Northwest Chamber Alliance adds Boulder County LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce to ranks

The Northwest Chamber Alliance, or NWCA, has grown it’s ranks with the addition of the Boulder County LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce.

“Expanding the regional collaboration and representation of our workforce across Boulder and Broomfield counties can only help our reach,” said Andrea Meneghel, public affairs director for the Boulder Chamber of Commerce and outreach coordinator with the NWCA. “With (the Boulder County LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce) joining us we can grow our advocacy and strengthen the regional economic vitality.”

The Boulder County LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce represents 45 businesses and nonprofits in the county, according to LGBTQ Chamber Advisory Board Member Scott Beard. With the addition of the Boulder County LGBTQ Chamber, the NWAC now represents 3,700 businesses and 380,000 employees, per the NWAC website.

The NWCA formed in 2016 as a coalition focused on regional issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life, according to their website. The alliance comprises chambers of commerce from Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont and Superior, as well as the Latino Chamber of Boulder County and now the Boulder County LGBTQ Chamber.

“I think it’s important for the growth of our community,” said Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Scott Cook. “Being more inclusive, adding more businesses and voices to the region will only make the Northwest Alliance stronger.”

Beard, owner of Scott Beard Law, LLC and the Boulder County LGBTQ member since inception, will serve as the Boulder County LGBTQ Chamber’s representative at the NWAC. The Boulder County chapter of the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce formed in May of 2019 and was just getting its legs when the pandemic hit, according to Beard.

“We formed to create a community, as much as anything, and to join forces with other businesses to identify their needs,” Beard said. “We’re a baby chamber, we’re still learning what it means to be a chamber and what we could offer. We’re tapping into the resources of these other chambers, particularly Boulder and Longmont.”

“The Northwest Chamber Alliance is really focused on advocacy, and how we can act as a larger, stronger voice,” Beard said. “They’re keeping us abreast of legislation and bills that affect us. This alliance really works to find those common issues where we can all agree and take action on.”

One of the issues NWCA has helped several chambers address is transportation. Beard said the main focus for NWCA, in his time there, has been navigating the transportation issues affecting the region. 

“[Transportation] decisions affect the community for years and years to come. Joining forces with all these other chambers to get behind these options is the type of thing that benefits all our businesses. This is a very expensive place to live,” Beard said. “We’ve got to have the transportation to move people from affordable housing to where they work. Supporting things like ‘First and Final Mile’ and this Longmont-Boulder rail line are part of that.”

A statement from NWCA on March 1, signed by the presidents and CEOs of the member organizations, addressed to Governor Polis and the state legislature highlighted the transportation needs of the region, including the long-delayed Fastracks northwest rail to Longmont. 

“The Northwest Chamber Alliance believes we must focus on improving regional mobility for commuters and residents to sustain a thriving economy and to address quality of life concerns in the Northwest Denver metro area,” the statement reads.

“It’s always been our goal to be an inclusive chamber. We believe anyone should be able to start a business and have the resources to make it successful,” Cook said. “The LGBTQ Chamber joining us is another step in that process with the NWCA.”