Sunday, May 31, 2009

A New Fortune 500 for Metro Denver

Like many Colorado loyalists, I am suffering a bit of nasty hangover from the last two games of the Nuggets-Lakers Western Conference Finals. However, it is really exciting to see that Metro Denver is gaining a new Fortune 500 headquarters. Davita Inc. is a nice fit for the region's bio sciences cluster. It will be interesting to see where they chose to locate (CBD, Tech Center, Fitzsimmons, other?).

Key Excerpts from the DaVita Press Release Announcing the Move

"The decision to select the Denver area for DaVita's corporate headquarters
was based on four critical factors:

1. The city's geographic location is ideal for a nationwide company with facilities and operations spread across nearly every state in the country;

2. The relative costs in the area are less expensive for families and companies alike;

3. Denver is widely considered to be a highly desirable place to live and work; and

4. DaVita's significant existing presence in the region provides a solid foundation upon
which the company can continue to grow.

The company expects to see millions of dollars in savings over time as a result of the change."DaVita's decision to move its headquarters is a great coup for metro Denver and the state of Colorado," said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. "DaVita is one of the biggest and the best in its industry. The company's decision reaffirms what we know is true about our community - that Denver is one of the best places in the nation to work and play. We are proud DaVita chose to call Colorado home."
"While Colorado families and businesses continue to struggle, we are clearly seeing
encouraging signs of economic activity - and DaVita's decision to move its
headquarters to Colorado tops the list," said Governor Bill Ritter. "Colorado's
business-friendly climate and my administration's strategy to create new jobs,
help businesses survive the downturn, and develop a highly skilled 21st century
labor pool are positioning Colorado for a strong and sustainable recovery. On
behalf of people throughout the state, we heartily welcome DaVita's Colorado
expansion and we congratulate Mayor Hickenlooper and all those who helped make
these new jobs a reality."

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Bringing Back a Major Bike Race to Colorado is a Great Idea


I love this idea from Lance Armstrong. This is a great way to strengthen global perceptions of the Colorado brand. Good luck Lance.
In this Coors Classic photo from left to right are Davis Phinney, Thomas Prehn, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Boyer and Greg LeMond.