Dear Members & Friends Of The Colorado Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce

As we embark on a new year, We want to extend our warmest wishes to each and every one of you. 2022 was a challenging year for us all, but it has also been a year of resilience, adaptability, and growth.

As we look ahead to the future, we are confident that, together, we can achieve great things for our chamber and our community. Our Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has always been at the forefront of driving economic development and supporting local businesses, and we are proud to count with your support, contribution and membership.

This year, we will continue to work tirelessly to provide the resources and support our members need to thrive. From networking events and educational programs to advocacy efforts and community outreach, we will be there every step of the way.

Let's make this a year of progress, prosperity, and positive impact for our community as we continue to expand our focus to every corner of Colorado. We look forward to working with each and every one of you to make this vision a reality.

We wish you a great, productive and successful 2023.

"Si quieres caminar rápido, hazlo solo. Pero, si quieres llegar lejos vete acompañado".

"If you want to go fast, go alone; but if you want to go far, go together."

Our Leadership Program Continues

City of Northglenn CO. DEC 2022 The Aspiring Leadership Program continues.

Special Thanks to host and keynote Dr. Ramos | Ramos Law and to our Class Facilitator Elizabeth Suárez, MBA ADR Leadership and Negotiation Strategist.

Denver Sept. 2022 The Aspiring Leadership Program is a seven month leadership program for emerging leaders. The 2022 Cohort consists of 32 aspiring leaders who harness the passion to help, support and lift up our community in Colorado.

Aspiring Leadership Spotlight

Ramiro Becerra

Ramiro is the Founder/Owner of Nasmia Breeze Air Duct Cleaning and EB Landscape Designs. He is an entrepreneur in pursuit of success. Ramiro realized that part of the fresh, zen, and clean air goal was a beautiful homely landscape. With his second business, Ramiro provides an eco-friendly, low-maintenance landscape that traps many toxins from pollution before they can come into each client's home.

M. Cristina Cruces

Cristina currently works at BOK Financial. She began her journey as a Banker, quickly meeting her production goals and emerging as a potential leader by becoming a Sr. Banker within the year. In the summer of 2019, she had the opportunity to become that leader by taking on her first banking center in Aurora and being responsible for a team of four. Since then; she has grown 

Miguel a. Cazares

Miguel currently works at KeyBank. He is an outstanding banking professional with extensive experience in developing team members and bringing new client relationships and referrals. Delivering exceptional results through coaching team members and strategic planning. Expertise in cultivating and maintaining key relationships. 

News

Coloradans launched new businesses in record numbers in2022 More than 175,000 people filed paperwork to launch a new business in Colorado in 2022 — a number driven in large part by a 37% year-over-year increase in filings in the fourth quarter alone, according to a report released on Monday. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and officials at the University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business, who together put together the latest Quarterly Business & Economic Indicators Report, said they couldn’t fully explain what drove such a surge in entrepreneurship.  Colorado’s economy is doing better than many other states and some people may have been driven by wanting to start a side business to earn more money at a time of high inflation, but those are only hypotheses, acknowledged Brian Lewandowski, director of Leeds’ business research division.

New year means new laws take effect in Colorado A new year means new laws take effect in Colorado. One requires most grocery, retail, and convenience stores in Colorado to charge 10 cents for every plastic or paper bag shoppers use. Shoppers in cities like Denver and Boulder who don’t bring their own bags already pay this fee. Starting Jan. 1, the fee will apply statewide.

Polis unveils $70M proposal to boost labor in worker-challenged sectors Seeking to address Colorado’s continuing labor shortage with more urgency, Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday announced a plan to put $70 million toward training people for high-need jobs ranging from law enforcement to construction to advanced manufacturing.

How Colorado colleges are confronting enrollment declines in 2023. Though enrollment at Colorado’s universities and colleges is not falling as precipitously as it did during the first year of the pandemic, preliminary numbers from the fall 2022 semester don’t herald a turnaround.

According to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, undergraduate enrollment in Colorado dropped by 2.1% between the fall 2021 and the fall 2022 semesters — a steeper decline than the 1.1% enrollment reduction that is the national average.

Polis seeks $200M more to fight property tax hike, rejects eliminating 2 cent gas tax increase. Gov. Jared Polis Tuesday unveiled changes to his 2023-24 state budget proposal, less than a week before the start of the 2023 legislative session.

At the outset, the governor rejected suggestions of eliminating the 2 cent-a-gallon gas tax hike that is slated to go into effect on July 1. His administration, backed by his allies in the legislature, suspended that tax hike last year in response to soaring inflation.

Polis said the budget reflects the mandate he and the General Assembly Democrats received from voters in the November election.

"We ran on a lot of these key issues," he said, including reducing housing costs and pursuing climate goals.The biggest budget changes include setting aside another $200 million from the general fund to boost an already significant amount — $700 million — to address escalating property taxes in both 2023 and 2024.

'I’m recruiting you now:' Polis urges business leaders to run for school board seats Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday exhorted business leaders to “lean in” on establishing partnerships with local educational institutions to train workers for in-demand jobs, going as far as to say he believes that more businesspeople need to run for local school district boards.

The Democratic governor made the remarks at the Colorado Business Roundtable’s State of the State event, in which he appeared onstage aside four leaders from the business and education communities. 

Denver Minimum Wage Increase in 2023

The City and County of Denver’s local minimum wage will increase to $17.29 per hour beginning January 1, 2023. In 2023, Denver will be among dozens of cities nationwide with minimum wages over $17 per hour. Learn more about this city ordinance. 

Online licensure and reduced food fees coming on June 8

Denver City Council passed a bill to streamline retail and wholesale food licensing fees. It is part of the City and County of Denver’s efforts to support our restaurant and food industry and continue our commitment to a business-friendly environment. Changes will go into effect on June 8, 2023.

The changes include:

• Setting a flat application fee of $150 for all wholesale and retail food licenses.
• Reducing the number of annual wholesale licensing fee categories from 12 to one.
• Reducing the number of annual retail licensing fee categories from 19 to one. 

State Program: Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) 

Premium collection for the State's new paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program is starting this month. Beginning in 2024, Colorado employees can receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave, and the State will help cover the cost of their wages. Now is the time for businesses to register for this new program. To learn more about FAMLI, click here.

SBA Announcment: USCIS Proposes Increases In Business Immigration Fees

On January 4, 2023, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed a rule increasing fees for employers who petition for workers and sponsor them for permanent residence. USCIS also proposes a new program fee of $600 per visa to be paid by businesses for both temporary and permanent visa categories to fund the U.S. asylum program. 

Proposed Fee Increases Include:

• H-1B Visas (Skilled/Specialty Occupation Workers)- Fee Increases of $920 -$1,135 per visa (200-247 percent). This includes a $215 H-1B registration fee, up from the original $10 fee.
• H-2A Visas (Agricultural Guest Workers) and H-2B Visas (Non-Agricultural Guest Workers)- Fee Increases of $670-$1230 per visa (146-267 percent).
• L-1 visas (Temporary intracompany transferees)- Fee increase of $1,525 (332 percent).
• Immigrant Petitions-Fee Increase of $615 (88 percent).

Advocacy is seeking feedback on the small businesses affected, compliance costs from this rule, and regulatory alternatives that would minimize the impact of this rule for small entities.

Written comments are due to USCIS by March 6, 2023.

Read and submit comments on the proposed rule.

We are one of five technical assistance organizations providing pandemic relief recovery services for small & minority owned businesses in the nation!

Our Colorado Hispanic Chamber In partnership with the SBA & the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recently launched the Community Navigator Pilot Program ( CNPP). This program provides business development specialists to our small business community to guide them and provide them with financial packaging assistance, technical assistance to contractors regarding small business certifications, marketing and outreach information, virtual trainings, and business referrals to mention a few of the resources available. Learn More!

2022 Holiday Party & Toy Drive

The holidays are a time for giving and spreading joy, and in 2022 our Holiday Party & Toy drive was a huge success in doing just that. Our Chamber community came together to donate toys and gifts to children in need, making this holiday season a little brighter for many families.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to the toy drive. Your generosity and kindness made a difference in the lives of so many children. Your donations brought smiles to the faces of those who received them and brought joy to their hearts.

Thank you!! Gracias!!!

Resources

DDPHE Seeking Proposals - Food System Resiliency Grant

Denver's Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE), through the Community & Behavioral Health Division, is seeking proposals to address citywide food insecurity as part of the City and County of Denver’s COVID recovery efforts. The Food System Resiliency Grant program will support Denver food system resiliency that focuses grant funds on improving infrastructure, operations, and food systems. The goal of the funds is to support food systems infrastructure than enables organizations to more effectively obtain, store, and distribute food that would ensure better preparation for future food system crises. Learn more. 

DEDO Small Business Loan Program  Securing the capital needed to start or expand your business is key to your entrepreneurial success. DEDO offers financing programs that are more accessible, and often less expensive than traditional funding sources available in the market. Interested? Read more about our offerings and reach out to [email protected]. 

State Program: OEDIT Grant Opportunities

The Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) has announced three grant opportunities, including:

• Advanced Industries Proof of Concept Grant: This program funds researchers at participating Colorado research institutions conducting pre-commercialization research and commercialization preparation in the advanced industries. Accepting applications beginning Jan. 2, 2023, for the FY23-24 cycle. Learn more and apply here.  
• Advanced Industries Early Stage Capital and Retention Grant: This program funds Colorado early-stage companies commercializing innovative and disruptive technologies in advanced industries. Accepting applications beginning Jan. 2, 2023, for the FY23-24 cycle. Learn more and apply here.  
• Employee Ownership Grant: Available to Colorado-headquartered small businesses to cover the costs of professional services required to transition your business to a Colorado Employee Owned Company. Includes accounting, legal, business valuation, and technical services. Applications open Jan. 9, 2023. Learn more and apply here.

Alliance Center Grants & Financial Assistance

• Thornton Start Up Grant
• Business Improvement Grant (BIG)
• South Thornton Attraction & Revitalization (STAR)
• Thornton COVID 19 – Recovery Grant – Coming in 2023

Need assistance completing your application? Contact the team at the Alliance Business Assistance Center. 

We're excited to say that the Colorado Startup Loan Fund application period is open now!

OEDIT's Business Funding and Incentives division partnered with eight lenders to launch the Colorado Startup Loan Fund. The Fund provides loans under $150,000 and micro loans to business owners who have had trouble securing financing, need a smaller-than-average loan to get up and running, or haven’t borrowed money before.

Have you been thinking about starting or restructuring a business? The Colorado Startup Loan Fund is here to help.

Connect with a lender to guide you through the process to:

•Begin your journey

•Become your own boss

•Start the next chapter in your life

Learn more and see your idea become a reality.

For more info, Click the link below: https://hubs.la/Q01l7qnb0

Application period: Businesses to apply directly with lenders beginning in September 2022 and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through March 2032

Amount: Loans between $10,000-$150,000 dependent upon offerings of lender

OEDIT division: Business Funding and Incentives

Business Façade Improvement Program DEDO - DENVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & OPPORTUNITY is offering financial support to small businesses to improve their building's storefront/exterior and make upgrades that will increase the curb appeal and lead to the attraction of more customers. Learn more here. 

Meet Portia Washington, Director Of United For Business - Mile High United Way

Learn more about how they provide support for women- and minority-owned small businesses to strengthen under-resourced communities and help our small business community thrive. Mile High United Way a Proud Member of our Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Cohcc Radio Program

Group Night With The Denver Nuggets 

Presented by: Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

New OrleansPelicans vs Denver Nuggets

Sponsored by: Pepsi & Canvas Credit Union

Ball Arena

1000 Chopper Cir,

Denver, CO 80204

Noche ENE BE A Reception

6:30 to 8:00 PM

Game | New Orleans Pelicans vs Denver Nuggets

8:00 PM 

Tickets

Lower Level End - $58

Club Level Corner - $80

Upper Level Corner - $26

Order Tickets Online At:

https://nuggets.ksetickets.com/cohispanicchamber

This offer is not valid at Ball Arena Box Office. Tickets are sold on a first come first served basis and are subject to availability. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice.

All sales are final –no refunds or exchanges permitted.

Tickets include a pre-game reception held in Colorado Social at Ball Arena with light snacks and refreshments (cash bar).

Buy Tickets Now!

Leads Group Meetings

Meet & Network With Other Members

Our Leads Groups are comprised of chamber members looking to increase their business opportunities while creating long-lasting business relationships.

English Leads Group Meets Every 2nd & 4th Thursday Of The Month At 9am

Learn More !