State Leaders and Industry Partners Unite to Shape Colorado’s Workforce Future

On September 16th, Arapahoe/Douglas Works! hosted a roundtable with Colorado state and local officials to discuss building a strong, skilled workforce for the future. State Representatives Michael Carter, Meg Froelich, and Chris Richardson, Senator Tom Sullivan, and Arapahoe County Commissioners Jessica Campbell, Rhonda Fields, and Carrie Warren-Gully emphasized the importance of partnerships among government, education, and industry to create pathways to in-demand careers.

Panelists highlighted the need for early workforce preparation through K-12 alignment, apprenticeships, and internships. Kathy Smith, Director of Community Resources at Arapahoe County, noted that every federal dollar invested through A/D Works! generates nearly $8 in new worker earnings—totaling $45.8 million in local economic impact and $8.3 million in federal income tax. Program participants also saw median wage increases of over $11,000 annually.

In the last program year, A/D Works! served more than 12,000 job seekers, 3,500 businesses, and 1,000 apprentices through workshops, job fairs, and career services—strengthening the regional economy and workforce ecosystem.

Read the full News Post from Arapahoe County.