Members:
We are a grass roots citizens’ task force comprised of small business owners with the goal of reforming economic development within our State of Colorado.
Everyone talks about how we, small businesses, are the primary source of new jobs. What is needed now is for small businesses to create those jobs and turn around the economy of Colorado. However, we are struggling in a soft market that is not helped by higher government taxes, greater government regulations and new laws that make running a small business more complicated and more expensive. The economy and these governmental burdens are keeping private money on the sidelines and limiting bank lending when they are willing to do so.
Get Involved !
It's time we stop waiting for Federal or State government solutions to "work"... It's time for citizen-led action NOW ! We need to start by informing, educating, and instructing our elected leaders on what WE WANT THEM TO DO. They WORK FOR US. So ? How do YOU get involved...
There are two ways to participate as Members of CIO Colorado...
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Small Business Member
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Public Participant
Small Business Member:
If you are interested in getting directly involved in helping to develop Colorado's new Economic Development programs, you can sign-up as a Small Business Member and contribute $100 towards the support or our initiatives. This special Small Business Membership program represents the interests of small businesses and will enable you to raise your voice and the profile of your company in the development of a comprehensive Economic Development Program for Colorado. Only individuals who have owned and operated a small business in Colorado within the last 5 years may qualify as a Small Business Member of CIO Colorado. Members of CIO Colorado and economic development experts will work in teams on developing plans for the implementation of public and private sector initiatives for economic development.
Benefits as a Small Business Member:
As a Colorado small business your $100 support contribution will enable you to directly participate on one of our Innovation Initiative Teams to work directly on and plan an economic development Initiative that is of direct interest to you. Also, you will be listed in our directory of Small Business Members, (See Directory) and you will be provided with special web-site access credentials to particpate in your selected Innovation Initiative Team that will enable you to receive updates and alerts about your Team's developments, access to the meeting calendars for team meetings, and the ability to comment on Team forum discussions.
How to sign-up as a Small Business Member: Click HERE.
How to sign-up as a Small Business Member: Click HERE.
Public Participant:
If you would like to participate as just a private citizen, (and not as a direct Small Business Member) we welcome you to join in the discussion and send us your ideas on how to make Colorado the best place in the world for business. Both our Small Business Members and Public Participants will vote on these initiatives, creating a Top 10 list that will be presented to Governor-elect John Hickenlooper, the Colorado legislature, our federal representatives, local economic development agencies and programs and local and state business organizations.
How to Participate as a Public Citizen:
To register as a Public Participant on the CIO Colorado Site, go to this registration PAGE and enter your name and e-mail address, and create a web-site login account. You will receive a confirmation e-mail to verify your e-mail address and then you will be able to log into the CIO Colorado site directly and access the Innovation Initiative Idea Submission Page.
Submitting your Economic Development Idea:
Go to the Innovation Initative Idea Submission Page on our website HERE and look at some of the ideas that have already been submitted. We have already received ideas to unify sales taxes in Colorado, to enable the State of Colorado in invest directly in businesses and to waive State taxes for the first five years of operations of any new business. What else can we do to make a better environment for our businesses? Think about what it would be worth to your business if this change may be accomplished.