The University of Colorado Boulder, with support from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, announced on Wednesday that the campus is leading a year-long initiative to help find ways that communities in northwest Colorado can transition away from a coal-driven economy.
Communities in Colorado that have relied on coal mines and coal-fired power plants now seek new sources of jobs and property tax income. OEDIT is partnering with CU Boulder to research solutions, a project that will be embedded in graduate-level coursework. Those involved are working to choose which communities in northwest Colorado they are going to focus on, which will be determined this summer.
CU Boulder graduate students, faculty and researchers from the Business Research Division in the Leeds School of Business and the Master’s of the Environment program will conduct analysis, engage with stakeholders and develop recommendations for ways communities in northwest Colorado can make this transition. This work is happening now and will conclude in October.
“Colorado’s rural communities are innovative and resilient, and when we align state resources with local priorities, we deliver better results,” Eve Lieberman, executive director at OEDIT, said in a release. “The research led by CU Boulder’s Business Research Division and MENV graduate program and supported by Just Transition funding will help us hear directly from communities and turn those insights into real, measurable outcomes for rural Coloradans and their families.”
The project will be focused on regional economic and workforce analysis by mapping assets, identifying workforce gaps, and evaluating opportunities for economic diversification. It will include talking with coal workers, residents, elected officials and economic development professionals, which will inform the final recommendations.
“This partnership reflects CU Boulder’s responsibility as a public research university to offer our expertise in the service of Colorado communities,” Andrew Mayock, CU Boulder’s vice chancellor for sustainability, said in the release. “This capstone-based work allows our students to contribute directly to the diversification of local economies by listening to communities, meeting their needs, and incorporating community input into effective solutions to move forward in a strategic way.”
The work will result in a thorough regional analysis with clear action items that can potentially be applied to other coal transition regions across the state.
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