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For years, activists around the country have railed against fracking, but it wasn’t until the 2010 release of “Gasland” (and the infamous sequence of Weld County, CO residents lighting their tap water on fire), that the general public was galvanized in the fight against fracking.

In Colorado, the fight really began to heat up when the City of Longmont introduced Ballot Question 300 in November of 2012, which banned the use of the fracking process to extract oil or gas, as well as the storage of produced frack fluid within city limits. The measure passed by a significant margin of the popular vote, and the very next year, the cities of Fort Collins, Boulder, and Broomfield all passed similar 5-year moratoria to stop fracking within their city limits. The city of Lafayette also passed an indefinite ban on fracking during that same voting period in 2013.

The voters’ choice did not stay for long, however. Shortly after the Longmont Ballot Question 300 was passed, the City of Longmont was sued by the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) and the State of Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) to overturn the amendment. It was ruled at the district level that fracking fell under the jurisdiction of the State, and that the City “does not have the authority to prohibit what the state authorizes and permits”, but immediately after the ruling, the case was appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court, meaning the ban would stay in effect until the state ruling was given.

Before the appeal was heard, however, Governor John Hickenlooper was able to negotiate a deal between the oil and gas industry and the anti-fracking environmental groups: 4 controversial ballot measures (2 supported by each side) would be removed from the upcoming state ballot, an 18-member committee would be assembled in order to advise the state government on issues around fracking, and the COGCC would drop its case against the City of Longmont, allowing the fracking ban to remain in effect.

Unfortunately, the fight was not over. In 2016, a lawsuit between COGA and the City of Fort Collins made its way to the Colorado Supreme Court. An excerpt from the court’s decision on that case is as follows: “We conclude that because fracking is a matter of mixed state and local concern, Fort Collins’s fracking moratorium is subject to preemption by state law… Accordingly, we hold that the moratorium is preempted by state law and is, therefore, invalid and unenforceable.”

This was the final nail in the coffin for the fight against fracking on the Front Range. The State Supreme Court had upheld that the city couldn’t ban what the state allowed, and had also explicitly stated that oil and gas development was in the state’s, not the city’s jurisdiction. This decision was quickly applied to the other bans and moratoria in the area, and with a few exceptions (shortly after the decision, Boulder County enacted a 6-month moratorium in order to update its outdated regulations), the verdict was in and fracking was here to stay.

On April 26, employees from Larry H. Miller Toyota Boulder spent their time not at the dealership, but out in the community doing good. During the annual Larry H. Miller Day of Service, employees volunteered at Valmont Bike Park armed with shovels and gardening tools to help refresh and prepare the park for the summer season. Joining the employees this year were their children, who eagerly took part in assisting their parents.

LHM Toyota Boulder joined hundreds of employees throughout Colorado and across the country who volunteered during the Day of Service. The company-wide initiative honors the legacy of its founder, the late Larry H. Miller, on his birthday. Miller, who passed away in 2009, strongly supported giving back in the communities where he did business. Since 2010, 9,744 employees have donated over 38,972 hours at 192 locations in seven states as part of the Day of Service initiative.

“I’m very proud of our employees for their dedication to helping those in the communities where we live and work,” said Ray Reilly, senior vice president, Larry H. Miller Dealerships. “Their efforts during the Day of Service are just one way in which they give their time, money and talent to enrich the lives of others.”

Larry H. Miller began his career as a parts salesman in Denver in 1970 and opened his first store in Colorado in 1987. Today the dealership group is the second largest in Colorado and employs more than 1,200 individuals at 14 locations. Through its charitable organization, Larry H. Miller Charities, more than $700,000 has been donated to qualified nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado since 1997.

BizWest recognizes eleven exemplary local women for achievements at Northern Colorado Women of Distinction Awards

Loveland, CO – Heidi Hostetter, CEO of H2 Manufacturing Solutions, is one of eleven women honored for their achievements in business, philanthropy, and government at BizWest’s Women of Distinction Awards April 18^th, 2018.

The eleven women being honored to have all made considerable contributions in leadership, time, and philanthropy to the Larimer or Weld County communities. This year, nine women won awards for nine different business, government, or philanthropic categories, along with a “Leading Lady” Award and an “Outstanding Mentor” Award. Hostetter will be honored in the Business and Business Services category.

Hostetter has been a leader and fearless innovator in the Colorado manufacturing industry for more than twenty years. She leads two successful companies and is the visionary and a founder of the Alliance for the Development of Additive Processing Technologies (ADAPT) Center for additive manufacturing research. She sits on the state’s Advanced Manufacturing Accelerator review board and has led teams that earned a number of honors, including Manufacturer of the Year in 2016.

Along with her role as CEO of H2 Manufacturing, Hostetter is Vice President of Fauston Tool and Board Chair of Northern Colorado Manufacturing Partnership and chairs its annual trade show this year (NOCOM 2018) on April 12 at The Ranch. She has put in substantial hours of volunteer service and support for both profit and non-profit organizations, including Child Safe—which provides services for women and children affected by sexual abuse and Respite—a center for the terminally ill. She’s served in a professional capacity a number of leading organizations, including Ball Aerospace, Woodward, Neo Tech, and others. She also works for the state as a volunteer and business leader on its transition boards in Global Business Development. She has three grown children and a seven-year-old at home, who she calls her “greatest joy.”

The BizWest 2018 Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony is April 18, 2018, from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites in Loveland. $40 early-bird tickets are available through March 31. Tickets purchased online from April 1^st to 13^th are $50, and tickets at the door are $60.

2018 Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony

Date: April 18^th, 2018

Time: 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Place: Embassy Suites, 4705 Clydesdale Parkway, Loveland, CO

Cost: $40. To register, visit https://bizwest.com/events/events/2018-women-of-distinction/?member=guest.

About H2 Manufacturing Solutions

H2 Manufacturing Solutions offers a broad range of services to help manufacturers navigate the daily challenges of the modern manufacturing world. Our one-stop shop addresses any business challenge a manufacturer encounters, from representing best-in-class equipment and service providers to operational improvement consulting to business development strategies to technical expertise. At H2, our mission is to make manufacturers’ day-to-day challenges more manageable and less frustrating. Our promise is to deliver Honest. Hardworking. Results. For more information, contact H2 Manufacturing Solutions at 970-692-3344 or h2@h2manufacturingsolutions.com. Visit H2 Manufacturing Solutions on the web, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

About BizWest

BizWest was founded in March 2014 through a merger of the Boulder County Business Report and the Northern Colorado Business Report. Today, BizWest covers the business news of Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer, and Weld counties. It strives to provide the most accurate, in-depth, business news and to maintain the deepest and most up-to-date business database in Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado.

Years before I deployed on an aircraft carrier as an openly transgender man, I was raped as a college sophomore. He was a lawyer more than twice my age; I didn’t know whom to tell. I began an eight-year habit of trying to drown feelings of powerlessness and isolation by drinking to blackout. I left school and enlisted in the Navy where I learned how rampant sexual violence really is, and eventually became certified as a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate so that I could be a resource for others.

Today, I am a 27-year-old college junior at CU-Boulder, recovering alcoholic, and passionate advocate against sexual misconduct. This week, our state legislature is considering House Bill 1391, concerning Sexual Misconduct in Higher Education, a Colorado-specific solution to sexual misconduct on college campuses. This bill clarifies ever-changing federal guidelines so that students across the state can count on a fair, clear, and consistent response to sexual misconduct allegations.

I urge students and residents statewide to express support for this measure by emailing or calling their State Senator before Monday, April 23rd when the bill could be seen in Committee to ensure that students who experience sexual violence are not deprived of their access to a safe and meaningful education.

Signed,

Jackson Reinagel

Thousands of runners of all ages participated in the Frank Shorter 5K RACE4Kids’ Health Sunday, and the Foundation for a Drug-Free World was there to cheer them on.

The Foundation has participated in the annual race for the past three years to help parents and kids understand what drugs do so they can make better decisions about them.

This year, the Foundation offered kids of all ages to take the Youth Drug Free World Pledge. Dozens of kids pledged to live a drug-free life and to show their friends that a drug-free life is more fun. Part of the pledge also included telling others the truth about the harmful effects of drugs by learning about drugs themselves, and working with others to create a drug-free community.

Parents and educators stopped by the booth to take information, thank the volunteers for educating the kids, and “keep up the good work” because drug education is so necessary right now.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World  is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that empowers youth and adults with factual information about drugs so they can make informed decisions and live drug-free. It is proudly sponsored by the Church of Scientology and Scientologists all over the world.

Millions of drug education booklets have been distributed globally, and the Foundation makes its materials available for free to anyone who wants to help forward the message to live drug free.

PRO MUSICA COLORADO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA WELCOMES BACK EDWARD DUSINBERRE

The Heart of Hungary features a World Premiere of Jeffrey Nytch’s Violin Concerto: Costa Concordia

Boulder and Denver, Colorado—On April 13^th, 7:30 pm at Bethany Lutheran Church (4500 E Hampden Ave, Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113) and April 14th, 7:30 pm at Mountain View United Methodist Church (355 Ponca Place, Boulder, CO 80303), Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra's season finale, entitled The Heart of Hungary, welcomes back Grammy-winning violinist of the Takács String Quartet, Edward Dusinberre, for a very special world premiere of local composer, Jeffrey Nytch's Violin Concerto: Costa Concordia.

The Violin Concerto: Costa Concordia was written in memory of Sándor Fehér, who put the lives of others, many who were children, ahead of his own, and who died in the ill-fated shipwreck of the Costa Concordia (2012). He was pictured with a life jacket, prepared to leave the ship, but he went back to retrieve his violin, rather than be parted from his musical voice. He was only 38 years old.

"The story of self-sacrifice is an inspiring one, and relevant today," says Cynthia Katsarelis, Music Director and Conductor of Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra.

The concerto was commissioned for Edward Dusinberre, first violinist of the Takács String Quartet, and a consortium of orchestras including the Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra, Mission Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Symphony, and the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh.

In the words of composer Jeffrey Nytch, "The piece is, at its heart, is a love story, one in which the characters are joined together again for eternity only in the depths of the sea. The particular events of the shipwreck are of secondary importance."

"Not only is the story of Sándor Fehér a heartbreaking one, I believe it speaks to something broader: this idea of our humanity — our capacity for sacrificial love — transcending tragedy. The fact that it’s a love story between a man and his instrument makes it ideal for musical treatment, but I believe the universal theme transcends the particulars. And so I believe/hope the piece will speak to people on a deeply personal level," says Nytch.

The collaboration of Pro Musica Colorado, composer Jeffrey Nytch, and violinist Edward Dusinberre, also seeks to record this piece. They are in the midst of a fundraiser to obtain recording costs at www.coloradogives.org/promusicacolorado.

Also programmed is Béla Bartók's folk-inspired Divertimento for String Orchestra. Paul Sacher, Swiss founder and conductor of the Basler Kammerorchester, commissioned Bartók to compose the Divertimento.

"Bartok's Divertimento is a delightful, neoclassical work that contains elements of a Baroque Concerto grosso, a Classical Era 'amusement,' and folk elements of interesting scales and quirky rhythms,” says Katsarelis, "It was commissioned by Paul Sacher for the Basler Chamber Orchestra. I’ve always admired Sacher, he founded the orchestra to pursue his passion for new music, and his legacy is over 100 works by leading composers writing for chamber orchestra.” 

Ticket prices to The Heart of Hungary: $35 General, $5 Students, $60 ($25 extra for recording funds). Groups save 15% when you purchase 10 or more Adult tickets for the performance. Tickets are available online at: www.promusicacolorado.org. For more information, or to purchase tickets by phone, call: 720-443-0565.

Program:
Jeff Nytch Violin Concerto: Costa Concordia
Béla Bartók Divertimento for String Orchestra

About Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra and Cynthia Katsarelis, Music Director and Conductor

Now in its sixth season, Pro Musica Colorado Chamber Orchestra has many of Colorado’s finest musicians, and is committed to impassioned performances of repertoire ranging from the classic to the cutting edge.

Cynthia Katsarelis has served with the Cincinnati Symphony, Pops and May Festival, the Greensboro (N.C.) Symphony, and has conducted many professional, college, and youth orchestras. She has assisted James Conlon, Keith Lockhart, Erich Kunzel and Michael Christie. Most recently she conducted the Colorado Music Festival’s Young People’s Concerts. Katsarelis is a graduate of the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, with degrees in both violin and conducting. READ MORE

About Edward Dusinberre, violinist

Edward Dusinberre was born in 1968 in Leamington Spa, England, and has enjoyed playing the violin from a young age. His early experiences as concertmaster of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain encouraged him to choose music as a profession. He studied with the Ukrainian violinist Felix Andrievsky at the Royal College of Music in London and at the Juilliard School with Dorothy DeLay and Piotr Milewski.  In 1990 he won the British Violin Recital Prize and gave his debut recital in London at the Purcell Room, South Bank Centre. Upon completion of his studies at Juilliard, Dusinberre auditioned for the Takács Quartet, which he joined in 1993.

In July 2010 Edward released a recording of Beethoven's violin sonatas no. 9 and 10 with pianist David Korevaar on the Decca label. Andrew Clements wrote in the Guardian newspaper; “Edward Dusinberre brings the same wonderfully subtle and intensely musical qualities to these two violin sonatas as he does to Beethoven’s quartets…” READ MORE

About Jeffrey Nytch, composer
Jeffrey Nytch enjoys a rich and diverse career as a composer, performer, educator and advocate – but it hasn’t been a straight line getting there. He spent much of his teen years exercising an uncanny ability to make money in the stock market, and dreamed of someday going to Wall Street and conquering the world. Then there was his study of geology, which nearly took him down a different path altogether. But throughout it all, music has been the abiding passion of his heart; in the end, it won out with his career as well.

What followed has been a professional odyssey of sorts, involving an accomplished composition career, various teaching positions, a five-year stint as an arts administrator, and an assortment of day jobs ranging from managing a small business to serving as a minor administrative cog within the machine of a very large university. READ MORE

Xcel Energy and The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade

are new supporters for NOCOM 2018

Loveland, Colorado— Northern Colorado Manufacturing Partnership (NoCO) has announced two major new sponsors for its NOCOM 2018 manufacturing trade show April 12, 2018: The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and Xcel Energy.

These two organizations join a team of sponsors that include FirstBank, Aerotek, Flood and Peterson, and EKS&H. These sponsors all add to the manufacturing sector in Colorado and contribute to the development of the industry.

OEDIT is sponsored by the state to provide opportunities to businesses and enterprises in Colorado. The office, under the leadership of Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, provides financial and technical assistance supporting local and regional economic development projects throughout the state.

“The quickly expanding advanced manufacturing industry in Northern Colorado plays an important role in the state’s economic landscape,” said Katie Woslager, senior manager of Advanced Industries at the Colorado Office of Economic Development. “We are proud to sponsor the 2018 NOMCOM to facilitate further growth and collaboration in the industry.”

Xcel Energy provides power to residents across Colorado and beyond, while providing resources required by the manufacturing industry. Xcel Energy is tied in with the manufacturing sector in Colorado, providing products and services to many firms in the state.

“Given the growth Colorado is experiencing, our partnership with Xcel Energy is imperative,” said NOCOM 2018 Chair and H2 Manufacturing Solutions CEO Heidi Hostetter. “Colorado is one of the fastest growing states in the nation. Northern Colorado, specifically Larimer and Weld counties, is growing twice as fast as the state. It is important that we address our options sooner than later, and this type of growth has to include our energy partner. Local manufacturers are well aware of the need to be more involved with our local and state side Xcel Energy teams. Together we need to take advantage of Xcel Energy’s packages, rebates and programs.”

“The Governor’s arm for economic development is a key and critical partner to NOCOM and really reflects the commitment from a state level to our manufacturing community,” said Christine Juker of the Northern Colorado Manufacturing Partnership. “Partnering with Xcel Energy addresses a huge and critical infrastructure need that all manufacturers face.”

The event showcases Northern Colorado’s expanding manufacturing sector, connecting suppliers, manufacturers, capital, and services. Registration is now open at this link. Admission is $15 for pre-registered attendees (students are free) and $20 at the door, with post-event B2B networking event (sponsored by H2 Manufacturing Solutions and Manufacturer’s Edge) included, and $30 for the kickoff breakfast featuring keynote speaker Jim Davidson, sponsored by BMA America. Other sponsors include Speaker Hall sponsor Northern Colorado Economic Alliance; Venue sponsor City of Loveland; and Coffee sponsor Noffsinger Manufacturing.

About the 4^th Annual NOCOM Trade Show

NOCOM 2018 takes place Thursday, April 12^th, 2018, The Ranch Events Complex, Loveland, CO. For more information or to register, visit www.nocomfg.com. Attendees can download the Yapp App from Yapp.us, Google play or Apple’s app store and enter the ID code NOCOM2018 for detailed information on the event. A PDF flyer for the event is available at this link. Exhibitor booth space is still available, $390 for a 10x10 booth and $540 for a 10x20 booth. Contact NOCOM for details.

Date:     Thursday, April 12^th, 2018

Time:    7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

                Kick-off Breakfast at 7:00 a.m. at the Budweiser Events Center (separate ticket required)

                Sponsored by BMA America

                B2B Networking Reception 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.

                Sponsored by H2 Manufacturing Solutions and Manufacturer’s Edge

This year’s NOCOM Trade Show features more than 100 exhibitors, a speaker hall featuring several manufacturing industry leaders, manufacturing forums, and a B2B reception. Topics discussed will include: Get the best bang for the buck with healthcare; Navigate programs and grants targeted to grow Colorado manufacturing businesses; Learn insiders' secrets on the latest and greatest technology advances should be part of your strategy for this year . . . and beyond; and Navigate challenges that manufacturers face.

This year’s NOCOM Trade Show will feature over 100 exhibitors, a speaker hall featuring several manufacturing industry leaders, manufacturing forums, and a B2B reception. The event will showcase Northern Colorado’s expanding manufacturing sector, connecting suppliers, manufacturers, capital, and services.

“NOCOM continues to be the largest trade show in the state because we design it around manufacturing and supply chain demands, needs and forecasts. We continue to strive to ensure that each gets better, stronger and more valuable to our manufacturing community,” says Heidi Hostetter, NOCOM Chair.

For more information and to register for this event, visit www.nocomfg.com. For more information on sponsorships and to become a corporate sponsor, contact Heidi Hostetter, NOCOM 2018 Chair, at 303-517-6541or hhostetter@faustson.com.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy is the primary provider of energy services to residents of Colorado state-wide. It also works with the manufacturing industry, partnering with firms and businesses across the state. Millions of businesses and homes in eight Western and Midwestern states are powered by Xcel Energy, which is increasingly becoming more customer-focused, forward-thinking, and productive. Like their Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter or LinkedIn for up-to-date news and information.

About Colorado OEDIT

OEDIT’s goals include building a robust public-private approach on a statewide level for economic development, monitoring economic conditions in Colorado and strengthening regional economic structures, increasing quality job creation, and more. In the manufacturing sector, the average annual wage for Colorado workers is 43% higher than the average annual wage for all industries, in part because of OEDIT’s support of the manufacturing industry in Colorado. In all, there are 5,900 manufacturing firms receiving support of some kind from OEDIT. Keep up with everything OEDIT does on  Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About Northern Colorado Manufacturing Partnership

The NoCo Manufacturing Partnership was formed in 2013 as a result of Governor Hickenlooper’s state Economic Development plan called the Colorado Blue Print. The Blue Print identified 11 key sectors of the economy in Colorado by region. Northern Colorado’s two main sectors identified were Health and Wellness and Advanced Manufacturing. Regions within the state were encouraged to form sector partnerships to provide more localized grass roots support to augment state efforts in each sector. These would be industry specific, led by business, in partnership with economic development, education and workforce development. A collaboration arose as part of the Blue Print process involving people from each of these affiliations and the NoCo Manufacturing Partnership was born. It continues to be an all-volunteer, business led, FREE membership organization designed to support Northern Colorado manufacturers. It is served by a Board of Directors, representing each affiliation from private business to local government, as well as two active committees: Networking and Manufacturing Talent/Rocks! Find us on the web, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Loveland, Colorado— Northern Colorado Manufacturing Partnership (NoCO) has released the schedule for the NOCOM 2018 manufacturing trade show April 12, 2018 at The Ranch Event Center in Loveland, CO. The event showcases Northern Colorado’s expanding manufacturing sector, connecting suppliers, manufacturers, capital, and services.

NOCOM 2018 Schedule

7:00 to 9:00 a.m.              Breakfast and Keynote, Creating Culture to Promote Innovation, Jim Davidson

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.    Trade Show Floor Open with 100+ exhibitors

9:30 to 10:45 a.m.           Small Business Tools: Preparing your Business for Innovation

11 to 11:30 a.m.               Success! Innovation Achieved! AMP Robotics/Smuckers

11:30 a.m.                           Coworking: Officing Without Overhead

Angel Kwaitkowski, Founder/Author DIY Coworking

12:00 p.m.                          Coworking: Officing Without Overhead

12:30 p.m.                          Coworking: Officing Without Overhead

1:00 to 1:30 p.m.              Branton Cole, PwC Network

1:30 to 2:00 p.m.              Innovation in Employer-Based Health Care Reporting, Kristin Paulson, JD, MPH, Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC)

2:00 to 3:00 p.m.              Panel: Busting Myths, Exaggerations, and Biases About Millennials, facilitated by Christina Haxton of Center for Sustainable Strategies

3:00 to 3:30 p.m.              Creating a Culture for Innovation, Paul Harter, Aqua Hot

3:30 to 5:30 p.m.              B2B Networking Event

“NOCOM continues to be the largest trade show of its kind in the state because we design it around manufacturing and supply chain demands, needs and forecasts. We continue to strive to ensure that each year gets better, stronger and more valuable to our manufacturing community,” said Heidi Hostetter, VP of Faustson Tool and NOCOM 2018 Chair.

About the 4^th Annual NOCOM Trade Show

NOCOM 2018, with more than 100 exhibitors, takes place Thursday, April 12^th, 2018, The Ranch Events Complex, Loveland, CO. For more information, visit www.nocomfg.com.

Major sponsors of the NOCOM Trade Show include Aerotek, Colorado Department of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), EKS&H, Flood & Peterson, Xcel Energy, and FirstBank. Additional sponsors include Speaker Hall sponsor Northern Colorado Economic Alliance; Venue sponsor City of Loveland; and Coffee sponsor Noffsinger Manufacturing.

Registration is now open at this link. Admission is $15 for pre-registered attendees (students are free if pre-registered) and $20 at the door, with a post-event B2B networking event (sponsored by H2 Manufacturing Solutions and Manufacturer’s Edge) included, and $30 for the kickoff breakfast featuring keynote speaker Jim Davidson, sponsored by BMA America.

Find the NOCOM Trade Show App on Yapp in the Apple store or Google Play and enter the Yapp event ID: NOCOM2018.

The morning keynote address, titled Creating Culture to Promote Innovation, will be delivered by legendary mountaineer and adventurer Jim Davidson. Hailing from Fort Collins, Davidson has summitted some of the world’s highest peaks, surviving harrowing trials and extremely dangerous situations. He distils these experiences into lessons about resilience and innovation in the face of high stakes.

For more information on sponsorships and to become a sponsor, contact Heidi Hostetter, NOCOM 2018 Chair, at 303-517-6541 or HHostetter@faustson.com.

About Northern Colorado Manufacturing Partnership

The NoCo Manufacturing Partnership was formed in 2013 as a result of Governor Hickenlooper’s state Economic Development plan called the Colorado Blue Print. The Blue Print identified 11 key sectors of the economy in Colorado by region. Northern Colorado’s two main sectors identified were Health and Wellness and Advanced Manufacturing. Regions within the state were encouraged to form sector partnerships to provide more localized grassroots support to augment state efforts in each sector.

These would be industry specific, led by business, in partnership with economic development, education and workforce development. A collaboration arose as part of the Blue Print process involving people from each of these affiliations and the NoCo Manufacturing Partnership was born. It continues to be an all-volunteer, business-led, FREE membership organization designed to support Northern Colorado manufacturers. It is served by a Board of Directors, representing each affiliation from private business to local government, as well as two active committees: Networking and Manufacturing Talent/Rocks! Find us on the web, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.