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Colorado recognizes 31 qualified apprenticeship intermediaries
3 August 2026
ColoradoBiz Staff
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has recognized 31 organizations as Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediaries, which help employers, career seekers and apprentices participate in registered apprenticeship programs.
The designation lasts two years. Organizations were selected through a competitive application process, partly based on their prior work in Colorado’s apprenticeship system. Of the 31 organizations, 21 were previously recognized and renewed their designation.
Industry intermediaries help employers and sponsors establish or expand apprenticeship programs. The organizations recognized in this category are:
- Adaptive Construction Solutions Inc.
- Apprenti
- Colorado Department of Personnel and Administration
- Early Childhood Workforce Connector
- GeriAides LLC
- Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce
- Hamilton-Ryker/TalentGro
- Pikes Peak Workforce Center
When One Employee Leaves: The Real Ripple Effect of Turnover
23 June 2026
By Becca Tonn
Did you shrug your shoulders the last time one of your employees quit and think, “Oh, we’ll just hire someone else,” or did you realize that it’s going to cost at least $25,000 to replace them?
That latter instinct would be the correct one, even if, at first glance, that dollar amount seems astonishing. Depending on the role, replacing an employee costs anywhere from 50 to 200% of their annual salary, according to HRMorning.
Changing the Narrative
“Without intervention, businesses can find themselves stuck in a cycle of hiring, training, and losing employees—consuming time, energy, and resources that could be invested in growth,” states Salsbury & Co.
Which brings us full circle back to my April column, Building a Culture of Retention, in which I recommended changing your approach to make retention, not recruitment, your best workforce strategy.
Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado Launches BBB AI Hub for Small Businesses, Nonprofits & Workforce
17 June 2026
By Digest Staff
A new online resource offers AI classes, learning pathways, training and practical resources to help Southern Colorado small businesses, nonprofits and individuals prepare for the AI economy.
Launched by the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado, the BBB AI Hub is designed to teach practical artificial intelligence skills and how to use AI responsibly to people and organizations navigating a rapidly changing economy.
The BBB AI Hub will feature classes, workshops, learning resources and a growing Knowledge Center focused on practical and responsible AI use. Topics will include AI basics, prompt writing, ChatGPT, AI for small business, AI for nonprofits, marketing with AI, AI ethics, AI agents, automation, Answer Engine Optimization and more. The Hub organizes classes into structured learning pathways for participants at different experience levels.
Go see for yourself: What CEOs miss when they stay behind a desk
1 May 2026
By Becca Tonn
After you read this, step away from your desk — don’t worry, no one is going to get hurt — and go on a gemba walk. No, it’s not a form of martial arts, but it may improve workplace respect and culture. But how, and what, is a gemba walk?
Gemba is a Japanese term translated literally as “the real place.” For our purposes, this is where the work is actually happening, such as the factory floor in manufacturing, a virtual or brick-and-mortar customer service desk in IT or the operating room in healthcare.
Taiichi Ohno, then an executive at Toyota and chief architect of the Toyota Production System in the 1950s, was known to draw circles on the production floor for managers to stand in for hours until they noticed inefficiencies in the work environment.
That may sound extreme, but we can soften it for the 21st century and still benefit from observing how work occurs, rather than pontificating about problems and solutions from our far-removed ivory towers.
Where the Real Insight Happens
Of course, there are guidelines — we’re not just going for a leisurely stroll. The now-famous words of Toyota Chairman Fujio Cho, “Go see, ask why, show respect,” are immortalized as basic Lean principles. In an article for Lean Enterprise Institute, John Shook recalls learning how to conduct a gemba walk from Cho, his advisor.
To start (Go See), we want to observe and inquire whether there is alignment of work processes for employees. Are systems cumbersome or frustrating? Can they achieve goals with ease? View the workplace as a socio-technical system, Shook says, observing what teams can learn to improve or how systems can be streamlined.
Three-day job fair in Colorado Springs, May 5-7, 2026
30 April 2026
By Tony Keith
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) —The Pikes Peak Workforce Center is set to host a three-day job fair aimed at connecting job seekers with employers across multiple industries.
The Military & Veterans Employment Expo (MVEE) will take place May 5–7, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon each day at the Citizens Service Center on Garden of the Gods Road in Colorado Springs.
The event is open to a wide range of attendees, including veterans, active-duty service members, military spouses, Reserve and National Guard members, as well as civilians and the general public.
Organizers say the expo gives job seekers the opportunity to meet directly with hiring managers and recruiters who have open positions and are ready to hire.
Building a Culture of Retention
Micro-Strategies that Keep Employees
April 2026
By Becca Tonn
Have you recently had a valuable employee give notice or quit on the spot—or maybe not return after family leave? If they went to work elsewhere, you’re likely wondering what you could have done to keep them.With unemployment in Southern Colorado hovering between 3 and 4 percent (lower than the state/national average)—and substantial job openings compared to available workers—this tight labor market has employers competing for a limited talent pool.
Somebody cue the superhero music to soften the hammer fall. Workers have options; turnover is expensive for you; retention strategies matter now more than ever.
Low-Cost Retention Strategies
Let’s start with the easiest solution—just ask your staff what they want! Of course, it’s not that simple, but let’s not overcomplicate it, either. According to Troop HR, “Stay interviews are structured, one-on-one conversations aimed at understanding an employee’s job satisfaction, motivations, and potential areas for growth.”
Let’s be honest: a conversation costs you nothing—it won’t decimate your bottom line. In fact, data show it will likely improve it.
Psychological Safety and Team Belonging
Nearly half of employees looking for other options cite company culture as their reason for wanting to leave, according to Haiilo, an employee engagement site. According to Workforce Retention, psychological safety means staff believe they will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up.
“Regular maintenance is something we do to ensure equipment is operating efficiently and won’t break down or cause an injury. So why aren’t we doing something similar for people in the workplace to prevent mental harm at work?” asks Kristy Cork, WSPS Specialized Consultant, Healthy Workplaces.
Summit aligns education with workforce needs in Pikes Peak region
30 March 2026
(COLORADO SPRINGS) —
The Springs 2026 Regional Career Pathways Summit took place on Monday, March 24, presented by the Pikes Peak Business and Education Alliance (PPBEA) in partnership with regional school systems and the Pikes Peak Workforce Center.
The collaborative event brought together all eight Career Pathway Advisory Boards from across the region, uniting educators, industry leaders, students, and community partners to align education with workforce needs, strengthening talent across the Pikes Peak Region.
People who attended were able to engage in meaningful collaboration, spanning K-12 education, higher education, and industry. Participants heard from students and workforce leaders, gaining insights that informed the development of strategies to support student success and drive regional economic growth, according to PPBEA.
Colorado Springs summit unites educators and businesses to strengthen regional workforce pipeline
30 March 2026
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA) — The Pikes Peak Business and Education Alliance, regional school systems and the Pikes Peak Workforce Center hosted the Spring 2026 Regional Career Pathways Summit on Monday.
The event brought together educators, industry leaders and community partners at Sand Creek High School in Colorado Springs to align education with workforce needs and strengthen the talent pipeline across the region.
Melissa Scruggs, President and CEO of Financial Talent Group, noted there is a massive need for skilled workers in the community.
She emphasized that connecting businesses with high school students helps build a future workforce pipeline while educating students on their options for college or two-year trade schools.
Lukas Kucera, a 2021 graduate of Sand Creek High School who is now a welder, shared his experience of discovering a career in the trades. He said he did not know what he wanted to do in high school until he took a class that introduced him to sheet metal fabrication and welding.
“As soon as I struck an arc for the first time, I was like, this is awesome, this is something that I, I really wanna learn and I have a passion for.”
Colorado Springs manufacturing company to lay off 134 employees
21 January 2026
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KOAA)
Colorado Springs has job resources available for those affected by the layoffs or anyone needing help finding employment after being laid off.
The Pikes Peak Workforce Center in Colorado Springs helps people navigate temporary unemployment and provides comprehensive support beyond just job searching.
“Whether it’s your first job, or maybe a transition job, or maybe again switching complete careers, the Workforce Center can help you through all of the different stages of looking for work,” said Erica Romeo, Business Relations Manager at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center.
PPWFC offering funding for employee training
9 January 2026
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Pikes Peak Workforce Center (PPWFC) said it has $250,000 available in its Employee Development Funds to award companies that want to increase the workforce expertise of their current staff.
The program is funded through the federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA), and supports employee training to build a skilled workforce and prevent layoffs. PPWFC said during the selection process, preference is given to in-demand industries, such as health care, information technology, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, cyber security, and to companies whose training leads to expansion of duties for employees.
“This program presents wonderful opportunities for companies in both El Paso and Teller counties,” said Pikes Peak Workforce Center’s Communications & PR Manager Becca Tonn. “We hope a diverse array of businesses and nonprofits will apply for this funding, which is aimed at enhancing economic sustainability through employee training and skill development.”
PPWFC Offers Workforce Training Funds to El Paso & Teller County Employers
7 January 2026
To address ongoing recruitment and retention challenges, the Workforce Center is offering $250,000 in funding to help businesses train and upskill their employees.
The Pikes Peak Workforce Center has $250,000 available in Employee Development Funds to award companies who want to increase the workforce expertise of their current staff.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Funded through the federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA), this program supports employee training to build a skilled workforce and prevent layoffs.
During the selection process, preference is given to in-demand industries, such as health care, information technology, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, cyber security – and to companies whose training leads to expansion of duties for employees.
“This program presents wonderful opportunities for companies in both El Paso and Teller counties,” said Pikes Peak Workforce Center’s Communications & PR Manager Becca Tonn.
“We hope a diverse array of businesses and nonprofits will apply for this funding, which is aimed at enhancing economic sustainability through employee training and skill development.”
Employers have the flexibility to select training programs tailored to their unique business and employee needs.
TRAINING EXAMPLES BY SECTOR
Technical & Industrial Skills
- AC/DC electricity
- Advanced hydraulic
- Advanced programmable logic controllers (PLCs)
- Electrical schematics
- Motors and controls
- Multi-industry systems technician (MIST) programming
- Total productive maintenance (TPM)
Healthcare
- CNA training course
Information Technology & Cybersecurity
- DF01: Mongo DB Developer
- MCA Microsoft 365 Security w/MCE Enterprise Administration
Leadership & Management
- Executive Leadership Training
- Lean manufacturing
- Six Sigma
- Value stream mapping
Innovation and Quality Assurance
- Customized ISO
- Rapid cycle product innovation
Employee training funds available to Pikes Peak region businesses
By Breeanna Jent
6 January 2026
The Pikes Peak Workforce Center is offering funds to help companies in El Paso and Teller counties train and upskill their employees.
The regional workforce center has $250,000 in available Employee Development Funds to help local businesses and nonprofits strengthen their staff’s workforce expertise, the organization said in a Tuesday news release. The funds are available through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which supports employee training.
“This program presents wonderful opportunities for companies in both El Paso and Teller counties. We hope a diverse array of businesses and nonprofits will apply for this funding, which is aimed at enhancing economic sustainability through employee training and skill development,” Pikes Peak Workforce Center spokeswoman Becca Tonn said in the release.
When selecting awardees, preference will be given to in-demand industries like health care, information technology, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, and cybersecurity, as well as companies whose training leads to expansion of duties for employees, the release said.
Applications are due by 8 p.m. Jan. 30. Funding awards will be announced Feb. 13, and training must be completed by May 22.