Dozens of local business leaders sign letter supporting increased minimum wage

Nearly 200 business leaders from around the state — including several from the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado regions — have signed onto a joint statement in support Amendment 70, which would increase Colorado’s minimum wage.

The battle over Amendment 70, to be decided by voters next month, has been one of the most hotly contested in the state this election season, with the opposition arguing that the measure would hurt small businesses and cost the state jobs.

Amendment 70 would raise Colorado’s minimum wage — currently $8.31 per hour — to $9.30 on Jan 1, 2017, and then step it up gradually to $12 per hour by 2020.

The statement in support of Amendment 70 released by business leaders on Thursday read in part: “Raising Colorado’s minimum wage makes good business sense. Increased pay means increased consumer buying power — boosting sales at local businesses as Colorado workers buy products and services they could not afford to buy before. Low pay typically means high employee turnover. Businesses see cost savings in hiring and training (through a higher minimum wage) and less product waste with lower turnover.”

One of the business leaders to sign on, Pete Turner — founder of the Illegal Pete’s restaurant chain in Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins — said in a prepared statement: “When we increased entry wages at our restaurants last year from $9 to $10.50 an hour, we did not raise prices. Our employee turnover dropped to 29 percent — which is very low for our industry — and we saved money in hiring and training costs.”

Local leaders who have signed on to the statement of support include:

Carlos Alvarez-Aranyos, founder, Boulder Transport LLC, Boulder; Judy Amabile, president, Polar Bottle, Boulder; Scott Baker, owner, Icebox Knitting LLC, Longmont; Bryan Birsic, CEO, Wunder Capital, Boulder; Adam Block, executive vice president, Shinesty Inc., Boulder;

Becca Bramhall, owner, Clothes Pony LLC, Fort Collins; David Brown, managing partner, Techstars, Boulder; Stephanie Carter, co-owner, Wallaroo Hat Co., Boulder; Richard Correa, owner Correa Agency, Fort Collins; Silencia Cox, CEO, Motherlove Herbal Co., Fort Collins;

Kevin Daly, founding proprietor, Longs Peak Pub, Longmont and Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery, Boulder; Peter Dignan, Renewable Choice Energy Inc., Boulder; Tracy duCharme, owner, Color Me Mine, Boulder; Linda M. Fitzgerald, owner, Culinary Adventures, Fort Collins; Toby Gadd, president, Nuance Chocolate, Fort Collins;

Kyle Garner, CEO, Organic India USA, Boulder; Nicole Glaros, chief product officer, Techstars, Boulder; Justin Gold, founder, Justin’s Boulder; Susan Graf, VP finance, Bhakti Chai, Boulder; Hill Grimmett, founder, Northern Colorado Food Incubator, Fort Collins;

Catherine Hunziker, owner, WishGarden Herbs Inc., Louisville; Don Jensen, owner, Jensen Guitars, Longmont; Blake Jones, cofounder, Namaste Solar, Boulder; Jessica Kane, assistant manager, Mountain People’s Co-op, Nederland; Maren Keeley, co-founder, Conscious Company Magazine, Boulder;

Jacki Litz, VP of sales, Bhakti Chai, Boulder; Yoav Lurie, CEO, Simple Energy, Boulder; Wynne Maggi, chief culture officer, EnergyLogic, Berthoud; Elizabeth Mozer, founder/CEO, LoCo Food Distribution, Fort Collins; Justin Perkins, founder, Olomomo Nut Co., Boulder;

Angela Sedillos, owner, BGC LLC, Greeley; Juan Stewart, owner, Green Belly Foods, Boulder; Heather Terenzio, CEO Techtonic Group, Boulder; Pete Turner, owner, Illegal Pete’s, Boulder and Fort Collins; Maria Uspenski, owner/CEO, The Tea Spot, Boulder;

Sam Weaver, CEO, Cool Energy Inc., Boulder; Paul Whittle, president, MyChelle Dermaceuticals LLC, Louisville; Virginia Winter, owner/CEO, Equinox Consultancy LLC, Boulder; Stephanie Yost, HR Director, Gaia Inc., Louisville.

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