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Barrington IT Services | CTI Technology
The IT industry is constantly changing, and even the most tech-savvy employees can run into problems that are beyond their abilities. When that happens, it’s important to turn to an IT service company for help. This type of company will provide IT support for your organization, allowing you to focus on projects that will bring value to your business.
CTI Technology is the premier IT service provider for small and medium-sized businesses in Lake Barrington and surrounding areas. Our team has years of experience in providing IT support, and we can handle any issues your organization may face. Our goal is to keep your IT systems running smoothly and efficiently so you can continue to grow your business.
Like climbing the 14,014-foot North Maroon Belles peak in Colorado, building a successful business requires planning, conditioning and special skill sets. Having an experienced guide who understands the challenges, uncertainties and risks of your business will help ensure that you reach your goals. Barrington Advisory Solutions, LLC will serve as that guide for your company, providing ideas to help you achieve your goals and build a stronger, more competitive business.
A comprehensive electricity program for residents of Barrington IT Services is available through Rhode Island Energy (RiE). The RiE supply includes a variety of options to choose from, including renewable energy credits that are verified as originating in RI or the Northeast and are certified to be from a low-carbon source. Customers can also purchase Last Resort Service from RiE to receive power during outages or emergencies, when the local grid is not functioning.
In addition to offering a robust electricity portfolio, Barrington Community Electricity has an active conservation program and provides opportunities for its customers to participate in community solar projects. Customers can find pricing information for all products offered, as well as an electricity calculator and other helpful tools on the RIE website.
Barrington also offers water and sewer services. The Village obtains its drinking water through an underground aquifer. It is pumped and treated at four water wells, then distributed through the Village’s system of water mains and service lines. Sewer service is collected from residential and commercial properties and transported to the Village’s wastewater treatment plant for processing.
Every year, Barrington performs fee analyses and competitive selections for fund companies located in the United States, Canada, Ireland, Luxembourg, or the UK. We do so in order to ensure that our clients are receiving market-competitive fees for their investment management and administrative services.
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No matter how much self-motivation you might have, it appears to be almost difficult to yourself to continue onward. That outside push from a align business process is what you need to get rolling and get moving. Regardless of whether it's an affirmation of what you were at that point figuring, a mentor can give you that additional shock you're searching for.
#winery business consultant#Winery Coach#Colorado business coaching#Colorado small business advisory services#Colorado Small Business Coach#direct to consumer strategies#business mentor
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Winery business can be frustrating and surprisingly isolating. With a winery coach, buying wine turns into an individual encounter. Your advisor won't just furnish you with the wine's depictions and honors, yet additionally the wine's story. By finding out about the wine's district, the winemakers, and the wine's extraordinary credits, you become associated with the wine that you drink. Tin Sheets was established remembering that vision and to give best winery training, visit https://tinsheets.com/for additional.
#winery business consultant#Winery Coach#Colorado business coaching#Colorado small business advisory services#Colorado Small Business Coach#Colorado business mentor
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Carrie L. Barnhill
Join My Black City in Celebrating and Supporting Carrie L. Barnhill. We Shine Brighter Together. #MyBlackCity https://myblackcity.org/carrie-l-barnhill/?feed_id=7854 >> A life dedicated to God, family, and community; the first thing you’ll notice when you meet Carrie L. Barnhill is the look of modest contentment and compassion in her eyes. >> Publisher of Minority & Black Directories in Colorado Springs & Local Historian A life dedicated to God, family, and community; the first thing you’ll notice when you meet Carrie L. Barnhill is the look of modest contentment and compassion in her eyes. Born in Bernice, Louisiana, Barnhill began her civil service when she joined the Air Force as a stenographer. After 22 years of service, she retired from the military as a Master Sergeant and earned numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Award, Outstanding Unit Award, and the National Defense Award. As is common for those who serve in the military, Barnhill was stationed in the Springs in 1967. Enamored by its western charm and beauty, Barnhill moved back permanently in 1980. She worked for Young’s Janitorial Service until 1996. Then she attended Robinson Business College and Pike’s Peak Community College to become a social worker. Upon realizing there was a lack of representation for minority-owned Small Businesses, Barnhill’s Enterprises Inc. published its first El Paso County Minority Business and professional Directory in 1987, followed by the Afro-Americana Directory in 1994. in 1999 Barnhill founded her flagship enterprise, Barnhill’s Janitorial Service Barnhill was a member of the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, The Pike’s Peak Black Chamber of commerce, The Urban League of the Pikes Peak Region, the Small Business Advisory Council, NAACP, The Black Chamber of Commerce, El Paso County Republicans, The Disabled American Veterans the Retired Enlisted Association, Women in the Air Force ,Alpha Theta Kappa, and was the Mother of the Progress Church of God and Christ. The Black Directory Barnhill’s Enterprises was conceived in 1986. Its only goal was to publish a directory about minority business and professional entrepreneurs in order to fill a void in local information sourced. In 1994 Barnhill’s Enterprises saw a need to publish an Afro-Americana Directory to complete a long--term objective and goal of helping to keep Colorado Springs, Colorado as well as others informed if the great accomplishments minorities were making in this great city. The void existed because major directories do not distinguish between Afro-Americans and other businesses; The cost of advertising in directories was far beyond the financial means of many members of minority group; None of the directories specifically list churches, organizations, and social groups in such a manner that military members of minority groups and non-military people “new” to the area will be able to find groups to join; There are no centralized areas where members of specific minority groups live or have their businesses;’ Other directories do not provide an immediate guide to minority business for use of city, county, state, or federal government agencies. These agencies were required to make attempts to assure that minority businesses were aware of and encouraged to submit bids. This directory helped to bridge the gap There was no charge for minority businesses to be listed in the directory, however if you wanted a copy you would have to pay for it. Sales for the of the directory at its reasonable price did not generate sufficient income to cover the expenses; therefor , additional income was raised through support of sponsors, advertising, government, corporations and other donations. In addition to being a good information resource, the directory was also a record of history of the various types of businesses, churches, social and civic organizations. Barnhills Publications
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How CPAs helped save businesses during COVID-19
As the COVID–19th Pandemic changed the business environment, customers turned to their CPAs to keep their businesses alive. CPAs offering Client Advisory Services (CAS) were well positioned to help clients in difficulty stabilize and reposition their business. The term CAS can encompass everything from outsourced accounting to outsourced CFO and controller services to management consulting services. Have CPAs who offer CAS real–Time Knowing about their clients ‘finances, which gives them the opportunity to offer a better strategic perspective on their clients’ business. For example, CPAs working with customers in affected sectors used CAS to enable their customers to re-imagine what is possible.
Let restaurants cook
About 75% of Nick Swedberg’s customers are restaurants and small craft breweries in Minnesota. These types of companies were “some of the hardest hit” during the pandemic shutdown, he said.
To help his customers stay in business, Swedberg, a partner at Boyum Barenscheer in Bloomington, Minnesota, advised them on a variety of solutions, such as: to–walk Sales and deliveries. Since they had planned to start deliveries to replace In–person while eating, they had to deal with questions about the profitability and feasibility of moving, including analysis of employee compensation, auto insurance and handling tips, which are highly regulated in his state. He was able to do this with Excel, “set up some advanced formulas so there are only a few key metrics” that he had to adjust to test possible outcomes for different scenarios, he said.
Swedberg also helped its clients reach out to local government leaders for temporary exemptions from regulations. For example, some of its restaurant owner customers got permission from their cities to expand outdoors when indoor eating was banned. One city had a restaurant take over a city parking lot, while another closed its main street to allow al fresco dining. When a customer of a brewery owner asked the local health authority if beer delivery could be legalized, the board worked with the company to make it happen possible.
Swedberg supported this process by quantifying how the special permits sought by customers could save their restaurants and the jobs of their employees, and help them make convincing arguments on the spot Government.
As customers got more creative, Swedberg helped them implement their ideas. For example, a Mexican restaurant owner turned half of its space into a market where customers could buy salsa, meat, and other ingredients that they could use in preparing meals at home. As Swedberg predicts, the pivot cost has been minimal, the restaurant business has gotten a boost, and the market has done well. “It was fun to see how it comes to fruition,” he said. On the flip side, another client decided not to pursue their plans to convert their space into a home for four types of restaurants when the projected cost was too high.
“My job is to get them to put their thoughts in order and then come up with a real financial forecast,” to see if their plans were viable, Swedberg said. “Do you remember in math when you had to convert a word problem into an equation?
Maintaining the health of service-related practices
Sandy Shecter, CPA, CGMA, is the company-wide director of Rehmann Solutions, a division of 900–person Rehmann with branches in three federal states. Based in Detroit, Shecter has customers of doctors, dentists, and surgical centers that range in size from one provider to 350+. Their opening ability and patient volumes were impacted when many states ordered closures last spring.
Shecter stepped in to help clients apply for the Paycheck Protection Program and other loans or grants. Your company also worked with clients to provide data and forecasting for decision making on management issues such as: B. to provide employee leave; introducing new ways to work with patients, such as B. Telemedicine; and solving critical technology problems, such as cybersecurity or the complete outsourcing of a customer’s IT department.
Your company also assists with a variety of outsourced services, including recruiting to reduce staff costs, technology expertise that enables telemedicine, and outsourced bookkeeping and bookkeeping. “Providing these services on an outsourced basis enables customers to customize their usage as needed,” she said.
At the end of September 2020, most of Shecter’s customers were almost back In front–pandemic Patient level, but predicts permanent change. Your strategic planning with customers includes options such as making greater use of patient portals for communication and switching return–office Employees too the end–Location locations.
She advises CPAs to think beyond compliance and focus on delivering more to clients in terms of business consulting. “The pandemic underscored the value that customers place on us real–Time Information that they can use to manage their business, “she said.” This is really crucial. “For example, your customers often ask her for help with cash flow management, debt aging analysis, and budget recalculation and monitoring.
Finding the key to real estate sustainability
When rental income declined during the pandemic, Brandon Hall, CPA, who served as his clients’ outsourced CFO, conducted real estate portfolio research for clients of real estate investors to see how they could improve rental income performance. He also developed the tax minimization and costs–Demarcation Strategies to help them improve cash flow.
Hall, the CEO of 24–employees The Real Estate CPA firm of Raleigh, NC creates custom dashboards for clients using Google Sheets, spreadsheets that are easy to access and collaborate with for both him and his clients. It is possible to enter the customer’s QuickBooks online accounting data live into this dashboard. “The dashboard keeps track of what’s important to the customer,” said Hall, which usually includes information about utilization. budget–to–costs, Rehab expenses, cash income from a cash investment in real estate, return on equity and internal rate of return.
Hall was initially concerned about the economic uncertainty the pandemic was causing, as he hadn’t seen a similar disruption in his career. His business coach gave advice that he uses with his own customers and recommends other practitioners: Create a financial plan for the next 12 months that will be in one– to two–month Tranches and set the expected financial performance metrics for each tranche. Decide what action to take if you miss your metrics by 10%, 20%, and so on – for example, staff or expense savings. Once you hit your metrics, no changes will be made necessary.
Just having a plan of what to do when outcomes are good and bad can reduce customer stress and improve their response to setbacks, Hall said. “You cannot control the economy, but you can control how you react to it,” he said.
Help construction companies build stronger businesses
In northern Colorado, due to the dynamism of the local economy, the pandemic had minimal economic impact on construction customers, said Ralph Shinn, CPA / PFS, partner at nine–employees ClearPath consultant in Fort Collins. Surprisingly, the real challenge for these customers was to hire enough workers or contractors as some decided to stop working and start receiving unemployment benefits during the pandemic. When this forced clients to postpone some projects, the company helped them use that time as an opportunity to reevaluate their hiring practices.
The company also helped its customers bill and invoice additional expenses related to the pandemic or prepare quotes that include additional expenses related to the pandemic, such as the cost of personal protective equipment required on construction sites, and the additional mileage and vehicle fees that employees incur when carpooling is no longer feasible. “Lots [clients] didn’t take that cost into account, “Shinn said.
Shinn’s practice has too Professional–Services Customers ranging from physical therapists to companies providing hospital administration services. Many of these customers were unfamiliar with remote working, so Shinn’s company, which has been using remote working for more than 20 years, offered them free training on the remote control–work Environment and access to the cloud–based Packages it uses. “We wanted to show them that work in one cloud–based and a paperless environment can make businesses more efficient, effective and profitable, “Shinn said. The company also offered advice on the tax benefits of setting up home offices and training remote workers.
CPAs can step in when customers struggle
In uncertain times, many clients not only seek tax and accounting help, but also business advice. As companies grappled with the economic upheaval caused by the pandemic, CPAs stepped in to identify customers’ needs based on their existing knowledge of their companies. Offering CAS services can strengthen the role of CPAs as trusted business advisors who can provide practical and effective solutions to business challenges and valuable advice on how to make the most of opportunities.
source https://seedfinance.net/2021/08/12/how-cpas-helped-save-businesses-during-covid-19/
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The Advantages of Having a winery business consultant
With so many wine stores, large wine sections at local supermarkets, and online wine deals sites, why go to a wine expert? We've ordered a rundown of a portion of the numerous monetary and individual advantages of having an expert guide your wine buys.
#1: You develop a personal relationship with a professional in the wine industry Your butcher knows your number one cuts of meat (and ideally makes awesome formula suggestions). Your technician knows your vehicle's make and model and gives upkeep when fundamental. Your #1 diamond setter fixes your gems and helps when choosing presents for exceptional events. In numerous ventures, we depend on experts to assist us with our buys; thus, we frequently create confided seeing someone.
A winery business consultant will provide you the same personalized services. At Quigley Fine Wines, when you start working with a wine specialist, they are devoted to you as a customer. Our experts find out about your inclinations, your way of life, your wine spending plan, and your food and wine inclinations. They at that point make suggestions dependent on these variables (and obviously welcome input on any wine bought). Each time you work with an advisor, the experience turns out to be increasingly customized.
#2: You have access to small-allocation, boutique wines Imported U.S. wines will in general be from wineries with enormous scope creations. Therefore, the normal American will in general pass up more modest creation, store wines from around the world. At Quigley, we bring little creation wines to purchasers who might not have this entrance in any case. A winery business consultant gains a pass to the world’s high-quality wines from low-profile producers; all the while, they likewise acquire a comprehension of lesser-known locales, wine creators, and wineries.
#3: You try new wines without risk Unlike larger (and less close to home) wine sites and wine clubs, Quigley Fine Wines delivers straightforwardly to you on your timetable . . . furthermore, requires no sign up responsibilities. Wines are delivered when you need them, in light of dates that you decide. What's more, on the off chance that you don't cherish a wine, advise us: you never need to keep a wine you loathe!
#4: You save money typically spent on distributors The traditional wine industry depends upon high retailer and wholesaler expenses, which can include approximately 10 to 35% of a wine's expenses. Sidestep these expenses by buying wine through an expert. At the point when you buy wine thusly, you realize that the cost mirrors the wine's quality instead of its travel and purchase history. A winery business consultant can help you with all that.
#5: You discover the wine industry in a more personal way Most of us are accustomed to perusing the walkways of a wine store or wine segment of a general store. It's a typical scene: the shopper noticing, getting bottles, understanding marks, and maybe utilizing a cell phone to look through the wine’s ratings and descriptions. Still looking for a winery business consultant? Visit https://tinsheets.com/.
#Winery Coach#Colorado business coaching#Colorado small business advisory services#Colorado Small Business Coach#Colorado business mentor#business optimization services#align business process#direct to consumer strategies#business mentor
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Linquest gets $500 million contract from U.S. Space Force for analysis support
https://sciencespies.com/space/linquest-gets-500-million-contract-from-u-s-space-force-for-analysis-support/
Linquest gets $500 million contract from U.S. Space Force for analysis support
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force awarded LinQuest Corp. a $500 million contract for analysis work over five years. The contract was awarded Jan. 4 but the Defense Department announced it March 5.
Based in Los Angeles, LinQuest is a longtime support contractor of the Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center and other defense organizations.
The $500 million contract is for work previously done by The Perduco Group, based in Beavercreek, Ohio, under a Small Business Innovation Research Phase 3 contract. The Perduco Group, a provider of data analytics, modeling and simulation services for military and intelligence agencies, was acquired by LinQuest in November 2019.
According to the DoD announcement, the $500 million contract is for “tradespace analysis support” for the Space Acquisition Management Directorate, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.
The company will fill “critical analysis gaps in acquisitions and increase the rigor of Space Force and Air Force, Army, Navy, and other Department of Defense entities in resourcing decisions towards them,” said DoD.
LinQuest last month received a $200 million contract for advisory and support services for the Space Force’s Space Operations Command headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base.
#Space
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As Demand for Mental Health Care Spikes, Budget Ax Set to Strike
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HELENA, Mont. — When the pandemic hit, health officials in Montana’s Beaverhead County had barely begun to fill a hole left by the 2017 closure of the local public assistance office, mental health clinic, chemical dependency center and job placement office after the state’s last budget shortfall.
Now, those health officials worry more cuts are coming, even as they brace for a spike in demand for substance abuse and mental health services. That would be no small challenge in a poor farming and ranching region where stigma often prevents people from admitting they need help, said Katherine Buckley-Patton, who chairs the county’s Mental Health Local Advisory Council.
“I find it very challenging to find the words that will not make one of my hard-nosed cowboys turn around and walk away,” Buckley-Patton said. “They’re lonely, they’re isolated, they’re depressed, but they’re not going to call a suicide hotline.”
States across the U.S. are still stinging after businesses closed and millions of people lost jobs due to covid-related shutdowns and restrictions. Meanwhile, the pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in the number of people who say their mental health has suffered, rising from 1 in 3 people in March to more than half of people polled by KFF in July. (KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF.)
The full extent of the mental health crisis and the demand for behavioral health services may not be known until after the pandemic is over, mental health experts said. That could add costs that budget writers haven’t anticipated.
“It usually takes a while before people feel comfortable seeking care from a specialty behavioral health organization,” said Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO of the nonprofit National Council for Behavioral Health in Washington, D.C. “We are not likely to see the results of that either in terms of people seeking care — or suicide rates going up — until we’re on the other side of the pandemic.”
Last year, states slashed agency budgets, froze pay, furloughed workers, borrowed money and tapped into rainy day funds to make ends meet. Health programs, often among the most expensive part of a state’s budget, were targeted for cuts in several states even as health officials led efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
This year, the outlook doesn’t seem quite so bleak due in part to relief packages passed by Congress last spring and in December that buoyed state economies. Another major advantage was that income increased or held steady for people with well-paying jobs and investment income, which boosted states’ tax revenues even as millions of lower-income workers were laid off.
“It has turned out to be not as bad as it might have been in terms of state budgets,” said Mike Leachman, vice president for state fiscal policy for the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
But many states still face cash shortfalls that will be made worse if additional federal aid doesn’t come, Leachman said. President Joe Biden has pledged to push through Congress a $1.9 billion relief package that includes aid to states, while congressional Republicans are proposing a package worth about a third of that amount. States are banking on federal help.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, predicted his state would have to plug a $15 billion deficit with spending cuts and tax increases if a fresh round of aid doesn’t materialize. Some states, such as New Jersey, borrowed to make their budgets whole, and they’re going to have to start paying that money back. Tourism states such as Hawaii and energy-producing states such as Alaska, Wyoming continue to face grim economic outlooks with oil, gas and coal prices down and tourists cutting back on travel, Leachman said.
Even states with a relatively rosy economic outlook are being cautious. In Colorado, for example, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis proposed a budget that restores the cuts made last year to Medicaid and substance abuse programs. But health providers are doubtful the legislature will approve any significant spending increases in this economy.
“Everybody right now is just trying to protect and make sure we don’t have additional cuts,” said Doyle Forrestal, CEO of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council.
That’s also what Buckley-Patton wants for Montana’s Beaverhead County, where most of the 9,400 residents live in poverty or earn low incomes.
She led the county’s effort to recover from the loss in 2017 of a wide range of behavioral health services, along with offices to help poor people receive Medicaid health services, plus cash and food assistance.
Through persuasive grant writing and donations coaxed from elected officials, Buckley-Patton and her team secured office space, equipment and a part-time employee for a resource center that’s open once a week in the county in the southwestern corner of the state, she said. They also convinced the state health department to send two people every other week on a 120-mile round trip from the Butte office to help county residents with their Medicaid and public assistance applications.
But now Buckley-Patton worries even those modest gains will be threatened in this year’s budget. Montana is one of the few states with a budget on a two-year cycle, so this is the first time lawmakers have had to craft a spending plan since the pandemic began.
Revenue forecasts predict healthy tax collections over the next two years.
In January, at the start of the legislative session, the panel in charge of building the state health department’s budget proposed starting with nearly $1 billion in cuts. The panel’s chairperson, Republican Rep. Matt Regier, pledged to add back programs and services on their merits during the months-long budget process.
It’s a strategy Buckley-Patton worries will lead to a net loss of funding for Beaverhead County, which covers more land than Connecticut.
“I have grave concerns about this legislative session,” she said. “We’re not digging out of the hole; we’re only going deeper.”
Republicans, who are in control of the Montana House, Senate and governor’s office for the first time in 16 years, are considering reducing the income tax level for the state’s top earners. Such a measure that could affect state revenue in an uncertain economy has some observers concerned, particularly when an increased need for health services is expected.
“Are legislators committed to building back up that budget in a way that works for communities and for health providers, or are we going to see tax cuts that reduce revenue that put us yet again in another really tight budget?” asked Heather O’Loughlin, co-director of the Montana Budget and Policy Center.
Mary Windecker, executive director of the Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana, said that health providers across the state are still clawing back from more than $100 million in budget cuts in 2017, and that she worries more cuts are on the horizon.
But one bright spot, she said, is a proposal by new Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, to create a fund that would put $23 million a year toward community substance abuse prevention and treatment programs. It would be partially funded by tax revenue the state will receive from recreational marijuana, which voters approved in November, with sales to begin next year.
Windecker cautioned, though, that mental health and substance use are linked, and the governor and lawmakers should plan with that in mind.
“In the public’s mind, there’s drug addicts and there’s the mentally ill,” she said. “Quite often, the same people who have a substance use disorder are using it to treat a mental health issue that is underlying that substance use. So, you can never split the two out.”
Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
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As Demand for Mental Health Care Spikes, Budget Ax Set to Strike published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/
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As Demand for Mental Health Care Spikes, Budget Ax Set to Strike
Use Our Content
It can be republished for free.
HELENA, Mont. — When the pandemic hit, health officials in Montana’s Beaverhead County had barely begun to fill a hole left by the 2017 closure of the local public assistance office, mental health clinic, chemical dependency center and job placement office after the state’s last budget shortfall.
Now, those health officials worry more cuts are coming, even as they brace for a spike in demand for substance abuse and mental health services. That would be no small challenge in a poor farming and ranching region where stigma often prevents people from admitting they need help, said Katherine Buckley-Patton, who chairs the county’s Mental Health Local Advisory Council.
“I find it very challenging to find the words that will not make one of my hard-nosed cowboys turn around and walk away,” Buckley-Patton said. “They’re lonely, they’re isolated, they’re depressed, but they’re not going to call a suicide hotline.”
States across the U.S. are still stinging after businesses closed and millions of people lost jobs due to covid-related shutdowns and restrictions. Meanwhile, the pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in the number of people who say their mental health has suffered, rising from 1 in 3 people in March to more than half of people polled by KFF in July. (KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF.)
The full extent of the mental health crisis and the demand for behavioral health services may not be known until after the pandemic is over, mental health experts said. That could add costs that budget writers haven’t anticipated.
“It usually takes a while before people feel comfortable seeking care from a specialty behavioral health organization,” said Chuck Ingoglia, president and CEO of the nonprofit National Council for Behavioral Health in Washington, D.C. “We are not likely to see the results of that either in terms of people seeking care — or suicide rates going up — until we’re on the other side of the pandemic.”
Last year, states slashed agency budgets, froze pay, furloughed workers, borrowed money and tapped into rainy day funds to make ends meet. Health programs, often among the most expensive part of a state’s budget, were targeted for cuts in several states even as health officials led efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
This year, the outlook doesn’t seem quite so bleak due in part to relief packages passed by Congress last spring and in December that buoyed state economies. Another major advantage was that income increased or held steady for people with well-paying jobs and investment income, which boosted states’ tax revenues even as millions of lower-income workers were laid off.
“It has turned out to be not as bad as it might have been in terms of state budgets,” said Mike Leachman, vice president for state fiscal policy for the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
But many states still face cash shortfalls that will be made worse if additional federal aid doesn’t come, Leachman said. President Joe Biden has pledged to push through Congress a $1.9 billion relief package that includes aid to states, while congressional Republicans are proposing a package worth about a third of that amount. States are banking on federal help.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, predicted his state would have to plug a $15 billion deficit with spending cuts and tax increases if a fresh round of aid doesn’t materialize. Some states, such as New Jersey, borrowed to make their budgets whole, and they’re going to have to start paying that money back. Tourism states such as Hawaii and energy-producing states such as Alaska, Wyoming continue to face grim economic outlooks with oil, gas and coal prices down and tourists cutting back on travel, Leachman said.
Even states with a relatively rosy economic outlook are being cautious. In Colorado, for example, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis proposed a budget that restores the cuts made last year to Medicaid and substance abuse programs. But health providers are doubtful the legislature will approve any significant spending increases in this economy.
“Everybody right now is just trying to protect and make sure we don’t have additional cuts,” said Doyle Forrestal, CEO of the Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council.
That’s also what Buckley-Patton wants for Montana’s Beaverhead County, where most of the 9,400 residents live in poverty or earn low incomes.
She led the county’s effort to recover from the loss in 2017 of a wide range of behavioral health services, along with offices to help poor people receive Medicaid health services, plus cash and food assistance.
Through persuasive grant writing and donations coaxed from elected officials, Buckley-Patton and her team secured office space, equipment and a part-time employee for a resource center that’s open once a week in the county in the southwestern corner of the state, she said. They also convinced the state health department to send two people every other week on a 120-mile round trip from the Butte office to help county residents with their Medicaid and public assistance applications.
But now Buckley-Patton worries even those modest gains will be threatened in this year’s budget. Montana is one of the few states with a budget on a two-year cycle, so this is the first time lawmakers have had to craft a spending plan since the pandemic began.
Revenue forecasts predict healthy tax collections over the next two years.
In January, at the start of the legislative session, the panel in charge of building the state health department’s budget proposed starting with nearly $1 billion in cuts. The panel’s chairperson, Republican Rep. Matt Regier, pledged to add back programs and services on their merits during the months-long budget process.
It’s a strategy Buckley-Patton worries will lead to a net loss of funding for Beaverhead County, which covers more land than Connecticut.
“I have grave concerns about this legislative session,” she said. “We’re not digging out of the hole; we’re only going deeper.”
Republicans, who are in control of the Montana House, Senate and governor’s office for the first time in 16 years, are considering reducing the income tax level for the state’s top earners. Such a measure that could affect state revenue in an uncertain economy has some observers concerned, particularly when an increased need for health services is expected.
“Are legislators committed to building back up that budget in a way that works for communities and for health providers, or are we going to see tax cuts that reduce revenue that put us yet again in another really tight budget?” asked Heather O’Loughlin, co-director of the Montana Budget and Policy Center.
Mary Windecker, executive director of the Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana, said that health providers across the state are still clawing back from more than $100 million in budget cuts in 2017, and that she worries more cuts are on the horizon.
But one bright spot, she said, is a proposal by new Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, to create a fund that would put $23 million a year toward community substance abuse prevention and treatment programs. It would be partially funded by tax revenue the state will receive from recreational marijuana, which voters approved in November, with sales to begin next year.
Windecker cautioned, though, that mental health and substance use are linked, and the governor and lawmakers should plan with that in mind.
“In the public’s mind, there’s drug addicts and there’s the mentally ill,” she said. “Quite often, the same people who have a substance use disorder are using it to treat a mental health issue that is underlying that substance use. So, you can never split the two out.”
Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
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This story can be republished for free (details).
As Demand for Mental Health Care Spikes, Budget Ax Set to Strike published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.weebly.com/
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Gov. Polis Announces 2020 Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals
Governor Jared Polis today announced the recipients of the 2020 Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals. an annual award stewarded by CiviCO on behalf of the sitting Governor of Colorado to recognize top community leaders from around the state. The 2020 recipients will be honored during a private ceremony in November with the Governor to comply with current Covid-19 guidelines regarding large gatherings.
Created by Executive Order in 2015 and supported by all living Colorado Governors, the Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medal is one of the highest honors bestowed upon citizens and organizations of Colorado for their significant contributions to communities across the state. A special virtual program paying tribute to this year’s recipients will be streamed online Thursday, November 12, 2020.
“Colorado has a unique opportunity to set the bar for leadership in this country. These eight remarkable leaders have paved the way for community advancement and put Colorado on the map for how individuals and organizations serve their communities and make statewide impact,” said Governor Polis. “The Governor’s Citizenship Medal is the highest honor of the state and I am honored to select and recognize these outstanding leaders.”
Along with the traditional five medal categories, Governor Polis announced the recipients of the COVID-19 Hero Medals that will be given to two individuals and one organization who have displayed tremendous acts of resourcefulness and courageous efforts during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 Medal categories and recipients are:
1. Vanguard Legacy: Polly Baca, President & CEO, Baca Barragan Consultants – This award is given to a business leader who has made transformational contributions to the community throughout his or her career.
Polly Baca was born in Weld County, Colorado, and has long been a pioneer for women and the Latino community. Polly served in both the Colorado House of Representatives (1975-1978) and the Colorado State Senate (1979-1986). She was the first woman to hold the office of Chair of the Democratic Caucus of the Colorado House of Representatives and the first woman of color elected to the Colorado State Senate.
Polly led an esteemed career in both state and national politics with 12 years of service in the Colorado State Legislature. Polly was the first Latina to co-chair two National Democratic Conventions. Polly served as Vice Chair of the National Democratic Party for eight years, from 1981 to 1989. She was also Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton for Consumer Affairs and Director of the United States Office of Consumer Affairs.
Polly Baca has spent decades advocating for the people of Colorado through her service in the legislature, her work in national politics, and her roles in nonprofits, both as Executive Director of the Colorado Hispanic Institute and President and CEO of the Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA).
Currently, she is the president and CEO of Baca Barragan Consultants, a consulting firm specializing in political campaigns, multicultural leadership development, diversity training, motivational presentations, policy analysis and development, and government relations.
Polly Baca has been included in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame (2000) and the Colorado Latino Hall of Fame (2018) and was named one of the original 14 members to be inducted into the National Hispanic Hall of Fame (1988).
2. Emerging Community Leader: Ananda Birungi, Northglenn, Thornton High School, Entering First Year – Harvard University – This award recognizes a young community leader who has demonstrated excellence and made a positive impact on his or her school and community.
Ananda Birungi is a recent graduate of Thornton High School and is a Freshman at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. Ananda served as Student Body Vice President, French Club President and Vice President of the “Women of Color” project to support other young women of color.
In 10th grade, Ananda was selected to participate in Access Opportunity, a 6-year college and career access program for high-achieving, low-income students in the Denver metro area. Since being accepted for the program, Ananda has taken advantage of every opportunity presented to her and has proven herself to be an incredible leader in the AO community and beyond.
Ananda also served on the Colorado Youth Advisory Council for District 24, participated in an internship at City Year Denver and started a “Girl Up” Club Chapter at Thornton High School which is a nationally recognized organization that partners with the United Nations to empower young girls. A Ugandan immigrant, Ananda is a shining young leader who has initiated projects with significant impact in her under-resourced school and broader Colorado community. Most recently, she helped organize the first annual College Bootcamp at Thornton High School to help rising seniors successfully navigate the college application process. She is an advocate for empowering women through education.
3. Growth & Innovation: Kent Thiry, Senior Advisor, KKR & Former CEO & Executive Chair, Davita – This award is given to an entrepreneur or business leader who has led with exceptional ingenuity and growth while inspiring and creating new possibilities for others.
Kent Thiry (KT) was CEO of DaVita from 1999 to 2019, a Fortune 400 Company with 65,000 teammates across 12 countries. KT stepped down as Executive Chairman in June, 2020. During this time DaVita:
Grew revenues from approximately $1 billion to the current $11 billion
Emerged as the leading clinical innovator in the kidney care community, and a leader in clinical outcomes generally
Became known for a distinctively engaged culture with physicians and teammates
Became known for developing well-rounded general managers and leaders, leading to many becoming CEOs at other companies
Grew equity market value from approximately $150 million to approximately $9.3 billion, and a stock price of about $.70 to about $80 at the time he departed
Grew its international business from a standing start in 2012 to approximately $600 million in annual revenue currently, and has achieved leading clinical outcomes in virtually every country
DaVita is known for a distinctively engaged culture and for developing well-rounded general managers/ leaders. DaVita has been the subject of leadership and culture case studies written by both Harvard and Stanford. Kent is regularly invited to speak on these subjects at top business schools, companies and not-for-profit leadership groups. KT made a public pledge in 2015 that DaVita would be one of the first Fortune 500 companies to have a Majority Diverse board, and fulfilled that pledge in 2016.
In 2016, he led Let Colorado Vote, a group that passed two statewide ballot initiatives, one that re-established the presidential primary and a second that opens Colorado’s primaries to unaffiliated voters. In 2018, Kent co-chaired the campaigns of two more successful statewide initiatives (Fair Maps Colorado), in this case reforming the congressional and state redistricting process, eliminating gerrymandering.
Kent serves on the global board of The Nature Conservancy. He also founded and chairs Colorado Thrives, a group consisting primarily of large Colorado Company CEOs, which is focused on advancing economic mobility and the general well-being of Colorado and all its citizens. Kent is also the founder and chairman of AdvanceEDU, an innovative hybrid college and is chair of the Colorado Gap Fund, a $25 million fund focused on small businesses with historically poor access to capital, in particular those owned by women, minorities, veterans…or those in rural areas.
KT co-founded The Aspen Group with Senators Bill Frist and Tom Daschle, a group dedicated to non-partisan healthcare reform. He is also a founding board member of Colorado Endeavor, a chapter of Endeavor Global, an international venture capital network.
Earlier in his career Kent served as chairman and CEO of Vivra, a NYSE health care service company; and partner at Bain & Company. Prior board seats include the Harvard Business School Advisory Board, Oxford Health Plan and Varian. Kent is currently an advisor to KKR.
Kent earned his B.A. in political science from Stanford University in 1978, with distinction and Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his M.B.A., with honors, from Harvard Business School in 1983.
Kent received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Denver Corporate Citizenship in 2013. In 2016 he received the International Bridge Builders Award from the University of Denver.
KT is married to Denise O’Leary, has two children and is an enthusiastic mountain biker and backpacker.
4. Public & Community Service: Rosemary Rodriguez, Executive Director, Together We Count – This award is given to a government or community leader who serves the public with innovation, operational excellence and progressive vision.
Rosemary Rodriguez is a Colorado native, a proud mother and a long-time civil servant. Rosemary attended Metropolitan State College (now Metropolitan State University), where she studied Political Science. From 1997 to 2002, Rosemary served as Denver’s clerk and recorder. During her time in this position, Rosemary fought to create a more transparent, accessible and equitable process for all of Denver’s voters regardless of race, gender or socio-economic status. Her passion for improving Denver through democracy led to many positive changes and to the implementation of new procedures that protected every voter’s right to cast a ballot. In 2001, Rosemary chaired the 2001 Colorado Reapportionment Commission, a constitutional body that was responsible for redrawing legislative districts after the 2000 Census. Rosemary served on Denver’s city council from 2003-2007, including serving as city council president from 2005-2006.
Rosemary Rodriguez has spent her lifetime serving the citizens of Colorado in a number of critical roles. Her goal has always been fair representation and government responsiveness to citizens. Prior to founding Together We Count, a nonprofit organization meant to promote fair participation in the 2020 census, Rosemary was the State Director for Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado. She also served as a commissioner on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and chaired the commission in 2008.
5. Corporate Citizenship: VF Corporation, Denver – This award recognizes a Colorado based company that has made a significant positive impact in the community.
Founded in 1899, VF Corporation is one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies connecting people to the lifestyles, activities and experiences they cherish most through a family of iconic outdoor, active and workwear brands including Vans®, The North Face®, Timberland®, Smartwool®, JanSport® and Dickies®. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, VF is a purpose-led company committed to powering movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and the planet. Through the company’s independent grantmaking arm, the VF Foundation has contributed more than $20 million globally over the past three years to non-profit organizations that protect outdoor spaces, promote the value of trade work, and contribute to a world that prioritizes equity and belonging for all people. Barron’s magazine recently recognized VF as the top company in its list of Most Socially Conscious Companies, and VF continues to have a positive impact on Colorado communities since moving to Denver last year.
COVID-19 Hero Medals: At the discretion of the sitting Governor, the COVID-19 Hero medal is awarded to individuals and organizations who provided extraordinary effort and impact in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
6. COVID-19 Hero (Individual): Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorado State Epidemiologist & Principal, Population Health Solutions, LLC
Dr. Rachel Herlihy is a preventive medicine physician and the State Epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. She has been with the Department since 2011. Her position resides in the Department’s Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response where she oversees the Division’s Communicable Disease Branch and serves as the Principal Investigator on CDC funded Emerging Infections Program and Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grants. Dr. Herlihy is currently leading COVID-19 surveillance, case investigation, and outbreak response activities for Colorado.
Dr. Herlihy earned her MD and BS in Bacteriology and Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Wisconsin. She completed an internal medicine internship at the University of Virginia and a preventive medicine residency at Johns Hopkins University. Previously, Rachel was the Deputy State Epidemiologist for Utah, and the Deputy Director for the Department of Defense’s Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Program.
7. COVID-19 Hero (Individual): Pat Myers, COVID Innovation Response Team, Constrained Medical Supply Team Leader
Patrick Meyers is owner and CEO of PEM Enterprises, is the former Chief of Staff to Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado, the Chief Operating Officer for the Hickenlooper 2020 presidential campaign, the Chairman of the Hickenlooper 2020 Senate campaign, and is now with the State of Colorado on the COVID Innovation Response Team. Patrick is a graduate of the University of Colorado (Denver) and the University of California (Hastings) School of Law and clerked for the Hon. William Erickson of the Colorado Supreme Court. Pat served as a clerk and intern for U.S. Attorney’s Office (Civil and Criminal Division) and Department of Justice Antitrust Division, San Francisco. He served in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service.
Pat has led the Innovation Response Team as the Constrained Medical Supply Team Leader and has been instrumental in sourcing PPE and other supplies to the state.
8. COVID-19 Hero (Organization): Colorado Health Foundation, Denver
The Colorado Health Foundation is a long-time statewide philanthropic organization focused on bringing health in reach for all Coloradans by engaging closely with communities across the state through investing, grantmaking, policy advocacy and regularly convening Coloradans to discuss and explore tough and complex matters and solutions related to inequity. For more than two decades, The Foundation has focused on improving the health of Coloradans, with a specific emphasis in recent years on achieving health and racial equity.
Led by President and CEO Karen McNeil-Miller, The Foundation believes that keeping equity at the heart of our work will lead us to better health because every person is different than the next, and there are countless drivers of health, many stemming from oppression and exclusion, including poverty and racism. Because of this, it is essential that every step we take creates fair opportunities for those whose health is furthest from reach. The Foundation’s work is centered in three cornerstones that ensure all the organization does is in service of equity, community-informed and serving Coloradans who are living on low income or have historically been without power and/or privilege. With approximately 65 staff headquartered in Denver, regularly working and engaging with Coloradans on the ground is a critical aspect of how staff cultivate relationships with and learn from communities in every corner of the state. For more information, please visit www.coloradohealth.org.
“The 2020 Medal recipients embody what it means to not only be a successful leader but more importantly, a significant leader for our state,” said Jennifer Landers, Executive Director of CiviCO. “CiviCO is dedicated to shaping the best community leaders in Colorado and we are honored to partner with the State, Governor Polis, and former Governors to honor these esteemed medal recipients. We strive to bring a sense of hope through their stories as we continue this valued tradition even through these trying times.”
The eight medal recipients will also be represented in the “What’s Your Story?” exhibit at the History Colorado Center. This interactive and immersive exhibit honors the legacy of Colorado leaders and engages visitors by allowing them to learn about their leadership traits, as well as share in the passion and impact from so many of Colorado’s great influencers.
“CiviCO is honored to continue the legacy of this unique exhibit by honoring the great citizens of our state who created opportunity for all of us to flourish in Colorado. These stories and their values need to be told to new generations of leaders who can become better versions of themselves for a better Colorado,” said Ryan Heckman, Co-Chairman of CiviCO and the primary benefactor of the exhibit.
The Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals and all associated events are generously sponsored and presented in partnership with the Office of the Governor, J.P. Morgan Chase, The Boettcher Foundation, Endeavor Colorado, University of Colorado School of Public Affairs, Mile High United Way and the History Colorado Center.
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Students have gone missing from school as COVID takes education toll in Colorado
Governor Jared Polis today provided an update on the state’s response to COVID-19 and how the pandemic is affecting Colorado students. He was joined by Commissioner of Education, Dr. Katy Anthes, Superintendent of Aurora Public Schools Rico Munn, and Dr. Chris Rogers, Director of Child and Adolescent Services at the Medical Center of Aurora and President of the Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society.
“This pandemic has created unique challenges for hardworking families, teachers, and students so it’s critical that Colorado students are enrolled and receiving the instruction and support they need to continue their education. I encourage everyone including parents, educators, communities, and business leaders to do their part to increase school engagement at all levels because even a few months of lost learning has significant impacts on students,” said Governor Jared Polis. “I applaud the teachers, parents, and loved ones who are going above and beyond in helping kids stay engaged with online and in-person learning and thinking outside the box. My administration is focused on offering as much support as we can to schools across our state to ensure learning continues, while prioritizing both the education of students and the health and safety of students, staff, and teachers.”
“We cannot let our children’s education become a casualty of this pandemic,” Commissioner of Education, Dr. Katy Anthes. “We need parents to enroll students whether it’s for online or in-person learning and the department will continue to work with districts to support all of our students during this challenging time.”
Schools in Colorado are seeing lower enrollment, and many school districts are working hard to reach students and families.
Today the state announced revisions to school outbreak guidelines, providing more tools to school districts that adopt best practices for COVID mitigation like seating charts and mask wearing, to safely quarantine close contacts, instead of automatically quarantining entire cohorts or classrooms of students. This is particularly important for middle and high schools, where it is more difficult to keep students in small cohorts.
The Governor also announced that the state has placed 40 new AmeriCorps members in some of the highest needs schools from the San Luis Valley to the Front Range focused on student outreach and engagement. These AmeriCorps members will help to contact families to help get children enrolled, attending, and engaged in school as soon as possible.
In addition, Gov. Polis announced the Colorado Department of Local Affairs has provided $2.1 million through the Next Step 2-Generation Homelessness Prevention Program to support education-housing partnerships to help provide stable housing for children and families at-risk of experiencing homelessness. These resources will support Adams 14, Sheridan, Brighton 27J, Jefferson County, and Boulder school districts and their partners by helping to house 225 homeless families.
These steps come in addition to the state’s work to help address broadband access for students and support at-home learning. In partnership with the Attorney General’s Office and Colorado Department of Education, the State announced that T-Mobile would be providing 34,000 hotspots to families and $2 million to address broadband connectivity issues and support remote learning last month. In addition, families can watch “Colorado Classroom,” high-quality K-3 literacy and STEM content taught by master teachers, every Monday through Friday 8-10 am on Rocky Mountain PBS or at RMPBS.org. The Governor reminded families that they can visit stayathomeco.colorado.gov/education for more resources on how to best navigate learning at home.
Gov. Polis provided an update on the state’s wildfires and how they are affecting air quality. As of Tuesday morning:
Mullen Fire is 77,950 acres and two percent contained
Cameron Peak Fire is now 124,026 acres and 21 percent contained
Middle Fork Fire is 7,897 acres and 0 percent contained
Williams Fork Fire grew to 12,850 acres and is 14 percent contained
Grizzly Creek Fire is unchanged at 32,431 acres and 91 percent contained
Due to the unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, BRIO has dedicated 100% of their operations to importing critically needed respirator masks. Featuring a 3D comfort design, these KN95 masks provide filtration against particulate pollution, gases, as well as bacteria, viruses, and most odors. It’s made with comfortable stretch fabric and has convenient earloops for a tight fit. These masks are perfect for everyday wear. Order your 5-Pack now!
3D Comfort mask design
Convenient earloop design
Comfortable stretch fabric for tight fit
Easy to put on & remove
Note: These masks are not FDA approved nor are they N95. These masks are tested to meet the standards for Chinese KN-95. Tests confirmed almost 90% of particulate pollution, bacteria and viruses were successfully filtered when the mask was used. 20x more effective than cloth masks.
Specs
Color: white
Materials: 3-layer melt-blown non-woven PPE
Product dimensions: 1″H x 8″L x 5″W
3D Comfort design
KN95 PRC Standard (Similar to NIOSH N95)
CE 0194
FFP2 – EN149 Filtration Level
As of Sunday, September 27, CDPHE has issued 107 Air Quality Health Advisories for Wildfire Smoke across Colorado. That is the 2nd highest number of advisories since they started being tracked in 2011.
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Gov. Polis Announces 2020 Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals
Governor Jared Polis today announced the recipients of the 2020 Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals. an annual award stewarded by CiviCO on behalf of the sitting Governor of Colorado to recognize top community leaders from around the state. The 2020 recipients will be honored during a private ceremony in November with the Governor to comply with current Covid-19 guidelines regarding large gatherings.
Created by Executive Order in 2015 and supported by all living Colorado Governors, the Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medal is one of the highest honors bestowed upon citizens and organizations of Colorado for their significant contributions to communities across the state. A special virtual program paying tribute to this year’s recipients will be streamed online Thursday, November 12, 2020.
“Colorado has a unique opportunity to set the bar for leadership in this country. These eight remarkable leaders have paved the way for community advancement and put Colorado on the map for how individuals and organizations serve their communities and make statewide impact,” said Governor Polis. “The Governor’s Citizenship Medal is the highest honor of the state and I am honored to select and recognize these outstanding leaders.”
Along with the traditional five medal categories, Governor Polis announced the recipients of the COVID-19 Hero Medals that will be given to two individuals and one organization who have displayed tremendous acts of resourcefulness and courageous efforts during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 Medal categories and recipients are:
1. Vanguard Legacy: Polly Baca, President & CEO, Baca Barragan Consultants – This award is given to a business leader who has made transformational contributions to the community throughout his or her career.
Polly Baca was born in Weld County, Colorado, and has long been a pioneer for women and the Latino community. Polly served in both the Colorado House of Representatives (1975-1978) and the Colorado State Senate (1979-1986). She was the first woman to hold the office of Chair of the Democratic Caucus of the Colorado House of Representatives and the first woman of color elected to the Colorado State Senate.
Polly led an esteemed career in both state and national politics with 12 years of service in the Colorado State Legislature. Polly was the first Latina to co-chair two National Democratic Conventions. Polly served as Vice Chair of the National Democratic Party for eight years, from 1981 to 1989. She was also Special Assistant to President Bill Clinton for Consumer Affairs and Director of the United States Office of Consumer Affairs.
Polly Baca has spent decades advocating for the people of Colorado through her service in the legislature, her work in national politics, and her roles in nonprofits, both as Executive Director of the Colorado Hispanic Institute and President and CEO of the Latin American Research and Service Agency (LARASA).
Currently, she is the president and CEO of Baca Barragan Consultants, a consulting firm specializing in political campaigns, multicultural leadership development, diversity training, motivational presentations, policy analysis and development, and government relations.
Polly Baca has been included in the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame (2000) and the Colorado Latino Hall of Fame (2018) and was named one of the original 14 members to be inducted into the National Hispanic Hall of Fame (1988).
2. Emerging Community Leader: Ananda Birungi, Northglenn, Thornton High School, Entering First Year – Harvard University – This award recognizes a young community leader who has demonstrated excellence and made a positive impact on his or her school and community.
Ananda Birungi is a recent graduate of Thornton High School and is a Freshman at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. Ananda served as Student Body Vice President, French Club President and Vice President of the “Women of Color” project to support other young women of color.
In 10th grade, Ananda was selected to participate in Access Opportunity, a 6-year college and career access program for high-achieving, low-income students in the Denver metro area. Since being accepted for the program, Ananda has taken advantage of every opportunity presented to her and has proven herself to be an incredible leader in the AO community and beyond.
Ananda also served on the Colorado Youth Advisory Council for District 24, participated in an internship at City Year Denver and started a “Girl Up” Club Chapter at Thornton High School which is a nationally recognized organization that partners with the United Nations to empower young girls. A Ugandan immigrant, Ananda is a shining young leader who has initiated projects with significant impact in her under-resourced school and broader Colorado community. Most recently, she helped organize the first annual College Bootcamp at Thornton High School to help rising seniors successfully navigate the college application process. She is an advocate for empowering women through education.
3. Growth & Innovation: Kent Thiry, Senior Advisor, KKR & Former CEO & Executive Chair, Davita – This award is given to an entrepreneur or business leader who has led with exceptional ingenuity and growth while inspiring and creating new possibilities for others.
Kent Thiry (KT) was CEO of DaVita from 1999 to 2019, a Fortune 400 Company with 65,000 teammates across 12 countries. KT stepped down as Executive Chairman in June, 2020. During this time DaVita:
Grew revenues from approximately $1 billion to the current $11 billion
Emerged as the leading clinical innovator in the kidney care community, and a leader in clinical outcomes generally
Became known for a distinctively engaged culture with physicians and teammates
Became known for developing well-rounded general managers and leaders, leading to many becoming CEOs at other companies
Grew equity market value from approximately $150 million to approximately $9.3 billion, and a stock price of about $.70 to about $80 at the time he departed
Grew its international business from a standing start in 2012 to approximately $600 million in annual revenue currently, and has achieved leading clinical outcomes in virtually every country
DaVita is known for a distinctively engaged culture and for developing well-rounded general managers/ leaders. DaVita has been the subject of leadership and culture case studies written by both Harvard and Stanford. Kent is regularly invited to speak on these subjects at top business schools, companies and not-for-profit leadership groups. KT made a public pledge in 2015 that DaVita would be one of the first Fortune 500 companies to have a Majority Diverse board, and fulfilled that pledge in 2016.
In 2016, he led Let Colorado Vote, a group that passed two statewide ballot initiatives, one that re-established the presidential primary and a second that opens Colorado’s primaries to unaffiliated voters. In 2018, Kent co-chaired the campaigns of two more successful statewide initiatives (Fair Maps Colorado), in this case reforming the congressional and state redistricting process, eliminating gerrymandering.
Kent serves on the global board of The Nature Conservancy. He also founded and chairs Colorado Thrives, a group consisting primarily of large Colorado Company CEOs, which is focused on advancing economic mobility and the general well-being of Colorado and all its citizens. Kent is also the founder and chairman of AdvanceEDU, an innovative hybrid college and is chair of the Colorado Gap Fund, a $25 million fund focused on small businesses with historically poor access to capital, in particular those owned by women, minorities, veterans…or those in rural areas.
KT co-founded The Aspen Group with Senators Bill Frist and Tom Daschle, a group dedicated to non-partisan healthcare reform. He is also a founding board member of Colorado Endeavor, a chapter of Endeavor Global, an international venture capital network.
Earlier in his career Kent served as chairman and CEO of Vivra, a NYSE health care service company; and partner at Bain & Company. Prior board seats include the Harvard Business School Advisory Board, Oxford Health Plan and Varian. Kent is currently an advisor to KKR.
Kent earned his B.A. in political science from Stanford University in 1978, with distinction and Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his M.B.A., with honors, from Harvard Business School in 1983.
Kent received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Denver Corporate Citizenship in 2013. In 2016 he received the International Bridge Builders Award from the University of Denver.
KT is married to Denise O’Leary, has two children and is an enthusiastic mountain biker and backpacker.
4. Public & Community Service: Rosemary Rodriguez, Executive Director, Together We Count – This award is given to a government or community leader who serves the public with innovation, operational excellence and progressive vision.
Rosemary Rodriguez is a Colorado native, a proud mother and a long-time civil servant. Rosemary attended Metropolitan State College (now Metropolitan State University), where she studied Political Science. From 1997 to 2002, Rosemary served as Denver’s clerk and recorder. During her time in this position, Rosemary fought to create a more transparent, accessible and equitable process for all of Denver’s voters regardless of race, gender or socio-economic status. Her passion for improving Denver through democracy led to many positive changes and to the implementation of new procedures that protected every voter’s right to cast a ballot. In 2001, Rosemary chaired the 2001 Colorado Reapportionment Commission, a constitutional body that was responsible for redrawing legislative districts after the 2000 Census. Rosemary served on Denver’s city council from 2003-2007, including serving as city council president from 2005-2006.
Rosemary Rodriguez has spent her lifetime serving the citizens of Colorado in a number of critical roles. Her goal has always been fair representation and government responsiveness to citizens. Prior to founding Together We Count, a nonprofit organization meant to promote fair participation in the 2020 census, Rosemary was the State Director for Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado. She also served as a commissioner on the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and chaired the commission in 2008.
5. Corporate Citizenship: VF Corporation, Denver – This award recognizes a Colorado based company that has made a significant positive impact in the community.
Founded in 1899, VF Corporation is one of the world’s largest apparel, footwear and accessories companies connecting people to the lifestyles, activities and experiences they cherish most through a family of iconic outdoor, active and workwear brands including Vans®, The North Face®, Timberland®, Smartwool®, JanSport® and Dickies®. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, VF is a purpose-led company committed to powering movements of sustainable and active lifestyles for the betterment of people and the planet. Through the company’s independent grantmaking arm, the VF Foundation has contributed more than $20 million globally over the past three years to non-profit organizations that protect outdoor spaces, promote the value of trade work, and contribute to a world that prioritizes equity and belonging for all people. Barron’s magazine recently recognized VF as the top company in its list of Most Socially Conscious Companies, and VF continues to have a positive impact on Colorado communities since moving to Denver last year.
COVID-19 Hero Medals: At the discretion of the sitting Governor, the COVID-19 Hero medal is awarded to individuals and organizations who provided extraordinary effort and impact in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
6. COVID-19 Hero (Individual): Dr. Rachel Herlihy, Colorado State Epidemiologist & Principal, Population Health Solutions, LLC
Dr. Rachel Herlihy is a preventive medicine physician and the State Epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. She has been with the Department since 2011. Her position resides in the Department’s Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response where she oversees the Division’s Communicable Disease Branch and serves as the Principal Investigator on CDC funded Emerging Infections Program and Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grants. Dr. Herlihy is currently leading COVID-19 surveillance, case investigation, and outbreak response activities for Colorado.
Dr. Herlihy earned her MD and BS in Bacteriology and Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Wisconsin. She completed an internal medicine internship at the University of Virginia and a preventive medicine residency at Johns Hopkins University. Previously, Rachel was the Deputy State Epidemiologist for Utah, and the Deputy Director for the Department of Defense’s Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Program.
7. COVID-19 Hero (Individual): Pat Myers, COVID Innovation Response Team, Constrained Medical Supply Team Leader
Patrick Meyers is owner and CEO of PEM Enterprises, is the former Chief of Staff to Governor John Hickenlooper of Colorado, the Chief Operating Officer for the Hickenlooper 2020 presidential campaign, the Chairman of the Hickenlooper 2020 Senate campaign, and is now with the State of Colorado on the COVID Innovation Response Team. Patrick is a graduate of the University of Colorado (Denver) and the University of California (Hastings) School of Law and clerked for the Hon. William Erickson of the Colorado Supreme Court. Pat served as a clerk and intern for U.S. Attorney’s Office (Civil and Criminal Division) and Department of Justice Antitrust Division, San Francisco. He served in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service.
Pat has led the Innovation Response Team as the Constrained Medical Supply Team Leader and has been instrumental in sourcing PPE and other supplies to the state.
8. COVID-19 Hero (Organization): Colorado Health Foundation, Denver
The Colorado Health Foundation is a long-time statewide philanthropic organization focused on bringing health in reach for all Coloradans by engaging closely with communities across the state through investing, grantmaking, policy advocacy and regularly convening Coloradans to discuss and explore tough and complex matters and solutions related to inequity. For more than two decades, The Foundation has focused on improving the health of Coloradans, with a specific emphasis in recent years on achieving health and racial equity.
Led by President and CEO Karen McNeil-Miller, The Foundation believes that keeping equity at the heart of our work will lead us to better health because every person is different than the next, and there are countless drivers of health, many stemming from oppression and exclusion, including poverty and racism. Because of this, it is essential that every step we take creates fair opportunities for those whose health is furthest from reach. The Foundation’s work is centered in three cornerstones that ensure all the organization does is in service of equity, community-informed and serving Coloradans who are living on low income or have historically been without power and/or privilege. With approximately 65 staff headquartered in Denver, regularly working and engaging with Coloradans on the ground is a critical aspect of how staff cultivate relationships with and learn from communities in every corner of the state. For more information, please visit www.coloradohealth.org.
“The 2020 Medal recipients embody what it means to not only be a successful leader but more importantly, a significant leader for our state,” said Jennifer Landers, Executive Director of CiviCO. “CiviCO is dedicated to shaping the best community leaders in Colorado and we are honored to partner with the State, Governor Polis, and former Governors to honor these esteemed medal recipients. We strive to bring a sense of hope through their stories as we continue this valued tradition even through these trying times.”
The eight medal recipients will also be represented in the “What’s Your Story?” exhibit at the History Colorado Center. This interactive and immersive exhibit honors the legacy of Colorado leaders and engages visitors by allowing them to learn about their leadership traits, as well as share in the passion and impact from so many of Colorado’s great influencers.
“CiviCO is honored to continue the legacy of this unique exhibit by honoring the great citizens of our state who created opportunity for all of us to flourish in Colorado. These stories and their values need to be told to new generations of leaders who can become better versions of themselves for a better Colorado,” said Ryan Heckman, Co-Chairman of CiviCO and the primary benefactor of the exhibit.
The Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Medals and all associated events are generously sponsored and presented in partnership with the Office of the Governor, J.P. Morgan Chase, The Boettcher Foundation, Endeavor Colorado, University of Colorado School of Public Affairs, Mile High United Way and the History Colorado Center.
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Why you need to find good Colorado business coaching?
Colorado business coaching is proven to work when these two factors are present: The client is willing to grow, and there's a niche between where they're now, and where they need to be.
That is all that's necessary for you and your business coach to unravel problems, create a replacement life, turn a business around, double sales and profitability, and style and implement an idea of action, or whatever else is named for to make sure that you simply have what you would like to urge more of what you would like .
With Colorado business coaching, you will:
1. Take more, better and smarter because you set the goals you actually want. Ultimately, humans do what they actually need to try to to anyway. And to seek out out exactly what you actually want for yourself and your business is your first task together. A business coach will assist you to differentiate between what you'll have, should have, and have-to want from what you, in your heart of hearts, actually need for yourself. Once you create the perfect goal, you're far more likely to naturally and consistently take actions to succeed in it.
2. Have a balanced life using Colorado business coaching,which works well because you designed it. Sorry, but having it all means starting with a balanced life. And you recognize what that means: it is time to be very, very selfish. Not egotistical, but selfish, with a capital S. A business coach will show you ways to be selfish, yet responsible. Plus, the way to get your needs met and still have people like you! You'll love building your foundation because you recognize you're worthwhile . you would like this base if you're to be yourself.
3. Make and keep extra money you're worth quite you are making . Money, money, money! You gotta have it and have tons more of it than you think that . you recognize you'll make (and keep) extra money , so why don't you? Colorado business coaching will help you increase your business, found out a budget and future, and help design a technique for you to earn more from your business.
4. Reach for more, much more, and not be consumed within the process. When anyone features a partner they trust, they're going to always reach for more because they will afford to.
5. Make better decisions for yourself because your focus is clear. A business coach providing Colorado business coaching the worth of sharing ideas with someone who understands them, and is subjective enough to require tons for them, yet objective enough to not be biased or self-serving. Just you talking about your options with someone who can listen is usually enough to possess it all become very clear. you will always get honest, constructive views.Visit https://tinsheets.com/ for more details.
#winery business consultant#Winery Coach#Colorado business coaching#Colorado small business advisory services#Colorado Small Business Coach#business optimization services#align business process#direct to consumer strategies
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Social Distancing Ideas for Small Retail Businesses
Social Distancing Ideas for Small Retail Businesses
As we open up our businesses again and begin to try to adjust to this “new normal” of social distancing and hygiene awareness, there are many guidelines and a lot of advice about how to ensure your staff and customers are safe. This has been great in many instances but one thing that should be kept in mind is that this advice is being given by Health and Safety experts who only have health and safety in mind. As we know, running a small business, and especially in retail, requires a much more customer-centric approach where customers feel special, enjoy their shopping experience, and are able to browse and buy in comfort. This post is aimed at giving you some ideas on how you can optimize the shopping experience for your customers while not compromising on the important health and safety aspects.
Kerbside/Outdoor options
One of the safest ways for businesses to operate their business is to do so in the outdoors – at least in part. Offering call/click and collect services can be a great way to ensure safety. To give a better customer experience while also promoting yourself, a specific station set up outside is the best option. Using a branded canopy or tent along with banners and flags can dramatically improve the customer experience. These come in various sizes and configurations and with a little consideration, can become a valuable promotional asset. Right now, we at Colorado Canopies are offering a package of items to enable you to set up your own collection station – check it out here.
Improved displays and focused promotions
The idea of browsing and customers aimlessly wandering through stores seems a long distant memory. Now, customers are encouraged to simply pass through while picking up what they need as without delay. This is the safest approach and we encourage businesses to implement this for as long as it is necessary. However, while redesigning the store to enable this, put some thought into display appearance and consider creating several new displays to focus on specific items that are perhaps better for margin, stock level, or just most likely to be needed. This approach puts the items very much in reach and in the eye line of even the most on-a-mission type customers on their way through the store. I have seen many stores that have implemented safety measures including one-way systems, advisory signs, and barriers, but in doing so have cut off access to some products or sections. In the rush to be safe and reopen, it is easy to forget that in retail, shelf space and ease of access to a product is vital for sales. Make sure your customers can get to everything and be sure to use prime shelf spaces for the most important products.
Encourage your staff to be extra friendly
Yes, this has always been important but never more so than in these times. Now that there are often physical barriers and a distance between your staff and customers, the personal touch is much more difficult to implement and less natural for both staff and customers. A smile is still visible when wearing a facemask, so ensure your staff is wearing both. When possible, get staff to give a little more time to chatting with customers and building that personal connection that makes shopping a pleasurable activity. Remember to give your staff the same courtesy – it’s a huge adjustment for them too and having an understanding boss or manager who genuinely shows appreciation and care will go a long long way to building morale which will then be passed on to customers.
At Colorado Canopies…
… we love retail. We love the personal touch it can give and want to ensure your customers don’t miss out on it any more than necessary. Using our products can give your customers the best possible experience and encourages them to keep coming back. Talk to us today about your needs, what you might want to achieve, and the specifics of your business; we are sure to have solutions for you along with our own very personal touch in customer service. Read the full article
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Gov. Polis details changes on Colorado stay-at-home order
Colorado News https://coloradomedia.co
Gov. Polis updated Coloradans on the response to COVID-19.
“The Safer-at-Home phase is not a return to normal,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This is merely transitioning to a more sustainable level of social distancing that we are going to have to maintain for the long haul — likely months. We need to wear facial masks when in public and observe the safety guidelines at local businesses. This is difficult for everyone but we are in this together and we will get through it together. The next few weeks are even more important than the last few.”
Gov. Polis said he be creating an advisory board to advise him and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on policies and potential legislation and regulations designed to maximize social distancing. The advisory board will focus on how local governments and local public health agencies can coordinate with the State on public education efforts that aim to maximize compliance and enforcement efforts for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Governor thanked the Colorado National Guard for assisting three senior living facilities in Colorado Springs, Broomfield, and Thornton with testing for staff and residents who may have been exposed to COVID-19. Nearly 900 tests were administered, and of those tests, 20 were positive. The State will continue to work with these and other senior living facilities in coordination with local public health officials to protect this vulnerable population.
Gov. Polis also issued guidance regarding permitting and service of telecommunications for State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, counties, and telecommunications providers within the State concerning how to safely and efficiently permit and deploy technology to keep Coloradans connected during the Safer at Home phase of the pandemic. I am providing the following guidance to State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, counties, and telecommunications providers within the State concerning how to safely and efficiently permit and deploy technology to keep Coloradans connected for the next forty-five (45) days. We encourage all providers and contractors to observe the social distancing requirements contained within Public Health Order (PHO) 20-24, as amended, or any subsequent, related PHO. Municipalities and counties should consider all work associated with the expansion, upgrade, and maintenance of telecommunications networks to be a Critical Business or essential service for a Critical Government Function, as such terms are defined in Public Health Order 20-24, as amended, especially in cases where such work will protect public safety or support another Critical Business or Critical Government Function. Municipalities and counties should consider the definitions and guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), found workforce, regarding critical and essential services and infrastructure.
Municipalities and counties should continue to partner with telecommunications providers to ensure telecommunications providers have the ability to do all necessary work, especially when doing so will protect public safety or support a Critical Business or Critical Government Function, as such terms are defined in Public Health Order 20-24, as amended. Telecommunications providers should work cooperatively with property owners to expedite access to properties to place, repair, or augment telecommunications facilities and infrastructure. State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, and counties should suspend, waive, or expedite permitting requirements for new construction or upgrades of any communication infrastructure (including fiber, small cells, ground-based, strand mounted, or cable), especially when doing so will protect public safety or support a Critical Business or Critical Government Function, as such terms are defined in Public Health Order 20-24, as amended. Telecommunications providers should prioritize and ensure the connectivity of schools, libraries, hospitals or health care facilities, first responders, courthouses, and other community anchor institutions. Telecommunications providers should prioritize the deployment of affordable broadband and wireless infrastructure to rural communities to ensure connectivity, and telecommunications providers should prioritize connectivity for students and teachers, telehealth, and businesses in these areas. State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, and counties should partner with Telecommunications providers to identify shovel-ready projects that can be implemented in the next forty-five days. I encourage State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, and counties to prioritize these projects to protect public safety. Municipalities and counties should allow telecommunications providers access to roads and public rights of way for new construction or upgrades of any communication infrastructure, especially when doing so will protect public safety or support a Critical Business or Critical Government Function, as such terms are defined in Public Health Order 20-24, as amended.
from https://ift.tt/eA8V8J https://ift.tt/2S51QRX
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Gov. Polis details changes on Colorado stay-at-home order
Gov. Polis updated Coloradans on the response to COVID-19.
“The Safer-at-Home phase is not a return to normal,” said Governor Jared Polis. “This is merely transitioning to a more sustainable level of social distancing that we are going to have to maintain for the long haul — likely months. We need to wear facial masks when in public and observe the safety guidelines at local businesses. This is difficult for everyone but we are in this together and we will get through it together. The next few weeks are even more important than the last few.”
Gov. Polis said he be creating an advisory board to advise him and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on policies and potential legislation and regulations designed to maximize social distancing. The advisory board will focus on how local governments and local public health agencies can coordinate with the State on public education efforts that aim to maximize compliance and enforcement efforts for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Governor thanked the Colorado National Guard for assisting three senior living facilities in Colorado Springs, Broomfield, and Thornton with testing for staff and residents who may have been exposed to COVID-19. Nearly 900 tests were administered, and of those tests, 20 were positive. The State will continue to work with these and other senior living facilities in coordination with local public health officials to protect this vulnerable population.
Gov. Polis also issued guidance regarding permitting and service of telecommunications for State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, counties, and telecommunications providers within the State concerning how to safely and efficiently permit and deploy technology to keep Coloradans connected during the Safer at Home phase of the pandemic. I am providing the following guidance to State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, counties, and telecommunications providers within the State concerning how to safely and efficiently permit and deploy technology to keep Coloradans connected for the next forty-five (45) days. We encourage all providers and contractors to observe the social distancing requirements contained within Public Health Order (PHO) 20-24, as amended, or any subsequent, related PHO. Municipalities and counties should consider all work associated with the expansion, upgrade, and maintenance of telecommunications networks to be a Critical Business or essential service for a Critical Government Function, as such terms are defined in Public Health Order 20-24, as amended, especially in cases where such work will protect public safety or support another Critical Business or Critical Government Function. Municipalities and counties should consider the definitions and guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), found workforce, regarding critical and essential services and infrastructure.
Municipalities and counties should continue to partner with telecommunications providers to ensure telecommunications providers have the ability to do all necessary work, especially when doing so will protect public safety or support a Critical Business or Critical Government Function, as such terms are defined in Public Health Order 20-24, as amended. Telecommunications providers should work cooperatively with property owners to expedite access to properties to place, repair, or augment telecommunications facilities and infrastructure. State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, and counties should suspend, waive, or expedite permitting requirements for new construction or upgrades of any communication infrastructure (including fiber, small cells, ground-based, strand mounted, or cable), especially when doing so will protect public safety or support a Critical Business or Critical Government Function, as such terms are defined in Public Health Order 20-24, as amended. Telecommunications providers should prioritize and ensure the connectivity of schools, libraries, hospitals or health care facilities, first responders, courthouses, and other community anchor institutions. Telecommunications providers should prioritize the deployment of affordable broadband and wireless infrastructure to rural communities to ensure connectivity, and telecommunications providers should prioritize connectivity for students and teachers, telehealth, and businesses in these areas. State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, and counties should partner with Telecommunications providers to identify shovel-ready projects that can be implemented in the next forty-five days. I encourage State executive departments and agencies, municipalities, and counties to prioritize these projects to protect public safety. Municipalities and counties should allow telecommunications providers access to roads and public rights of way for new construction or upgrades of any communication infrastructure, especially when doing so will protect public safety or support a Critical Business or Critical Government Function, as such terms are defined in Public Health Order 20-24, as amended.
from North Denver News https://northdenvernews.com/gov-polis-details-changes-on-colorado-stay-at-home-order/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gov-polis-details-changes-on-colorado-stay-at-home-order
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