Hickenlooper visited Snowmass, Carbondale, Edwards, Vail, Silverthorne and Fort Morgan on listening tour to hear from Colorado communities
In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper hit the road this week to discuss the clean energy transition, early childhood education, challenges facing the Latino community, affordable housing and workforce issues, and the new Affordable Connectivity Program for high-speed internet.
Check out the headlines across Colorado:
Vail Daily: Hick answers the call
Several weeks ago, Eagle Valley High School student Eve Zaruba sent a video to several United States Senators inviting them to see how Eagle County is preparing students for their careers through workplace studies. And only one answered the (video) call.
Sen. John Hickenlooper joined a variety of Eagle County students, business representatives and community leaders on Tuesday afternoon at Colorado Mountain College in Edwards. The group gathered to listen to students share their experiences with the county’s many career readiness programs.
Hickenlooper emphasized the importance of such career exploration and learning as he introduced himself to the group as a “former geologist, bartender, brewer, mayor, governor and senator.”
“I am a walking case study in why you need to keep learning skills your whole life,” he said.
Glenwood Springs Post Independent: Sen. Hickenlooper visits Valley Settlement’s El Busesito, hears Latino concerns
“What’s great here is you see a lot of community organizing, of people saying, ‘What do we need and what do we need to get from that senator,’” Hickenlooper observed in a post-event interview.
“That’s how you get more money for education, for health care, for transportation, for public safety. … I think that’s how communities grow, and that’s healthy,” he said.
El Busesito, or “The Little Bus,” is a good example, said Hickenlooper, who recently helped secure $285,000 in federal funding for the purchase and retrofitting of three new mobile preschool buses, in addition to the three already operating from Glenwood Springs to El Jebel.
The money was part of $100.4 million in funding Hickenlooper successfully secured for 64 projects across Colorado in the fiscal year 2022 federal appropriations omnibus bill that passed Congress earlier this year.
Aspen Daily News: Hickenlooper hears climate concerns from Aspen stakeholders Tuesday
Hickenlooper, for his part, said that he was there to listen — an extension of the general approach to his newest political post after serving as Colorado governor from 2011 to 2019.
Hickenlooper also jotted down notes with interest when hearing from Holy Cross Energy President and CEO Bryan Hannegan, who charged the senator with examining current federal law as it pertains to energy — especially where federal lands are concerned.
Summit Daily: US Sen. Hickenlooper collaborates with Summit County leaders, business owners on inflation woes
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper visited Silverthorne Wednesday to help local leaders and business owners find ways to address inflation, which is affecting the workforce in Summit County and surrounding communities.
The senator sat down with ski area leadership, elected officials, nonprofit leaders and business owners for an open discussion.
Some business owners said that finding staff is still an issue in mountain communities and that raising wages could not be the only solution.
Hickenlooper said that support for workforce training, such as apprenticeships, could provide some assistance.
“Every single worker wants to be trained,” Hickenlooper said. “They want a mentor — someone that’s older than them or has experience, and then they want to grow.”
CBS 4 Denver: Affordable Connectivity Program Moves Forward To Bring High-Speed Internet To More Coloradans
Sen. John Hickenlooper visited Viaero Wireless in Fort Morgan on Thursday. It is one of the companies providing low-cost high-speed internet to qualifying families.
He was there to explore one aspect of the new “Affordable Connectivity Program” that allows millions of eligible households to access the internet for $30 a month. The expanded access to high-speed internet is part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Bill.
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