COMPREHENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE
Erik Underwood for Colorado Governor – Complete Platform Implementation
YEAR 1: FOUNDATION AND IMMEDIATE ACTION
FIRST 100 DAYS (January – April 2027)
Week 1-2: Executive Actions
- Sign executive order banning private prisons in Colorado
- Create Colorado Attorney General Epstein investigation task force
- Establish ICE accountability oversight unit
- Issue executive order supporting Palestinian refugee sponsorship
- Statewide AI Data Center Moratorium: 180-day pause on new approvals pending comprehensive policy
- Community Impact Review: Assess all proposed AI data centers for environmental justice impacts
- Utility Rate Protection: Prevent data center costs from being passed to residential customers
- Emergency Water Conservation: Require immediate water usage reporting from existing facilities
Month 1: Healthcare Initiative
- Begin interstate compact negotiations (Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico)
- Meet with healthcare industry leaders and unions
- Draft Universal Healthcare legislation with legislative allies
Month 1: Housing Program Launch
- Establish Division of Housing special department
- Secure initial $100 million in funding (bonds + federal infrastructure funds)
- Launch first 2.75% loan program for 200 families
- Begin acquisition of first state-owned homes
Month 2: Gambling/Education Revenue
- Introduce Colorado Entertainment Industry Development Act (film incentives)
- Draft state gambling/wagering app legislation
- Begin education lottery system planning
- Meet with tribal gaming authorities for partnerships
Month 2: AI Data Center Regulation
- Draft Colorado Data Center Responsibility Act with comprehensive regulations
- Establish Community Benefit Agreement requirements for all large facilities
- Launch stakeholder engagement with environmental justice communities
- Create AI innovation framework supporting Colorado startups over mega-corporations
Month 3: Economic Development
- Launch Colorado Creator Fund ($5 million initial)
- Award first hemp manufacturing grants ($10 million)
- Begin negotiations for Hollywood tax credit program
- Establish state-run grocery store pilot location
- Launch Colorado AI Innovation Fund ($50 million annually for local startups)
Month 3: Infrastructure Planning
- Submit federal grant applications for high-speed rail ($10.6 billion total)
- Begin environmental impact studies for Front Range rail
- Meet with congressional delegation on NIST/Space Command protection
- Begin Grand Junction International Airport expansion planning
- Submit federal airport improvement grants for Western Slope hub transformation
REST OF YEAR 1 (May – December 2027)
Universal Healthcare:
- Pass interstate compact legislation (Month 6)
- Begin healthcare infrastructure development
- Hire initial healthcare administration staff (500 positions)
- Launch pilot program covering 100,000 Coloradans
Housing Program:
- Finance 500 homes through 2.75% loan program
- Acquire first 50 state-owned properties
- Establish anti-speculation enforcement unit
- Begin converting unused office buildings to affordable housing
Education Funding:
- Launch state gambling/wagering app (sports betting phase)
- Begin first education lottery games
- Secure $100 million in corporate education partnerships
- Start free community college pilot (10,000 students)
AI Data Center Regulation:
- Pass Colorado Data Center Responsibility Act with comprehensive protections
- Implement living wage requirements ($75,000 minimum) for all data center jobs
- Establish renewable energy mandates (100% renewable within 3 years)
- Create community approval process for facilities over 50 megawatts
- Launch distributed computing incentives for Colorado-owned smaller facilities
Grocery Stores:
- Open 3 pilot stores in rural communities
- Establish direct farmer contracts (100+ farms)
- Create state food distribution network
- Launch food waste donation program
Hemp Manufacturing:
- Award $50 million in startup grants
- Launch 25 hemp manufacturing businesses
- Establish hemp processing facilities
- Create hemp workforce training programs
Film Industry:
- Pass 35% film tax credit legislation
- Begin construction of Colorado Studios Complex Phase 1
- Launch “Colorado: Naturally Cinematic” marketing campaign
- Secure first major film productions ($50 million spending)
Justice Reform:
- End forced prison labor programs
- Implement voluntary work programs with fair wages
- Expand drug addiction treatment centers (5 new facilities)
- Launch National Guard homeless assistance units
Infrastructure:
- Complete high-speed rail environmental studies (all 390 miles)
- Secure $10.6 billion in federal rail funding commitments (updated total)
- Begin Phase 1 rail construction planning (Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins)
- Start hemp manufacturing facility construction
- Begin Grand Junction Airport Phase 1 construction (terminal and runway expansion)
Political Action:
- Lower voting age to 16 legislation introduction
- TABOR elimination ballot measure preparation
- Critical thinking/civics education curriculum development
- Launch civic education programs for 16-17 year olds
YEAR 2: SCALING AND EXPANSION (2028)
Universal Healthcare:
- Expand coverage to 2 million Coloradans
- Complete healthcare infrastructure buildout
- Begin pharmaceutical bulk purchasing program
- Achieve $2 billion in cost savings through multi-state pool
Housing and Affordability:
- Finance 1,500 homes through loan program
- Convert 25 office buildings to affordable housing
- Launch rent collusion enforcement (50+ cases filed)
- Achieve $300 million in total housing loans
Education:
- Launch full online casino gaming platform
- Expand education lottery to 3 neighboring states
- Cover all community college tuition statewide
- Award $200 million in corporate education partnerships
AI Data Center Management:
- Enforce comprehensive regulations on all existing and new facilities
- Generate $100 million annually through Community Investment Fund (2% of revenue)
- Create 5,000+ Colorado AI jobs through innovation fund and local requirements
- Achieve 100% renewable energy for compliant data centers
Food Security:
- Open 8 state-run grocery stores (total 11)
- Achieve 25-30% price reduction vs. major chains
- Serve 15 rural communities previously without access
- Donate 2 million pounds of food to banks/shelters
Hemp Economy:
- Reach $100 million in hemp product sales
- Create 2,500 direct hemp industry jobs
- Open 3 major hemp processing facilities
- Launch hemp product export program
Entertainment Industry:
- Complete Colorado Studios Complex Phase 1 (10 sound stages)
- Attract $200 million in film production spending
- Create 3,000 direct film industry jobs
- Launch Colorado Film Academy programs
Infrastructure:
- Begin Phase 1 high-speed rail construction (Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins, $2.42 billion)
- Complete hemp manufacturing facilities
- Open 5 new drug addiction treatment centers
- Launch 3 regional film production hubs
- Complete Grand Junction Airport Phase 1 (commercial flights operational)
- Begin Phase 2 airport expansion (cargo and business aviation)
YEAR 3: MAJOR MILESTONES (2029)
Universal Healthcare:
- Achieve full universal coverage (5.8 million Coloradans)
- $50 annual fee implementation with payment plans
- Achieve break-even operations through multi-state pool
- Document $8 billion in annual cost savings vs. previous system
Housing Success:
- Program becomes self-sustaining through 1.5% kickbacks
- Finance 2,000+ homes annually
- Convert 50+ office buildings to affordable housing
- Reduce average housing costs by 15% statewide
Education Achievement:
- Launch international online education lottery
- Provide free tuition at all Colorado public universities
- Establish $8 billion education endowment fund
- Cover 150,000 students annually with $0 debt
AI Data Center Leadership:
- Colorado becomes national model for responsible data center regulation
- $500 million in community investment generated since program launch
- 15,000+ high-tech Colorado jobs created through innovation programs
- 50% reduction in water usage through mandatory closed-loop systems
Food Security Network:
- Operate 15 state-run grocery stores
- Achieve break-even operations on all stores
- Serve 30+ rural communities
- Create complete farm-to-table ecosystem
Hemp Industry Maturation:
- $500 million hemp industry with 5,000 direct jobs
- Launch auto parts and bioplastics production
- Generate $40 million in annual tax revenue
- Establish Colorado as national hemp manufacturing leader
Hollywood Colorado:
- Complete full Colorado Studios Complex (18 sound stages)
- Attract $750 million in annual production spending
- Create 15,000 entertainment industry jobs
- Establish Colorado as top-3 filming destination
Infrastructure Completion:
- Complete Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins high-speed rail line (70 miles operational)
- Begin Phase 2 rail construction (Denver-Colorado Springs, $2.94 billion)
- Complete Western Slope production facilities
- Launch 10 addiction treatment centers statewide
- Complete Grand Junction International Airport transformation ($500 million total investment)
- Intergrate airport with high-speed rail planning for seamless Western Slope connectivity
YEAR 4: OPTIMIZATION AND LEADERSHIP (2030)
System Refinement:
- Optimize all program operations for maximum efficiency
- Expand successful programs based on performance data
- Begin planning for post-gubernatorial sustainability
- Document best practices for national replication
National Recognition:
- Colorado leads nation in affordable housing solutions
- Universal healthcare model adopted by other states
- Education funding model replicated nationally
- Entertainment industry fully established
- AI data center regulation model copied by 15+ states
- Grand Junction Airport recognized as model for rural economic development
Economic Impact:
- $12 billion+ in new annual economic activity (updated total)
- 75,000+ new jobs created across all programs
- Colorado becomes #1 state for economic opportunity
- Population growth of 500,000+ new residents
Infrastructure Legacy:
- Denver-Colorado Springs rail line nears completion (Phase 2)
- Western Slope rail connection (Phase 3, $18.8 billion) environmental approvals complete
- Grand Junction International Airport serves as Western Slope economic hub
- Integrated transportation network connects all Colorado regions
PROJECT COSTS
High-Speed Rail System: $26.6 Billion Total
- Phase 1 (Denver-Boulder-Fort Collins): $2.42 billion
- Phase 2 (Denver-Colorado Springs): $2.94 billion
- Phase 3 (Western Slope Connection): $18.8 billion
- 10% Construction Contingency: $2.42 billion
Grand Junction Airport Expansion: $500 Million
- Phase 1 (Commercial): $200 million
- Phase 2 (Cargo/Business): $150 million
- Phase 3 (Integration): $150 million
Total Infrastructure Investment: $27.1 Billion
TIMELINE ASSUMPTIONS AND RISK FACTORS
Critical Success Factors:
- Legislative Support: Democratic control of state legislature maintained
- Federal Cooperation: Continued federal infrastructure and education funding
- Economic Stability: No major economic recession disrupting funding
- Legal Challenges: Successfully defend programs against court challenges
- AI Industry Compliance: Data center companies accept regulations vs. litigation
Contingency Plans:
- Slower Healthcare Rollout: If interstate compact fails, implement Colorado-only version
- Reduced Film Incentives: If budget constraints, reduce tax credit percentage
- Limited Rail Funding: Focus on Front Range first, delay Western Slope connection
- Gambling Revenue Shortfall: Increase corporate education partnerships
- AI Data Center Resistance: Implement enforcement mechanisms and penalties for non-compliance
- Airport Funding Delays: Phase airport expansion based on available federal grants
Key Performance Indicators:
- Healthcare: Cost per person, coverage percentage, health outcomes
- Housing: Average home prices, rental costs, homelessness rates
- Education: Student debt levels, graduation rates, job placement
- Jobs: Employment growth, wage increases, business formation
- Data Centers: Community investment generated, water savings achieved, local jobs created
- Infrastructure: Rail ridership, airport passenger growth, economic development impact
Risk Management:
- AI Industry Litigation: Prepare legal defense fund for corporate challenges to regulations
- Federal Policy Changes: Monitor national AI and infrastructure policy shifts
- Environmental Compliance: Front-load all environmental approvals to prevent delays
- Cost Inflation: Build in 10% contingencies for all major infrastructure projects
This comprehensive timeline demonstrates that Colorado can implement transformational change through strategic, phased implementation while maintaining fiscal responsibility and addressing current challenges like AI data center exploitation.
