saratoga as well as Apple-HQ Cupertino. Now it’s coming into its own, with a newly vibrant downtown and the soon-to-be-revamped Pruneyard shopping center. Housing
Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Recruits Pamela Ridler to Board of Directors
The Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) is proud to announce to its national Board of Directors Pamela Ridler, CCE representing Colorado. Ridler became the President/CEO of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce in 1998. Prior to her position with the Castle Rock Chamber, Ridler held the position of Vice-President of the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce. Ridler got her start in the non-profit arena as director of the United Way of Ellis County in Hays Kansas. Established in 1914, ACCE