Rep. Neguse, Gov. Polis, Leadership from CU & CSU Hold Rocky Mountain Showdown Press Call

Lafayette, CO — Today, Congressman Joe Neguse was joined by Governor Jared Polis and leadership from Colorado State University and the University of Colorado to discuss the impact both schools have on every sector of Colorado’s economic landscape. The lawmakers were joined by Amy Parsons, President of Colorado State University, and Philip DiStefano, Chancellor of the University of Colorado Boulder in advance of Saturday’s Rocky Mountain Showdown. From agriculture to aerospace, energy to engineering, to healthcare, technology, cybersecurity, and so much more, these schools are essential contributors to Colorado’s success. 

The Rocky Mountain Showdown—the annual CU–CSU football matchup—is a longstanding tradition between the two universities. This year’s game has gained national attention, and on Saturday, September 16th people across the country will tune in to see these top tier schools face off for the Centennial Cup.

“Buff or Ram, the tremendous impacts these nationally recognized higher-education institutions have on our state and our country are undeniable. From workforce development to groundbreaking research findings, Colorado State University and CU Boulder are integral to the success of our state—playing a pivotal role in bolstering the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit that Colorado is so well known for,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “I am honored to represent both schools in the United States Congress, and will continue to do all I can to support their advancement.”

“The Rocky Mountain Showdown is an exciting chance for us to show our Colorado pride and celebrate our excellent universities that contribute so much to our strong economy and way of life. We are a state with boundless pride for our sports teams and we look forward to an exciting game this weekend,” said Governor Polis. 

“The two systems produce more than 70% of all degrees in the state, 100% of the MDs and DVMs, and the vast majority of the graduate degrees in the state, which really fuel our workforce throughout Colorado—all corners of Colorado,” said President Parsons. “This event just shines a brighter light on all the great things we’re doing in Colorado.”

“All of Colorado benefits from the complementary research and close collaboration between our two outstanding universities. With support from our elected officials and the communities we serve, CU Boulder and CSU will continue to lead, innovate and positively impact humanity for generations to come,” said CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano. 

A recording of the call can be found HERE. 

Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, represented by Rep. Neguse, is home to two nationally recognized higher-education institutions. Both Colorado State University (CSU) and the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) are among America’s leading research universities, boasting significant impacts on the state of Colorado as a whole. The two schools are vital to workforce development in the state, fostering the next generation of innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. 

Top caliber on the field and off, below are some highlights of the impacts Colorado State University and the University of Colorado Boulder have on every sector of the state:

• CU Boulder and CSU have collaborated on thousands of research projects, including more than 1,900 co-authored articles, a majority of which are available to the global community. 
• Commercialization activities by CU Boulder had an economic impact of $8 billion nationally and $5.2 billion in the state of Colorado (2018–22). 
• The CU system supports 89,900 jobs – mostly in the Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs areas – generating labor income of $6.3 billion (2022). 
• CSU startup and spinoff companies generate about $228 million of regional economic impact annually. 
• CSU Fort Collins has launched 50 new startup companies since 2006 and supports more than 750 active inventions.

Colorado State University, founded in 1870, is a Tier 1 research institution, home to the nation’s No. 2 veterinary school, and houses top programs in atmospheric science, natural resources, and agricultural innovation. The University of Colorado Boulder, founded in 1876, also a Tier 1 research institution is a prominent figure in national space, climate environmental science, and bioscience research—partnering with federal labs like National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and more in their work. 

Background

Congressman Joe Neguse, who previously was elected to represent Colorado’s 2nd District on the University of Colorado Board of Regents, has long advocated for policies to make higher education more affordable and accessible. Since being elected to Congress, he has fought for federal funding to support both Colorado State University and the University of Colorado Boulder’s scientific research and development laboratories. Most recently, he announced $2 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado Boulder’s Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA) and $9 million for CU Boulder’s next generation domestic solar manufacturing research. Last Congress, Rep. Neguse helped secure $1 million for a new mechanical engineering partnership between Colorado State University and Adams State University as part of FY '22 community project funding. 

In June, Rep. Neguse announced that over $3 million in federal funds allocated by the National Science Foundation (NSF) had been awarded to researchers at CU Boulder and CSU. The announcement included $1,828,800 for four projects being conducted at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and $1,697,284 for six projects at the University of Colorado Boulder. 

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