Chamber in D.C.: Trip focuses on building relationships

About 70 business and community leaders left the Springs this morning for the nation’s capital for an annual trip designed to focus Washington’s attention on the Pikes Peak region.

Sponsored by the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, this is the 12th annual trip to the D.C. area. The group will be in meetings with elected officials, government staff and military leaders.

Each year, participants are divided into five teams to focus on specific areas of interest: economic development, the military economy, health, education and governance.

Just as it did last year, the group will meet with Ken Salazar, secretary of the Interior and a Colorado native. It will also meet with Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, as well as U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn.

The group will spend about a day and a half with Pentagon officials, highlighting the importance of the military to the region’s economic vitality.

An earlier visit to Washington led to the launch of the Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center, which assists businesses in finding and winning government contracts.

Chamber officials believe a closer relationship with the Colorado congressional delegation could lead to more military and government contract work for the region.

The Business Journal plans to follow the chamber delegation as it visits Washington. Check back at csbj.com for updates later today and through the week.

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