tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26504831042869973622024-02-06T20:32:29.662-07:00A View of the Rockies: A Regional Economic Development Blog for DenverJeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-3782581013964357912013-02-11T16:03:00.002-07:002013-02-11T16:03:55.730-07:00Joining the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International TradeSince June of 2007 I have been tracking economic development issues in the Denver region and have followed many exciting events in <em>A View of the Rockies</em>. However, this will be my last blog entry in the current format.<br />
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In July of 2011, I moved back to my home state of Colorado from the New York City region. I am extremely proud to announce that I will be working for the great State of Colorado in the Office of Economic Development and International Trade. I am very excited to partner with people and organizations around the whole state to help promote job growth and economic vitality in Colorado. <br />
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Finally, I wanted to point out that the opinions and ideas expressed in this blog over the past five plus years were from Jeff Kraft the private citizen and do not reflect the opinions or positions of the State of Colorado, the Governor's Office, the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, or even my own going forward positions as a public servant. <br />
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Best Regards,<br />
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Jeff KraftJeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-38069163066938792272012-12-16T13:31:00.001-07:002012-12-16T13:36:00.971-07:00New Year-Round Flight between Denver and Mexico City on Volaris Airlines<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1OMkK0uL2V1HVxgm_jtZ0aQ8aRSQNR3TkFbIq00g2M1ja-ciotD1bEdP5Z5JZ-5XOKeMouMr87JO2NGISvOsFCrx5Qw2P7WEa6vhKBWB4VgwbLQ_Sdtwg2fU8sVVV7D3l018lgSxAw/s1600/DIA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1OMkK0uL2V1HVxgm_jtZ0aQ8aRSQNR3TkFbIq00g2M1ja-ciotD1bEdP5Z5JZ-5XOKeMouMr87JO2NGISvOsFCrx5Qw2P7WEa6vhKBWB4VgwbLQ_Sdtwg2fU8sVVV7D3l018lgSxAw/s320/DIA.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
The first <a href="http://www.vivacolorado.com/ci_22149488/volaris-airlines-service-between-denver-mexico-city-starts?source=pkg">Volaris Airlines</a> non-stop flight between Mexico City and Denver landed at DIA last week on Saturday December 8th. The service is notable because it will run at least weekly year-round (United and Aero-mexico have seasonal service between Denver and Mexico City). Denver currently <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_20598033/icelandair-launches-today-from-denver-airport">has non-stop service to 20</a> international <a href="http://business.flydenver.com/info/research/faqs.asp">destinations.</a> In March 2013, DIA will gain its<a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2012/05/denver-to-tokyo-finally-reality.html"> first non-stop flight to Asia</a> via Tokyo on United Airlines. These international flights are important economic links promoting trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges and helping Colorado to land corporate headquarters and business operations of globally oriented enterprises. Image above is courtesy of DIA (<a href="http://www.flydenver.com/">www.flydenver.com</a>).Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-58731469791411976942012-11-30T17:13:00.001-07:002012-12-01T14:24:50.742-07:00Angel Investing and Venture Capital in Colorado<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">This past May, <a href="http://www.siliconflatirons.com/index.php">the Silicon Valley Center for Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship</a> at the University of Colorado released a
report titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://siliconflatirons.com/documents/publications/report/AngelReport2012.pdf">Bringing Angel Investing Out of the Shadows</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>The report made a
number of interesting points about the role of Angels in Colorado’s startup
ecosystem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One argument that I found
particularly interesting was that Angels in Colorado face additional challenges
compared to states with a higher density of locally-based VCs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> According to the report</span>:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<blockquote>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">"Angel
investing in Colorado faces a 'bridge to nowhere' problem: investing </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">becomes
riskier as the scarcity of Colorado-based VC funds means that more </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Colorado
startups either fail or move to the location of the out-of-state VC </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">that funds them."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Additionally, the level of VC funding in Colorado has declined steeply from a peak of almost $4B in 2000 to an average of less than $600M per year from 2002 to 2011 according to <a href="http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Indices/usefulstats.htm">data from Price Water House Coopers</a>. Some of this decline is likely related to the fact that Colorado has a smaller number of in state VC firms than coastal states. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The problems described
above do need context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Colorado has a vibrant startup scene with concentrations in Boulder
County and lower downtown Denver among other places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The PWC data also shows that</span> Colorado ranked sixth among the fifty states in
total venture capital invested between 1995 and 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> However, </span>Colorado is only the 22<sup>nd</sup> most populous
state as of 2012. On a per capita basis, Colorado had the tenth highest venture funding among the states on average between 1995 and 2011 (again per PWC data). Despite the issues cited in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Angels</i> paper, the state does appear to “be punching above its
population weight” in venture funding. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">However, in such a nationally and globally competitive environment, it's clearly important to focus on making structural improvements to early stage capital access for startups and retaining them in Colorado as they grow. </span>Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-8686983110356053552012-11-24T13:22:00.001-07:002012-11-24T13:22:53.436-07:00Wind Energy Jobs in Colorado Depend on PTCThe wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) is scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. The credit promotes wind energy generation and improves its financial feasibility through use of an income tax credit of 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour of wind energy produced. This makes private financing for wind generation developments attractive and drives demand for blades, turbines and other wind farm components. The uncertainty surrounding the availability of this credit is causing layoffs in the wind industry in Colorado and hurting regional economic development. For example <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_21899207/vestas-close-r-amp-d-office-louisville-laying">Vestas has laid off</a> manufacturing workers at its blade factories in Brighton and Windsor and has eliminated research and development jobs in Louisville, Colorado.<br />
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The U.S. Congress should pass and the President should sign a long term renewal of the PTC. This would reduce financial uncertainty surrounding investments in wind generation and promote clean energy, economic security and job creation in Colorado and the U.S.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-8530600338298933682012-10-07T13:29:00.002-06:002012-10-07T13:29:56.275-06:00Three Recent Denver Region Economic Development Wins<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">There were three recent notable Denver Region Economic development wins worth pointing out in strategic regional industry clusters: Natural Foods, Green Energy, and High Tech.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Smart Balance</strong>, the healthy and natural foods company that purchased Denver-based Udi's in July 2012 </span><a href="http://www.smartbalance.com/sites/default/files/SMBL%20Corporate%20Reorganization_FINAL.pdf"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">announced </span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">it is changing its name to "Boulder Brands, Inc"<br /> and moving its corproate headquarters to Boulder, CO. According to the company's October 2, 2012 press release:</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">"In 2013, the Company plans
to move its primary corporate offices to Boulder, CO, and change<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">its <span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">name</span> to Boulder Brands,
Inc., which better reflects its recent transformation to a company<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">with multiple brands and a
greater presence in natural foods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Commenting
on the organizational change, Steve Hughes stated, “The establishment of two </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">business segments and the
relocation of our corporate headquarters to Boulder, CO — the </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">Silicon Valley of natural
foods— is consistent with our long‐term view of the Company and will a</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">llow us to plan and
execute on our strategy more effectively."<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Its been a rough year in the U.S. for <strong>Vestas</strong>, the Denmark-based wind turbine manufacturer. Despite bipartisan support, the U.S. congress has not yes extended the wind product tax credit currently set to expire at the end of 2012, creating regulatory uncertainty and reducing demand in the U.S. for wind energy generation expansion. As a result, Vestas has had several rounds of layoffs at Colorado facilities. However, one bright spot is the company's committment to Colorado seems strong as Vestas is </span><a href="http://www.denverpost.com/ci_21692787/vestas-consolidate-3-us-offices-colorado?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">consolidating</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> several U.S. R and D offices (in Houston, Marlborough, MA and Louisville, CO into a single hub in Brighton, Colorado. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>Hitachi Data Systems</strong> which provides enterprise storage systems including hardware, softward, and services announced it is expanding its Colorado presence with a new office in Douglas County which will create hundreds of jobs over the next five years. According to an October 5th </span><a href="http://www.advancecolorado.com/news/gov-hickenlooper-welcomes-new-hitachi-data-systems-%E2%80%9Chub%E2%80%9D-colorado"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">press release</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade:</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> "This expansion is very important to Hitachi Data Systems” said Randy DeMont, HDS’ Executive Vice President and General Manager. “We have experienced significant growth over the last several years and are excited to bring that to the Colorado community. In selecting the new location for our Colorado office, we weighed many critical factors and found the Denver area to best match our business goals and values. We look forward to the expansion and becoming a valued contributor to our shared community."</span><br />
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-2688318521986024192012-09-27T10:06:00.001-06:002012-09-27T10:10:52.838-06:00Rebchook on Site SelectorsSite selection, the process of businesses making location decisions, is the flip side of economic development where by geopolitical entities like regions or municipalities try to attract businesses and capital investments. Long time Denver business and real estate reporter John Rebcook had an <a href="http://insiderealestatenews.com/2012/09/site-selectors-have-high-praise-for-denver/">excellent story</a> about the recent “Making the Cut: Factors Driving Today’s Site Selection Decisions,” conference for site selectors in Denver. John does an excellent job of explaining the key role professional consultants play in guiding site selection decisions and disucsses the Denver region's competitive position.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-88504088215756446152012-09-23T17:40:00.000-06:002012-09-23T17:40:27.081-06:00Installation of Table Mesa Pedestrian Bridge Concrete Example of BRT ProgressThe installation of the steel girder framed pedestrian bridge on top of twin concrete platforms at the Table Mesa Park-n-Ride is a physical example of progress and investment on the US 36 Bus Rapid Transit and Multimodal Corridor. The $7 Million bridge which spans US 36, connects the main portion of the Park-n-Ride Station with the Denver Bound lanes of the turnpike. This will save three or more minutes for buses heading east out of Boulder and improve operational flow and add capacity at the facility. The bridge is expected to be operational in March 2013.<br />
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Photo below of of newly installed span of the Pedestrian Bridge at the Table Mesa Park-n-Ride in Boulder Colorado from Cliff Grassmick/Daily Camera published on 9/16/2012.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14Ho6EG01ob4iwnKPynDdWFqfkBB8s6PUiz8qectzVhJZyv_6SKj_TylkexeW9z4JmnOq9wwdPtHMv7lOSpkscH8qfQW66zxtGgNLISqmuNycszqTRLlCq7ywPMcZFXtnUhyJheY-sw/s1600/PedBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14Ho6EG01ob4iwnKPynDdWFqfkBB8s6PUiz8qectzVhJZyv_6SKj_TylkexeW9z4JmnOq9wwdPtHMv7lOSpkscH8qfQW66zxtGgNLISqmuNycszqTRLlCq7ywPMcZFXtnUhyJheY-sw/s320/PedBridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Image below of is an illustrated view of the completed project looking North toward Boulder from the <a href="http://www.rtd-fastracks.com/us36_14">RTD FasTracks web site</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NtaAj5Kyk-ppFTxJXpAnM9R3OlrIm2HYRbZobWDnIc88foMULCP4aLp3bhc6QlBSLHcb8qVAat88BaJFlNq0U6ukFhfBCbiam4_qZDV5zTM0b3tIv_7daeu1C-W80ZDriycjcPIJ_w/s1600/Table_Mesa_Pedestrian_Bridge-MockUp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NtaAj5Kyk-ppFTxJXpAnM9R3OlrIm2HYRbZobWDnIc88foMULCP4aLp3bhc6QlBSLHcb8qVAat88BaJFlNq0U6ukFhfBCbiam4_qZDV5zTM0b3tIv_7daeu1C-W80ZDriycjcPIJ_w/s320/Table_Mesa_Pedestrian_Bridge-MockUp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-71044668218654357612012-09-03T17:30:00.001-06:002012-09-03T17:30:24.293-06:00Lee Kemp, John Tayer, and Will Toor: Must Read on Northwest Rail Line and FasTracks<em>The Daily Camera</em> Guest Opinion from Kemp, Tayer and Toor on August 26, 2012 is <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/guest-opinions/ci_21393977/guest-opinion-fighting-fastracks">a must read</a> and does the best job I have seen in putting the FasTracks <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2012/06/northwest-rail-line-delay-upsetting-and.html">situation in Boulder Country </a>in context. The Bus Rapid Transit and intermodel improvements on US 36 will be a huge win for Boulder County; Creative solutions needs to be developed to bring rail to the country in a cost effective and timely manner consistent with the promises made to commuters, residents, tax payers and voters in the region as part of FasTracks; And we need to keep working toward a productive regional solution to these issues while applying pressure to the system to make sure Boulder Country's interests are protected.<br />
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A couple of key excerpts from the Opinion:<br />
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<blockquote>
"For the immediate term, we joined with our other US 36 colleagues to prioritize
full build out of bus-rapid-transit (BRT) system. Why the focus on BRT? With an
estimated daily ridership of 20,400 by 2035, the US 36 BRT system has long been
recognized as the transit workhorse for Boulder/Denver commuters...<br />
<br />
[W]e now have the $400 million to begin construction of two high occupancy vehicle
(HOV) lanes between Boulder and Westminster. These HOV lanes are the backbone of
the BRT system, creating traffic-free travel for RTD buses, along with
carpoolers and toll-paying drivers...
<br />
<br />
BRT is far more than merely HOV lanes, though. True BRT includes travel
amenities and service enhancements such as specially designed and high frequency
buses, real-time bus information, faster loading with pre-pay fare systems, and
improved stations. That is the standard of "rail-like" service which
characterizes model BRT systems around the globe and is the same BRT service
standards we expect RTD to deliver for our corridor...<br />
<br />
But we aren't nearly as far down the line as anyone would have liked. It makes
us fighting mad, for sure. Rather than run in circles, screaming and shouting,
though, we are focused on aggressively pursuing the most practical route toward
achieving the vision of regional transit mobility that the 2004 FasTracks plan
embodied. We hope you will join us in that fight."</blockquote>
Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-66763396615305756322012-07-18T19:59:00.001-06:002012-07-18T19:59:54.446-06:00The Tolerance Index: How Does the Denver Region Rank?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8yRnYslrBdU6xeKYcaOaw9m-jp4ZEbe0pqrjPXWNooBbVOYtCTkOWLCwVWd0S-KaizK_7n5pm0Tx75rpBeMjl9DDzSjuGE1ZOCeYMyjGRrmWbLY7V4Wyibz3E0Pb9ZkJYpq6CAxfRw/s1600/tolerance-index-us-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8yRnYslrBdU6xeKYcaOaw9m-jp4ZEbe0pqrjPXWNooBbVOYtCTkOWLCwVWd0S-KaizK_7n5pm0Tx75rpBeMjl9DDzSjuGE1ZOCeYMyjGRrmWbLY7V4Wyibz3E0Pb9ZkJYpq6CAxfRw/s640/tolerance-index-us-map.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Image from <a href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/07/geography-tolerance/2241/">Atlantic Cities</a> and Martin Prosperity Institute</div>
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Richard Florida frequently cites "the three Ts" of economic development: technology, talent and tolerance as powerful factors driving a place's economic success. In two recent posts on the Atlantic Cities web site, <a href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/arts-and-lifestyle/2012/07/large-us-cities-and-tolerance/2602/">Denver is ranked 19th</a> among large U.S. metro areas and <a href="http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/07/geography-tolerance/2241/">Boulder is ranked 9th</a> among all U.S. metro areas on the Tolerance Index. Components of the index include the percent of residents who are foreign born, the concentration of gays and lesbians, and the level of segregation between racial and ethnic groups.<br />
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Florida believes that the causal arrow runs from tolerance to economic success and not the other way around. You can see on the map above that the Denver Region is a bastion of darker purple tolerance in a relatively sparse portion of the U.S.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-59789716795180474792012-07-13T11:07:00.002-06:002012-07-13T11:07:26.180-06:00Risks to Regional Green Energy ClusterLong time readers of this blog know that I have been trumpeting the growth of and benefits from the green energy sector in Colorado. A series of exogenous events are serving to undermine this cluster in the state and the U.S. <br />
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In the wind energy vertical, the Federal renewable energy <a href="http://www.awea.org/issues/federal_policy/index.cfm">production tax credit (PTC)</a> which provides an income tax credit of 2.2 cents per KW/hour of wind energy produced is set to expire on December 31, 2012 and appears to be another casualty of gridlock in Washington DC. This has implications for employment in Colorado as companies like Vestas and their supply chain partners will basically stop making wind generation equipment in 2013, leading to <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19727018">large layoffs</a> if this policy is not renewed. It should be extended to provide a predictable environment for investment decisions, promote increases in renewable generation capacity, protect jobs and the environment, spur innovation and help U.S.-based facilities compete globally.<br />
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In the solar energy vertical, several high profile companies - including Loveland Colorado-based <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/ci_20964696/solar-firm-that-got-doe-loan-declare-bankruptcy?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com">Abound Solar</a> - have recently declared bankruptcy in the face of tough competition from Chinese manufacturers and headwinds from the weak economy. Thus GE's <a href="http://business-news.thestreet.com/denver-post/story/ge-puts-planned-colorado-solar-factory-18-month-hold-0/1?IADID=Search-business-news.thestreet.com-www.denverpost.com">recent announcement</a> that <br />
it will be suspending its plans to build <a href="http://www.genewscenter.com/Press-Releases/GE-Plans-to-Build-Largest-US-Solar-Factory-in-Colorado-Expand-Solar-Innovation-in-New-York-and-Deliver-Lighter-Larger-More-Efficient-Thin-Film-Solar-Panels-3408.aspx">the largest Solar factor</a>y in the U.S. for 18 months is particularly painful.<br />
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In the longer term, Colorado, the Front Range, and the Denver Region remain well positioned to benefit from an increase in demand for renewable energy but the short to medium terms seem to be filled with risks and disappointments.<br />
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Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-65153051175772634922012-07-04T11:06:00.002-06:002012-07-08T21:25:57.535-06:00More on the Patent Office<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK8ZzG5KmJsO-CvzIZUBl0VTzELO8mKY3m7TLH9sj9-AtHf_ViYKM-emQ5CZiax4HbpAMiWVtXDDHsDBOztGxKubacZP4Y7M-Ssvz45rYqFm5TlsS5owpCcqrv9yjtZqe2neLHhJvPg/s1600/NEWOFFICES1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK8ZzG5KmJsO-CvzIZUBl0VTzELO8mKY3m7TLH9sj9-AtHf_ViYKM-emQ5CZiax4HbpAMiWVtXDDHsDBOztGxKubacZP4Y7M-Ssvz45rYqFm5TlsS5owpCcqrv9yjtZqe2neLHhJvPg/s400/NEWOFFICES1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Graphic from U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web Site <br />
<a href="http://www.uspto.gov/">http://www.uspto.gov/</a><br />
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A few interesting tid bits on the Patent Office coming to the Denver region.<br />
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<ul>
<li>There is a <a href="http://denverinfill.com/blog/2012/07/us-patent-office-belongs-in-downtown-denver.html">pretty fierce debate</a> on <a href="http://blogs.denverpost.com/techknowbytes/2012/07/02/potential-sites-denver-satellite-patent-office-include-platte-valley-stapleton-lakewood/5252/">selecting a site for the office</a>: Downtown Denver, Stapleton, Fitzsimons, the Tech Center, the Federal Center, or the former site of the University of Colorado Medical School off Colorado Boulevard. This will be fascinating to see play out.</li>
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<li>The Patent Office <a href="http://www.uspto.gov/news/pr/2012/12-40.jsp">Press Release</a> announcing the selection of the three new satellite cities provides insight about the agency's internal perspective on the impact of these branch locations:</li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The four offices will function as hubs of innovation and creativity, helping
protect and foster American innovation in the global marketplace, helping
businesses cut through red tape, and creating new economic opportunities in each
of the local communities. Next week, Acting Secretary Blank and Under Secretary
Kappos will travel to each of the newly selected cities to meet with local
businesses, entrepreneurs and public officials to discuss the new office
openings.</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>It is also interesting to see what the Patent Office had to say about their site selection criteria and methodology for choosing the three cities among hundreds of candidates in a <a href="http://www.uspto.gov/news/Satellite_Selection_-_One_Pager_-_FINAL.pdf">supplemental document</a> attached to the announcement press release.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
"<span style="font-size: small;">Selection of the four sites was based upon a comprehensive analysis of criteria including geographical diversity, regional economic impact, ability to recruit and retain employees, and the ability to engage the intellectual property community, among others... </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Dallas area provides the USPTO with a southern, central time zone hub from which to operate. The region is exceedingly rich in engineering talent, patent applicants, and patent grants. Dallas boasts an above average population of potential Veteran employees. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">The Denver area provides the USPTO with a mountain time zone hub from which to operate. Empirical evidence demonstrates that Denver is a sought-after place to live and work with relatively low cost-of-living—a critical combination for the recruitment and retention of top talent. Further, the economic impact of a USPTO satellite office in the Denver region is projected to be disproportionate relative to most other cities. Denver also boasts an above average population of potential Veteran employees. <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Silicon Valley provides the USPTO with a pacific time zone hub in the heart of California’s most vibrant innovation center. Silicon Valley, and the areas that surround it, contain many of the USPTO’s top filers as well as legions of start-up and small tech companies that depend on the USPTO. Further, Silicon Valley’s great quality of life and abundant population of engineering talent will provide fertile recruiting grounds for the Agency. The USPTO recognizes the challenges of retention in a hyper-competitive market, and will work to construct a concept of operations for the three offices that recognizes such challenges." </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"></span></blockquote>Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-35975693045701224512012-07-01T15:04:00.001-06:002012-07-01T15:07:27.164-06:00Denver to Get Satellite U.S. Patent Office<em>The Denver Post</em> and <em>Denver Busimess Journal</em> are reporting that the U.S. Patent Office will announce on Monday that the Denver Metro Area, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Jose will join Detroit as one of four cities where the U.S. Patent Office will open a satellite branch. This is another big win for economic development in the Denver Region as the presence of this office will accomplish several major objectives: help strengthen the Metro Denver region's competitive site selection position in drawing innovative high techology companies and researchers who generate patents by making it logistically easier for these entities to apply for and recieve patents when located in Colorado; increase Denver's attractiveness to professional, legal and financial services comapnies who support technology companies; provide hundreds stable of well paying regional jobs; and send a signal to investors, entrapranuers and knowledge workers that Denver is a great place invest, work and live.<br />
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Many political, business and civic leaders did a great job of selling the state and region. See <em><a href="http://bennet.senate.gov/download/?id=5c960b60-99f3-4413-a37f-3a03b842ee8f">The Case for a Satellite Patent Office in Colorado</a></em> as a very well constructed piece of marketing collateral for the Denver Region.<br />
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Colorado Senator, Micahel Bennet, who was a key advocate for Colorado and sponsored the legislation which authorized creating Patent satellite officers issued a <a href="http://www.bennet.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/bennet-praises-decision-to-open-patent-office-in-denver">press release</a> praising the decision:<br />
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<blockquote>
"This is a well-deserved victory for the state of Colorado,” said Bennet. “This tremendous news affirms what we already know about our state – that we are leaders in innovation, technological development, and economic growth. The new office will provide a boost to the growing high-tech industries in Colorado, such as the bioscience, clean energy, and aerospace fields.<br />
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“The work to bring the patent office to Denver was a truly collaborative effort that included bipartisan support in government, the business community, academia and from local leaders across the state. In particular, patent attorney John Posthumus has worked tirelessly for years as one of the leaders to make this a reality. The patent office will anchor Colorado’s reputation as a leader in innovation and the 21<sup>st</sup> century economy and will benefit the state for many years to come."</blockquote>Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-29886415161324842292012-06-10T10:03:00.001-06:002012-06-10T10:03:24.316-06:00Northwest Rail Line Delay Upsetting and DisappointingFor those people living in or commuting to Boulder County, Broomfield and Westminster, the "perfect storm" of sales tax revenue shortfalls (due to the Great Recession) and <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_20782125">higher than budgeted for costs</a> ($1.7B versus original $461M estimate), which have contributed to a potential multi-decade delay on the construction of the Northwest Corridor Rail Line (to 2042 from 2016), there is legitimate anger, disappointment and cynicism. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-ztkcQjHAFJpB0qKdPYwXHrH0DT3NMErJI2gEBAE0Jv5BOwgFwTk2xi1If_h8cXF1HxtVRYxgTBNwhQk4fwW6rpzhQ-XWu_rZ2s8Mya-BPWs9awu4l2FQjrT3v2bCEvEovPAU7ijzg/s1600/2009-0413_NWR_Corridor_Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-ztkcQjHAFJpB0qKdPYwXHrH0DT3NMErJI2gEBAE0Jv5BOwgFwTk2xi1If_h8cXF1HxtVRYxgTBNwhQk4fwW6rpzhQ-XWu_rZ2s8Mya-BPWs9awu4l2FQjrT3v2bCEvEovPAU7ijzg/s320/2009-0413_NWR_Corridor_Map.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from RTD</td></tr>
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Taxpayers in the Northwest Corridor (Longmont, Boulder, Louisville, Superior, Broomfield and other places) have been paying an extra .4% of sales tax into the FasTracks revenue pot since 2005 helping to jump start planning and construction for other rail lines while the possibility of their rail line has receded into a murky, uncertain and distant future. Boulder County voters want<a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_20714299/boulder-county-voters-rtd-should-stick-fastracks-commuter?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com"> to stick to the commuter rail plan</a> and are pushing RTD for <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_20185530/residents-rtd-quit-promising-and-give-us-guarantees?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com">guarantees</a> about delivery and timing. Commuters along US 36 have been <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_20795577/rtds-bus-rapid-transit-demo-vehicle-display-boulder?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com">underwhelmed</a> by the prospects for Bus Rapid Transit Improvements along the US 36 Corridor from Boulder to Denver. Voters, commuters, and taxpayers are cranky and there is a general sense of discontent, discouragement and distaste about the process and the outcome.<br />
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While these are all valid responses to the situation, its important to not lose sight of the concrete benefits that have come and are coming to commuters on the US 36 Corridor from the development of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. These real, tangible, cumulative,ongoing benefits will promote mobility, regional economic vitality and can demonstrate the importance of transit infrastructure investments and ultimately help make the case for the importance of building the complementary Northwest Rail Line.<br />
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Over the next several months I will be writing a series of blog posts talking about BRT on the US 36 Corridor to explain what has happened, is happening and what the outcomes are and why this is important to the region.<br />Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-58246867813713848692012-06-03T10:50:00.000-06:002012-06-03T10:50:15.379-06:00Denver Region on the Right Side of College Educated Work Force DivideAccording to Brookings Data <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/05/31/us/education-in-metro-areas.html">published</a> in the <em>New York Times</em>, the Denver Region has the ninth highest percent of college graduates (the region would rank higher but Boulder is not included). This is a self reinforcing phenomina which over the long term will play a key role in the economic vitality of the region.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-64476878038773796822012-05-27T11:27:00.004-06:002012-05-27T11:27:43.892-06:00Denver To Tokyo Finally A Reality<div style="text-align: left;">
The recently <a href="http://ir.unitedcontinentalholdings.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=83680&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1698727&highlight=">announced</a> United Airelines Flight from Denver to Tokyo is a big boost to Denver's Status as global business and tourist destination. This has been a <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2008/05/ascent-to-asia-campaign.html">long time coming</a> and big congradulations are due to all the parties who worked to make this happen. Certainly the launch of the Boeing 787 made this flight economically feasible. It will be fascinating to see if any other long haul international flights get added to DIA.</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0KWrzbfIkcHtL5Ibw9tI-VrBPu9SeloyGdOAyQmrwsuZdvGFDksItzChGa1O-oQFe7xVX2eltcg_FxG8Cx0Ieu2GMS9lyVqv-0qfbVXZ1aUhzvGd1toxSRZdt33XUX2UhyphenhyphenJXRdoJVA/s1600/AscenttoAsia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0KWrzbfIkcHtL5Ibw9tI-VrBPu9SeloyGdOAyQmrwsuZdvGFDksItzChGa1O-oQFe7xVX2eltcg_FxG8Cx0Ieu2GMS9lyVqv-0qfbVXZ1aUhzvGd1toxSRZdt33XUX2UhyphenhyphenJXRdoJVA/s400/AscenttoAsia.jpg" width="261" /></a><br />
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Poster image from www.rockymountainnews.com, photo by City of Denver; Business
Groups.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-59473186597029704452012-01-01T14:03:00.000-07:002012-01-01T14:03:41.936-07:00Personal Thoughts: A Return to Colorado, the Importance of Transit InvestmentI began this blog more than four years ago in 2007 as a way to stay connected with economic development issues in my hometown region of the Denver Metro Area. About six months ago I moved back to the Front Range. Now after 25 years I am a resident again in my hometown of Boulder Colorado. I am very thankful to be able to help out and keep an eye on an aging parent who only lives a mile away from me.<br />
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Since I left Colorado I have been fortunate to have lived in regions with strong public transportation systems: Boston, London, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC. Despite many many return visits to Colorado and the careful watch I have kept over the FasTracks developments, I was really not sure what the day to day experience would be in using Mass Transit in the Boulder/Denver Area.<br />
<br />
My first thought is I have been pleasantly surprised. I am very appreciative of how well connected Boulder is to Denver via the BF/BX/BV routes and how well served Denver itself is by local bus routes. Both my wife and I are frequent users of these routes for commuting and personal trips. However, as good as this system is, there are big gaps that need to be filled.<br />
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As the national economy struggles, concerns about environmental sustainability continue and the likelihood of energy price increases remain, my thoughts keep returning to the great wisdom of the Denver Metro Area's plan to build FasTracks. <br />
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The timing of this investment could not be more critical: it is creating job in a weak economy, providing more sustainable transit alternatives to a congested region, promoting economic vitality and regional competitiveness along the Front Range, and helping facilitate an increase in population while protecting the quality of life. <br />
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Over the next few years the Denver region will come to another transit cross roads. We will have to decide if we are willing to pay higher taxes to fund transit infrastructure investments to complete the FasTracks build out and take our transportation investments to the next level of vision---or retrench while the historic opportunity to make the Denver region a world class metropolitan area recedes backwards. In my mind this is one of the two or three most important regional economic development questions the Denver Region will face and we will have to live with the consequences of our choice for decades to come.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-22161191989471763322011-12-18T23:00:00.001-07:002011-12-18T23:07:20.708-07:00Space Industry Moves Forward in ColoradoI was talking to friends last week about an investment property they are buying in Loveland. They mentioned they were excited about the prospects for the thousands of potential new jobs which could be created in <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2011/04/ace-manufacturing-and-innovation-park.html">Loveland</a> by the ACE industrial park joint venture between NASA, the Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology and a private real estate developer. My first reaction was that the park's future was uncertain because the original developer, United Properties, <a href="http://www.timescall.com/ci_18736410?IADID=Search-www.timescall.com-www.timescall.com">stopped its negotiations</a> with the City of Loveland to buy the Agilent Technologies Inc property. However, I was excited to learn that a <a href="http://www.timescall.com/business/local-business/ci_19386496?IADID=Search-www.timescall.com-www.timescall.com">new developer</a>, Cumberland & Western Resources LLC is close to buying the property and moving the project forward.<br />
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The Space economy is very important to the Front Range and has prospects for future growth even beyond the ACE park. According to the <a href="http://www.spacecolorado.org/">Colorado Space Coalition</a> the aerospace industry in Colorado employees 163,000 people and the state has the <a href="http://www.spacecolorado.org/files/MDEDC%20Aeropsoce%20Broch%208pg%205.pdf">3rd largest space economy in the U.S.</a><br />
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Recently Governor Hickenlooper<a href="http://www.spacecolorado.org/news/governor-hickenlooper-announces-colorado-will-seek-spaceport-designation.html"> announced</a> that the State of Colorado is <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_19493801?source=pkg">applying for a spaceport designation</a> from the Federal Aviation Administration. "Spaceport Colorado" is tentatively slated to be located at Front Range Airport near Watkins and east of Denver in Adams County. The creation of a spaceport in Metro Denver would likely <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_19567466">promote economic and real estate development</a> in the vicinity of the facility.<br />
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Both the ACE park and Spaceport Colorado will be very interesting to watch develop over the next few years.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-83858588164322405922011-11-26T19:35:00.000-07:002011-11-26T19:35:17.950-07:00Uncertainty Surrounding Former StorageTech Site Illustrates the Drawbacks of Relying on Out of Region Firms for Economic DevelopmentThe <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2008/02/conocophillips-is-mystery-buyer-of.html">redevelopment of the former Storage Technology Site</a> in Louisville into a training and R&D facility for ConocoPhillips was going to provide an <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2008/07/conocophillips-spurring-real-estate.html">economic boost</a> to the "Renewable Range" cluster of green energy firms in the Denver region and to the broader economy. <br />
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However, recent <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/business/ci_19400117">uncertainty</a> over the future of the site illustrates the drawbacks of not having homegrown, in-region headquartered firms driving economic development decisions. When Houston-based ConocoPhillips announced a split into two separate publicly traded companies, ConocoPhillips, an upstream exploration and production energy company and Phillips 66 a downstream consumer-facing refining, marketing and midstream business, the plans for the Louisville campus came into question. Future decisions will be made by the leadership of Phillips 66 and may or may not reflect the previous vision espoused by the legacy ConocoPhillips leadership. When land use decisions are made by companies with distant, out of state headquarters, there is an exposure to changes in strategic and leadership direction which can imp3de local progress.<br />
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Here is to hoping this site still gets redeveloped by Phillips 66 in a way that enhances the regional green energy cluster and boosts the overall economy in the Metro Denver area.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-48537991474123192332011-11-20T19:29:00.002-07:002011-11-20T21:46:37.794-07:00Denver "Cool City" for Young Adults During Recession....But Can The Area Retain This Talent?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk58wTmWW8yWEMgJ3Zopc16We7ULPxsF201rfCi0fRQ_kppODdRP94gbMmLlI3u57I-5GzHW3l8V11Q1IFyvLUpuS3QCFqUB-zmNsJWUnCo7LiAe80VOx3psQ6RHJGqbsB61TkzrnT4w/s1600/1028_young_adults_map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk58wTmWW8yWEMgJ3Zopc16We7ULPxsF201rfCi0fRQ_kppODdRP94gbMmLlI3u57I-5GzHW3l8V11Q1IFyvLUpuS3QCFqUB-zmNsJWUnCo7LiAe80VOx3psQ6RHJGqbsB61TkzrnT4w/s320/1028_young_adults_map.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>William Frey from the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program recently released <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2011/1028_young_adults_frey.aspx">demographic data</a> showing that the Denver Metro Area had a net gain of more than ten thousand young adults (aged 25 to 34) from 2008 to 2010 making it the number one gaining Metro Area in the U.S. during the Great Recession. It jumped from a ranking of twelfth in 2005 to 2007 (see chart to left from Brookings).<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Frey</span> describes the strong net inflow performance of cities like Denver in the following way:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">"To the extent they are moving at all, young adults are headed to metro areas which are known to have a certain vibe—college towns, high-tech centers, and so-called 'cool cities.'...The top three areas [Denver was number 1] and our nation’s capital, arguably, fared <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2011/0622_metro_monitor.aspx">relatively well</a> economically during the recession. But all seven are places where young people can feel connected and have attachments to colleges or universities among highly educated residents."</blockquote><br />
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Which brings me to a fascinating conversation I had the other night at dinner with an old friend I used to work with in New York. My friend, who has lived in the Denver Metro Area for more than 10 years, has top notch professional and academic credentials with many interesting and impressive career experiences. One thing he told me was that, in his experience, the relatively small size of the Metro Denver employment market leads many talented people to ultimately move on to larger business centers to further their careers. <br />
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Clearly the Denver region is attracting energetic young people who are critical for keeping the area economically vital, creatively vibrant and providing a strong labor talent pool. However, the big question this raises in my mind is "Can the region attract and/or organically grow enough top tier job opportunities to retain this population as it ages and grows into senior management roles?" <br />
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This is a big and critical challenge for the Denver region.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-24685282421028051432011-10-13T18:39:00.012-06:002011-10-13T19:23:39.238-06:00Two for Two, Colorado Over New York: GE Selects Aurora Site for PrimeStar Thin Film Solar Plant<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Centennial State is on a two-day site selection roll over the Empire State as <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19105522"><span style="color: blue;">Colorado won out over New York State </span></a>for the location of a thin film solar factory for newly acquired General Electric subsidiary PrimeStar. Given the <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2011/10/right-on-target-arrow-electronics-moves.html"><span style="color: blue;">Arrow Electric news </span></a>from yesterday it has been a good economic development week for the Denver Region.<br />
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It is particularly notable that PrimeStar was a Colorado company which developed the underlying technology with the National Renewal Energy Laboratory in Golden. So the full product life cycle from basic R & D to product development to commercial production will all be vertically integrated within the state of Colorado. <br />
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The hundreds of manufacturing jobs offered by this plant will boost local labor and real estate markets and reinforce the renewable energy cluster in the Front Range. I don't know if GE will be exporting any of these panels outside this U.S. but this also has the potential to boost Colorado's weak export numbers.<o:p></o:p></span> <br />
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</div>Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-81235361555591985632011-10-12T17:37:00.011-06:002011-10-12T18:13:41.404-06:00Right on Target: Arrow Electronics Moves Global HQ to ColoradoIn a time of high economic anxiety, the announcement that Fortune 200 company Arrow Electronics is moving its global headquarters to Arapahoe County, Colorado from Long Island in New York is great news for Metro Denver from an economic development perspective.<br /><br />See an excellent series of article from <em>the Denver Post:</em> <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_19093228">Hickenlooper's role</a><em>,</em> <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_19092818">article with analysis and graphics</a>,<a href="http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_19092362"> the role of tax credit incentives</a>, and <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19087442?source=pkg">breaking news article</a> by Post writers Svaldi and Griffin.<br /><br /><br /><br />Arrow Electronics <a href="http://investor.arrow.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=85834&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1615615&highlight=">Press Release</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />Earlier blogs about the dearth of Fortune 500 Headquarters in Colorado <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2010/04/qwest-loss-quick-reaction.html">here</a> and <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2009/09/with-decampment-of-newmont-mining-for.html">here</a>.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-22107886788213232402011-06-27T17:38:00.004-06:002011-06-27T18:14:00.098-06:00Difficult Questions Surround the Stock Show Relocation PlanThe emerging donnybrook between the cites of Denver and Aurora over Gaylord Entertainment's proposed hotel and theme park complex at the High Point Development near DIA raises some of the most vexing economic development questions to hit the Metro Denver region in several years.<br /><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li>Will the proposed development, near DIA and along the planned airport train route, promote regional economic well being or drain energy and convention business from the Metro Area's urban core in downtown Denver which has been so painstakingly built up over the past few decades? </li></ul><br /><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li>Should the State of Colorado award a multi-hundred million dollar tax increment financing subsidy, perhaps the largest ever in Colorado, to help build 1,500 hotel rooms and 500,00 of convention space in Aurora?</li></ul><br /><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li>Is this plan the only way to ensure the cherished National Western Stock Show is revitalized and modernized and stays in Colorado for the foreseeable future?<br />Can Denver and Aurora find a formula for approving the Gaylord project, keeping the Stock Show in Denver and making sure their is an equitable distribution of economic benefits and costs flowing from any potential related new developments?</li><br /><br /><br /><li>Will Governor Hickenlooper play a role in this deal?<br /></li></ul><br /><p>The Denver Post has an excellent <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_18355109">primer</a> exploring these issues.</p><br /><em>A View of the Rockies</em> will be closely studying this situation in the coming weeks and months. So far we don't know enough to have an informed opinion.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-37487643235825917242011-06-11T17:11:00.017-06:002011-06-11T18:26:45.291-06:00The Denver WayGrowing up in Colorado and living as an adult in Boston, New York, San Francisco and now New Jersey, I have always admired the State of Colorado and its cities like Denver for having decent, effective, well-run governments that are able to make decisions and execute projects to promote civic improvement. As a young, western city without the types of entrenched establishment interests and ethnic tribalism that exist in some older locales, Denver seems to exhibit an openness to newcomers and new ideas.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBz4dsFOVYJSEFhYUQ_AlECE0bxZa2ookF5DEsEskXNUufTYyCuyi7EldzaphbSV8kU3H2jblbOBJATALHW2cHWMwnZ1hWmMmetpegs1I8EeO0gx6NkZlpacgEyCNCEWuMybdnIsKJQ/s1600/MichaelHancock.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617104474158311442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBz4dsFOVYJSEFhYUQ_AlECE0bxZa2ookF5DEsEskXNUufTYyCuyi7EldzaphbSV8kU3H2jblbOBJATALHW2cHWMwnZ1hWmMmetpegs1I8EeO0gx6NkZlpacgEyCNCEWuMybdnIsKJQ/s400/MichaelHancock.bmp" /></a></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 283px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617112421773138130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdPstDelJl-R2s72e64jFioemOsY1jGBcWLxThlzsggaL7jQeqNLxGPcSgH2NL5Yn9qvwxlhbQo98iTGMaI6Yt48E_9mzGI8tIhFKIU4eLAL7qY66mo5nIBh5y0ZfsZqr3qmM0J422A/s400/225px-HickenlooperCropped.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ9RRw5adVuxaLb0s9eW_JQ7lgoVQlB0aKZDajzn8cMhp-Bdvl5fPuBUq3H8w0LrEcaugoTAI5BpZTIHgc_w8aeoY7Vlq-yvRgR0zNAEU3vXZPg5Wm27n9Oz1xvcCrYglWs216c-3Ow/s1600/webbphoto.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 162px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 204px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617113688605752514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ9RRw5adVuxaLb0s9eW_JQ7lgoVQlB0aKZDajzn8cMhp-Bdvl5fPuBUq3H8w0LrEcaugoTAI5BpZTIHgc_w8aeoY7Vlq-yvRgR0zNAEU3vXZPg5Wm27n9Oz1xvcCrYglWs216c-3Ow/s400/webbphoto.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7VnsNADdKb5SbgoVC3SGGRFriqYgOOcVMCZ6rvDBd9bgnX9ucK-CUlxxpQBnAKGVHTfMI4wAtWnDEDFRohCIcpjrh026I-_RerT0FOZLNvjumxRbWr-6HA3gDH23aD3ITd4GUwK4Kg/s1600/Federico_pena.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 211px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 280px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617113441714878674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7VnsNADdKb5SbgoVC3SGGRFriqYgOOcVMCZ6rvDBd9bgnX9ucK-CUlxxpQBnAKGVHTfMI4wAtWnDEDFRohCIcpjrh026I-_RerT0FOZLNvjumxRbWr-6HA3gDH23aD3ITd4GUwK4Kg/s400/Federico_pena.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Economic development gurus like Richard Florida argue that a key to attracting the creative, information savvy workforce needed to power the economies of today and tomorrow is openness to ideas, lifestyles, cultural variety, ethnic and racial diversity and other differences among people.<br /><br /><div>The election of Michael Hancock as Denver's 44th Mayor is instructive. The city's last four elected Mayors come from diverse backgrounds: African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic. The fact that two of the last three people elected mayor of Denver have been African American, in a city in which only 11% of the population is black, is particularly striking and strong evidence that Denver is a relatively open and tolerant city.<br /><br /><div>It seems to me that a repeated willingness of a citizenry to elect leaders from different racial and cultural backgrounds to top level positions, is a compelling example of openness and tolerance and will go a long way toward promoting the "Denver brand" to the creative class. </div></div>Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-10329047431018107652011-04-09T17:28:00.004-06:002011-04-09T17:47:06.680-06:00ACE Manufacturing and Innovation Park Likely Coming to LovelandMedia Accounts are putting the <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2010/12/nasa-agreement-with-camt-to-promote.html">CMAT Space Park </a>site in Loveland (previous blog post <a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2011/02/update-colorado-aerospace-park.html">here</a>). <br /><ul><br /><li><a href="http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20110408/BUSINESS/104080317">Account</a> from <em>the Coloradan.</em></li><br /><li><em>The Reporter Herald's </em><a href="http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?id=31893">Story</a></li><br /><li>The view from<em> the Daily Camera</em> <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_17784190?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com">here</a> and <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_17776510?IADID=Search-www.dailycamera.com-www.dailycamera.com">here</a>.</li></ul>Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2650483104286997362.post-78070529370439355332011-04-09T17:20:00.002-06:002011-04-09T17:28:17.944-06:00USA Pro Cycling ChallengeThe establishment of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge race in Colorado is big news and a<a href="http://aviewoftherockies.blogspot.com/2009/05/bringing-back-major-bike-race-to.html"> long time coming</a>. The race is also getting national <a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_17775117">media coverage</a> from NBC. This is very welcome and exciting news indeed.Jeff Krafthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04707265714092084962noreply@blogger.com0