For years, much of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce’s advocacy has focused on Colorado. That makes sense. State policy has a direct and immediate impact on the businesses we serve, and Colorado employers continue to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment that affects how they hire, invest, expand, and compete.
Over the past year, however, I’ve noticed an important shift.
More and more of our members are asking us to pay closer attention to what is happening in Washington, D.C.
Federal policy has become an increasing source of pressure for employers. While Colorado’s regulatory environment remains one of our members’ greatest concerns, those requirements exist alongside approximately 1.5 million federal regulations that influence everything from workforce and healthcare to permitting, energy, transportation, environmental compliance, and taxation. For many businesses, the combined impact of state and federal policy creates uncertainty that makes long-term planning more difficult.
That is why I recently joined chamber executives from across Colorado for a coordinated federal advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. Our purpose wasn’t political or partisan. We were there to ensure Colorado’s business community—especially employers on the Western Slope—had a seat at the table as federal policies continue to shape our economy.
Over two days, our delegation participated in fourteen meetings, including conversations with eight members of Colorado’s congressional delegation and their staffs, along with national business organizations and federal policy experts. Every meeting centered on issues that directly affect employers back home, including workforce development, healthcare affordability, permitting reform, infrastructure, water, energy, and creating a regulatory environment that encourages investment instead of uncertainty.
One issue I felt was particularly important to raise was the continued delay in releasing critical federal natural disaster assistance for Colorado communities. I shared with our congressional delegation that businesses cannot fully recover when the communities they serve are still waiting on resources that have already been approved. Timely disaster relief is about more than repairing roads and infrastructure. It supports local employers, strengthens regional economies, and helps communities move forward after devastating events.
I also emphasized a message I hear consistently from our members: businesses can adapt to change, but they struggle with unpredictability. Whether discussing permitting, environmental regulations, workforce policy, or taxation, employers need consistency. They need confidence that the rules governing their businesses will be understandable and predictable.
Regulatory certainty isn’t simply a business preference. It is a critical component of economic growth. When employers have confidence in the regulatory environment, they invest, create jobs, and plan for the future. When policies become increasingly unpredictable, investment slows and opportunities are delayed.
This trip reinforced something I have long believed. Effective advocacy doesn’t begin when legislation is introduced or a crisis emerges. It begins by building relationships, earning trust, and ensuring policymakers understand how their decisions affect employers in communities like Grand Junction.
Washington may seem a long way from Mesa County, but the decisions made there influence businesses here every day. As our members continue to express concerns about growing federal pressures, it is our responsibility to ensure Western Colorado has a strong, credible voice in those conversations.
That is exactly why we went.
Candace Carnahan is President & CEO of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, representing more than 700 employers and over 45,000 employees across Mesa County. The Chamber advocates for a strong business climate through public policy, workforce development, economic growth, and member engagement at the local, state, and federal levels.
