White House
The Department of Commerce announced funding for each state, territory and the District of Columbia for high-speed internet infrastructure deployment through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program—a $42.45 billion grant program created in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by the Department of Commerce. This announcement—the largest internet funding announcement in history—kicks off the three-week Administration-wide Investing in America tour, where President Biden, Vice President Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Cabinet members, and Senior Administration Officials will fan out across the country to highlight investments, jobs, and projects made possible by President Biden’s economic agenda.
Colorado Governor
Governor Polis welcomed bipartisan governors from Western states to Colorado for the start of the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) annual meeting held this year in Boulder. As WGA Chair, Governor Polis will highlight the bold and innovative progress of his Chair Initiative, The Heat Beneath Our Feet, in expanding geothermal energy research and exploration across the West. Governor Polis’s term as WGA Chair concludes at the end of the gathering. “I am proud to welcome my fellow governors to Colorado as we come together to learn from one another and find common sense, practical solutions to the challenges our states face,” said Gov. Polis.”
Denver Mayor
The Department of Economic Development & Opportunity has signed a $15 million contract with the New Community Transformation Fund-Denver. This partnership, supported by our Herman Malone Fund, will expand access to venture capital for diverse-owned Denver startups and early-stage companies. In 2022, Mayor Hancock created the Herman Malone Fund, the city’s first equity-focused business investment tool designed to level the playing field for minority-and women-owned small businesses to create an economy that works for everyone. The Malone Fund is a special revenue fund which utilizes one percent retail marijuana sales tax revenue and focuses on providing capital and technical assistance to under-resourced businesses.
