[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6499560,"mediaKeyId","5856871-516aa2c724ac85173f1272e0026cad26","parentId",5856871,"title","Adams County leaders, education partners push work‑based learning, cite transportation as a barrier to internships","audioSeconds",413,"startMs",3437920,"endMs",3851685,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5856871-516aa2c724ac85173f1272e0026cad26&start=3437&end=3851","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5856871-516aa2c724ac85173f1272e0026cad26/thumbnail_3437920.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6499560/Adams-County/Colorado/Adams-County-leaders-education-partners-push-workbased-learning-cite-transportation-as-a-barrier-to-internships","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499560-32530f9d0f17e36249efe099c4238e46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770520534&Signature=kKW99QOqr4XSCOdDGz1HbRBpdqeTt~JK8vrgo0sLdq6TQIvQoBgXXYBWawmG1z1kg3pZpg2GW4SdXPni8g6vgC6HcLYEvu~rpB1XDFQXYw8Fj9fO-z1BI8roFFS3zGN4gkRuAlClRVwKGjx~U7D-ouEP~WWdmCnjuR8sSbDoXeGjT2uGtcs-VbuqZlwUZX0YXZblEhvaAcExmziyopxYOSdQlMl8SwjGAF9S9HervwO0YqgkUHb9T4iPTE8ACWAdL~UKmQaWdqntneycupZP9FeAAuj~LChVpqV6L20C5J2fyYL4kd2nSQSfPudd6nUqtK-UqpBHK2Cp5A3rtc3RYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Adams County","date","2025-09-30T17:17:18Z","article","Education leaders and county officials at an Adams County business town hall urged employers to expand paid internships and work‑based learning, while identifying transportation and cost as common barriers for businesses that want to host student interns.

\"The best thing that ever happened to me, especially as a college grad, was being able to, get an internship, and it totally changed the trajectory of my career,\" said Dion Strode, the county manager, during discussion of work‑based learning and employer engagement. Shannon Hancock, executive director of the 5 Star Education Foundation for Adams 12, said her district has struggled to find internships locally and often must look outside Adams County to meet student needs.

University and workforce partners described programs and supports that can help. Jack Buffington of the University of Denver said his center aims to convene public and private partners to create open collaboration on workforce and supply‑chain training needs. County and ACRep representatives noted existing resources from the workforce center and community colleges and said they will convene partners to identify pilot approaches to incentivize paid internships.

Barriers and possible actions

- Transportation: Multiple speakers said that reliably moving students from school to internship sites is a frequent obstacle and needs creative solutions.

- Business capacity and cost: Some small employers find paid internships cost‑prohibitive; county and education partners said they would explore incentives and program structures (for example, scholarship or stipend models) that reduce employer cost while preserving student experience.

- Convening role: County commissioners and ACRep called for joint convenings of employers, CTE programs, community colleges and workforce agencies to pilot internship programs and to make use of existing training and navigation resources.

No formal commitments of new county funding were announced; speakers said the county and partners will continue to explore structured pilot approaches and better information flows between employers and schools.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Adams County Business Town Hall","oneSentenceSummary","At a business town hall, education and county representatives urged expansion of paid internships and more direct links between employers and CTE/higher‑education programs; transportation access was identified as a major obstacle.","taxTitle","Adams County, Colorado","taxId",4150,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6499565,"Adams County leaders say housing shortage hampers workforce; county pursuing needs assessment and local tools",797,2059265,2856465,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5856871-516aa2c724ac85173f1272e0026cad26&start=2059&end=2856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5856871-516aa2c724ac85173f1272e0026cad26/thumbnail_2059265.jpg","/articles/6499565/Adams-County/Colorado/Adams-County-leaders-say-housing-shortage-hampers-workforce-county-pursuing-needs-assessment-and-local-tools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499565-d2a019031d8c03e65e3ab6b3023786c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770520534&Signature=YblSfxJ-J7zJFxiXXKXfL5bUh9CNLsMMlfg92GSI-aLgCElUaZBxG3ifJMZvL8d4ZpakCPgdziudOvzg-vZiRh5NfXBK3gzmxpazmRFPQxPQu-PQsgdWO3CNniG5h5fISNPqfWC40sBVzdYE~qs7PoJpPQSPAeW0wQ~AMzUmQ2xwsNsY095QFHjY75YT3TldNDXtK1gM1wDnaqq~0kih4NgxbE9Oq3GIg4AdvIazSBq77X4bICGEPeRNabsvHicuwReigEc5LHZ5U1dDi8sHPtCzlJ8pii9AF4EzhaJmHFM0V8hcVPLzztmi9c~93~017I0Q6qYIF4NUKLKxHm4r3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adams County commissioners and business partners told attendees at a Monday business town hall that housing supply and affordability are major constraints for employers and workers, and that the county is pursuing a regional housing needs assessment and local planning tools to increase entry‑level and workforce housing.

\"Housing that people can afford really matters,\" Commissioner Kathy Henson said. \"Most of the people who qualify for affordable housing built by our housing authority make money. They usually make about $45,000 a year, 50, 60, 70, and even $80,000 a year, depending on how many children they have.\"

Commissioners described a multi‑pronged approach under discussion: completing a regional housing needs assessment, partnering with housing authorities, reviewing development standards (including lot sizes and finish standards) and exploring graduated impact fees to lower costs for entry‑level housing. They also said more active engagement among municipalities, builders and the public is needed to advance housing projects.

Context and details

- Regional housing assessment: Commissioners said the county is participating in a regional housing needs assessment to quantify demand and inform policy choices. The assessment was described as a first step for coordinated action.

- Local tools under consideration: Speakers listed potential local actions including revising development standards to reduce unnecessary cost drivers (for example, exterior finishes), graduated impact fees, support for townhouse or condominium construction as entry‑level options, and closer collaboration with the county's housing authority (referred to in discussion as Meeker/\"Maker\" Housing Partners).

- Municipal approvals and the public: Commissioners noted that many housing projects require municipal zoning or council approval and encouraged local businesses and residents to participate in public hearings. One recent example discussed during the meeting was a Thornton zoning vote that failed and would have created roughly 81 units; commissioners framed that result as evidence of the need for earlier community engagement and clearer local planning conversations.

Why this matters: County leaders said employers need housing options for employees earning between about $45,000 and $80,000 annually, and that insufficient supply creates commuting burdens for workers and hiring challenges for businesses. Speakers called for coordinated solutions involving municipalities, home builders, housing partners and employers.

Next steps

Commissioners said they will continue housing conversations in upcoming study sessions and through ongoing county‑municipal convenings. They encouraged developers, employers and residents to join those conversations, testify in public hearings and engage with county staff on specific proposals.","Commissioners at an Adams County business town hall described housing supply and attainable/workforce housing as core barriers for employers and workers, outlined tools under consideration and called for deeper municipal and developer engagement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6499570,"Adams County commissioners, business leaders meet in town hall to discuss spaceport, workforce and housing",4552,49295,4601600,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5856871-516aa2c724ac85173f1272e0026cad26&start=49&end=4601","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5856871-516aa2c724ac85173f1272e0026cad26/thumbnail_49295.jpg","/articles/6499570/Adams-County/Colorado/Adams-County-commissioners-business-leaders-meet-in-town-hall-to-discuss-spaceport-workforce-and-housing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499570-ac93fb13eb49d2d6a82139b3880cdd97/orig.mp4?Expires=1770520534&Signature=PA8sjIgneofuoRlCALdRAzKvYAMsXILzIf60HsLtroL8Xorxc0qWOC93CkPmqthzj5sEZN5yEK3DwsTOK0egpPRH1V8iFp7TD0Expfenoi8eWzVfMBMTUhrjefnxe4ADlGsSKbKvDYETsITsGzPDMClvIfrr7CYK11bfCS4FsAqqzNexVEjfrUr3LlqBFF0vCgt8XwPy74HiOlItWBwUaQg8eJl0lo-ZBUm1GbqylDBqGOjqVv3KYljxgBMyVt2Uke53N~o9uRBIFL-F1pftbTUIOihBvAaYLLzy0rgN~JS6NQtEvtCkyJgrcdF7JIys8JWTsSmZdGx~o2l-yG2hrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Adams County commissioners and regional business leaders convened a business-focused town hall Monday evening to discuss priorities for local economic growth, with an emphasis on the Colorado Air and Space Port, workforce development, housing and easing the permitting process for employers.

\"We're a very young county. Our median age is 35,\" Commissioner Lynn Baca said, describing the county's transportation assets and the board's focus on connecting young residents to good-paying jobs. \"All of land surrounding Denver National Airport is in Adams County. So I am gonna focus on... workforce development.\"

The meeting, cohosted by the Adams County Regional Economic Partnership (ACREP), opened with remarks from ACREP president and CEO Lisa Huff and a presentation from Jenny Hall, director of Adams County's Department of Community and Economic Development, who described the county's integrated service model that combines several permitting, planning and business services under one umbrella to provide \"no wrong door\" support for businesses.

Why it matters: County leaders said jobs tied to logistics, manufacturing and aerospace are expected to grow in Adams County, and officials stressed the need to align housing, transportation and workforce training with incoming employers. Commissioners urged business leaders to engage with county staff on permitting or policy questions and said county staff and partner organizations are available to help businesses navigate regulations.

Key points from the town hall

- Colorado Air and Space Port: Commissioners repeatedly identified the spaceport as a top economic priority. Baca said the county is positioning itself to capture aerospace-related activity and training opportunities. \"We are the easternmost neighbor of the Colorado Air And Space Port,\" Brian Fallon of Rocky Mountain Industrials added while describing industrial activity near the spaceport.

- Workforce development and K–14 partnerships: Commissioners and education partners emphasized stronger connections between employers, community colleges and high school career and technical education (CTE) programs. Jack Buffington of the University of Denver said his school aims to convene public and private partners for open collaboration on supply‑chain workforce needs.

- Housing: Commissioners agreed that housing supply and affordability are top constraints for employers and employees. They said the county is participating in a regional housing needs assessment and is discussing tools such as revising development standards, graduated impact fees and partnerships with local housing authorities.

- Permitting/navigation services: Jenny Hall highlighted the county's integrated community and economic development model as a single place for help with permits, incentives and building‑related questions. Many attendees rated navigation services for permitting as a top need in a live poll during the event.

- Data centers and state legislation: County leaders said data‑center policy and energy needs are under active consideration at the state level and that a bill on data centers is expected in an upcoming legislative session. Commissioners said they will follow the issue as it develops.

Public and partner input

Business leaders in the room and onstage urged more predictable permitting timelines and better connectivity between workforce training and employers. Shannon Hancock, executive director of the 5 Star Education Foundation for Adams 12, asked about incentives or supports the county can promote to expand paid internships and work‑based learning; commissioners and partners said they will explore convening partners and scoping pilot opportunities, though no new county program or funding was announced at the event.

Next steps and follow-up

Organizers said they will send a follow-up survey to attendees and capture the town hall input for ongoing budget and policy discussions. Commissioners noted upcoming study sessions and meetings where housing and data‑center topics will be discussed in more detail.

The town hall included presentations and comments from county staff, ACREP and several business and education partners; no formal votes or policy decisions were taken at the event.","Adams County commissioners and regional partners convened a business town hall Monday evening to discuss economic priorities including the Colorado Air and Space Port, workforce development, housing, permitting navigation and transportation; officials invited continued engagement and follow-up.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6499555,"Rocky Mountain Rail Park developer touts $100M investment, 620‑acre industrial park near Colorado Air and Space Port",322,2816355,3138540,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5856871-516aa2c724ac85173f1272e0026cad26&start=2816&end=3138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5856871-516aa2c724ac85173f1272e0026cad26/thumbnail_2816355.jpg","/articles/6499555/Adams-County/Colorado/Rocky-Mountain-Rail-Park-developer-touts-100M-investment-620acre-industrial-park-near-Colorado-Air-and-Space-Port","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6499555-471405d2e773973daaffab269acc217e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770520534&Signature=LcQ3OCRyil9axKiDemSwcBx6WbxTMsPRQznrmDwwC7v0tv8Psp-aKVjcUggbbbEWgrnV2AG3aAFgDuR3-ZTPts7AIsiB4SgaHuCPJyOqSbcfRDwKHYWITlyUWFVYUJzfE93RtCJ0vtuZT8F~UGRMKdav1cZTwFdx~1uIlXDRKzh00LZ5YNHuLx1kZ-XoYuHYEdReGkjGoj5dw5MrGztSYAQ~6ajD8PnjStBDj3fPE3TELLH~vNRvy4e0-X4Z8r9OP0~61oOtNhdTZC7fx-hYMM4yrAM2QzPaIeMv~uYw1MJAJLNMS3AJXZS2LwImFuVEOFsHhsliKuPTeuh7rnUxyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Fallon, chief executive of Rocky Mountain Industrials, told attendees at an Adams County business town hall that the Rocky Mountain Rail Park is under construction and that the developer has invested \"more than a $100,000,000 of capital\" to build the 620‑acre, rail‑served industrial park east of Denver.

\"Our industrial park... is a 620 acre rail served industrial park that's currently under construction,\" Fallon said. \"We're about a mile and a half north of I‑70, and we are the easternmost neighbor of the Colorado Air And Space Port.\"

Fallon said the project spans roughly two miles north‑south and half a mile east‑west, and that the developer expects the area to be a logistics and supply‑chain growth corridor for the next 15–20 years. He described successful tenant recruitment and a recent ground‑breaking event that included county and spaceport staff; he said Archer Daniels Midland has signed a land lease at the facility.

Why it matters: The industrial park represents significant private capital investment in eastern Adams County, and Fallon credited county staff and permitting processes for assisting the project through land acquisition, development agreements and infrastructure work. Fallon said tenants have been impressed with Adams County engagement and responsiveness compared with other jurisdictions.

What was not announced: Fallon described private investment and tenant activity but did not present a county incentive package or a new county action; no formal county approvals or votes were taken at the town hall.","Brian Fallon, CEO of Rocky Mountain Industrials, described progress on the 620‑acre Rocky Mountain Rail Park in eastern Adams County and praised county engagement; the developer said more than $100 million has been invested in the project so far and that tenants including Archer Daniels Midland have signed leases.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Adams County leaders, education partners push work‑based learning, cite transportation as a barrier to internships

Adams County leaders say housing shortage hampers workforce; county pursuing needs assessment and local tools

Adams County commissioners, business leaders meet in town hall to discuss spaceport, workforce and housing

Rocky Mountain Rail Park developer touts $100M investment, 620‑acre industrial park near Colorado Air and Space Port