Ben Franklin on a hundred-dollar bill against a sunlit sky, the Mid-Year Economic Forum artwork

August 4, 2026 · University of Northern Colorado, Campus Commons

Northern Colorado Mid-Year Economic Forum

Name: Northern Colorado Mid-Year Economic Forum
Start: 2026-08-04T08:00:00-06:00
End: 2026-08-04T12:10:00-06:00
Location: University of Northern Colorado, Campus Commons

A mid-year read on the Northern Colorado economy: the state outlook, the capital markets, the future of higher education and the industries that will drive the region’s next decade.

Host Sponsor

Date: August 4, 2026
Time: 7:30 a.m. Check-in · 8:00 a.m. Exhibits, networking and breakfast · 9:00 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Program
Venue: University of Northern Colorado, Campus Commons

1051 22nd St., Greeley, CO 80639

Presented by BizWest

Where Northern Colorado Takes Stock at Mid-Year

BizWest’s Mid-Year Economic Forum convenes top business leaders, government officials, academicians and entrepreneurs to highlight innovations and changing economic dynamics in Northern Colorado. Economic trends are shifting constantly in 2026, and the forum delivers critical updates on the state of the regional economy alongside deep dives into key industry sectors, high-growth industries and the impact of higher education.

See the full agenda

Sunlight breaking through clouds over a hundred-dollar bill, the Mid-Year Economic Forum artwork

What you get

Exhibits, Panels and Two Keynotes in One Morning

The forum pairs an interactive exhibit area, networking and a continental breakfast with a tightly run program: a panel on the future of higher education with representatives from Colorado State University, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Northern Colorado, Aims Community College, Front Range Community College and the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce; a panel on the economic drivers fueling entrepreneurship in aerospace, data centers, laser fusion and life sciences; and two keynotes on the state economic outlook and on M&A and capital trends. Entrepreneurs round out the stage, and the whole program wraps by 12:10 p.m.

Who is speaking

Keynote

The Road Ahead: What’s Next for Colorado’s Economy

Dr. Phyllis Resnick, executive director and lead economist of the Colorado Futures Center, explores the state economic outlook informed by recent forecasts from the center’s ColoradoCast model, what it means for the Northern Colorado economy, and what the center’s other models of disproportionately impacted communities and social factors affecting student success mean for future state and regional competitiveness.

Read the full bio

Keynote

Reading the Market: What M&A and Capital Trends Signal for the Rest of 2026

Matt Rupprecht, managing director at PMCF, examines current M&A and capital market trends, how activity in the first half of the year has compared to expectations, and what transaction, financing and investor dynamics may signal for the remainder of 2026. Drawing on both national and Rocky Mountain region perspectives, he discusses the factors shaping business valuations, deal activity and growth opportunities across the region.

Read the full bio

Event sponsorship, vendor booths and tickets are available. The University of Northern Colorado was the 2026 host sponsor, with one supporting sponsor and three associate sponsors. For more information, contact your account executive or Jeff Nuttall at jnuttall@bizwest.com. For program and panel information, contact Chris Wood, publisher/editor, at cwood@bizwest.com.

Sponsor the Mid-Year Economic Forum

Ask about a vendor booth

9:10 – 10:00 a.m.

The Future of Higher Education
10:05 – 10:55 a.m.

Economic Drivers: Fueling Entrepreneurship in Targeted Industries
11:05 – 11:40 a.m.

Keynote: The Road Ahead — What’s Next for Colorado’s Economy
11:40 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.

Keynote: Reading the Market — What M&A and Capital Trends Signal for the Rest of 2026