If Denver increased its college attainment rate from 36.5 to 37.5 percent, the city would capture a $1.8 billion Talent Dividend. That's 16,307 additional graduates.
"At the root of this is educational attainment," said then-Mayor of Denver John Hickenlooper, now Governor of Colorado, when announcing the launch of the program in 2009. "We must grow our region's talent pool to continue reaping the rewards a highly educated population brings a community."
The Council of Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) leads Denver's talent initiatives, with support from the Denver Metro Chamber, the Downtown Denver Partnership, and the City of Denver. Employer-focused efforts include
My Degree Matters Colorado and a toolkit to help employers help their employees complete degrees and certificates.