Latest news with #BriannaTitone
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bill creating tax incentives for film tourism passes following Sundance announcement
DENVER (KDVR) — On Thursday, the Sundance Film Festival announced it would be hosted in Boulder beginning in 2027. On Friday, the Colorado Senate passed a bill that is aimed at attracting film tourism to the state. HB25-1005, 'Tax Incentive for Film Festivals,' is now headed for the governor's desk where it could be signed into law. Boulder wins bid to host the Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027 'This bill has paved the way for yesterday's historic announcement by demonstrating our state's commitment to ensuring the success of the Sundance Film Festival in Colorado. Sundance is more than just an economic driver – it will cement Colorado's place as a global hub for the arts, creating opportunities for filmmakers and audiences alike,' said Sen. Judy Amabile, a Democrat who represents Boulder, in a release. 'Our communities will benefit year-round from Sundance's investments in expanded access to the arts, support for aspiring storytellers, and a platform for powerful narratives that have the potential to move, inspire, and change all of us.' According to proponents of the measure, the bill would create two tax credits: one to offer a financial incentive to the Sundance Film Festival or a festival that has a verifiable track record of attracting 100,000 attendees or more that is relocated to Colorado by Jan. 1, 2026, and one supporting existing or small film festivals in Colorado. Smaller festivals could qualify for a pool of $5 million that would be paid out over 10 years. The measure would set aside $34 million for the next 10 years for the larger, established film festivals, such as Sundance. 'We were pretty confident that we were going to come out on top for the main reason of the film industry's diversity and love of telling stories about people who are being criticized and persecuted right now,' said Rep. Brianna Titone, a Democrat who represents parts of Jefferson County, on Thursday in an interview with FOX31. What will Sundance look like for Boulder? 5 things to know about the film festival She said that bringing the Sundance Film Festival to Colorado would be a large economic boost for the state, so the tax incentives make sense. 'They're going to be renting cars and having hotel rooms and eating meals and buying merchandise and doing all the things that people do when they go visit a new place,' Titone said. 'So these are real dollars that they're going to leave here, so when we're giving some incentives to the film festival to come, the people who come to the festival are going to be leaving a lot of that money behind.' The measure passed the Colorado Senate with a vote of 28-5. It now heads to the Colorado Governor's desk to potentially be signed into law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Colorado officials say Sundance Film Festival expected to bring economic boost to state
Coming soon to Boulder: the Sundance Film Festival. A decision that those behind the announcement say has been years in the making, and one that could bring an economic boost to the state. Festival Director Eugene Hernandez said while evaluating different bids one thing stood out in Boulder. "What we experienced, and we've experienced all the way through the process until right now, is passion. Passion for Colorado, passion for this community, passion for the arts and arts community and film and we felt that," he said Adding to the passion and culture was the scenic appeal and support they received from the state in the form of tax incentives. Changes that are part of a bill now moving through the legislature. State Representative Brianna Titone is one of the bill sponsors "There's a bit of hesitance to give tax credits to one particular place for this festival, but we know, based on what's happened in Utah, that it does expand beyond borders of the city where the event is held," she said. In 2024, Titone said they found the festival in Utah created more than 17 hundred jobs, attracted 24 thousand out-of-state visitors and brought in more than $100 million in gross domestic product. Looking over the 10 years the festival would be in Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis said the economic impact to the state is to be over $2 billion. "It's rooted in Boulder, but it's really the entire state that will benefit," Polis said during a press conference about the decision on Thursday. The festival's monumental move comes after more than 40 years in Park City, Utah, a home they said they've outgrown. That raises a question for some. Is Boulder a big enough stage? Hernandez believes it is a perfect fit for future growth. "What I found and what we found here in Boulder are venues of all shapes and sizes that align so well with our festival. Our festival is a festival of global discovery, bringing together artists all around the world. Films big and small will match up so perfectly with the venues right here in Boulder," he said.
Forbes
26-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Colorado Teacher Externships Bridge The Education To Workforce Gap
Colorado's teacher externship program connects K-12 teachers with STEM-focused employers and offers ... More hands-on, immersive learning experiences. As the state of the economy rapidly evolves, employers face a pressing challenge: ensuring the nation's education system keeps pace with the changing demands of the workforce. While education and workforce leaders have accelerated their focus on student internships and career preparation, there remains an overlooked piece of the puzzle—teachers. Teacher externships, where educators spend time working in industries related to their subject areas, are gaining prominence in Colorado. 'I came across the concept of teacher externships while serving on a local district STEM advisory board,' says Colorado Rep. Brianna Titone, a Democrat and author of House Bill 23-1198. 'When a teacher can tell stories about high-tech jobs they have seen firsthand, and then apply the functions of those jobs to real world careers, it builds excitement in students for jobs right here in the state.' The legislation introduced by Rep. Titone quickly gained support with her state house colleagues and ultimately established a statewide K-12 Teacher Externship Program focused on STEM occupations that provides structured experiences for educators ranging from brief industry tours to full immersion experiences. In a seemingly unconventional—but sensible—switch-up, the program is administered by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) rather than the state's department of education. "The Teacher Externship Program provides work-based learning opportunities that allow educators to spend anywhere from a few days to several weeks working onsite at a Colorado business," explains Kelly Reeser, teacher externship grant coordinator at CDLE. "These experiences expose teachers to industry environments in career sectors their students may pursue while deepening their understanding of industry practices. This, in turn, enables our teachers to deliver more relevant content to students and better prepare them for the workforce." Colorado's program connects K-12 teachers with STEM-focused employers and offers hands-on, immersive learning experiences. Businesses identify specific projects or industry challenges for externs and then select highly-skilled teachers to engage in these areas. The state's program is open to any STEM-focused business in Colorado and all K-12 public school teachers in the state. The program offers three distinct models of engagement. Industry Tours, lasting 1-5 days, provide high-level overviews of operations and career pathways; Customized Experiences, spanning 1-3 weeks, engage teachers in specific projects with industry tools; and the most comprehensive option, Full-Immersion Experiences of 4-8 weeks, embeds educators deeply within company operations, where they collaborate with professionals on real-world projects. 'I have been in education for over 20 years, having gone from high school into college, earning my undergraduate degree in education with a minor in Earth Science,' said Katherine Schifter, a sixth grade science teacher at Roosevelt Middle School in Colorado's Weld County School District RE-5J who participated in a two-week-long industry tour. 'Before the teacher externship, I didn't know what it's like to work in any other industry but education. It was an incredible opportunity to spend time with industry professionals, visit their companies and have new insights about jobs and careers for my students.' The matching process is thoughtfully designed. Both teachers and businesses complete applications to participate in the program. Teachers provide details about their schools, subject areas, areas of interest and how they plan to integrate their externship learnings into their classrooms. Businesses outline the nature of their work, the type of externship offered, the timing and duration of the opportunity, the number of externs they can host, whether they offer compensation and a description of the externship focus. This business information is published on CDLE's website, allowing teachers to express interest in specific opportunities. As program coordinator, Reeser identifies potential matches and facilitates meetings between the parties to determine fit. Once a match is confirmed, she formalizes an agreement outlining expectations and logistics, providing ongoing support throughout the externship to ensure a smooth experience. The impact of these experiences is profound and immediate. Consider Nick Nassimbene, an elementary school teacher who completed an externship at Blue Canyon Technologies, a Raytheon subsidiary. His time in satellite manufacturing transformed his approach to teaching engineering principles to fifth graders. He now emphasizes the importance of iteration in testing new designs, precision in measuring and cutting, the value of hands-on skills, and the benefits of cross-training between engineers and technicians. Additionally, he is working to increase students' awareness of aerospace career opportunities in both engineering and technical fields. "Through my externship with Blue Canyon Technologies, I created a hands-on 'Introduction to Satellites' curriculum that takes students from concept to design," says Nick Nassimbene, a fifth grade teacher in Colorado's Douglas County School District. "Using actual resources from the industry, my students now experience the real-world process of satellite development. Most importantly, I've responded to industry feedback about the lack of hands-on engineering experience by prioritizing experiential learning over passive instruction, giving students authentic engagement with STEM concepts at an age when they're actively exploring their place in the world." In Boulder, Kristie Evans took her quantum computing externship experience at CU Boulder and incorporated it into her Medical Interventions and Biomedical Innovations courses at Boulder Technical Education Center (Boulder TEC), introducing students to emerging career opportunities in quantum science. "One of my biggest takeaways from the teacher externship is how quantum computing will be used in fields students may have never considered,' says Evans. 'I was surprised to learn that quantum computing is going to serve the medical community in driving personalized medicine. For some of my other teacher colleagues, they learned about the applicability of quantum to cyber security and finance. It was so exciting to learn more about the variety of fields that cross-pollinate with quantum, giving students some really incredible career opportunities they may not have considered." These real-world connections transform the age-old student question, "When will I ever use this?" from a challenge into an opportunity. Teachers can now respond with concrete examples rather than theoretical scenarios. This resonates with students, particularly those who struggle to see the relevance of traditional academic subjects to their future careers. Moreover, externships help teachers better prepare students for the modern workplace. Today's employers consistently report a skills gap between what graduates know and what industries need. Teachers who have experienced these workplace demands firsthand are better equipped to address this gap. They understand not just the technical skills required but also the soft skills—communication, problem-solving, and adaptability—that are crucial for career success. The impact goes both ways. Host companies benefit from teachers' insights into how to better connect with the next generation of workers. These partnerships often evolve into longer-term relationships, leading to guest speaker opportunities, field trips and student internship programs. This creates a valuable pipeline of future talent while strengthening connections between schools and their communities. 'Teacher externship gave our company the opportunity to highlight dozens of careers in the office and on project sites as we broke perceptions about the construction industry,' says David Scott, Construction Industry Advocate with Encore Electric, Inc., an electrical and technology solutions construction and service firm that participates in the Teacher Externship Program. 'Teacher externships are a long-term investment in workforce development. The immediate reward was when they used the phrase 'I wish I knew about these career paths when I was getting started,' as it is our hope these teachers will cascade their experience to their students to create the next generation of electricians.' Program success is measured using several key metrics, according to Reeser. The program tracks the number of business hosts and participating teachers, the diversity of industries represented in externships and collects teacher and business feedback post-externship. "Generally, teachers report that externships enhance their understanding of career pathways and provide valuable professional development," notes Reeser. "In one exceptional example, a veteran teacher described his externship as 'the best professional development experience I've ever had.'" Long-term success will also be measured by student outcomes. Planned future metrics include student feedback on how externship-driven curriculum changes impacted their learning, the number of students expressing interest in STEM careers due to teacher influence and student enrollment in STEM-related credentialing programs, apprenticeships or postsecondary education. Looking forward, Colorado's program is strategically aligning with emerging workforce trends. According to the 2024 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report, demand for skilled professionals is rising in technology, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and quantum information science—the latter being particularly significant given Colorado's recent designation as a Tech Hub for Quantum Computing. 'Teacher externships serve as a bridge between education and industry and enhance our statewide efforts to build Colorado's talent pipeline for in-demand industries at the ground level,' says Lee Wheeler-Berliner, managing director of the Colorado Workforce Development Council. 'The data collected in our Talent Pipeline Report helps us identify in-demand industries to target for collaboration. Teacher externs are able to bring relevant, meaningful content—and a clear understanding of the skills needed for success in the workplace—back to their students, inspiring them to pursue those careers.' The program's potential is perhaps best illustrated by Shane Stalter's experience. The Monarch High School teacher's externship at Sierra Space led to his involvement in developing virtual workspace solutions for the Dream Chaser Spacecraft project. 'I met a few people during the onboarding period and was surprised that many contractors and employees did not have four-year engineering degrees,' says Stalter. 'I just assumed everyone in the aerospace industry was a rocket scientist. The aerospace industry is made up of a workforce that includes many types of engineering, but also includes electricians, assembly technicians, HVAC and many of the skilled trades. Students need to know that the aerospace industry is not all engineers and there is a great deal of opportunity for a wide range of careers.' Statler's success earned him an invitation to the National Space Workforce Council Meeting at the White House in October 2024, where Colorado's program was highlighted as a best practice for aerospace workforce development. Despite its early success, the program still faces several challenges. Funding remains a primary concern, as the original statute's business tax credits for hosting teachers were removed during legislative review. "Teachers should be compensated for their externship participation, and businesses must sometimes allocate resources to host them," Reeser notes. "The original statute creating the program included business tax credits for hosting teachers, but this provision was removed during legislative review. As a result, no dedicated funding stream exists to support programmatic costs for the Teacher Externship Program, so fundraising is an ongoing concern." Some companies also struggle to dedicate time and resources to hosting externs, making participation difficult. To address these challenges, Reeser has focused on fundraising efforts, securing funding from business sponsorships, interagency agreements and sector partnership grants to cover teacher stipends. She is continually seeking grant funding from a variety of sources, including applications to programs like the NSF's ExLENT grant program to fund externships focused on emerging technologies. In 2024-25, CDLE's Division of Employment and Training is partnering with the Office of Future of Work to create externships focused on Registered Apprenticeship programs. "So far, we have identified business hosts that serve public utilities/energy, construction/electrical contractors, and the commercial trucking industry, with more in the works," says Reeser. "This partnership serves as a model for expanding externships into additional sectors and aligning workforce development efforts with regional needs." 'Many students, families and teachers are unfamiliar with registered apprenticeships and the variety of fields in which they're offered,' says Katherine Keegan, CDLE's Director of the Office of Future of Work. 'By allowing teachers to participate in a real workforce setting and experience the apprenticeship model, we're giving them the line of sight they can use to encourage their students to explore apprenticeship programs in the same fields—ultimately opening up another pathway for their students to achieve success.' To scale these programs effectively nationwide, coordinated efforts between educational institutions, industries and policymakers are critical. State education departments could consider making externship experiences part of teacher professional development requirements. Business communities could be incentivized to create meaningful externship opportunities. And school districts could provide support for curriculum integration and continued industry partnerships. For Colorado's students, the program represents more than just enhanced classroom instruction—it's a bridge to their future careers, built by teachers who understand firsthand the skills and knowledge they'll need to succeed.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers debate controversial bill that would force insurers to fundamentally change their business practices: 'We shouldn't kick the whole thing down the road'
Colorado could adopt legislation to improve insurance protections for residents impacted by increased costs and nonrenewal notices — oftentimes with limited evidence from insurers. As detailed by The Colorado Sun, the bill's sponsors introduced House Bill 1182 in February. Aimed at increasing transparency regarding risk assessment and the setting of premiums, the legislation would require insurance companies to provide a detailed breakdown of their wildfire risk models and scoring methods to the state and general public. Customers would receive an assessment 60 days prior to renewal or 90 days before nonrenewal. If they believe an insurance company ruled unfairly — for instance, one homeowner was dropped after their insurer used a satellite image to falsely conclude their property was in the woods — they will have the opportunity to appeal. In Colorado, property insurance skyrocketed by an average of 58% from 2018 to 2023, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association. While factors such as inflation contributed to this increase, so did extreme weather events like wildfires, which are growing more frequent and severe as human activities drive global temperatures higher. In the Centennial State, more than 3 million people live in areas at risk of wildfires, according to the Colorado State Forest Service. While companies like Colorado Earth are improving climate resilience by constructing homes with fire-resistant materials, the state is nonetheless mired in a nationwide insurance crisis. All over the U.S., homeowners have been left without coverage or priced out of areas altogether. In 2023, Colorado introduced a "quasi-governmental insurer" to support homeowners who couldn't find an insurer in the private market, per the Sun. However, policymakers hope HB1182 will reduce the need for this last-resort coverage, as homeowners would have the chance to prove to insurers that they've taken action to mitigate their wildfire risk, such as clearing vegetation and building with fire-resistant materials. Insurers would also have to take state-run efforts to combat wildfires under consideration. The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee has yet to assign a hearing date to HB1182. One hurdle to overcome is how the bill would protect proprietary technology from third-party companies working with private insurers. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Arvada Rep. Brianna Titone, one of the bill's sponsors, indicated to the Sun that she would be open to collaborating with companies to implement a mindful rollout. "Maybe there's some things that you need to push off a little bit later, but we shouldn't kick the whole thing down the road just because there's a couple technological things that we need to address," Titone said. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Colorado Rep. Brianna Titone announces campaign for state treasurer
State Rep. Brianna Titone is running for Colorado state treasurer. (Courtesy of Brianna Titone) Democratic state Rep. Brianna Titone of Arvada announced Wednesday that she would seek the office of Colorado state treasurer in the 2026 election. 'I've spent my career tackling complex financial and policy challenges, and I'm ready to bring that experience to the Treasurer's office,' Titone, who has represented House District 27 in the Legislature since 2019, said in a press release. If elected, Titone would be the second openly transgender person to win a statewide election in the U.S., after first-term U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride was elected to Delaware's at-large congressional seat last year, and the first to win election to a state executive office. Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young, himself a former Democratic state lawmaker, has held the office since 2019. All four of Colorado's executive-branch posts — governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer — are currently held by Democrats who are term-limited and will be up for grabs in 2026. Titone said her priorities as state treasurer would including protecting PERA, the state's pension system for public employees, and returning to Coloradans more than $2 billion in unclaimed property currently held by the state. A trained geologist and former mining consultant, she touted her work in the General Assembly to 'ensure economic opportunity and financial security for all Coloradans,' including right-to-repair legislation and bills to curb renters' fees and price gouging. Titone, the first major candidate to announce a bid for state treasurer, launched her campaign with a list of endorsements from a dozen fellow Democrats in the Legislature and local elected officials from around the state. Primary elections to decide party nominees for state offices will be held in June 2026. 'I am proud to support Brianna Titone for state treasurer because she always puts working people first,' said state Rep. Javier Mabrey, a Denver Democrat and chair of the House Judiciary Committee. 'I know she will fight to preserve PERA so that hard working Coloradans can retire with dignity.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
