Full Name
The Honorable Jared Polis
Company
Governor of Colorado
Speaker Bio
Governor Jared Polis, born and raised in Colorado, is an entrepreneur, education leader, and public servant. After launching his first business from his college dorm room, Polis then founded several innovative online businesses, including one of the world’s leading online flower retailers, ProFlowers.
Polis then committed himself to making sure other Coloradans had the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Polis founded public schools for at risk youth and new immigrants, Patriot Bootcamp, — a nonprofit to help returning veterans start their own businesses, and co-
founded the startup incubator — TechStars, which now operates in over 30 cities worldwide.
Prior to serving as Governor, Polis served on the State Board of Education and represented Colorado's 2nd Congressional district where he was rated the most effective member of the Colorado delegation. As Governor, Polis enacted a tax cut for 144,000 small businesses in Colorado and has focused on saving Coloradans money and continuing our state’s strong economic growth.
As an entrepreneur and former small business owner, Governor Polis knows that as we face dual public health and economic crises due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to support small and emerging businesses -- the lifeblood of Colorado’s economy.
By empowering local control over the virus while working with the state legislature, Governor Polis enacted a number of extraordinary
measures to help individuals and businesses weather the economic storm. Polis signed legislation to provide paid sick leave for Colorado
employees, amended state law to increase the amount of wages someone can earn before reduction of weekly insurance benefits,
boosted the long-term solvency of our Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, and created two ambitious, far-reaching loan and grant
programs to provide desperately-needed capital to small businesses across the state: the CLIMBER (Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery) Fund, and the Energize Colorado Gap Fund.
While the months ahead will be difficult, Governor Polis is committed to working collaboratively to meet this unprecedented moment with swift and decisive action.
Polis then committed himself to making sure other Coloradans had the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Polis founded public schools for at risk youth and new immigrants, Patriot Bootcamp, — a nonprofit to help returning veterans start their own businesses, and co-
founded the startup incubator — TechStars, which now operates in over 30 cities worldwide.
Prior to serving as Governor, Polis served on the State Board of Education and represented Colorado's 2nd Congressional district where he was rated the most effective member of the Colorado delegation. As Governor, Polis enacted a tax cut for 144,000 small businesses in Colorado and has focused on saving Coloradans money and continuing our state’s strong economic growth.
As an entrepreneur and former small business owner, Governor Polis knows that as we face dual public health and economic crises due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever to support small and emerging businesses -- the lifeblood of Colorado’s economy.
By empowering local control over the virus while working with the state legislature, Governor Polis enacted a number of extraordinary
measures to help individuals and businesses weather the economic storm. Polis signed legislation to provide paid sick leave for Colorado
employees, amended state law to increase the amount of wages someone can earn before reduction of weekly insurance benefits,
boosted the long-term solvency of our Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, and created two ambitious, far-reaching loan and grant
programs to provide desperately-needed capital to small businesses across the state: the CLIMBER (Colorado Loans to Increase Mainstreet Business Economic Recovery) Fund, and the Energize Colorado Gap Fund.
While the months ahead will be difficult, Governor Polis is committed to working collaboratively to meet this unprecedented moment with swift and decisive action.
Speaking At
