UCCS Economic Forum Turns 30 as Colorado Springs Weighs Jobs, Housing and Growth

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs will hold the 30th annual UCCS Economic Forum on Oct. 28, bringing business, government and industry leaders together to discuss where the regional economy is headed. The event comes as Colorado Springs contends with housing affordability, rising costs and the need for well-paying jobs.

Hosted by the university's College of Business, the forum runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Ent Center for the Arts. A welcome reception is planned from noon to 1 p.m., and a happy hour will follow from 4 to 5 p.m. According to the university, the program includes a plenary session on economic development in the Pikes Peak region, panels on the defense economy and tourism, and an update on the regional economic outlook.

The gathering began in 1997 as the Southern Colorado Business Economic Outlook Forum and has long served residents, business leaders and policymakers looking for data and analysis. Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber and Economic Development Corp., is a scheduled panelist. She said the event helps residents understand the forces that shape their daily lives, adding that "Colorado Springs is open for business."

Reeder Kleymeyer said the region has diversified over the years, with aerospace and defense still its largest primary industry, alongside cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing. She acknowledged, however, that "families are struggling" and that the area faces headwinds similar to those across much of the country. Local governments are also dealing with budget deficits and rising costs for roads, utilities, parks, fire protection and law enforcement.

Her proposed answer is to broaden the business base rather than raise taxes. She said the Chamber and EDC, working with city and county partners, has announced 44 companies since 2022, representing 6,700 new jobs and more than $2 billion in capital investment. Among recent examples, she cited Accu-Precision, which plans a new local facility with 127 jobs and $65 million in investment, and BlueStaq, a Colorado Springs-based cybersecurity firm that has grown from fewer than two dozen employees five years ago to hundreds.

Housing is expected to feature prominently in the discussion. Reeder Kleymeyer said multifamily construction has expanded options for renters, but more affordable single-family homes are needed for buyers. She said certain building requirements, such as preparing homes for electric vehicle charging or solar panels, can add more than $30,000 in costs before construction starts, and she questioned whether they suit homes aimed at lower-income buyers. Ahead of the legislative session in January, the business community plans to press for more housing supply, faster permitting and a review of requirements that add cost without compromising safety. "The way to be able to lower home prices is to increase supply," she said.

She also pushed back on the view that the region is growing too fast, urging residents to look at the data and consider the job opportunities growth creates for young people, departing service members and workers seeking advancement. Smart growth, she said, can help fund infrastructure and public services without repeatedly asking existing residents to pay more in taxes.

On defense, Reeder Kleymeyer recently led a 90-person delegation to Huntsville, Alabama, to study that city's economic development strategies and build ties between the two communities. She said both cities have strong workforces and major defense assets, and that neither needs to lose for the other to succeed. Other possible topics at the forum include inflation, fuel prices, industrial site readiness and data centers, which she said raise questions about whether such facilities fit in residents' neighborhoods.

The university describes the forum as a community resource that tracks economic indicators and offers expert commentary. Reeder Kleymeyer encouraged residents to attend, hear from economists and other professionals, and "make your own informed decisions." Registration details are available at business.uccs.edu/economic-forum.