http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/ Metro Denver EDC Blog: Clark's Clone of Silence en-us Tue, 22 May 2012 17:29:48 GMT Tue, 22 May 2012 17:29:48 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/rss/ Imulus Central 2.0 http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/incentives/when-cash-matters--colorado-may-not-be-able-to-compete.html Can we say it now? Yes, the economic recovery in Colorado is officially in full swing. What was a 50-employee company announcement two years ago is now a 200-employee announcement today.  It is time for Colorado to go full bore to capture these opportunities. But those of us in economic d... Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/incentives/when-cash-matters--colorado-may-not-be-able-to-compete.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/venture-capital/-crowd-funding--bill-clears-senate.html The first time “crowd funding” for startup companies was explained to me I thought it should be renamed to “cloud funding.”  Anyone willing to invest small amounts of money into startups with no collateral, loan documents, or regulatory restrictions certainly seemed to b... Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/venture-capital/-crowd-funding--bill-clears-senate.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/cleantech/xcel-caught-between-a-wind-turbine-and-a-solar-panel.html Imagine you're one of the nation's most innovative publicly regulated utilities. You have a great partner with a global brand. Your partner is a showpiece for everything you value and want to accomplish. You invest money heavily in your partner. You promise your other customers that what you create,... Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/cleantech/xcel-caught-between-a-wind-turbine-and-a-solar-panel.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/tom-on-9news---why-consumer-chains-locate-in-metro-denver.html Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/tom-on-9news---why-consumer-chains-locate-in-metro-denver.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/gov--hickenlooper/hickenlooper-s-tbd-is-jit.html Gov. John Hickenlooper is about to start a statewide listening tour on the public's vision of the state we want to live in. It's JIT—"just in time." With his TBD ("to be determined") initiative, the Governor intends to spend a good amount of time both laying out the state's financial cond... Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/gov--hickenlooper/hickenlooper-s-tbd-is-jit.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/legislation/property-tax-break-for-seniors-is-poorly-timed-and-ignores-data.html Both of Colorado's political parties are championing the reinstatement of the Senior Homestead Exemption, a program than can potentially cost the state's General Fund up to $100 million. While such rhetoric makes for great election-year chatter, it ignores some basic facts.  Seniors, and the r... Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog-tags/legislation/property-tax-break-for-seniors-is-poorly-timed-and-ignores-data.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/the-loss-of-walt-koelbel--sr-.html This past week a business icon left us. Walt Koelbel, Sr., was one of the founders of the Greater Denver Corporation in 1987. In 2002, his son Walt (Buz) Koelbel helped found the Metro Denver EDC. Walt was the first developer to serve as an officer in the Greater Denver Corporation. It was an unusua... Tue, 10 Jan 2012 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/the-loss-of-walt-koelbel--sr-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/when-the-metro-denver-edc-recruitment-process-works--right-.html In the past few weeks there has been some stress on metropolitan cooperation, especially in the area of economic development. This is unfortunate. But while the intrigue around the Gaylord project in Aurora caught headlines, the regional economic development system handled another major project with... Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/when-the-metro-denver-edc-recruitment-process-works--right-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/site-selection-conferences--an-annual-ritual-for-job-attraction.html Site Selection events are designed to introduce Metro Denver to consultants from site selection firms, national real estate executives, national accounting or engineering firms with site selection practices, and high-level executives within companies that are seeking a new corporate home. The Metro ... Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/site-selection-conferences--an-annual-ritual-for-job-attraction.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/lessons-from--a-competitor.html A decade ago, we considered Utah as one considers a mosquito, buzzing around annoyingly but not of any consequence. We were focused on regional competitors in Texas and the Phoenix metro area. A few years later that all changed.  This past week I traveled to beautiful Utah as the guest of... Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/lessons-from--a-competitor.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/educational-attainment-and-lifetime-earnings.html Summer is nearing its end and "back to school" time is here. How important is it that we have a highly educated population? Almost everyone who reads this blog will agree that education-and higher education particularly-contributes to a strong economy. When looking at how to get there, how... Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/educational-attainment-and-lifetime-earnings.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/pentax-headquarters-move-speaks-to-power-of-transit.html You can't find a more picturesque location for a national headquarters than Golden, Colo. A quirky and fun downtown, a world-class university just a pleasant walk away, public art adorning its parks and walks, a snow-fed creek burbling through. Pentax chose Golden as its North American headquarters ... Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/pentax-headquarters-move-speaks-to-power-of-transit.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/the-trouble-with-economic-impact-statements.html The terms "economic impact" and "economic activity" are often used interchangeably. This leads to all manner of bad public discussion and public policy. These economic activity studies, masquerading as economic impact studies, demonstrate either ignorance or a deliberate attempt to impact public opi... Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/the-trouble-with-economic-impact-statements.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/the-growing-link-between-health-and-economic-development.html Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion hosted by the Colorado Health Foundation during the release of the 2010 Colorado Health Report Card. In the wake of the sobering findings from the report card, our panel of business leaders fielded questions about how cost and co... Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/the-growing-link-between-health-and-economic-development.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/what-s-not-to-like-in-pending-tax-proposals.html In the next few months you'll see tax increase proposals developed by the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute and the Center for Law and Policy coming to the Initiative Title Board. These, along with others before the Title Board, are well-intentioned and have some merit. After all, thanks to the struc... Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/what-s-not-to-like-in-pending-tax-proposals.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/prologis-headquarters-departs-for-san-francisco.html In the early 1990s, Trammel Crowe decided to close its Denver office. The Denver office was run by a Texas gentleman, Robert Watson. He served as the Vice Chair of the Greater Denver Corporation (forerunner to the Metro Denver EDC). Robert was a thoughtful, civic-minded leader. His departure from th... Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/prologis-headquarters-departs-for-san-francisco.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/picking-the-next-mayor-s-.html This week Steve Hogan will add his name to the growing list of Metro Denver citizens running for the mayor's office of one of our cities. Hogan, if you didn't know, is running for Mayor of Aurora. Like the 12 (and counting) candidates for the Mayor of Denver, Hogan has a long career in elected offic... Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/picking-the-next-mayor-s-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/looking-back-at-2010.html The team here at the Metro Denver EDC focuses on six strategic initiatives--mobility, tax reform, new and existing business, national marketing, Denver International Airport/international flights, and special opportunities--in order to create jobs and investment in our region. 2010 proved to be a t... Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/looking-back-at-2010.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/how-far-we-came-to-win.html Last night was a big night for Colorado....REALLY big. By a margin of almost 3:1, voters stomped on Amendments 60, 61 and Proposition 101—the Ugly 3. Thanks to all of you who worked for their defeat. History will mark this as a day where a highly informed electorate and a dedica... Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/how-far-we-came-to-win.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/how-to-choose-an-economic-development-governor.html Every four years we get a chance to change our chief executive. I would guess there are millions of American workers who would like the choice to hire or retain their bosses. We get questions about "What type of Governor is best for economic development?" The answer is actually pretty simple. First... Mon, 18 Oct 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/how-to-choose-an-economic-development-governor.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/from-fits-and-stops-to-steady-decline--colorado-s-competitive-position-continues-to-erode.html "...shrink government to the size where we can drown it in a bathtub." - Grover Nordquist, anti-tax advocate On October 6, the Metro Denver EDC issued its sixth edition of its annual examination of Colorado's competitiveness. Toward a More Competitive Colorado compares Colorado to the other 49 stat... Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/from-fits-and-stops-to-steady-decline--colorado-s-competitive-position-continues-to-erode.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/colorado-not-unknown-in-northern-europe-maybe-this-branding-thing-really-works.html I returned last week from an economic development trip to Denmark and Finland with Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. We met with a number of cleantech companies in both countries, and spoke at two cleantech conferences. We were the guests, along with Colorado and European cleantech firms, of the U.S. A... Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/colorado-not-unknown-in-northern-europe-maybe-this-branding-thing-really-works.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/why-you-re-getting-so-fat.html An economist’s look at portion size and what it’s doing to your waist line Colorado is the leanest state in the nation, but our obesity rate is climbing along with the rest of the country. From a public health standpoint, obesity has reached epidemic proportions, portending massive incr... Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/why-you-re-getting-so-fat.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/site-selection-conferences---positioning-metro-denver-for-the-upturn.html This week, nine of the nation's most prominent corporate site selection consultants will visit the Metro Denver region for our annual Site Selection Conference. The Metro Denver EDC and its economic development partners will host this important group. The site selectors are coming here to learn more... Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/site-selection-conferences---positioning-metro-denver-for-the-upturn.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/analysis-of-state-economy-sometimes-ignores-the-fundamentals-of-business-decision-making.html On Saturday, the Denver Post, based on reports from local businesses, noted that the recent elimination of certain tax exemptions by the Colorado General Assembly are having no adverse impacts on local companies. Most of these exemptions were eliminated as of July 1 of this year. These tax increase... Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/analysis-of-state-economy-sometimes-ignores-the-fundamentals-of-business-decision-making.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/mountain-region-holds-great-export-opportunity-for-u-s-.html The Mountain West states have always been big exporters of resources - gold, silver, oil, gas, and other minerals. But in recent years, Colorado's technology investments have dropped. In the report Export West: How Intermountain West Metros Can Lead National Export Growth and Boost Competitiveness, ... Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/mountain-region-holds-great-export-opportunity-for-u-s-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/ten-great-days-for-metro-denver---good-news-arrives-in-many-packages.html Good news is hard to find these days, even for Metro Denver. But the last 10 days have given us renewed confidence in Metro Denver's economic rebound. Consider this: CNBC ranks Colorado third-best for business for the second year-in-a-row.  Vestas Technology R&D Americas, Inc. announced a ... Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/ten-great-days-for-metro-denver---good-news-arrives-in-many-packages.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/legacy-carriers-in-europe-see-stress-from-low-cost-carriers--volcanic-ash--and-the-a-380.html Having a bad day? Consider this for legacy air carriers in Europe. The Passenger Facility Charge (PIF) for some airlines is higher than the fares they charge with their al a carte ticket strategy. Emirates Airline is spending billions of dollars on thirty new mega-airplanes, the Airbus A-380, capabl... Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/legacy-carriers-in-europe-see-stress-from-low-cost-carriers--volcanic-ash--and-the-a-380.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/watching-a-new-industry-emerge.html Standing at the entrance of Intersolar in Munich last week left one simple impression. We were in the presence of the next great thing - solar power is here to stay. Seth Portner, from the Governor's Energy Office observed that five years ago Intersolar's trade show could have been held in the ... Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/watching-a-new-industry-emerge.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/wind-energy-trade-show-a-bonanza-for-colorado.html In my 35 years in economic development I have never attended a trade show and come home with more than four "live" projects - and that was when I was representing an entire state. That all changed last week when the Metro Denver EDC, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trad... Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/wind-energy-trade-show-a-bonanza-for-colorado.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/got-cleantech-.html In the economic development world, nearly every state is touting itself for cleantech job growth. We felt it was time for Colorado to stake its claim as North America’s Cleantech Hub and did this very successfully with our national Colorado Cleantech launch May 24-26 at AWEA’s WindPowe... Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/got-cleantech-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/orion-and-constellation-add-new-dimension-to-word-cluster.html Start with an industry cluster where the U.S. has world dominance – zero competitors. Add in the prospect of a commercial enterprise that offers gigantic returns to investors and the economy, but with lots of competitors. Throw in an empty bank account, with little or no money to spend. What do you ... Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/orion-and-constellation-add-new-dimension-to-word-cluster.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/coors-field-downtown-stadiums-bring-life-to-aging-urban-centers.html And can you guess where this 1953 photo was taken? Opening Day at Coors Field. Is there a better place to be? Hope springs eternal for every fan on this wonderful national rite. This spring chill is still in the air, but the sun portends summer’s idyll. In 1977, when I was working in Chicago, on... Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/coors-field-downtown-stadiums-bring-life-to-aging-urban-centers.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/yes--economists-do-know-how-to-happy-dance.html This month's economic summary was so good, it made me do the happy dance. At 6:15 in the morning. On television. Click on the image to read the full article and watch the video on 9NEWS.com. Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/yes--economists-do-know-how-to-happy-dance.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/time-to-strike-for-new-jobs-in-the-cleantech-space.html Did you know that between Fort Collins and Golden resides the world’s highest concentration of intellectual capital in wind power? Did you know that Colorado is ranked 4th among the 50 states in installed solar power capacity for electrical generation, and 8th in installed wind power? Of course yo... Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/time-to-strike-for-new-jobs-in-the-cleantech-space.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/thank-heavens---personal-income-in-colorado-is-finally-dropping-.html After years of staying in the top tier of states for personal income, Colorado has finally rid itself of that pesky problem – people who make too much money. This year we dropped from 11th-highest in personal income to 15th. Whew! We’ve always known that personal income is directly related by ed... Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/thank-heavens---personal-income-in-colorado-is-finally-dropping-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/Denver-fourth-fastest-growing-in-US.html Well, the City and County of Denver’s gone and done it. It’s growing...and fast. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that of the major metro U.S. counties, Denver is the fourth-fastest growing, behind two Texas counties and Wake County, North Carolina. How did that happen? Many will refer to urban redev... Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/Denver-fourth-fastest-growing-in-US.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/tidbits-to-make-you-sound-interesting-at-cocktail-parties.html "During economic downturns, people move to places where they believe they can find a job. After the jobs in the new place are all taken, immigrants continue to come for two years. No one knows why. What’s wrong here? Didn’t they get the email?" "Cities grow naturally from the northwest to the south... Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/tidbits-to-make-you-sound-interesting-at-cocktail-parties.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/dia-turns-15-years-of-age.html Ah, it seems like just yesterday we were all atwitter about DIA’s opening. It was a great thrill to be on the first plane landing at DIA. A group of us were offered the chance to be passengers on the airport’s touch-and-go automatic landing system. What a thrill when our first attempt was eight INCH... Tue, 16 Mar 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/dia-turns-15-years-of-age.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/metro-denver-edc-s-change-in-focus-through-the-end-of-2010.html 2010 is loaded with distractions. Like any other organization, we have had to look hard at where the Metro Denver EDC can be most effective with a watchful eye on our budget. Recently, the EDC’s Executive Committee re-aligned its priorities for the remainder of the year. The appearance of anoth... Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/metro-denver-edc-s-change-in-focus-through-the-end-of-2010.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/why-we-love-california.html Happy Valentine’s Day California. Weeeee’re Baaaaack! This time we’re bringing cupids dancing in the streets of Los Angeles and in the parking lot at the Staples Center prior to the Avs-Kings game, really bad YouTube videos, chocolates, romantic song dedications to the Golden State during drive ti... Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/why-we-love-california.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/fastracks-election---2010-or-2012-.html First the good news. The West Corridor Line to Jefferson County is under construction. If you’ve driven 6th Avenue lately you’ll see the flyovers and sound walls are progressing nicely. The “Air Train” and Gold Line are expected to break ground in August of this year. All the other co... Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/fastracks-election---2010-or-2012-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/three-2010-ballot-initiatives-promise-to-change-the-colorado-economy.html Just when we thought it was safe to go all out for the economic recovery, our “friends” and aspirants to the Doug Bruce look-alike award have planted three initiatives on November’s ballot that will cut taxes, eliminate public debt, and reduce your auto registration. And that’s not all….If you vote ... Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/three-2010-ballot-initiatives-promise-to-change-the-colorado-economy.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/hickenlooper-and-mcinnis.html Unlike Governor Ritter’s announcement to not seek reelection, we were not surprised with Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper ‘s decision to enter the gubernatorial fray. The Mayor’s last minute decision to not challenge Ritter in the Democratic primary three years ago indicated that he had the job on his... Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/hickenlooper-and-mcinnis.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/governor-ritter-s-economic-development-legacy.html Governor Ritter’s announcement to not seek a second term caught many of us by surprise. Most foresaw a contentious legislative session with both parties positioning themselves for the November election. Certainly we expected that Bill Ritter would be doing the same. What a surprise.Wh... Thu, 14 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/governor-ritter-s-economic-development-legacy.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/patty-silverstein-trades-places-with-tom-to-deliver-the-latest-economic-news.html The weather hasn't improved much since Tom gave the December 2009 Monthly Economic Summary. But Patty stepped into his snowshoes today to talk about the commercial real estate industry, job growth, and financial markets in our first economic report for 2010.Click the image below to see the interview... Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/patty-silverstein-trades-places-with-tom-to-deliver-the-latest-economic-news.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/when-is-a-furlough-not-a-layoff--in-the-denver-media-a-furlough-is-chapter-11.html Local news outlets missed the mark completely when they last reported "layoffs" at the Vestas plant in Windsor. It was page one in the local papers. A local news station followed with, "Is this the beginning of the end?" in its nightly newscast. How unfortunate and what a disservice to our newest em... Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/when-is-a-furlough-not-a-layoff--in-the-denver-media-a-furlough-is-chapter-11.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/baby-it-s-cold-outside--but-the-economy-is-warming-up-.html Tom beat most of us out of bed today to deliver the latest verdict on our economy, sharing our latest Monthly Economic Summary with 9NEWS at 6 a.m. We sure hope the weather and the economy continue to improve in the New Year!Click the image below to see the interview. For a full article, s... Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/baby-it-s-cold-outside--but-the-economy-is-warming-up-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/downturns-provide-opportunities-in-region.html While the U.S. basks in 10+ percent unemployment, Colorado is preparing to exit the recession earlier than most other states. Today’s unemployment rate in Colorado is below seven percent. In many ways Colorado is the beneficiary of speculative real estate investments that are banking on Colorado’s h... Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/downturns-provide-opportunities-in-region.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/a-note-on-governor-ritter-s-proposed-budget-cuts.html Governor Bill Ritter and the General Assembly are facing a host of staggering budget problems. Hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars must be trimmed to meet the Colorado Constitution’s "Balanced Budget" requirement. The Governor's budget submittal is just the first salvo. The final budget is ... Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/a-note-on-governor-ritter-s-proposed-budget-cuts.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/boeing-787-may-fly-its-first-test-by-year-end-2010.html According to industry reports, Boeing’s ultra-modern and fuel efficient 787 may be ready for test flights in December 2010. After multiple delays this welcomed news to Metro Denver. The 787 is the "best fit" aircraft for a nonstop from Denver to Tokyo. For the past three years, we have been activel... Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/boeing-787-may-fly-its-first-test-by-year-end-2010.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/sma-makes-the-sun-shine-brighter-in-metro-denver.html Yesterday, the world’s largest producer of solar inverters (used to convert direct current (DC) from any type of solar device into alternating current (AC) suitable for the electric grid) made a historic decision: begin manufacturing its product outside its home country of Germany. The 25-year-old ... Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/sma-makes-the-sun-shine-brighter-in-metro-denver.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/expanding-the-tent-of-leadership-the-key-to-regional-success.html An old friend of mine once said, "My mind is like a bad neighborhood, I never go in there alone." Over the past 25 years Metro Denver has grown from an inwardly-looking, parochial, contentious group of cities and counties into what most would view as one of the most successful economies in the natio... Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/expanding-the-tent-of-leadership-the-key-to-regional-success.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/learning-from-others-the-minneapolis-st-paul-experience.html Eighteen years ago, about 70 Metro Denver leaders traveled to Minneapolis-St. Paul in search of answers to revive a moribund economy, manage our governmental functions more efficiently, and invigorate our K-12 education system. It was not a "sharing" experience. Metro Denver had nothing to offer our... Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/learning-from-others-the-minneapolis-st-paul-experience.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/getting-carried-away-on-twitter.html The Metro Denver EDC's Twitter page has surpassed 2,000 followers today. Clearly, Tom Clark has gotten carried away on Twitter. Thu, 08 Oct 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/getting-carried-away-on-twitter.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/metro-denver-makes-big-impression-on-national-site-selectors.html Our eight national site selector guests left Colorado on Sunday basking in the glow of our sun-drenched, golden aspens and the friendships made. Despite the sea change in economic development occasioned by the internet’s creation, personal relationships still matter. Spending over three days with th... Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/metro-denver-makes-big-impression-on-national-site-selectors.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/site-selection-conferences-key-in-regional-economic-development.html Later this month, eight of the nation’s most prominent corporate site selection consultants will visit the Metro Denver region. The Metro Denver EDC and its economic development partners will host this important group – providing briefings, helicopter tours, discussion panels, and a taste of what it... Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/site-selection-conferences-key-in-regional-economic-development.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/chasing-corporate-headquarters.html If you hadn’t noticed, Metro Denver is no longer a “district town” – a place where companies have a presence but never consider for corporate headquarters. While the region has lost some notable headquarters in the past year (MillerCoors, First Data) it gained over 30 in past seven years. REpower ... Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/chasing-corporate-headquarters.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/kelly-brough---a-top-flight-professional-at-the-helm-of-the-chamber.html Recently the Board of Directors of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce announced that effective September 18th, Kelly Brough will become the President and CEO of the Chamber. Since the demise of the Rocky Mountain News, the Denver Chamber is now the longest, continuously operating corporation ... Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/kelly-brough---a-top-flight-professional-at-the-helm-of-the-chamber.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/Frontier-Southwest-Republic.html If you were watching Southwest’s balance sheet over the past couple of years, you might have noticed that the airline giant was accumulating cash. The intent is now clear. "Buy market share." Southwest has enjoyed strong growth since entering the Denver market. Public acceptance is high and the "Sou... Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/Frontier-Southwest-Republic.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/repeal-of-tax-incentives-needs-careful-approach--part-2-.html Individuals have been the biggest beneficiaries of income tax credits. In 1994, according to the Legislative Council, individuals claimed about $50 million in income tax credits while corporations snagged about $25 million. By 2008, thanks to efforts by the General Assembly to find ways to rebate “T... Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/repeal-of-tax-incentives-needs-careful-approach--part-2-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/tax-incentives-repeal-part1.html Unlike most folks, when the after-Christmas sale on men’s suits at Men’s Wearhouse and Joseph A. Banks comes around, I tell the salesperson, “now don’t try to give me a lower price this suit. I want to pay full retail.” This always comes as a bit of surprise to my unwitting foil, thinking foolishly ... Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/tax-incentives-repeal-part1.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/Energy-Independence.html Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah contain seventy five percent of the world’s known oil reserves. It’s trapped in shale on the Western Slope. New technologies being developed today in Louisville, Colorado, and on the Western Slope show encouraging signs that the capital, energy, and extraction costs of th... Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/Energy-Independence.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/why-corporate-headquarters-matter--frontier-airlines.html The recent news that our "home town" airline will probably become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Airlines has everyone asking, "Why do we care? If Frontier leaves the market, the demand for passenger service will just be gobbled up by United and Southwest. What’s the big deal?" Corporate hea... Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/why-corporate-headquarters-matter--frontier-airlines.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/California-legislature-fiddles-while-state-economy-burns.html Earlier this week the California legislature turned its back on Governor Schwarzenegger's efforts to restore his state’s beleaguered economy. The Governor’s package of spending cuts, furlough days for state workers, and increased efficiencies was met with a resounding "no" from legislators. Instead ... Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/California-legislature-fiddles-while-state-economy-burns.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/davita-headquarters---what-a-difference-a--brand--makes.html We’re all aglow with DaVita’s announcement yesterday to locate its corporate headquarters here in Metro Denver, and in all probability in the City of Denver per se. The company looked across the nation for the right fit and selected our region. DaVita has major holdings in California, Nashville... Thu, 28 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/davita-headquarters---what-a-difference-a--brand--makes.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/happy-birthday-chamber-tom-.html "Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional."- Chili DavisThe Metro Denver EDC team had that rare opportunity yesterday to celebrate a milestone birthday for someone who's in a good place about their age. Yes, we celebrated the 60th birthday of our boss, friend, and mentor, Tom Clark.The above... Wed, 27 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/happy-birthday-chamber-tom-.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/gov--ritter-s-veto-of-hb-1170-the-right-move-for-colorado.html Governor Ritter took a bold position in his veto of HB 1170, a bill that would have further depleted the state’s unemployment insurance fund during this time of serious economic upheaval. The bill, backed by organized labor, would have permitted employees “locked out” of their jobs due to a str... Thu, 21 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/gov--ritter-s-veto-of-hb-1170-the-right-move-for-colorado.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/understanding-the-competition.html On Monday, May 4th, Governor Bill Ritter signed House Bill 1001, the first major incentive program in Colorado over the past decade. The bill permits companies who add 20+ jobs an income tax credit equal to 3.8 percent of the wages paid to employees. The credit is a five-year incentive which can be ... Tue, 12 May 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/understanding-the-competition.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/losing-Cal-Marsella.html If you haven’t heard, the long-time general manager of RTD, Cal Marsella, is headed for a new opportunity in the private sector. His decade of leadership is one for the history books. A visionary with keen political sensitivity, Cal was in the epicenter of all things transit – issues that ... Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/losing-Cal-Marsella.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/konichiwa-on-earth-day.html Konichiwa! Tom is actually flying back from Japan today after a whirlwind trip (a four-day trip to Japan definitely qualifies!) with DIA staff. This trip is a bit like baseball—our team is there to touch all of the bases—checking in again with airports, airlines, plus a Tokyo-based group of bu... Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/konichiwa-on-earth-day.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/airfares-cheaper-DIA.html Remember when DIA was a "fortress hub," shamefacedly boasting the highest airfares in the nation? We do. The cost of getting conventioneers, business flyers and tourists became a deterrent to our job development efforts. That was five years ago. Since then, DIA airfare prices have dropped 23 percent... Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/airfares-cheaper-DIA.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/HB1001.html April 13 will mark an historic day in the history of Colorado economic development. HB 1001 passed the Senate and is headed for the Governor’s desk for signature.  The bill was the No. 1 priority of the Governor’s economic development package this year. It provides a 3.8 per... Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/HB1001.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/ANA-Japan-Denver-international-flight.html A recent interview with the new president of ANA, Japan’s premier air carrier, divulged that ANA has put Denver near the top of its list for new city pairs when the Boeing 787 aircraft is ready for service. New ANA president Shinichiro Ito mentioned that he will make sure to introduce the 787 when... Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/ANA-Japan-Denver-international-flight.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/Hickenlooper-California-love.html Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper joined the Metro Denver EDC on March 26 for a media blitz in Los Angeles, California. He met with CNBC correspondent Jane Wells atop Universal City Walk resulting in a live four-minute story about the Colorado Loves California campaign and why the two st... Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/Hickenlooper-California-love.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/who-was-right-unions-Colorado-or-right-to-work.html Judging by some interactive maps we've seen, it looks like Colorado’s Labor Peace Act is the big winner in how to structure a state labor law. The New York Times published an interactive map on its web site called "Anatomy of a Recession" showing unemployment by county throughout the nation. We... Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/who-was-right-unions-Colorado-or-right-to-work.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/incentive-legislation-drive-deals.html "Do incentives work?" is the perennial question in economic development. The political right calls it "picking winners" and the political left calls it "corporate welfare." And if you’re dealing with the Legislative Council of the General Assembly, incentives are usually cast as expensive and useles... Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/incentive-legislation-drive-deals.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/colorado-loves-california-campaign-a-stunner.html Imagine a promotional campaign where you had a 400% ROI. Imagine a campaign where you anticipated up to 300 angry responses and accusations of "stealing" from another state that was down on its luck...and only nine people complained. Imagine a campaign where you get a 30-minute talk show on National... Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/colorado-loves-california-campaign-a-stunner.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/prospect-activity-continues-to-surprise-and-delight.html The number of active prospects in our files through February is higher than the same period in 2008. Most of the projects are coming out of California; many in alternative energy. But the inquiries span a broad spectrum including high-end call centers, data centers, medical devices, and other t... Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/prospect-activity-continues-to-surprise-and-delight.html http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/keeping-our-fingers-crossed-for-home-builders.html As Forbes magazine recently ranked Metro Denver as the 6th healthiest housing market in the nation and a state economy faring much better than the rest of the nation, we continue to keep rooting for our local home builders to exit this recession intact. Companies such as McStain, Village H... Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.metrodenver.org/blog/keeping-our-fingers-crossed-for-home-builders.html