Editor’s note: This story has been updated to correct information about the Summit Economic Partnership’s plans for a business training program modeled after one in Chaffee County.

A Summit County nonprofit representing the business community is seeking funding from the county government to jumpstart a number of initiatives aimed at growing the local economy. 

The Summit Economic Partnership is made up of business leaders for companies large and small as well as government officials. During a Feb. 6 Summit Board of County Commissioners meeting, the organization made a pitch for $400,000 in funding in 2024 and 2025 to help with short- and long-term economic goals. 

“I think we all live in Summit County because we think of it as paradise,” said Summit Economic Partnership Executive Director Thayer Hirsh. “However, there are some problems here.” 

Much of that revolves around a consolidated economy that offers limited opportunities and low pay, Hirsh said. 

According to data compiled by the economic partnership, roughly two-thirds of all jobs in Summit County are in the tourism and hospitality industries. Over half of all jobs pay between $27,000 and $30,000. 

Yet there is opportunity for growth and diversity in the local job market, Hirsh said. Data also shows that Summit County has a highly educated workforce, with 59% of workers having a college degree. 

The county also “has entrepreneurs who are here and planning to expand and are looking for support,” Hirsh said. He added there are “unprecedented grant opportunities” at the federal, local and state level that organizations like his can tap into to help support those businesses.

“Our goal is to educate both our workers, our entrepreneurs and small business owners on how they can essentially grow themselves, or grow their business,” Hirsh said, adding that those efforts will “diversify our economy and provide good jobs.” 

The $400,000 the nonprofit is requesting would go towards programs, marketing and staffing, including hiring a part-time grant writer. 

Short-term goals include launching a program in Summit County similar to the Central Mountain Ascent program, an initiative launched by the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation. Ascent provides eight weeks of training for Colorado business leaders that covers business growth strategies and startup methodology to legal, funding, accounting and tax practices.

Citing Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation reports, Hirsh said the initiative generated $1.6 million in annual wages and $1.2 million in outside investment over two years. The economic partnership would look to model a program of that approach and wants 10 local companies to partipcate.

More long-term goals include diversifying its funding structure and creating a dedicated hub for staff, events and meeting and collaborating space between businesses. 

The partnership itself is acting as a startup, with Hirsh comparing funding from the county to seed investment that would be provided by the private sector. Yet not all county commissioners were on board with the idea of injecting hundreds of thousands into the nonprofit. 

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Commissioner Eric Mamula signaled skepticism over the idea that the county government would recoup the money that would go to the partnership and asked why “government should fund business like this, at this amount?” 

Mamula added that growing large businesses that stay in Summit County is difficult and pointed to Vail Resorts as an example of a corporation that has “shipped all their middle managers to Broomfield.” 

“In the end, stuff’s cheaper on the Front Range,” Mamula said. “How do you force a company that you financially assisted through tax dollars to stay to keep those jobs year-round rather than shipping to a place that’s cheaper to operate?” 

Ultimately, Mamula said he didn’t feel comfortable about the amount of money the county is being asked to provide, adding, “I don’t think it’s government’s role to incentivize businesses.” 

Commissioner Nina Waters said, “I go back and forth a lot about, ‘What is the true responsibility of government?” 

“But I look at, ‘What does the Federal Reserve do?,'” Waters continued. “They are essentially the engine of our entire nation. Why wouldn’t we do this on a smaller scale … I firmly have a belief that this is an opportunity that we would be silly to not begin to foster in some way, shape or form.”

Commissioner Tamara Pogue, who sits on the Summit Economic Partnership’s board, said stimulating a more diverse economy “remains one of my highest priorities” as a commissioner. Pogue added that other county programs are a result of public-private partnership including cost-sharing with homeowners associations for wildfire mitigation and with private developers for workforce housing. 

“So I don’t think it’s a stretch to begin to think about our economy in terms of public-private partnerships,” Pogue said. 

Still, the county faces tough funding decisions, including a growing lack of affordable housing that has prompted millions in spending by the county. For that reason, Pogue told the group, “I would like you all not to be surprised if — knowing how supportive I am — the original financial agreement can’t be supported.”