HomeMy WebLinkAbout20240592.tiffRESOLUTION
RE: EXPRESSION OF SUPPORT FOR UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO,
COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, AND HB24-1231, STATE FUNDING FOR
HIGHER EDUCATION PROJECTS
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, Colorado is facing a critical and growing physician shortage, and the
University of Northern Colorado ("UNC") is prepared to be part of the solution, thus establishing
a College of Osteopathic Medicine will help UNC meet a critical need for the local community and
the state, and
WHEREAS, because of UNC's diverse student body and history of excellence in the
health sciences, housing a College of Osteopathic Medicine is a natural fit for the university, and
WHEREAS, Colorado is projected to need 1,800 additional primary care physicians by
2030, and UNC's College of Osteopathic Medicine will graduate 150 new doctors into the
workforce each year, and
WHEREAS, currently, 59 of Colorado's 64 counties contain regions that are designated
as health professional shortage areas in primary care, and the osteopathic medical profession
has a long tradition of providing care to areas where patients lack doctors, and
WHEREAS, the College of Osteopathic Medicine is expected to boost Colorado's
economy by $1.4 billion over the next 20 years, with nearly half a billion of that impact remaining
in Weld County, and
WHEREAS, over the next 20 years, taxpayer benefits are expected to exceed $84 million,
primarily due to added tax revenue.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners of Weld
County, Colorado, hereby desires to address Colorado's physician shortage and strengthening
the state's healthcare workforce by supporting the University of Northern Colorado, College of
Osteopathic Medicine, and HB24-1231, State Funding for Higher Education Projects, a bill which
will provide necessary funding to institutions of higher education in Colorado to train more health
professionals in the state, including the creation of 150 Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine at UNC
each year.
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03/07/)4
2024-0592
BC0057
APPROVE SUPPORTING UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO, COLLEGE OF
OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, AND HB24-1231, STATE FUNDING FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
PROJECTS
PAGE 2
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 6th day of March, A.D., 2024.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD CO OLOR D�
ATTEST:
Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY:Uet7TrilA
Deputy Clerk to the Board
APORM:
County orney
Date of signature: 31111 Z`T
Kevjo_D.Ross, Chai
k, Pro-Tem
Perry
Mik Freeman
tt . James
2024-0592
BC0057
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