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Trump Administration Puts American Entrepreneurs Center Stage in $1 Million Pitch Competition
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Fox News, Approved, National

Trump Administration Puts American Entrepreneurs Center Stage in $1 Million Pitch Competition

By Ashley J. DiMella | Fox News Five small business finalists will compete live in Washington, DC, on Sept 18 for a share of growth capital. FIRST ON FOX: The Small Business Administration is bringing a celebrity panel to Washington next month to judge five entrepreneurs competing for a share of a $1 million prize pool, Fox News Digital has exclusively learned. "As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, the SBA is celebrating America’s legacy of free enterprise through the Million Dollar Pitch Competition—a historic live event showcasing the essential contributions of America’s small businesses," SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler told Fox News Digital. Entrepreneurs from across the nation submitted their ideas earlier this year, leaving five finalists to ...
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Greg Lopez Puts People Over Parties in Unaffiliated Bid for Colorado Governor
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KJCT-TV ABC 8, Approved, State

Greg Lopez Puts People Over Parties in Unaffiliated Bid for Colorado Governor

By Brianna Chappie | KJCT The unaffiliated-party nominee spoke with KKCO prior to his campaign stop in Clifton for Saturday evening. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) - In KJCT’s continuing coverage of Colorado’s gubernatorial race, reporter Brianna Chappie spoke with unaffiliated-party nominee candidate, Greg Lopez, ahead of his campaign visit on Saturday. Lopez is an air force veteran, and seasoned politician— having served as mayor for the town of Parker, a Colorado Director for the Small Business Administration (SBA) and recently as a House Representative for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. But now, instead of running as a Republican, Lopez is unaffiliated. “I didn’t leave the Republican party because all Republicans are bad or the Democrats are a...
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Why the AI Data Center Debate Is About More Than Energy and Water
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Fox News, Approved, Commentary, National

Why the AI Data Center Debate Is About More Than Energy and Water

By Taylor Budowich | Commentary, Fox News A report found 61% of small-business owners using artificial intelligence to boost their operations. Everywhere you look, people are talking about artificial intelligence (AI). It’s on your TV. It’s on your radio. It’s on your social media feed. And it seems like Democrats and their media allies are doing their very best to scare you away from it by telling you that AI is going to destroy the environment, take your job and hike up your utility bills. But anytime Democrats and liberal journalists are in lockstep on an issue, that should set off your alarm bells – why do they want you to be scared? The reason is that left-wingers want to seize control of AI for their own political purposes. But don’t take my word for it...
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Socialist Surge Raises Alarm Among Denver Business Leaders
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Fox News, Approved, State

Socialist Surge Raises Alarm Among Denver Business Leaders

By Kristine Parks, Julia Bonavita and Nikolas Lanum | Fox News Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President JJ Ament worries more regulations will hurt small businesses. Affordability was a top concern among voters who helped launch democratic socialist congressional candidate Melat Kiros to victory in Denver's Democratic primary in June over 15-term incumbent Diana DeGette.  But as democratic socialists gain momentum in Colorado, business owners are grappling with how their progressive policies may collide with the actual costs of running a business in Denver. "With DSA specifically, I think that, too many times, the rhetoric sounds great until it meets the economic realities," J.J. Ament, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber o...
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Douglas County Cuts Red Tape to Speed Business Growth
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CBS Colorado, Approved

Douglas County Cuts Red Tape to Speed Business Growth

By Olivia Young | CBS Colorado Douglas County leaders have launched an initiative to reduce red tape and incentivize business development in the county. "It's all we ever wanted to do," Becky Stroh told CBS Colorado. "Finally, we got to the point in our lives where we're like, 'All right, we're ready to open up our own place.'" In 2012, Stroh and her husband opened their dream restaurant in Castle Rock, the Hideaway Bar & Grill. "Permits just take a while," Stroh said. "So getting approvals take a long time." Stroh says the permitting process for the initial opening, and subsequent remodels, was lengthy. "The LED sign outside, that I remember that permit took six weeks," Stroh said. "It would just be nice to know when are we going to get the pe...
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Denver Minimum Wage Increase Raises Questions Over Prices, Jobs, and Affordability
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

Denver Minimum Wage Increase Raises Questions Over Prices, Jobs, and Affordability

By Sophia Villalba | Denver7 DENVER — Denver's minimum wage will rise to $19.84 an hour on Jan. 1, renewing debate over how higher labor costs affect workers and businesses. Some say the increase is necessary, while others say the higher wages could impact business operations. Every business owner implements cost-cutting methods however they can. At Elemental Bakery and Coffeehouse, owner Cindy Wright chooses to take on more work herself to save some money. “Instead of hiring a dish person, we all do the dishes. We're not looking to raise prices or anything right now,” Elemental Bakery & Coffeehouse owner Cindy Wright said. Spending is top of mind, especially with another minimum wage increase on the horizon. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT DENVE...
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Colorado Economy Holds Ground as Inflation and Labor Shortages Raise Concerns
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, State

Colorado Economy Holds Ground as Inflation and Labor Shortages Raise Concerns

By Bernadette Berdychowski | The Denver Gazette Inflation is up again, job growth is slowing and geopolitical turmoil has added the effects of high oil prices to the state’s economy. Yet, despite those issues, Colorado’s economy continues to expand, according to a report from the University of Colorado Boulder released Tuesday. The state added 28,600 jobs in June, up 1% year-over-year, the report said. Twelve industries in Colorado saw job losses and eight saw gains, with the most job growth consistently in the healthcare and social assistance sector. Colorado’s economy in 2025 was largely defined by a period of uncertainty spurred by a slew of federal policy changes — from tariffs to federal worker layoffs — after President Donald Trump took office for his seco...
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Polis launches economic council as Colorado businesses warn competitiveness is slipping
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ScottKJames.com, Approved, Commentary, State

Polis launches economic council as Colorado businesses warn competitiveness is slipping

By Scott K. James | Commentary, ScottKJames.com Gov. Jared Polis has launched an economic council as Colorado businesses cite rising costs, complex rules, and an unforgiving cost of living. The Denver Gazette reports that Gov. Jared Polis has rolled out a new public-private council aimed at improving Colorado’s affordability and economic competitiveness. The council is supposed to study the state’s business climate, benchmark Colorado against competitors, and recommend policy, regulatory, and legislative changes. Very serious people will gather around very serious tables and produce, one assumes, a very serious PDF. The timing is not exactly subtle. Colorado has fallen out of CNBC’s top 10 states for business, business leaders are increasingly pessimistic, and employers ar...
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Southwest Colorado needs affordability, accountability and balanced representation
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Southwest Colorado needs affordability, accountability and balanced representation

By Naomi Riess | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice For more than three decades, I have worked with families, farmers, ranchers, property  owners, small businesses and local governments across Southwest Colorado. I have  helped people navigate land-use rules, permitting requirements, water issues and  development approvals. Through that work, I have seen how government decisions  made far from our communities can affect whether a family can build a home, whether a  business can expand and whether a landowner can continue using property responsibly.  That is why I am concerned about the direction Colorado is heading.  Families and seniors are watching the cost of housing, insurance, property taxes,  utilities, food and health care con...
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Colorado Air Commission Advances Gas-Powered Lawn Equipment Restrictions
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The Sum & Substance, Approved, State

Colorado Air Commission Advances Gas-Powered Lawn Equipment Restrictions

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Hoping to ween commercial landscapers off emissions-producing gas-powered equipment, Colorado regulators will consider rules later this year to limit the percentage of companies’ mowers and blowers that are revved by fossil fuels. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission on Thursday voted to schedule a November rulemaking that is a successor of sorts to a 2023 rule that banned the summertime use of the same equipment by the state and local governments over the past two years. AQCC members declined to impose the same regulations on commercial operators back in 2023, saying at the time that they worried a quick shift away from traditional equipment would cost too much for companies and lead to job losses. Three years ...
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