Recognizing Melissa Kraai

Floor Speech

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Ms. PETTERSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Melissa Kraai of Arvada, Colorado for winning the Arvada Economic Development Association's 2024 Chris Adams Community Spirit Award. Each year, this award honors an Arvada resident who defines and shapes the community's character through their work and engagement.

In 2009, Ms. Kraai founded SustainAbility in Arvada, Colorado, after noticing her community lacked a center to process hard-to-recycle household goods. Taking the initiative to improve her community, she decided to open a facility that recycles items that most municipal recycling facilities are unable to process and otherwise end up in landfills, such as styrofoam, paint, and electronics.

Ms. Kraai is also dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable workforce, especially for Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Since SustainAbility first opened, Ms. Kraai has made it her mission to address un- and under-employment among disabled Coloradans by creating quality, meaningful jobs for her employees, a majority of whom are disabled. After successfully starting the Arvada facility, Ms. Kraai expanded operations to the nearby cities of Broomfield and Westminster, allowing thousands of more Coloradans to recycle their household products.

On behalf of the people of Colorado's Seventh Congressional District, it is my honor to congratulate Melissa Kraai for winning the Chris Adams Community Spirit Award and thank her for her contributions to the Arvada community.

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