A bill to find ways to boost economic development in highly distressed regions of Colorado has cleared the state House.
The bipartisan measure calls for the creation of a working group that identifies areas in Colorado that are struggling.
The group would make recommendations to the legislature on how to improve the economies of these distressed regions.
Democratic Rep. Dan Pabon of Denver is one of the bill’s sponsors.
"And, what’s interesting about this bill and these issues is they cut across regional lines," Pabon said to a House committee back in February. "They cut across party lines. They cut across all types of lines when you are talking about what’s best for economic development in both rural and urban areas."
Pabon said the state’s economy is improving, but the recovery isn’t equal in all areas.
"We want to make sure that we're putting good economic development tools into those areas [where it’s] most needed," he said.
The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Yeulin Willett of Grand Junction, now heads to the Senate for review.
