Governor Polis Visits Grand Junction to Highlight Need For Federal Action to Renew Health Care Tax Credits and Save Coloradans Money, Discusses How Trump Tariffs are Hurting[...]

GRAND JUNCTION - Today, Governor Polis was on the Western Slope in Grand Junction visiting with health care leaders to highlight the importance of the federal Enhanced Premium Tax Credit, and the devastating increases Coloradans will see to health care premiums if Congress fails to renew it.

Governor Polis also met with two local Grand Junction businesses, Munro Supply and SkyHook Solar Corp, in partnership with the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce, to hear how Trump's erratic tariff wars are hurting small businesses driving the local Grand Junction economy. Munro Supply is a multi-generational industrial supplier providing materials for agriculture, local government water management, construction, mining and energy. SkyHook Solar Corp is creating transportable solar generators, deploying clean and sustainable energy where it's needed, with support from the State's Rural Jump-start Program. To date the company has received $32,500 in grant funding and created three new rural jobs at or above the average county wage, with plans to create more.

"Today I heard more calls for help from Colorado small businesses being devastated by Trump's disastrous tariff taxes. Small businesses are the bedrock of our economy, communities, and way of life, and the President must stop crushing hardworking businesses with erratic and costly tariffs. I again call on the President to stop this madness and put American businesses first. He must drop his reckless trade war which is costing families and businesses," said Governor Jared Polis.

Last week, Governor Polis and the Office of State Planning and Budgeting released a report showing the significant impacts of Trump's tariffs on Colorado's economy, including that Colorado's effective tariff rate has skyrocketed from 3 percent in 2024 to 21 percent in 2025, the highest level in more than a century. The report warns that further tariff escalation could push the state into a recession and cost schools and health care as much as $805 million in revenue losses by FY26-27.

Today Governor Polis also visited the Food Bank of the Rockies where he signed a proclamation recognizing National Hunger Action Day. The Food Bank of the Rockies distributed 12.7 million pounds of food across the Western Slope, 10.3 million meals, in 2024 and its Grand Junction facility houses the only dehydrator program in the Feeding America Network, using local produce to create nutritious snacks and limiting food waste.

"The Food Bank of the Rockies is an important lifeline for families across the Western Slope who need support putting healthy food on the table. Today, on National Hunger Day of Action, I was excited to visit this new facility, learn about the innovative ways the Food Bank of the Rockies is getting healthy meals to families who need them, and highlight the ways Coloradans and non-profits are stepping up to support our communities and ensure all Coloradans have access to healthy food," said Governor Polis.

Governor Polis is a national leader in expanding access to healthy food for all families. Governor Polis recently signed SB25B-003 - Healthy School Meals For All, sponsored by Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Katie Wallace and Representatives and Representatives Lorena Garcia and Katie Stewart which updates a ballot proposal, giving Coloradans the opportunity to protect Colorado family access to healthy food through SNAP in the face of Trump and Republicans in Congress taking food from family kitchen tables. Colorado recently secured federal approval of a waiver to support healthy food options for families who rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table.

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