March 2-March 15, 2016 —
COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— Page 37
Adams County Economic Development
Arvada Economic Development Association
Aurora Economic Development Council
Town of Berthoud
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 Economic Development Partnership
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
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 News
The Colorado Economic
Development
Commission
approved Enterprise Zone Con-
tribution Project Designation for
four organizations in the newly
created North Metro Enterprise
Zone. The North Metro orga-
nizations receiving designation
are Longmont Economic Devel-
opment Partnership, TinkerMill,
Our Center in Longmont and
the city of Lafayette for a project
specific to marketing and pro-
moting the enterprise zone pro-
gram within that community.
According to the Colorado
Office of Economic Develop-
ment & International Trade
website, “Enterprise Zone Con-
tribution Projects encourage
community participation and
public-private partnerships to
revitalize EZs.” Individuals and
organizations with a Colorado
state income tax liability can
earn tax credits by contributing
to designated contribution proj-
ects. Contributors to these orga-
nizations can earn a 25 percent
tax credit on cash contributions
or 12.5 percent on the value of
in-kind contributions.
“The hope is that the added
value of these tax credits will
encourage individuals and
organizations in the community
who may not have considered
contributions to these organi-
zations in the past to do so,
and encourage those who have
contributed to increase their
contributions to these organi-
zations that are critical to eco-
nomic development within the
designated EZ area,” stated
Longmont Economic Develop-
ment Partnership President and
North Metro Enterprise Zone
Administrator Jessica Erickson.
In order to receive the EZ
Contribution project designa-
tion, each organization had to
submit a project proposal to the
Longmont Economic Develop-
ment Partnership as the admin-
istrator for the North Metro EZ.
Project proposals had to show
how the organization or proj-
ect contributes to economic or
community development, or
homeless assistance, within the
designated EZ area.
Roger Caruso, economic
development specialist for the
city of Lafayette, commented
that, “The city of Lafayette is
excited that the economic devel-
opment commission supported
our application to become a con-
tribution project.” He noted that
“with this additional tool, the
city will be able to advance our
implementation and marketing
of the enterprise zone to target
companies and industries which
complement our community.”
The North Metro EZ encom-
passes portions of Broomfield,
Lafayette and Longmont with
the Longmont Economic Devel-
opment Partnership serving as
the administrator for the entire
North Metro EZ.
s
A year of strong gains in Den-
ver’s economic infrastructure
included the creation of 4,164
new jobs, the successful reten-
tion of 3,076 jobs and the cre-
ation of 628 affordable housing
units, all accomplished through
direct efforts of the Denver
Office of Economic Develop-
ment, the office announced in
releasing its 2015 annual report.
The city’s various incentive,
tax credit, loan and training
assistance programs helped 89
firms expand in Denver, result-
ing in more than $304 million of
capital investments in the city.
Also highlighted in the report,
the OED’s initiatives are build-
ing opportunities for Denver
firms to expand in exciting inter-
national markets – like Denver
Beer Co., now selling in Japan
after assistance from the city.
Meanwhile, the major job-
boosting announcements here
included United Airlines, Cost-
co, FiveStars, KPMG, Comcast,
Sunrun, Gusto, Transamerica,
DaVita and Optiv.
The annual report outlines the
tangible outcomes of the OED’s
JumpStart 2015 strategic plan,
including gains made in afford-
able housing, business recruit-
ment, small-business services,
lending projects, neighborhood
development and investing in a
strong workforce.
“We’ve had an exciting run of
new jobs from both startups and
corporate locations, and at the
same time posted major gains
in the mayor’s ambitious 3x5
plan for affordable housing,”
said OED Executive Director
Paul Washington. “It’s critical
that we continue to excel across
a spectrum of public-investment
strategies and tactics so that the
astounding growth momentum
Denver has enjoyed can con-
tinue.”
Update…
■
The city of Denver has
created the Mayor’s Office of
the National Western Center
through Executive Order No.
141.
The office will focus on real-
izing the “bold vision of a
must-see tourism destination
and regional asset,” transform-
ing the Denver Coliseum and
National Western Complex area
to become a creative year-round
activity campus.
The creation of the new office
is a critical next step following
Denver voters’ support of ballot
measure 2C and the state’s sup-
port through Regional Tourism
Act funding. Under the leader-
ship of Kelly Leid as the new
executive director, the office will
implement the National West-
ern Center master plan.
“The National Western Cen-
ter is set to become a unique
campus that honors our heri-
tage and brings vibrancy to
these historic neighborhoods,”
said Mayor Michael B. Han-
cock. “The creation of the office
ensures that we are being delib-
erate about our approach and
The Colorado Economic
Development
Commission
announced that three companies
have been approved to partic-
ipate in the Rural Jump-Start
Zone Tax Credit program, rep-
resenting the first wave of busi-
nesses to expand or relocate in
Mesa County as a result of the
new “tax holiday.” The compa-
nies are projected to add 20 new
jobs to the county in 2016.
“We’re excited for Mesa
County to welcome the inaugu-
ral batch of companies into the
Rural Jump-Start program,” said
Kristi Pollard, executive director
for the Grand Junction Economic
Partnership. “The program will
bring a real competitive edge to
our county and enhance Colo-
rado’s overall profile as a hub for
entrepreneurship and high-tech
industry.”
Two expanding Mesa County
businesses and an Australian
transplant are the first compa-
nies to participate in the pro-
gram.
Colorado Clean, based in the
town of Palisade, is a biodegrad-
able plastic company that manu-
factures and distributes products
that typically use a traditional
plastic, such as water bottles,
with a patented, 100 percent-bio-
degradable Amphora film that
uses 80 percent less petroleum
by mass than competitors.
ProStar Geocor, based in
Grand Junction, is a software
company focused on provid-
ing next-generation geospatial
intelligent solutions to pipeline
and utility owners through pat-
ented technologies that provide
real-time functionality and can
be used to streamline the asset
management life-cycle process.
TSW Analytical is an Aus-
tralian-based forensics investi-
gation and technology devel-
opment company that will be
expanding its operations to
North America thanks to the
Rural Jump-Start program. TSW
is a recognized global leader in
the application of instrumental
technology to food authentica-
tion and origin determination.
Mesa County’s Jump-Start
program offers participating
businesses up to eight years
of zero state income and sales
and use taxes; zero county and
municipal property taxes and
sales and use taxes; and zero
state income taxes for their
employees. In exchange, the
businesses will add a minimum
of five net new jobs to the county
in high-paying, highly skilled
fields such as advanced manu-
facturing, food processing, bio-
tech and other advanced tech-
nologies. The companies also
agree to form a partnership with
a local institute of higher educa-
tion through mentorship, intern-
ship opportunities and commu-
nity involvement.
s
Grand Junction Economic Partnership
