More than seventy entrepreneurs from across Colorado gathered at the State Capitol for the 2025 Entrepreneur Day of Action, meeting directly with legislators, sharing their experiences, and shaping Colorado policies that impact small businesses. From scheduled meetings to impromptu conversations in the halls, attendees saw firsthand how accessible and powerful civic engagement can be. The message was clear: Colorado’s small business owners are ready to stand up, speak out, and shape the policies affecting their communities and futures.
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Why Entrepreneur Advocacy Matters
Entrepreneurs are not just business owners; they are community leaders, job creators, and economic drivers. However, policies that affect small businesses are often shaped without their direct input. The Entrepreneur Day of Action aims to change that. Hosted by the Center for Community Wealth Building, Good Business Colorado, Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute, and Small Business Majority, this event encourages small business owners to step into advocacy and use their voices to shape policies that impact them and their communities.
Entrepreneurs in Action
Throughout the day, attendees participated in a range of advocacy activities, including:
Meetings with policymakers to voice concerns and share firsthand experiences.
Floor lobbying outside the House Chambers, engaging in informal but impactful conversations with legislators.
Testimony at committee hearings, with many entrepreneurs learning how to effectively present their perspectives.
A Capitol tour, providing insight into the legislative process and where key decisions are made.
Jervis DiCicco, an entrepreneur who also guided attendees through the day’s scheduled events, shared:
“There is nothing like seeing the legislative process in action and realizing that there is (almost) no barrier to participation at the Capitol. Whether it’s floor lobbying, catching people in the hallway, or scheduling a meeting, the public really does have direct access to lawmakers, and lawmakers want to meet with their constituents!”
For first-time participants, the Day of Action made advocacy more approachable. “Participating in my first Entrepreneur Day of Action was both exciting and eye-opening,” said Laura Morocco. “The event helped demystify the process of testifying, lobbying, and simply connecting with senators and representatives in person.”
“The event helped demystify the process of testifying, lobbying, and simply connecting with senators and representatives in person.”
Breaking Barriers to Participation
The event prioritized accessibility, ensuring entrepreneurs from all backgrounds could participate. Travel stipends were provided for attendees outside the Denver Metro area, and Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs received translated materials and support.
Luz Rios, an entrepreneur who utilized translation at the event, shared: “For me, it was very valuable because by giving me the bills in Spanish, I was able to learn more about them and choose the ones of greatest interest to me. Also, doing a short practice on how to use them in front of the legislators made things easier.”
Colorado Legislators Want to Hear from Small Business Owners!
Entrepreneur Day of Action wasn’t just about advocacy—it was about building real, lasting connections between small business owners and the lawmakers shaping Colorado policy. One of the most memorable moments came when Representative Lorena Garcia invited Lindsey, a lobby captain and leader in the policy space, along with three small business owners, onto the House Floor for a special tour. “There was so much intentional time with Rep. Garcia,” Lindsey shared. “The small business owners felt incredibly connected to the civic engagement process.”
The day served as a powerful reminder that small business voices belong at the Capitol. Senator James Coleman emphasized this during his remarks:
“It’s crucial that we continue to be in conversation to make sure that policies passed in this building provide opportunities for our communities, for our families, and for our businesses to thrive. And quite frankly, that you all be involved in that process because we’re running policies and voting on bills that impact you, and some of us ain’t never been business owners. So it’s important that you all are here to advise us on bills that we’re running.”
Legislators showed genuine interest in hearing directly from the people driving Colorado’s small business economy. Representative Naquetta Ricks,the official legislative sponsor for the event, encouraged attendees with a powerful message:
“You guys have what it takes, and we’re going to fight together…I want to see small businesses succeed.”
“Stay engaged and keep coming back because the more we hear from you, the better.”
What Attendees Had to Say
“I came in as a skeptic that we could make an impact as individuals. But after seeing the growth of a few entrepreneurs who have come together, provided evidence for their claims, and seen measurable results, I know I need to continue to be involved.“
“I loved getting to connect with the other entrepreneurs and community organizations in the room. It was such a great opportunity to learn about their businesses and the challenges they’re facing.”
“Attending this event was incredibly valuable because it helped me realize that advocating, attending hearings, and speaking with our representatives are not as intimidating as I once thought. Seeing firsthand how these processes work gave me a new level of confidence in engaging with decision-makers.”
“El Día de Acción para Emprendedores 2025 en el Capitolio fue una experiencia sumamente valiosa para mí. Lo que más me impactó fue la oportunidad de conectar directamente con otros emprendedores y representantes de otras organizaciones; fue muy inspirador.“
“I was happy to participate in the Entrepreneur Day of Action at the state Capitol…I feel more empowered to get involved in advocacy as a small business owner, and I look forward to learning more about how I can continue to participate.”
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“I feel more empowered to get involved in advocacy as a small business owner.”
Keep the Momentum Going: How to Stay Involved
The 2025 Entrepreneur Day of Action showed the power of small business owners coming together to advocate for meaningful change, but advocacy doesn’t stop here! Ongoing engagement is key to ensuring that the voices of Colorado entrepreneurs continue to shape policies that impact their businesses and communities. Whether you attended this year’s event or are looking for ways to get involved, here are five ways to keep the momentum going:
Connect with Your Legislators Your voice matters. Find your representatives and contact them about the issues affecting your business. You can find your reps here.
Testify at the Capitol or Remotely Make your voice heard by providing testimony on bills that are being heard in committee. You can testify as an individual or business owner in person, remotely, or in writing. Sign up here.
Attend Future Advocacy Events Stay engaged by joining other Days of Action and advocacy opportunities throughout the year.
Build Connections Engage with other small business owners and advocacy organizations to share experiences and strengthen the small business voice in Colorado.
As the legislative session continues (closing May 7th), now is the time to stay engaged, keep small businesses at the forefront of policy decisions, and ensure their voices shape Colorado’s future. The 2025 Entrepreneur Day of Action proved that when entrepreneurs come together, real change happens—let’s build on this momentum and keep pushing for policies that support small businesses and communities.
From January until May, the Colorado General Assembly (our combined senate and house representatives) will be buzzing with activity as lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills
RMMFI is now proudly serving entrepreneurs statewide in both English and Spanish! While our initial expansion into rural Colorado focused on Trinidad, Sterling, and the San Luis Valley, our English and Spanish programs are now open to individuals from anywhere in the state.
As part of DOLA’s Community Crime Prevention Initiative (CCPI), RMMFI provided educational programming and business grants to formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs in Northeast and Southeast Colorado.
