In the summer of 2020, Colorado lawmakers were grappling with deep cuts to the state’s budget amid uncertainty about coronavirus and how the pandemic would impact the state’s economy. Now, as they enter the 2022 legislative session, they have a very different and welcome challenge: deciding how to spend more than $2.6 billion in federal […]
coronavirus stimulus
Posted inEconomy, News, Politics and Government
Housing, workforce development, infrastructure: How Colorado Democrats plan to spend $3.8B in federal aid
Colorado Democrats on Monday unveiled the broad strokes of how they plan to spend $3.8 billion in federal coronavirus stimulus money being sent to state government, prioritizing affordable housing, workforce development and infrastructure projects. More than half of the money — $2 billion — will be allocated before the 2021 legislative session ends by June […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Education, Health, Housing, News, Politics and Government
State stimulus tracker: We’re keeping tabs on Colorado lawmakers’ $800 million coronavirus aid package
Colorado lawmakers have set aside $800 million for a stimulus package aimed at helping propel the Centennial State’s economy beyond the coronavirus pandemic. The one-time spending is made possible by better-than-expected tax revenue over the past year. In anticipation of a worse economic downturn, lawmakers had previously slashed this year’s budget, leading to the current […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Economy, Health, Housing, News, Politics and Government, Transportation
Colorado lawmakers, governor unveil $700M state economic stimulus plan. Here’s where the money will go.
Top Democratic and Republican state lawmakers on Wednesday joined Gov. Jared Polis to unveil the broad strokes of a roughly $700 million state economic stimulus plan, most of which is set to go to “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects, including repairs to the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels and Interstate 70 bridges The shovel-ready projects will total $170 million, […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s governor wants a big, fast coronavirus stimulus package. State lawmakers worry about the details.
As the Colorado legislature returns to work on Tuesday, the No. 1 priority for Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic lawmakers will be passing an economic stimulus package to help lift the state out of the effects of the coronavirus crisis. But the question of how big the package should be and how fast the General […]
Posted inBig Idea, News, Politics and Government
Big idea: Colorado governor calls his billion-dollar coronavirus stimulus plan a “one-time opportunity”
Colorado has a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Gov. Jared Polis said, and it lies within his billion-dollar economic stimulus proposal to help the state rebound from coronavirus. “This billion dollars will really, I think, reflect on this legislature, on me, on the state, on all of us. It’s a one-time opportunity that no recent legislature has had,” […]
Posted inEconomy, News, Politics and Government
Gov. Jared Polis wanted quick action on his $1.3 billion stimulus plan. Colorado lawmakers want more time.
Three months ago, Gov. Jared Polis put forward a $1.3 billion stimulus plan and asked Colorado lawmakers to fast-track the measures. On Thursday, the General Assembly said not so fast. Instead of inserting the governor’s November spending requests into a supplemental budget package being drafted now, the proposals will move ahead in separate legislation for […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
7 ways Joe Biden’s presidency may quickly affect Colorado
As President Joe Biden takes office Wednesday, the new administration and a new party in power will usher in immediate changes, some of which will have a disproportionate impact on Colorado. Democrats in control of both the House and Senate, and Vice President Kamala Harris to serve as a tie-breaker in the upper chamber, give […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
Updated federal coronavirus loan program offers more relief, but not all Colorado businesses are eligible
Frisco restaurateur Bob Starekow got some devastating news last week. His federal Paycheck Protection Program loan came with unexpected strings. “My accountant informed me that due to the ‘income’ of the forgiveness portion of the PPP loan, I will owe $45,000 in taxes on phantom income,” Starekow, owner of Silverheels Bar & Grill and Kemosabe […]
Posted inBusiness, Health, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers reconvene to consider stimulus plan, but experts question the cost to the state
The unemployment checks for Englewood resident Dana John and her husband ended in July, and the $1,200 federal stimulus money is long gone. One small hope on the horizon is the $375 check Colorado is sending as a stimulus to lower-income unemployed workers. It’s not much, but John said it’s much needed. “I don’t know […]