Prepared remarks: Innovation through Transition Summit (June 2, 2023)
Let me begin by thanking Ray Beck for his tremendous leadership—Ray is someone known for his leadership not only in Northwest Colorado and the Western Slope, but for the entire State. The work he is spearheading with JOLT is just one example of that impact. For those who want proof of Margaret Mead’s wisdom— “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has”—they can take a look at what Ray is doing. Just transition cannot and must not be a slogan; it must be the reality for Moffat County. And believe me, I am all in on this work.
First off, I am truly sorry not to be with you in person. Mindy Baumgardner, our rural outreach specialist, is with you and our department was honored to help secure the support for this important summit. I look forward to hearing about your discussions and following up on the work ahead. I am planning a trip to see Ray and others in a couple of months and look forward to working with each of you in driving this important work forward.
Before I dive in, I have a few acknowledgements to make. First off, I will continue to think of Audrey Danner, who is well known in Craig for her extraordinary leadership and commitment to collaborative problem-solving. I am honored to consider Audrey a close friend and value her support; indeed, she spoke at the investiture of my first and second term. She no longer lives in Craig, but I know that her heart and soul will always be with this community. Thankfully, you have a great community, with many great leaders, including your amazing sheriff, KC Hume, who is a partner on our work addressing the opioid crisis and more.
Since I mentioned Audrey, let me start by talking about broadband. In a very real sense, any community with talented people and robust broadband can be a significant contributor to the 21st century economy. And, by contrast, any community without broadband cannot be. I first met Audrey 16 years ago working on rural broadband and we continued to keep up this work. Today, we are on the precipice of addressing this issue and it’s imperative that we get it right.
When I visited Craig six years ago, I was horrified to learn that your hospital had a single fiber connection and, when it got cut, the hospital would lose connectivity. Thanks to Project Thor, a collaboration made possible by the leadership of the NWCOG, there is now a fiber ring connection, which means a cut in one area can be healed by routing traffic in another direction. And thanks to a significant federal investment of funds, we are also looking at an opportunity to invest in last mile connections that will mean everyone can do Zoom calls, tele-work, and start businesses from their homes in Moffat County, wherever they live. That’s a game changer and boon for the local economy.
With respect to that federal investment, we need your help. The Federal Communications Commission just released a map that suggests where broadband connections are and are not in Colorado. To the extent there are inaccuracies on that map, we need your help identifying them and telling the Colorado Broadband Office about them. And once we start selecting broadband providers to fill in gaps, we need your help to ensure that they do what they promise to do. If not, our department will hold their feet to the fire to make good on their commitments.
Another crucial pillar of the local economy here will remain agriculture. That pillar, however, requires smart water management so we adapt to the drought that is our new normal. There is deservedly a lot of discussion about what steps are necessary to protect the Colorado River. Our department will continue to be closely involved in those discussions and will work tirelessly to make sure we manage our water in the right way, which means protecting local communities, ensuring they are at the table about key decisions and not on the menu.
The theme of this conference is innovation through transition. This must be the true north for Northwest Colorado. And it won’t be easy. Innovation, by definition, requires change. And changes are hard. All of us need all of us and we at the Attorney General’s Office will be with you every step of the way to get you the support, the resources, and the partnerships you need to thrive.
The first step of the way is supporting and joining convenings like this one. The future of this community will be guided by you all. There are many possible future directions, and we are here to support you. I cannot pretend to have all the answers. We may have a few suggestions, but most of all, we have some tools to help you as you develop your plans. But those answers should be driven from the community leaders such as yourself, not from state or federal agencies who tell you what to do.
My commitment to supporting you all is not new. Not long after I was elected, I sued Equifax for a data breach owing to its failed cybersecurity protections that endangered all of our identities. After collecting $3 million in the settlement, I came to Craig and heard about Colorado Northwestern Community College’s plans for a cybersecurity program. I readily saw the opportunity to put these settlement funds to work by investing in that program. I remain fully committed to helping it succeed and am pleased to announce that we are awarding, as of today, another $200,000 grant to support this initiative.
I expect there will be other ideas from this summit. Some might involve new opportunities to adapt and pivot in the face of a changing energy economy. I recently joined Xcel executives in Hayden to hear about their plans for such a pivot in that community. Insofar as there will be opportunities in Craig to leverage existing infrastructure, know-how, and workers, I look forward to being an advocate and partner.
I also know that the future and innovation may well involve supporting new types of businesses and building an environment where entrepreneurs can succeed. As I noted, broadband is a crucial part of that puzzle. Another key part is developing connections and building access to mentors. I founded Startup Colorado, an organization whose mission is to support emerging businesses, and know that this organization can help you here in Northwest Colorado. I also expect that connections and collaborations with your neighbors in Hayden and Steamboat can help all of your communities to thrive.
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This is a special community. The talent you have assembled for this summit is a testament to that—as well as to Ray Beck’s leadership. I look forward to hearing more about how this conversion opens new windows of opportunities and helps build valuable collaborations. As you look at the prospect of one door closing, it’s on all of us—and the State—to ensure that other doors open. And as this work continues, you can know that my door is always open—and I am always here to help, to support, and to advocate on your behalf.