Summit #1: Northeast Region

• Counties: Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, Yuma
• Host: Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, Greeley Chamber of Commerce, Loveland Chamber of Commerce
• Industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Healthcare
• Date: February 25, 2025
• Location: University of Northern Colorado

Summit #2: Denver Region

• Counties: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Gilpin, Jefferson
• Host: Arvada Chamber of Commerce
• Industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace & Defense, Renewables & Clean Energy
• Date: March 18, 2025
• Location: Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities

Summit #3: Southern Region

• Counties: Baca, Bent, Chaffee, Crowley, Custer, Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa, Lake, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo
• Host: Southern Colorado Economic Development District
• Industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Technology
• Date: April 2, 2025
• Location: Pueblo Convention Center

Summit #4: Western Region

• Counties: Delta, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Mesa, Moffat, Montrose, Ouray, Rio Blanco, San Miguel
• Host: Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce
• Industries: Construction, Early Childhood Education, Healthcare
• Date: May 12, 2025
• Location: Mesa County Workforce Center

Summit #5: South Central Region

• Counties: Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Dolores, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Juan
• Host: La Plata Economic Alliance, Fort Lewis College, The Attainment Network
• Industries: Agriculture, Healthcare, Technology
• Date: May 16, 2025
• Location: Fort Lewis College

Summit #6: Northwest Region

• Counties: Eagle, Grand, Jackson, Pitkin, Summit, Routt, Park
• Host: Vail Valley Partnership
• Industries: Construction, Healthcare, Tourism
• Date: June 3, 2025
• Location: Colorado Mountain College, Edwards

Summit #7: Pikes Peak Region

• Counties: El Paso, Teller
• Host: Pikes Peak Workforce Center, Southern Colorado Economic Development District
• Industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace & Defense, Technology
• Date: June 13, 2025
• Location: Pikes Peak State College

Who is involved in Opportunity Now Regional Talent Summits?

• The Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) convenes the seven summits in collaboration with the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC).
• Through a competitive process, the Program Facilitator and seven Regional Hosts were selected to coordinate the summits in 2025.
• The Program Facilitator prepares the summit documents, facilitates the summits and drafts the workforce plans, while the Regional Hosts select the industries of focus, drive regional attendance and manage event logistics.
• Following the Summits, CWDC will coordinate regional collaboration and outcomes measurement with support from Local Workforce Development Boards.

What happens at each of the summits?

• The day-long summits are an opportunity for regional business, education, and workforce leaders to come together and ideate solutions to industry’s most pressing talent challenges. Each summit begins with a review of the Regional Landscape Analysis, which highlights industry-specific supply and demand data as well as relevant regional education and training pathways. This is followed by roundtable discussions around which occupations regional industry leaders would like to focus on before moving into afternoon breakout sessions. Breakout sessions are focused on ideating career pathway solutions for the selected priority occupations.
• Additionally, regional Opportunity Now grantees are showcased, highlighting innovative workforce solutions happening locally at scale.

Which documents are prepared prior to each of the summits?

• Summit Agenda.
• Regional Landscape Analysis.
• PreWork Survey.

Which documents are prepared following each summit?

• Summit Outcomes Report.
• Draft Goals.

Which documents will ultimately be published in the CO Talent Pipeline Report?

• Regional Talent Summits Synopsis.
• Tactical Regional Workforce Plans.

How are summit conversations captured?

• The Summit Outcomes Report leverages themes from virtual prework responses, roundtable discussion notes, and industry breakout takeaways noted throughout each session.

What is included in the Summit Outcomes Report and Draft Goals?

• Industry snapshot.
• Identified priority occupations.
• Summary of:
  • Regional hiring challenges.
  • Risks to industry & region.
  • Regional strength & resources. 
• Potential solutions to inform 
  • Regional 2 and 5 year goals.
  • Tactical Regional Workforce Plans.

What is included in the Tactical Regional Workforce Plans? 

• A needs assessment of each region's related resources, needs, and challenges, incorporating data from the landscape analyses and summit outcomes.
• Regional 2 and 5 year industry-led goals for developing career pathway solutions in high-need fields. 
• Action steps to achieve regional 2 and 5 year goals.

How do you ensure all of these resources continue to reflect regional voices?

• Following each summit, the Program Facilitator will prepare the Summit Outcomes Report and Draft Goals, which OEDIT will circulate four to six weeks after the summit. These documents are accompanied by a survey so that summit attendees can share additional asynchronous feedback and direction.
• Once asynchronous feedback is received, the Program Facilitator will prepare the Tactical Regional Workforce Plans, and will rely on the designated Regional Action Teams to ensure plans are developed with ongoing regional input.
• Regional Action Teams will share the draft Workforce Plan for public comment before finalizing the plan with the Program Facilitator.
• The Program Facilitator will send the final workforce plan to OEDIT, CWDC and the Regional Action Teams by December 1, 2025. Additionally, a summit synopsis and the seven regional workforce plans will be published in the 2025 CO Talent Pipeline Report.

How are Regional Action Teams formed?

• After each summit, Local Workforce Boards, working under the guidance of CWDC, will identify 3-4 individuals to serve on the Regional Action Team who will commit to supporting Tactical Regional Workforce Plan execution.
• Local Workforce Boards will lead Regional Action Teams since the Tactical Regional Workforce Plans will be incorporated into local WIOA plans. This creates a mechanism for accountability and progress reporting.
• Local Workforce Boards will also select one person to serve as the primary point of contact for the Program Facilitator.

Who will be responsible for implementing the Tactical Regional Workforce Plans?

• Regional Action Teams will be responsible for execution of the Tactical Regional Workforce Plans, serving as implementation lead, reporting on progress and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and plan revision.
• CWDC will oversee implementation across the seven regions and will be responsible for monitoring, evaluation and technical assistance through 2030.

What are the expectations of the Regional Action Team?

• Regional Action Teams will be responsible for reaching out to regional stakeholders for their input and representing their region’s voice by providing the Program Facilitator with timely feedback on the draft Tactical Regional Workforce Plans. 
• Regional Action Teams can expect the feedback period to take place two to four months following their regional summit.
• After the Regional Workforce Plan has been published in the 2025 CO Talent Pipeline Report, Regional Action teams will lead implementation of the workforce plan. 
• Regional Action Teams will be responsible for submitting an annual progress report to CWDC for publication in the CO Talent Pipeline Report through 2030. This reporting process will take place in alignment with the WIOA reporting process.

What support will Regional Action Teams receive through 2030?

• A virtual convening for statewide Regional Action Teams will be held in August 2025, where plans for implementation support will be shared.
• Once the Workforce Plans have been finalized (December 2025), CWDC will work with Local Workforce Boards to provide ongoing technical assistance.

Where can I access all of the Regional Talent Summit documents?

• The following documents, once finalized, will be made available on the OEDIT Opportunity Now Regional Talent Summit webpage:
  • Summit Agendas
  • Landscape Analyses
  • Summit Outcome Reports
  • Tactical Regional Workforce Plans