Breaking Through, Building Anew

Originally published by the Daily Camera, March 8, 2026. 

Full disclosure, this is my first public column as a representative for the Boulder Chamber. As the associate vice president of economic vitality for the Boulder Chamber, most of my work happens behind the scenes, working alongside partners like the city of Boulder, school districts, business and industry leaders, and other groups focused on our local economy. At heart, I’m also a fan of television, film and books that explore real emotion, and the complexities of the human condition — stories that remind us that growth rarely comes without tension, and progress is often born from perseverance.

Many of you may be familiar with the hit TV show “Lost.” In a first-season episode titled “The Moth,” a stranded survivor named John Locke kneels beside a trembling cocoon in the humid jungle. The crash survivors are still reeling from the traumatic event, arguing over leadership and peanut butter rations. Charlie, desperate and spiraling, wants relief from his own private torment. Locke, calm and deliberate, points to the cocoon and explains that if you help the moth escape — if you cut it free from its struggle during this pivotal transformative period — you rob it of the strength it needs to survive. The fight to break through is what gives the moth the resilience to live in the world.

Boulder finds itself in this similarly transformative moment.

The 2026 draft of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan lays out an ambitious vision for economic vitality — support for key industries, workforce alignment, affordable commercial space, innovation hubs and a renewed commitment to arts and culture. At the same time, the community is navigating the tremors of federal funding uncertainty, housing constraints, and a global economy that rewards speed and adaptability. The struggle is real. But like Locke’s moth, Boulder’s path forward will depend on how it uses this moment to transform.

Transformation is already underway. The city’s successful bid to host the Sundance Film Festival marks a cultural inflection point. For decades, Boulder’s innovation economy has been synonymous with research labs, outdoor recreation, and startups. Sundance adds another dimension that requires improved infrastructure — venues capable of hosting premieres, transit systems that can handle surges in visitors, and hospitality options that reflect our local charm and meet capacity needs.

The temptation might be to force change too quickly or shield the community from the friction of this transformative period. Adaptation requires appetite for process improvement. If Boulder hopes to attract creative professionals and primary employers, it must continue refining planning and permitting systems to be predictable, timely, and transparent. Progress is underway in the city’s partnership with Cities Work, a nonpartisan regulatory consultant helping local entrepreneurs start, operate, and grow businesses. The Boulder Planning and Development Services Department is also hearing our call for more efficient planning review and permitting processes. And plans are in motion to expand strategic incentives for business attraction — particularly sectors that bring in-office workers — that will complement our local economic character.

The Boulder Chamber has long supported this intersection of ambition and execution. While the draft Comprehensive Plan articulates policy direction — supporting primary employers and emerging industries, fostering innovation hubs and strengthening workforce development — the Boulder Chamber translates vision into action. Management of sector partnerships, work-based learning programs, economic data analysis and business retention efforts all align with the Comprehensive Plan’s goals. The synergy is less about duplication and more about reinforcement — policy sets the framework; our partnership with the city fills in the details.

Adaptation is especially critical as Boulder confronts potential funding reductions affecting major research institutions. Federal laboratories such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research are cornerstones of the regional economy. Their scientists fuel startups, attract graduate students and anchor supply chains. Funding cuts ripple outward, impacting contractors, housing demand and local tax revenue.

Recognizing that we will always confront challenges to the foundation of our economy, resilience cannot be an afterthought. It must be incorporated into everything we do. The draft Comprehensive Plan calls for close tracking of economic indicators to identify emerging threats. Organizations like the Boulder Chamber Economic Council, with access to real-time employer feedback and market research, and our partnership with CU’s Leeds School of Business, provide the intelligence necessary to respond. Diversifying the economic base — supporting technology and manufacturing with CHIPS Zones, nurturing creative industries tied to Sundance, and strengthening university-private sector partnerships — reduces reliance on any single funding stream.

Transformation also requires confronting affordability. Boulder’s high housing costs and limited commercial inventory strain both workers and entrepreneurs. The draft Comprehensive Plan’s commitment to facilitating access to affordable commercial space acknowledges a central truth — we must be creative. Maker spaces, light industrial zones, and mixed-use hubs must be accessible to diverse founders and small businesses.

Also sitting at the heart of our adaptation to evolving economic conditions is workforce development. The Boulder Chamber’s efforts to bridge connections with employers, educators, and training providers ensure that talent pipelines align with evolving industry needs. Upskilling mid-career workers, connecting students to internships, and creating apprenticeship pathways are not nice-to-haves — they are what makes it possible to break free from the cocoon.

Boulder’s transformation will not be frictionless. Infrastructure upgrades will disrupt routines. Policy reforms will require negotiation. Economic headwinds may test confidence. But the struggle itself can be generative, clarifying priorities, strengthening partnerships, and compelling innovation in governance.

The lesson from that humid jungle scene is not about romanticizing hardship. It is about recognizing that strength develops through effort. As the current draft of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan stands, the overall mission paired with the work of the Boulder Chamber point toward an economy that is innovative yet grounded, globally connected yet locally rooted, resilient enough to withstand funding shocks and bold enough to seize business development and cultural opportunities like Sundance.

We’re excited to review future drafts of Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. If Boulder resists the urge to cut open the cocoon — to rush past the work of infrastructure investment, process improvement and inclusive planning — it may find that today’s pressures are what enable it to take flight tomorrow.

I encourage you to join the conversation and get engaged. Visit the city’s “A Boulder Future” website for upcoming events — a-boulder-future-boulder.hub.arcgis.com. The next Community Open House is scheduled from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St.