By Shannon Lukens. (File photo of Craig, Colorado)
Colorado Senator Dylan Roberts has introduced a bipartisan bill that would help with economic development in rural communities. The Rural Opportunity Office would be within the Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
It would be the central coordinator for communities like those in Moffat County, that are transitioning away from coal-based economies.
“By creating the Rural Opportunity Office, we will have a one-stop shop for rural communities like Craig, Hayden, Meeker and Oak Creek, and all over Colorado to have access to technical assistance and resources so they can get help with economic development, economic diversification, worker training, and a variety of state, federal, and private sector opportunities to help them with their economic development efforts. This is really important because rural communities have unique and special needs and this Rural Opportunity Office will give them the resources they need to access everything that is available to them as they move forward. I’m really excited to bring this bill forward with bipartisan support and I’m excited to get it passed so we can create the Rural Opportunity Office and start helping our rural communities in Northwest Colorado as soon as possible.”
Senate Bill SB23-006 will next receive a hearing in the Business, Labor, and Technology Committee.
Here is the press release from the Colorado Senate Democrats office; Jan. 13, 2023.
Roberts’ Bipartisan Bill to Create the Rural Opportunity Office Introduced — The Rural Opportunity Office is charged with boosting economic development in rural communities across the state
DENVER, CO – Senator Dylan Roberts’, D-Avon, bipartisan bill to foster economic development in rural communities was introduced in the Senate earlier this week.
SB23-006, cosponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, formally creates the Rural Opportunity Office (ROO) within the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. ROO is charged with serving as the central coordinator of rural economic development, supporting communities transitioning away from coal-based economies, and making recommendations to help inform economic development policy impacting rural communities.
“Rural communities like those I represent are crucial to Colorado’s economy and character. To ensure we’re building a Colorado where everyone can thrive, we must be proactive in our work to support rural economic development,” Roberts said. “By creating a ‘one-stop shop’ for our small towns in the Rural Opportunity Office, we will be able to provide the expertise to meet our rural economies’ unique needs and help communities take advantage of state, federal, and nonprofit opportunities to promote, diversify, and expand economic opportunity. From Craig to Granby, Sterling to Cortez, and everywhere in between, the Rural Opportunity Office will be a vital resource for rural Colorado.”
“I am very proud to be a sponsor of this bill,” Rich said. “Since 2019, the Rural Opportunity Office has serviced thousands of rural businesses and stakeholders, and with this bill, it will continue to act as a vital resource in developing economic opportunities for rural Coloradans for years to come.”
The Rural Opportunity Office began its work to boost rural economies through supportive development strategies in 2019. In the years since, the Office has expanded services to assist Tribal nations in their economic development through grant writing support, education campaigns, and technical assistance.
SB23-006 will receive a hearing in the Business, Labor, and Technology Committee in the coming weeks. You can follow the bill’s progress HERE.