Navigating the Shift

Two years ago, I joined this group to talk about what the future might look like for Craig and other coal-impacted communities. Since then, that future has started to unfold, not only in Craig, but across Northwest Colorado and all Colorado Coal Transitioning Economies. 

This time, I’ll share an update on what we’re seeing and learning, including:

• How worker support is evolving—from navigation services and career exploration to wraparound programs that meet people where they are.
• The rollout of new business startup efforts that support workers exploring entrepreneurship as a next step.
• The development of a business retention and expansion strategy aimed at keeping existing employers strong and connected during this time of change.
• And the ways in which community development and behavioral economics are being used together to help make these shifts stick—by understanding not just what needs to happen, but how people actually respond to change.

I’ll also share a few updates from my own corner of this work—from building businesses like The Find Co. and 518 Wine Bar (and selling it), to launching new ventures like Bad Alibi Distillery (you'll remember this one). These experiences continue to inform my belief that economic development, especially in rural and transitioning communities, is most powerful when it’s personal, place-based, and focused on people first.

This will be a conversation about coal towns, community identity, and the psychology of change. Looking at how Northwest Colorado is navigating one of the most significant economic shifts in its history.