CREJ - Journal

35 / 76

March 4-March 17, 2015 — COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL — Page 35
Economic Development News
TheArvada Economic Develop-
ment Association board of direc-
tors approved additional fund-
ing for the 50/50 matching grant
program and is accepting applica-
tions.
Businesses and property own-
ers may apply for the grant any-
time during the rolling funding
cycle application period based on
available funds.AEDAcreated the
Small Business Grant Program to
support existingArvada business-
es and property owners who wish
to make capital improvements
to the exterior of their properties
and, consequently, to the Arvada
community. This 50/50 matching
grant program leverages AEDA
funds and private-sector invest-
ment to enhance commercial
properties inArvada.
Applicants who wish to be con-
sidered in this quarter must apply
by 5 p.m. March 31. To apply,
go to arvadaeconomicdevelop-
ment.org/financial assistance and
download a program overview/
application.
Since theArvada Small Business
Grant program was established
in July 2011, the AEDA board has
allocated $860,855 to 78 Arvada
businesses. These matching grants
have resulted in over $2 million in
private project investment.
“Essentially this program gives
so many Arvada businesses the
opportunity to make their capital
improvements a reality. It is a win-
win for Arvada. I am looking for-
ward to seeing what projects will
benefit this year,” said Paul Hell-
er, president, Arvada Economic
Development Association.s
The Colorado Springs Regional
Business Alliance is partnering
with the state of Colorado, theCol-
orado Office of Economic Devel-
opment and International Trade,
the city of Colorado Springs,
El Paso County, the Colorado
Springs Airport and Pikes Peak
Community College in assisting
Sierra Completions, a subsidiary
of Sierra Nevada Corp., with its
plans to build a high-end aircraft
completions complex in Colorado
Springs.
The announcement signifies
major success of the vision for
the formation of the Commercial
Aeronautical Zone by the city of
Colorado Springs with participa-
tion by El Paso County and the
Pikes Peak Rural Transportation
Authority, according to the Busi-
ness Alliance. Once finalized, the
Sierra Completions complex will
stimulate growth at the Colorado
Springs Airport and raise the pro-
file of the airport as a premier
business location for the aviation
industry.
This project is anticipated to
result in 2,100 primary jobs within
five years and is expected to pro-
vide a multibillion-dollar econom-
ic impact, including indirect and
induced employment, to the Pikes
Peak region.
“This should be a major step
forward in diversifying the
region's economy while also pro-
viding tremendous opportunity
to employ skilled workers from
the region, including personnel
transitioning out of our military
installations,” commented Debbie
Chandler, chair of the board of
directors of the Business Alliance.
“Sierra Nevada Corp. is among
the world's top 10 most innova-
tive companies in space. We are
thrilled that they have identified
Colorado Springs as a community
thatwill complement andenhance
their fast-paced growth.”
The Colorado Aerospace Park
at the Colorado Springs Airport
is expected to be a four-phase, $88
million campus.
“We were very pleased with
the cooperation and commitment
brought to the table by state and
local officials, proving they're
invested as much in the success
of Sierra Completions as we are,”
said Jon Burgoyne, president of
Sierra Completions. “This new
subsidiary of SNC will serve as
an anchor tenant for the state's
emerging commercial aerospace
industry while also building on
the company's decades of experi-
ence in aircraft systems. The con-
struction of the Aerospace Park
and Completion Center will move
forward once final agreements are
fully negotiated and executed.”s
The Metro Denver Economic
Development Corp. announced
a new leadership appointment to
its industry affiliate, the Colorado
Energy Coalition.
Chris Hansen, senior director
of energy insight for IHS Inc.,
will serve a two-year term as
co-chair of the CEC. In his cur-
rent role at IHS, Hansen leads a
global portfolio of energy events
and partnerships. In addition, he
directs a social media analytics
development team with a suite
of products across several indus-
tries.
Hansen succeeds outgoing
Co-chair Lee Boughey, senior
manager of communications and
public affairs for Tri-State Gen-
eration and Transmission Asso-
ciation Inc., and joins existing Co-
chair John Armstrong, CEO of
Enserca LLC.
“The CEC represents all aspects
of the energy value chain, from
upstream fossil fuel producers to
solar and wind companies,” said
Hansen. “Colorado’s long-term
economic vitality depends on all
of the parts of the energy sector
working together. I look forward
to contributing to the important
work of the coalition and build-
ing on a foundation of balanced
energy success.”
Hansen has been an active
member of the CEC, having led
the competitive analysis commit-
tee, which conducts research on
Colorado's competitive position
in the national and global energy
economies, results of which are
published in the annual Resource
Rich Colorado report.
“Chris’s leadership on the
CEC’s Competitive Analysis
Committee has helped Resource
Rich Colorado become the go-to
energy information source for
industry and public policy lead-
ers inColorado,” saidArmstrong.
“He will be a great addition as
a co-chair, bringing diverse per-
spective and positive input to the
CEC as Colorado becomes rec-
ognized as the balanced energy
capital of the West.”
Before joining IHS, Hansen
was a research fellow at the
Oxford Institute for Energy Stud-
ies, where he analyzed electricity
andwgas-sector reform and pub-
lished several papers in profes-
sional journals on energy-sector
economies and policy analysis.s
Mayor Michael B. Hancock
announced the launch of a new
$10 million finance tool to support
affordable housing development
throughout Denver.
The new Denver Affordable
Housing Revolving Loan Fund is
seeded with $6 million from the
city and county of Denver along
with $3 million from the Colorado
Department of Local Affairs and
$1 million fromColorado Housing
and Finance Authority, which also
will administer the fund.
“This fund will provide a finan-
cial boost to development projects,
helping Denver deliver greater
access to safe, decent, affordable
housing inDenver,”Hancock said.
The announcement was made
at Bridging the Gap: A Solutions
Forum on Housing, an all-day
forum to inspire action among the
region’s premier housing leaders to
keep the metro area affordable and
accessible for all.
The fund is designed to support
the development of multifam-
ily rental units serving individu-
als and families earning up to 60
percent of the areamedian income,
or $46,020 for a family of four. It is
estimated that 35percent ofDenver
households at this income level are
rent burdened, meaning that they
pay30percent ormoreof their total
income for housing.
Developers can apply for Den-
ver Affordable Housing Revolv-
ing Loan Fund financing through
CHFAbeginning this spring. Loan
repayments will revolve back into
the fund, providing a means for
growth over the years.
“The Denver Affordable Hous-
ing Fund is a significant commit-
ment by the city and its partners,
CHFA and the Division of Hous-
ing, to meet the growing need for
affordable housing outlined in the
recent Housing Denver plan,” said
Pat Coyle, director of the Colorado
Department of Local Affairs, Divi-
sion of Housing.
The fund will target housing
For complete contact information, links and
Key Facts, visit our Web sit
Adams County Economic Development
Arvada Economic Development Association
Aurora Economic Development Council
Boulder Economic Council
Brighton Economic Development Corporation
City and County of Broomfield
Castle Rock Economic Development Council
City of Centennial
Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance
City of Commerce City
Denver Office of Economic Development
Denver South Economic Development Partnership
Downtown Denver Partnership Inc.
City of Englewood Community Development Dept.
Town of Erie
Federal Heights Redevelopment Agency
Grand Junction Economic Partnership
City of Greenwood Village
Jefferson County Economic Development Corp.
City of Lafayette
Lakewood Economic Development
City of Lone Tree
Longmont Area Economic Council
City of Louisville
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp.
City of Northglenn
Northwest Douglas County EDC
Town of Parker
Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority
Rifle Regional Economic Development Corp.
City of Thornton Office of Economic Development
Town of Superior
Westminster Economic Development
City of Wheat Ridge
Wheat Ridge 2020
Town of Windsor
For information regarding appearing in the EDC Profile
Section, please contact Jon Stern at 303.623.1148
Economic
Development
Councils Directory
Development
Councils Directory