OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Golden Economic Development Commission Meeting - May 14, 2026

City Council & Boards — Thursday, May 14, 2026
BodyGolden, Colorado
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateThursday, May 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:02:00

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Yes, Atkins here.

0:02

Toy, Weiler, Doppinger.

0:04

Trout.

0:05

Here.

0:05

Hartman.

0:07

Yeah.

0:07

Weishrock.

0:09

You have a quorum.

0:10

Okay.

0:11

Great.

0:13

So we have the proposed agenda.

0:15

I made one suggestion on item five.

0:19

Maybe discussion that we do the sponsorship and funding requests and then do elections.

0:24

So with that, can we get um a motion for approval of the agenda?

0:32

We'll move to approve the agenda.

0:34

And a second.

0:35

Second.

0:36

All in favor?

0:37

Aye.

0:37

Aye.

0:38

Any opposed?

0:39

Aye.

0:40

Thanks.

0:40

Okay.

0:43

So we have the April 9th meeting notes.

0:48

See anything that I had problem with anybody.

0:52

Everybody's looked at him.

0:53

Could we get a mission for approval?

0:58

Motion to approve the April 9th 2026 meeting notes.

1:01

I have a second.

1:04

Thank you.

1:05

All in favor say aye.

1:07

Aye.

1:08

Aye.

1:08

Any opposed?

1:09

Aye.

1:10

Okay.

1:11

That's passed.

1:14

I'm guessing you're here for the chamber of business.

1:19

Okay.

1:19

So no other public comment?

1:21

No other public comment.

1:22

No email.

1:24

Well, we'll talk about that.

1:26

Okay.

1:28

With that, um, Baxter, you want to take on your discussion and action topics?

1:33

Absolutely.

1:34

Aaron, if you would please join us.

1:36

So today we're joined by Aaron Chamberlain, uh, who is representing the Chamber of Commerce or the Golden Chamber of Commerce, and with a sponsorship request of $1,500 for their annual business summit uh in November on the 4th, if I'm not mistaken, on the fourth, at the Mount Bernian Vernon Canyon Club.

1:56

This is the third time, fourth time, third time.

1:59

We are fourth year.

2:00

Fourth year.

2:01

Fourth year uh business summit.

2:04

The economic development commission has been uh sponsor since they have started it.

2:09

Uh from staff's point of view, we think it's a good opportunity and a good way to one promote the city and the economic development commission through sponsorship and promotion, and then it's also a really good business resource day for um entrepreneurs and local chamber and non-chamber members to attend.

2:31

And yes, I don't know, I didn't look at your agendas, um, but I did see your keynote speaker.

2:37

If you'd like to talk more on the programming and then the overall sponsorship request, sure, sure.

2:42

Um so as Baxter, um hi, I'm Erin Chamberlain again.

2:45

I'm the um membership director at the chamber, and um I've been in charge of the business summit for um the past three years.

2:54

Um, so I'm looking forward to bringing doing this again this year.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development██████████████████████████████████████████42%
Workforce Development████████████████16%
Procedural██████████10%
Parks and Recreation████████8%
Grants Management██████6%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Urban Renewal████4%
Budget Equity Analysis███3%
Tourism Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Golden Economic Development Commission Business Meeting

Date: May 14, 2026 | Time: 6:30 PM – 7:40 PM | Location: Council Chambers, 911 10th St., Golden, CO

The Economic Development Commission (EDComm) held its regular business meeting on May 14, 2026, chaired by Tracy Atkins. The commission approved a $1,500 sponsorship for the Golden Chamber of Commerce Business Summit, allocated $500 for a Colorado School of Mines Career Fair table, elected new officers, and received staff updates on economic development activities, budget status, and upcoming events.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved with a motion to reorder Items 5.1 and 5.2 (sponsorship and funding requests before elections).
  • Approval of April 9, 2026 Meeting Notes: Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Erin Chamberlain, Membership Director of the Golden Chamber of Commerce, presented the sponsorship request for the Golden Business Summit. She highlighted the summit’s programming, including a keynote by Anthony Lambatos on company culture and a workshop on AI policy by Andrew Moore (CIO, Colorado School of Mines). She noted that the summit has grown from 40 attendees in 2023 to 100 in 2025, and that sponsorship helps keep ticket prices accessible ($100 for members, $179 for non-members). The chamber is piloting a weekday farmers market on Wednesdays starting June 10, 2026, at Golden High School.

Discussion Items

  • Chamber of Commerce Business Summit Sponsorship Request ($1,500): Commissioners discussed the budget—$6,800 already spent from a $10,000 sponsorship line item, with $3,000 in miscellaneous funds available. The event aligns with EDComm’s business retention and development goals. The request was approved unanimously.
  • Elections (Chair and Vice Chair): Per updated City Council Rules of Procedure, elections were held in May. Tracy Atkins was term-limited as Chair. Lauren Hartman was nominated and elected Chair; Tracy Atkins was nominated and elected Vice Chair. Both positions were approved by acclamation.
  • Colorado School of Mines Career Fair Table Funding ($500): Staff proposed sponsoring a table at the Fall 2026 Career Fair (September 16–17) to promote Golden businesses to students. The fair is the largest in the Rocky Mountain region. Past participation included a local engineering firm that received 70–80 student inquiries. The commission approved the funding unanimously.
  • Staff Report:
    • 2026 Budget: Up-to-date; $35,000 remains in the grant program (one grant awarded so far). $10,000 allocated for entrepreneurship/innovation, with discussions ongoing with Traction and Golden Startup Network. A feasibility study for a makerspace is pending—RFP responses were limited.
    • Business Retention & Economic Development: Staff visited the CoreTech Academy training facility, which offers free CNC machining, forklift simulation, and other workforce development classes. The SBDC (Small Business Development Center) has resumed operations at Red Rocks Community College. A PSPS (Public Safety Power Shutoff) resilience event is scheduled for June 3, 2026 at Gnarly's (10 AM – 1 PM), with live streaming and recording.
    • New Businesses: Call Your Mother Bagels opened at 1106 Washington Ave.; Morrison Mercantile is moving to Washington Ave. under the name “Stay Golden” (kitchen goods). The Golden Hotel completed its creekside patio renovation. The Coal development on West Colfax is nearing opening, with a coffee shop and live-work units.
    • Sales, Use, and Lodging Tax Reports: Not available; will be provided next month.
  • Communications:
    • GURA/DDA: GURA is moving forward with a plan area for Jackson Street improvements and a condition survey; DDA is focusing on property owner engagement.
    • Golden Chamber of Commerce: Upcoming events include “What’s Brewing Golden” (May 19) with the new Red Rocks Community College president, and the opening of the Golden Farmers Market on Saturdays (May 30) and a pilot weekday market on Wednesdays (June 10).
    • Community Marketing Committee: Hiring a consultant for strategic planning; exploring a locals event and potential opportunities related to the Sundance Film Festival overflow.
  • Commissioner Comments: Tracy Atkins reported that the Golden Makers Social Club kickoff event had about 75 attendees with strong energy.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: $1,500 sponsorship for the Golden Chamber of Commerce Business Summit (November 4, 2026).
  • Elected: Lauren Hartman as Chair, Tracy Atkins as Vice Chair.
  • Approved: $500 for a Colorado School of Mines Fall 2026 Career Fair table.
  • Referral: Staff will continue promoting the grant program and exploring maker space feasibility study consultants.
  • Next Steps: The next EDComm meeting is scheduled for June 2026; the PSPS resilience event is June 3, 2026.

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Yes, Atkins here. Toy, Weiler, Doppinger. Trout. Here. Hartman. Yeah. Weishrock. You have a quorum. Okay. Great. So we have the proposed agenda. I made one suggestion on item five. Maybe discussion that we do the sponsorship and funding requests and then do elections. So with that, can we get um a motion for approval of the agenda? We'll move to approve the agenda. And a second. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye. Thanks. Okay. So we have the April 9th meeting notes. See anything that I had problem with anybody. Everybody's looked at him. Could we get a mission for approval? Motion to approve the April 9th 2026 meeting notes. I have a second. Thank you. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Aye. Okay. That's passed. I'm guessing you're here for the chamber of business. Okay. So no other public comment? No other public comment. No email. Well, we'll talk about that. Okay. With that, um, Baxter, you want to take on your discussion and action topics? Absolutely. Aaron, if you would please join us. So today we're joined by Aaron Chamberlain, uh, who is representing the Chamber of Commerce or the Golden Chamber of Commerce, and with a sponsorship request of $1,500 for their annual business summit uh in November on the 4th, if I'm not mistaken, on the fourth, at the Mount Bernian Vernon Canyon Club. This is the third time, fourth time, third time.

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