Cover of the 'Opportunity Handbook 2017: A Quick Guide to Economic Opportunity in Colorado' featuring a collage of diverse individuals engaged in various professions.

2017 Opportunity Handbook

In an effort to inform effort to expand opportunity in Colorado, we have compiled a report focusing on some of the important levers to economic mobility.

Colorado's Minimum Wage

Raising the Minimum Wage Won’t Hurt Colorado Jobs

A recent study claimed raising Colorado's minimum wage to $12 by 2020 would result in 90,000 jobs lost; this has been debunked.

local control of minimum wage in colorado

Minimum Wage Facts

Working full time at minimum wage is not enough to support the basic cost of living in most communities in Colorado.

Close-up of a u.s. 1040 tax form including State Income Tax Refunds.

Splitting State Income Tax Refunds Can Help Families Build Assets

Allowing Coloradans to split their state income tax refunds and directly deposit a portion into several accounts would encourage savings overall and help low- to moderate-income families build wealth.

A gavel resting on its sound block beside a stack of legal books related to HB16-1299 on a wooden surface.

Testimony: Oppose HB16-1299 to Lower Standards Awarding Defendant Litigation Costs in Employment Discrimination Cases

In a detailed analysis of state anti-discrimination laws that provide remedies to workers who prove workplace discrimination, the Bell Policy Center found these laws have no statistical effect on the creation of small businesses.

A person's hand operating a traditional spinning wheel to twist fiber into yarn as part of an Apprenticeship Study.

Testimony: Support HB16-1287 for Apprenticeship Study

Expanding pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship opportunities is a win-win proposition for Colorado.

Three construction workers silhouetted against a sunset sky, embodying workforce development in action.

Public Comment: Execution of Workforce Development Under Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act

The Bell offers five comments on the draft plan.

PERA

Amendment 66 & PERA

PERA is the retirement system for state and local government employees, including teachers. It is the only retirement program for these employees, virtually all of whom do not participate in or receive Social Security benefits.

paid sick leave

Costs & Benefits of Paid Sick Leave

Workers who lack paid sick leave are more likely to come to work sick, send their children to school while sick, recover more slowly from illnesses, and rely on expensive visits to emergency rooms than are workers with sick leave.

Report cover highlighting issues facing Colorado families in 2010 with the title 'Opportunity Lost Report'.

2010 Opportunity Lost Report

In an update to our 2004 report, Opportunity Lost: When Hard Work Isn't Enough for Colorado's Families, the Bell's 2010 study finds working poor and low-income families now fare worse on many of the same indicators examined in the previous report.

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