Priorities
The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act will help energize Colorado's economy, create new jobs and advance our efforts to spur innovation, invest in infrastructure and strengthen our communities.
Spurring innovation:
Colorado is a leader for renewable energy development and science research. That's why President Obama came to Colorado to sign the Recovery Act and highlight the state's advances in solar energy.
Gov. Ritter's focus has led to a doubling of Colorado's renewable energy requirement and to the creation of Colorado's first Climate Action Plan. Gov. Ritter has signed legislation that requires 20 percent of electricity in Colorado come from renewable sources by 2020 and allows residential customers to sell excess solar electricity back to their utility company.
State officials plan to use Recovery Act dollars to create jobs, develop clean energy sources, reduce energy costs for residents, cut emissions of greenhouse gases, and provide financial assistance to energy projects stalled by the economic slowdown.
Strengthening communities:
Gov. Ritter has focused a tremendous amount of energy on improving K-12 and higher education statewide so that the children of Colorado can be better prepared to succeed in the workforce. Since taking office, he has directed more state investments into higher education than any other governor. Gov. Ritter pushed a new law, the first in the nation, that allows high school students to simultaneously earn a high school degree and a college associates degree. He also advanced major reforms in health care funding that will make it more affordable and accessible to scores of Colorado residents.
The Recovery Act offers numerous opportunities to improve on those gains, including education initiatives like the $5 billion Race to the Top competitive grant for education reform and grants that fund several technology improvements with medical records. The law also provides numerous safety net services, including more unemployment benefits, more reimbursement for Medicaid services, and funds for job training and placement.
Creating jobs:
Even in a difficult economy, Gov. Bill Ritter has pushed several initiatives to advance Colorado's economy and create jobs. They include legislation that gives businesses tax breaks when they create new jobs, a new way for small businesses to obtain loans to keep afloat in the struggling economy, and a stronger collaboration between businesses, industry and community colleges to train workers for the next generation of jobs. His economic development team has helped bring new companies to Colorado, creating thousands of new jobs.
Gov. Ritter plans to use Recovery Act funds to make even more progress, including competing for grants that will create jobs in the state's research facilities and healthcare industry.