Colorado's very own Governor Jared Polis took a trip down to the southern areas of the state, making stops in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. His tour included time spent at Jenkins Middle School, known for being a Purple Star awardee, a nod to the school's exceptional support for students connected to military families. The Purple Star Program was set in motion by Polis in May 2024 when he signed HB24-1076 into law, ensuring schools that serve military families get rightly recognized. “Supporting military connected students is an important part of ensuring that all students succeed and that Colorado is the best state for veterans and military families. No kids should be left behind because a family member is serving our nation. I was proud to sign the Purple Star Award program into law in 2024 and I am thrilled to be at Jenkins Middle School today to honor their dedication to supporting military families,” Governor Polis expressed, as reported by the Colorado Governor's Office.
His visit didn't just focus solely on educational initiatives. Governor Polis also made a stop at PexPeppers Hot Sauce, a small business in Pueblo that has managed to add that extra kick to Colorado's economy. Utilizing the locally grown Pueblo chiles, the business concocts an array of hot sauce flavors that have since spread across local markets and grocery stores statewide. Polis commended the enterprise, saying, “PexPeppers is a smoking hot local small business in Pueblo, spreading the love of our world-famous, and obviously superior, Pueblo chile. Small businesses are the bedrock of our communities and our economy, and PexPeppers is no different,” a statement that emphasizes the state's focus on its small business community, as per the Colorado Governor's Office.
The final stop for the Governor was the grand unveiling of a new state-of-the-art building for Abrams Elementary in Fort Carson. This institution, too, has earned the Purple Star designation and is part of a school district that predominantly serves military families. Abrams Elementary falls within Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8, which is responsible for approximately 8,000 students, 70% of whom are connected to military service. Polis championed the new facilities as a critical investment in educational infrastructure that would benefit Colorado's youth.
_03.jpg){kind=link}