Governor Polis and Arnold Ventures Announce $20 Million Partnership to Boost Economic Opportunity, Strengthen Colorado’s Workforce & Expand Education

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The multi ~ Denver, CO - In a joint effort to improve economic opportunities for Coloradans, Governor Jared Polis and philanthropy Arnold Ventures have announced a new multi-year partnership. The Colorado Partnership for Proven Initiatives will provide $20 million in funding to support data-driven investments that aim to advance economic mobility for residents of the state.

Governor Polis expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that it builds on Colorado's progress in expanding access to high-quality education and creating pathways to economic success for all citizens. He emphasized the importance of investing in initiatives that have been proven to work.

Over the next four years, Arnold Ventures will match investments made by the State of Colorado dollar-for-dollar, providing up to $10 million in support for evidence-based programs. This will help advance the economic mobility of Coloradans and maximize the impact of every dollar spent.

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Founder and co-chair of Arnold Ventures, Laura Arnold, highlighted the significance of this partnership in a time when resources are limited. She stated that by matching state investments with philanthropic capital, they are ensuring that every dollar has a meaningful impact on students, families, and communities.

The first phase of this partnership will focus on higher education and workforce training. Two community colleges in Colorado - Lamar Community College and Colorado Mountain College - will receive support for launching proven student success initiatives. These initiatives are modeled after the Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) initiative developed by City University of New York (CUNY). ASAP provides comprehensive academic, financial, and personal support for low-income students pursuing two-year associate degrees.

CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez expressed confidence in the success of these initiatives based on their track record at CUNY. He stated that ASAP has helped over 110,000 students and has been replicated nationwide. The adoption of this program by Colorado's community colleges is expected to have a measurable impact on student success and economic mobility.

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The State of Colorado and Arnold Ventures will work with the nonprofit, nonpartisan Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy to identify promising initiatives, scale proven initiatives, ensure funding sustainability, and implement these efforts. This collaboration will also involve developing long-term strategies to allocate public resources towards initiatives that have been proven to deliver results for local communities.

President of the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, Jon Baron, emphasized the importance of using evidence-based programs to make progress on education and economic mobility. He praised Governor Polis and Arnold Ventures for their commitment to implementing proven initiatives at a larger scale.

This partnership between the State of Colorado and Arnold Ventures is a significant step towards improving economic opportunities for Coloradans. By investing in evidence-based programs and working together with community colleges and organizations like CUNY and the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, they hope to create a brighter future for all residents of the state.

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