DENVER, CO — Today, Governor Jared Polis and FWD.us convened a roundtable discussion at the Governor’s Residence, bringing together Colorado business leaders, trade associations, and policy stakeholders to highlight the critical role immigrants play in powering the state’s workforce and economy.

The conversation built on a prior roundtable held in Denver earlier this year and comes as new findings from FWD.us’ Prices Report underscore the economic stakes of immigration policy decisions. Participants discussed how smart, stable federal immigration policies can support businesses, strengthen industries, and keep Colorado competitive.

The roundtable featured welcome remarks from Governor Polis, followed by discussion among business and community leaders representing industries including healthcare, construction, retail, and regional business advocacy.

Participants included:

• Todd Schulte, President, FWD.us
• Dee Daniels Scriven, Director, Colorado Office of New Americans
• Jeff Tieman, President & CEO, Colorado Hospital Association
• Ale Spray, President & CEO, Hispanic Contractors of Colorado
• Kara Van Stralen, Government Affairs Lead, Colorado Business Roundtable
• Jeff Keener, President & CEO, South Metro Denver Chamber
• Kreg Vollmer, State Board Member, Colorado Farm Bureau
• Jeff Wasden, President and CEO, State Business Executives
• Jonathan Singer, Senior Director of Policy and Programs, Boulder Chamber
• Tyler Garrett, CEO, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
• Madeline Robertson, Director of State and Government Affairs, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
• Peter Waters, Managing Partner of T/ACO, Boulder Restaurant Alliance

“Colorado’s economy depends on a strong, stable workforce—and immigrants are a critical part of that equation,” said Todd Schulte, President of FWD.us. “The data is clear: policies that protect work authorization and expand legal pathways don’t just support families, they strengthen our economy and help businesses grow.”

Throughout the discussion, participants emphasized the real-world impact of immigration policy on workforce stability, hiring challenges, and the ability of businesses to meet demand across key sectors.

“Hardworking and law-abiding immigrants make important contributions to our workforce, economy, and communities. Across every sector, immigrants fill in-demand jobs, start businesses, and drive economic growth and culture. Today, I joined business leaders who shared the importance of the immigrant workforce with me. They shared that when people have the opportunity to work and contribute, our entire economy is stronger. I call on Congress to take meaningful action to solve our broken immigration system, so our economy and workforce can fully benefit from the skills, culture, and hard work immigrants bring to our state,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis. 

“If we don’t create a more predictable pathway for immigrant workers, we lose workers, we lose patients, and Colorado loses its competitive edge.” said Jeff Tieman, President of the Colorado Hospital Association. 

The conversation highlighted findings from FWD.us’ Prices Report, which outlines how disruptions to the immigrant workforce could increase costs for businesses and consumers while slowing economic growth.

Participants also discussed the importance of long-term, bipartisan solutions that provide stability for workers and employers alike, including maintaining existing work authorizations and creating new legal pathways to meet workforce needs.

Organizers will continue to engage with policymakers and stakeholders to ensure that Colorado’s economic growth remains supported by policies that reflect the realities of today’s workforce.

Resources:

• From the Plains to the Peaks – A new report measuring the contributions of immigrants to Colorado’s communities and economy
• Prices Report – FWD.us report with projections of how new immigration policies will increase prices for Americans
• Protect America’s Workforce – Resources on the economic contributions of immigrants across the U.S. 
• Economic Contribution Fact Sheets – Data briefs for every state and congressional district, major metro areas, and industries across the U.S. on the economic contributions of immigrants.