What does crystal ball show for Greeley in 2016?

Here are a few things we are seeing and hearing.  The forecast for Greeley and Weld County can be described in one word: opportunity.  But, can we keep pace with where we were in 2015? That is the million-dollar question. Yes, there will be challenges; however, we believe that opportunity far exceeds the challenges.

Numerous rankings and studies point to Weld County’s robust economy, and the forecast for 2016 shows we will have growth in many of our industry sectors.  In conducting our one-on-one investor calls, we hear “we will have more jobs. However, finding skilled workers will continue to be a challenge.”

The Greeley Chamber will remain aggressive in our support of education to prepare our future workforce; we will continue to encourage the business community to offer scholarships, internships and mentorships.  We will bring our businesses and educational institutions together so that there is a good understanding of what it will take to meet skilled labor needs. Our region is no different than any other region. We all face creation of a talent pipeline that is filled with qualified workers to meet the needs of our highest-demand employers.

We hold optimism that the medical, retail, hospitality, manufacturing and energy sectors will grow or remain level from 2015.  Greeley has fared fairly well, even with oil prices down, but unemployment has increased a minor amount. Many oil and gas workers have been picked up by the construction industry; with both the residential and commercial construction industry flourishing, people are finding steady employment.

While our business outlook remains positive, our region also faces several challenges.  We have a great opportunity for real collaboration on some of the challenges facing Northern Colorado and Weld County with our regional work through the Northern Colorado Legislative Alliance (NCLA), a partnership with the Fort Collins and Loveland chambers of commerce.

Our transportation system is a tremendous asset, built over generations. It fuels economic growth, enhances our competitiveness, and creates a lot of jobs. If well-maintained, it will continue to deliver outstanding benefits.

However, the transportation system is badly in need of major investments to repair and augment an infrastructure that has been allowed to languish for too many years.

The Fix North I-25 Business Alliance, established by NCLA to directly deal with the expansion of north Interstate 25, will continue to push and lead the conversation with business leaders on how to address transportation funding needs.  NCLA is currently focused on identifying, researching and vetting additional funding sources to see what might resonate with legislators this year.

I hope that NCLA can urge legislators to pass a bill that provides dedicated funding to address infrastructure needs.  None of us can fix the issue by ourselves — we must work together. As Northern Colorado communities grow at what some estimate to be the fastest rate in the state, I-25 will only continue to get worse. We need to take action now to accommodate this growth.

Overall, the state of the Greeley and Weld County economy is expanding toward continued success. With a careful eye on education, training, economic diversification and leadership, Greeley and Weld County can maintain their momentum.

Greeley/Weld County is a good place to do business. It’s a good place to call home.

Sarah MacQuiddy is president of the Greeley Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at 970-352-3566 or sarah@greeleychamber.com.

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