Douglas County launches strategy to become one of the nation’s most business-ready communities

As headlines continue to raise alarms about Colorado’s business climate, Douglas County is charting a different course.

Business leaders across the state have warned that increasing regulatory complexity and unpredictable approval processes are making Colorado less competitive for investment and job creation.

Rather than accepting that trend, Douglas County is taking action with a comprehensive strategy to become one of the nation’s fastest and most business-ready counties, making it easier for companies to invest, expand and create jobs locally.

Today, the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners, in partnership with the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation, officially released the Red Tape Reduction Action Plan, a roadmap to further streamline the development review process, strengthen coordination across County departments and partner agencies, and deliver an overall better customer experience.

Developed by the Douglas County Red Tape Reduction Task Force, the Action Plan is the result of months of collaboration among business leaders, developers, utility providers, public safety partners and County staff. It outlines six initiatives to streamline processes, improve the customer experience, build service excellence, strengthen partnerships, measure performance and communicate progress.

“Businesses have choices about where they invest, expand and create jobs,” said Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle. “Douglas County intends to be the community they choose. This Action Plan reflects our commitment to delivering a government that is responsive, predictable and focused on removing unnecessary barriers while maintaining the high standards our residents expect.”

The Action Plan also establishes published commercial permit review targets to give businesses greater certainty when planning projects and create greater accountability through transparent performance reporting. Over time, the County will track key performance indicators and publicly report results to drive continuous improvement.

“Our mission is clear: to make Douglas County the premier location to do business in Colorado and one of the fastest in the nation,” said Ellie Reynolds, President and CEO of the Douglas County Economic Development Corporation. “This Red Tape Action Plan memorializes our promise to the business community to deliver fast, predictable timelines. In Douglas County, you have a two-week guarantee—and we aren’t just making promises; we are delivering results. We recently put our action plan to work for an international aerospace company, issuing permits in under two weeks and bringing high-quality jobs to Douglas County.”

These improvements are just the beginning of a broader technology strategy. The Action Plan also establishes a long-term vision for a “1 Door, 1 Application” experience, allowing customers to eventually submit information once, track project status, make payments and navigate reviews through a single coordinated online platform.

Although the Action Plan is being released today, implementation is already underway. Rather than waiting for the plan to be finalized, County staff immediately began putting recommendations into action, demonstrating the County’s commitment to continuous improvement and moving at the speed of business.

The work does not end with this plan. Douglas County will incorporate Red Tape Reduction principles into future updates of foundational planning documents, ensuring efficiency, predictability and customer service remain central to the County’s long-term approach to economic development and responsible growth.

The Red Tape Reduction Action Plan positions Douglas County to build on its reputation as one of Colorado’s premier places to live, work and do business by creating a faster, more transparent and more predictable development experience.

Watch a press conference detailing the Action Plan.

Learn more and read the full Action Plan by visiting our webpage.

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