B.O.L.D. 2026
Talent
B.O.L.D. 2026 (BOLD – Big Opportunities for Leaders to Deliver) is a five-year regional economic strength and resiliency initiative of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber developed BOLD 2026 in consultation with private and public sector leaders and partners in Arvada, Jefferson / Adams Counties, Metro Denver and the state of Colorado.
Our Goal
Grow our talent to meet the needs of employers and job seekers.
Summary
We will ensure Arvada and Jefferson / Adams Counties develop, retain, and attract the skilled workers needed by area employers; we will ensure a competitive advantage for area employers through quality workers and for workers through quality jobs.
B.O.L.D. 2026 Talent
Challenges
Linkage to business health, the regional economy and our standard of living.
In Arvada and Jefferson / Adams Counties – and throughout the world – a lack of talent impedes the ability of employers to serve their customers/clients – and threatens the ability of employers to survive and thrive. An inadequate talent pool can erode employer margins as they pay more for scarce talent, and it can slow production, degrade quality, and disrupt supply chains. When employers struggle, the regional economy struggles, and incomes and our standard of living decline.
Inadequate supply of available talent.
Employer demand continuously outpaces the supply of qualified workers; nationwide in February 2022, there were only 58 unemployed workers for every 100 job openings; in Arvada in February 2022, there were 3,126 open jobs listed on Indeed alone and a low 3.7% unemployment rate; various factors are impacting the supply of available talent
- Employee resignations / turnover
- Declining number of women in the workforce
- Declining births and fertility rates
- Declining population growth
Inadequate skills alignment.
Workers don’t have the skills needed by many primary employers
- Skills gap. 78% of hiring managers say a skills gap persists across industries
- Uneven educational outcomes (high school graduation rates) / workforce preparedness
Barriers. As a region, we are not progressing fast enough in knocking down barriers to talent availability. See subsequent workforce housing and childcare sections for details on these barriers
Lack of regional coordination.
Jefferson / Adams Counties do not have a coordinated talent / workforce development effort to serve businesses and workers; businesses, non-profits, and schools work in silos leading to talent gaps and negatively impacting businesses and job seekers.
Our Work
Catalyze a coordinated regional approach to meet talent needs
- Talent KAPS Council
- Champions Program
- Proud member of the Tri-County Workforce Development Board
- Sector Partnerships
- Talent Pipeline Management (TPM)
Take immediate action to connect employers to talent
Increase career awareness & work-based learning opportunities
Support employers in retaining and attracting talent
- Top Challenges Summit
Updates and Resources
4 Employer Lessons for Hosting Work-Based Learning Experiences
On May 7, the Arvada Chamber of Commerce hosted the Arvada Works seminar “How to Host Work-Based Learning Experiences at Your Business.” C. J. Juleff, M.A., from the Jefferson County Workforce Center, led a discussion on best practices for hosting mentoring, internships and job shadowing at a place of business. Read employers’ top learnings from this workshop and find local resources to assist in work-based learning.
3 Ways to Build a Better Relationship With Your Boss | Kelsey Ashton, Jefferson County Public Library
Several friends have complained recently about their bosses. One boss is a micromanager, another isn’t timely in responding to emails, and another doesn’t seem to realize how much they ask of their employees. This got me thinking about the idea that people...
To Listen and Be Heard: Better Workplace Communication, by Kelsey Ashton, Jefferson County Public Library
With the shift from in-person interactions to phone, email, and the Internet, strong written and interpersonal communication skills are increasingly important in the workplace. In the digital workplace, a social intranet makes communication, collaboration and the...
B.O.L.D. 2026 Goals
1
Grow Your Talent
Grow our talent to meet the needs of employers and job seekers.
2
Increase Stock of Workforce Housing
Increase the stock of workforce housing to ensure workers can attain housing within reasonable proximity to their jobs.
3
Increase Childcare Capacity
Increase Childcare Capacity to enable caregivers to join / rejoin the workforce and give children the quality early learning experience they need to thrive.
4
Strengthen Business Environment: Advocacy
Ensure elected leaders effectively represent business interests in legislative and policy matters at the local, regional, state and national levels.
5
Strengthen Business Environment: Entrepreneurship
Increase our ability to provide direct one-on-one support and broader collective resources to all businesses.
B.O.L.D. 2026 Initiative Brochure