The Hidden Cost of Regulation on Business

Is Colorado still one of the most competitive states for businesses, workers, and families? In the first episode of Finding Common Ground, host Jamie Henning welcomes DJ Summers, Director of Communications and Research Operations for the Common Sense Institute. Together, they examine the economic and policy trends shaping Colorado, Weld County, and Greeley. Weld County continues to gain population, maintain comparatively favorable housing affordability, and experience birth-rate trends that stand apart from much of the state. Greeley is also projected to grow quickly enough that it could eventually become Northern Colorado’s largest population center. At the same time, Colorado is attracting fewer residents from other states, businesses are facing growing regulatory pressures, and the state’s economic momentum has fallen from its previous position near the top of national rankings. This conversation explains why those trends matter to employers, workers, families, and anyone concerned about Colorado’s economic future. In This Episode 00:00 – Welcome to Finding Common Ground 01:17 – The work of the Common Sense Institute 02:36 – From concert pianist dreams to policy research 05:15 – Weld County’s population advantage 07:53 – Greeley’s growth compared with Fort Collins 09:48 – The challenge of developing a local workforce 12:37 – Colorado’s declining competitiveness 14:24 – The Free Enterprise Index 17:25 – How Colorado could return to the top five 21:30 – Why policy affects everyday life 23:56 – Finding Common Sense Institute research 24:43 – Why competitiveness matters Resources Mentioned Common Sense Institute Components of Change: How Our Population Is Changing and Why Free Enterprise Report and Free Enterprise Index U.S. Census Bureau population data Beyond the Horizon initiative Guest Information DJ Summers Director of Communications and Research Operations Common Sense Institute Website mentioned in the episode: https://www.commonsenseinstituteus.org #ColoradoBusiness #GreeleyColorado #PublicPolicy Explore the Common Sense Institute’s research, then like this episode, subscribe to Finding Common Ground, and share it with someone who cares about Colorado’s business climate.