Downtown Denver Partnership Releases 2016 State of Downtown Denver Report

DENVER (May 10, 2016) – The Downtown Denver Partnership issued today the 2016 State of Downtown Denver report. The annual report, funded in part by the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, is one of the most comprehensive statistical looks at the stories and statistics behind a thriving center city, detailing increasing investment, strong office market fundamentals, a growing and highly-educated workforce and vibrant residential population in Downtown Denver.

“Our center city’s strong economy and dynamic energy creates a place where people want to live and work, and as a result, it’s a place where companies want to locate,” said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “Downtown Denver is a model for what a great city can be as a result of our collective strategic, place-based economic development strategy and the long-term vision and commitment of public and private-sector leaders.”

At a breakfast attended by nearly 600 business and civic leaders, Door presented key facts from the report, including:

Development and Investment
Developers are responding to increased demand propelled by a strong population and job growth, as well as key public-sector investments. $2.5 billion of investment is under construction or planned for Downtown Denver, on top of more than $634 million of investment in 2015 that included 15 projects to create an additional 511 hotel rooms, 1,901 residential units and 333,000 square feet of office space.

Office Market and Employers
Downtown Denver is an ideal place to start or grow a business. In the past 24 months, 24 companies have relocated or expanded, and office market fundamentals remain strong with a 9.5 percent direct vacancy rate and $33.14/square foot direct average lease rate. As of the beginning of 2016, an additional 2.8 million square feet of office space was planned or under construction.

Workforce
More people are working in Downtown Denver than ever before, totaling 123,548 at the end of 2015. Employment has increased 13.2 percent since 2010, surpassing the nation-wide increase of 8.5 percent. Denver is also the seventh most educated metro area in the country, with more than 40 percent of Denver Metro area residents earning a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Students and Universities
54,000 students attend public, not-for-profit institutions of higher education in Downtown Denver, and more than 10,000 students attend trade or private institutions. The Auraria Higher Education Center continues to see growth and investment to help ensure businesses are able to recruit qualified employees, with new facilities including an aerospace and engineering sciences building at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and an advanced manufacturing center at the Community College of Denver.

Residents
Ranked as the top place to live in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report, 75,972 people live in Downtown Denver. Attracted to vibrant walkable districts and diverse residential amenities, this number is expected to grow by 12.6 percent over the next five years, compared to 3.7 percent nationally.

Retail and Restaurants
First-to-market and new-to-downtown options create a diverse retail scene, including the second non-coastal location for Uniqlo, which will open a 23,000-square-foot flagship store later this year. 53 percent of businesses along the 16th Street Mall are local businesses or local chains contributing to the $45 million in retail sales tax collections generated in Downtown Denver in 2015.

Mobility
Multi-modal transportation options converge in Downtown Denver, where nearly 60 percent of Downtown Denver employees commute to work via transit, walk, bike or ride share. 21 percent of Downtown Denver residents don’t own a car.

Public Space and Activation
Downtown Denver’s parks and public spaces are an economic asset for the community and help transform an individual’s experience in the center city. In 2015, public spaces were activated for a collective total of 749 days. Events like Meet in the Street, produced by the Downtown Denver Partnership and funded by the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, resulted in 30 percent more pedestrian traffic on the Mall, and 60 percent of people spending more time in the space.

Tourism and Attractions
A world-class destination for regional and international tourists, more than 15 million people, including one million conference attendees to the Colorado Convention Center, visit the city each year and spend a total of $4.6 billion. Downtown Denver’s 32 hotels also experience high occupancy rates, and with four new hotels planned.

“I applaud the Downtown Denver Partnership for leading the private sector’s commitment to help develop and implement the strategies that are responsible for the economically vibrant center city showcased in the 2016 State of Downtown Denver report,” said Joe Vostrejs, principal of City Street Investors and chairman of the Downtown Denver Partnership.

Following an overview of the report, a panel moderated by Rob Cohen, CEO of IMA Financial, and including Crissy Fanganello, director of transportation for Denver Public Works, Chris Frampton, managing partner of East West Partners, and Scott Heimes, chief marketing officer at SendGrid, discussed the opportunities and challenges facing Downtown Denver, including population growth, mobility, affordability and education, as well as the role the entrepreneurial community plays in the future of the center city.

“While Downtown Denver is certainly thriving, it’s important to continue collaboration between the public and private sector and engage in important dialogue to drive our center city forward,” said Rob Cohen, CEO of IMA Financial and chair of the Partnership’s Downtown Denver Inc. Board of Directors. “Let’s continue to invest in and capitalize on the opportunities we’ve worked so hard for and ensure Downtown Denver remains the best place in the entire country to live, work and visit.”

For more information and to view the complete 2016 State of Downtown Denver report, visit www.downtowndenver.com.

About the Downtown Denver Partnership
The Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. partners with public, private and non-profit entities to implement high-impact strategies, outlined in the organization’s long-term strategy the 2007 Downtown Area Plan, to support its vision for an economically healthy, growing and vital Downtown Denver. For more information, visit www.downtowndenver.com.

About The Downtown Denver Business Improvement District
The Downtown Denver Business Improvement District (BID) is a public organization funded by private commercial property owners. It strives to provide a clean, safe and vibrant Downtown environment for workers, residents and visitors. Through their annual assessments to this quasi-governmental entity, BID property owners fund a series of district-wide programs that enhance Downtown Denver, including cleaning and maintenance efforts, safety initiatives and targeted visitor marketing. The BID is an independent organization that contracts with the Downtown Denver Partnership to manage its work program. For more information, visit www.downtowndenver.com/about-the-bid.


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COBRT Supports and Celebrates Small Biz Week

Colorado Business Roundtable knows that small business has a significant impact on all businesses, including the large companies that comprise the national Business Roundtable. This week, we have celebrated and supported National Small Biz Week and invite our readers to continue to do so -- it's only Thursday, after all!

Join the conversation at @ColoradoBRT #DreamSmallBiz

Our capital city of Denver welcomed U.S. Small Business Administration's Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet on Wednesday, May 4 to kick-off day four of the National Small Business Week celebrations that are happening across the nation May 1-7. SBA Regional Administrator Betsy Markey joined Contreras-Sweet to officially welcome the national event to Denver and the Rocky Mountain Region. While in Denver, Contreras-Sweet participated in a Celebrating Women in Small Business forum with Colorado’s prominent women entrepreneurs and leaders followed by an awards luncheon and a Latina’s in Business discussion at Azucar Bakery in Denver. See original release and check out the livestream events as well as webinars here.

Learn more about Betsy Markey, the Former Colorado Congresswoman who was appointed as the Regional Administrator of the SBA's Region VIII in January 2016. The region is based in Denver and covers the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming, serving over 875,000 small businesses. 

Last week, we had Tim Gaudette as a guest on COBRT's Connect and Collaborate Radio. Gaudette is the Colorado Outreach Manager for Small Business Majority, a national small business advocacy organization, founded and run by small business owners to focus on solving the biggest problems facing small businesses today. On the show, Gaudette discussed next week's Small Business Summit in Washington D.C. as well as other topics for small business owners such as access to capital, predatory lending, nondiscrimination and benefits. Click the player below to stream the podcast, or click download to save and listen later.

Also from the Small Business Majority, we report that the organization released on May 4, 2016 a scientific opinion poll showing the vast majority of small business owners in Colorado oppose proposed legislation allowing lenders to increase the interest they can charge on a $3,000 consumer loan. See the report, "Colorado Small Businesses Strongly Oppose Raising Loan Interest Rates."

Tomorrow, May 6, 2016 the Denver Office of Economic Development invites you to "Meet Your Maker!" From 3-6 p.m., InkMonstr Graphic Design & Printing (at 2721 W. Holden Place) has invited local manufacturers of cool gear to showcase Denver’s active lifestyle industry. This is the final in a series of events for National Small Business Week. See all.

Keep the momentum of Small Biz Week going next month with the Colorado Rockies. Colorado Small Business Development Center Network (CSBDC) invites you to its 3rd Annual Small Business Night at Coors Field on June 23. CSBDC is dedicated to helping existing and new businesses grow and prosper in Colorado by providing free and confidential consulting and no- or low-cost training programs. CSBDC has locations around the state with a team of business experts ready to help you create and retain jobs, secure loans, increase sales, win government contracts, obtain certifications and more. 

As COBRT has reported in the past two weeks, CSBDC along with several statewide small businesses, community organizations and financial institutions, launched a new website in honor of this year's Small Business Week. The website, www.coloradosmallbizweek.com, serves as the one place where Coloradans can find all the events and celebrations in honor of small businesses in specific communities across the state. 

For more on the national perspectives and policies affecting small business, check out the website and resources for the U.S. House Small Business Committee. Get the latest news and learn more about its key priorities: tax simplification, regulatory reform, increasing trade, access to capital and small business contracting.

COBRT has a unique and continued commitment to small business in that our president, Jeff Wasden, is on the Board of Trustees of the National Small Business Association, the nation’s oldest small-business advocacy organization, and operates on a staunchly nonpartisan basis. As we reported in February 2016, this is Wasden’s second time serving in an executive role for NSBA. He originally served on their national leadership council representing Colorado’s sixth district through the family business he co-owns.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) encourages small-business owners and self-employed individuals to check out several products to help them understand and meet their tax obligations. See the list here. Topics and tools include Payments to Independent Contractors, Simplified Home Office Deduction and The Small Business and Self-Employed Tax Center.

Colorado's Advanced Industries Road Tour Announced

DENVER - Monday, April 18, 2016 - The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) today announced that staff will be going on a road tour throughout Colorado to educate people about the Advanced Industries (AI) Accelerator Program and how they can apply for and secure grants.

"In just the past three years, Colorado's AI program has granted over $35 million to 227 organizations, helping them to scale and find great success," said Fiona Arnold, Executive Director of OEDIT. "We want to ensure that people in every part of the state are aware of the program and know how to successfully apply for a grant."

The AI grant team will answer questions at two-hour meetings, as well as discuss the program in detail and give helpful grant training advice.

Tour Stops:
La Junta 4/20
Grand Junction 4/25
Montrose 4/26
Durango 4/27
Alamosa 5/5

The Advanced Industries (AI) Accelerator Programs promote growth and sustainability in Colorado's seven advanced industries by helping drive innovation, accelerate commercialization, encourage public-private partnerships, increase access to early stage capital and create a strong ecosystem that increases the state's global competitiveness.

There are five different AI grants available for people to apply for:
* Proof of Concept: grant funding is used to identify and pull technologies from research institutions where they were discovered and connect them to private sector where they can scale.
* Early-Stage Capital and Retention: grant funding is used to fund companies using technologies developed in proof of concept grants and other early stage start-ups that have created viable products that meet a market need and that can be created or manufactured in Colorado and exported globally. 
* Infrastructure Funding: grant funding is used to accelerate commercialization and innovation of AI products and services by building capacity and workforce.
* AI Export Accelerator Program: grant funding is available for businesses to offset international business development and marketing costs.
* AI Colorado-Israel R&D grant: grant funding available to Colorado companies that have partnered with an Israeli company and are seeking grant funds to support their joint R&D project/technology.

For more information, please click here.

Small Biz Week Website Launched

The Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC) along with several statewide small businesses, community organizations and financial institutions, today launched a new website in honor of this year’s Small Business Week. The website, www.coloradosmallbizweek.com, will serve as the one place where Coloradans can find all the events and celebrations in honor of small businesses in specific communities across the state. 

Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has declared a National Small Business Week to highlight the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners across the nation. This year the US Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week is May 1-7, 2016.

“Small Business Week highlights the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout Colorado,” said Fiona Arnold, Executive Director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “With over 560,000 small businesses in Colorado and half of our workforce employed by small businesses, this week will celebrate their critical contributions with workshops, events and festivities to celebrate Colorado's entrepreneurial spirit.”

The www.coloradosmallbizweek.com website features a calendar of the events, workshops, webinars and celebrations that will take place throughout Colorado during small business week. Additionally, Coloradans can submit their own small business training events to the website.

You can join the conversation with the hashtags #ColoradoCollaborates and #DreamSmallBiz.

2016 Colorado Companies to Watch Finalists Announced

 

Fifty Winners to be Announced at 8th Annual Gala Awards Ceremony

Denver, CO – Colorado Companies to Watch (CCTW) announced the 2016 Finalists of the 8th Annual Colorado Company to Watch Awards, a unique program that honors 50 high-performing 2nd stage companies from across the state for their performance in the marketplace, innovative products, unique processes and philanthropic actions.

“The 2016 Colorado Companies to Watch Finalists represent the state’s most innovative and impactful businesses,” said Sean Nohavec, CCTW Chairman of the Board and Senior Vice President, Platinum Sponsor UMB Bank.  “We are proud to recognize the contributions of 2nd stage companies in Colorado, which often work behind the scenes creating the bulk of economic growth in our state.”

Second-stage companies are those that have moved past the startup stage and into a period of growth. The 2016 Finalists selected significantly impact the state’s economy by collectively providing thousands of jobs and contributing millions of dollars in revenue while representing Colorado’s diverse economic landscape.

Candidates are selected from nominations within the local community.  This year had over 1,000 nominations, with 76 Finalists emerging, from which 50 Winners will ultimately be chosen by the esteemed CCTW volunteer judging panel. Winners will be announced at the 8th Annual Gala Awards Dinner on Friday, June 17, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Denver. Registration for the event will open soon at ColoradoCompaniestoWatch.org.

 

2016 Colorado Companies to Watch Finalists:

AdPro 360

Image Audiovisuals, Inc.

Qwinix

AFC Urgent Care Denver

Inada USA

Rachio

Agribotix

Insight Designs Web Solutions, LLC

Redefy Real Estate

All Phase Restoration

InstaKey Security Systems

Residential Systems, Inc.

Allison Medical, Inc.

J.A. Balistreri Vineyards

Sand Cherry Associates, Inc.

AllUrData, Inc.

JCR Capital

Schoolrunner

Anthem Branding

Kindara, Inc.

Serious Texas Bar BQ

App-X

Liqid, Inc.

Shinesty

ASTRA, LLC

Littleton Equine Medical Center

Silvergate Pharmaceuticals

Avid4 Adventure, Inc.

Mame's Burrito Company

SnapEngage

Barber-Nichols, Inc.

MKK Consulting Engineers, Inc.

Solera Salon

Buehler Companies

Neuro Assesment Systems

SpenDifference, LLC

Canyon Bakehouse

NFT

SSB

Choozle

Nusura, Inc.

Stoneside Blinds & Shades

Colorado Medical Waste, Inc.

Outrigger Energy, LLC

Sunshine Plumbing Heating Air, LLC

Colorado Professional Resources, LLC

Parkifi, Inc.

Sustainable Supply

Columbine Label Co.

Pinnacle Mountain Homes

Tailwind Nutrition

concept3D, Inc.

Pinyon Environmental, Inc.

The BCER Group (BCER Engineering, RimRock Technology and Rondinelli Life Safety)

CPP, Inc.

Platte River Networks

Think Network Technologies

Denver Beer Co.

Polidori Sausage

Thought Ensemble, Inc.

Digabit, Inc.

PorchLight Real Estate Group

Timberline Bank

Epicurean Butter Co.

Precision Sample, LLC

TRIO Environments

Faris Machinery Co.

Providigm, LLC

Vectors, Inc.

FORTRUST

Purely Elizabeth

Volume Nine

GO Alpine

Quinn Snacks

VOORMI

Good Day Pharmacy

 

 

About Colorado Companies to Watch

Colorado Companies to Watch, presented by CapitalValue Advisors, is an awards program honoring 2nd stage companies headquartered in the state of Colorado. The 350 companies that have been honored since the program’s inception demonstrate high performance in the marketplace or exhibit innovative products or processes. The program is designed to seek businesses from a wide range of industries throughout the state, not just the major metropolitan areas. The 50 companies selected each year make an astounding impact on Colorado's economy by collectively providing thousands of jobs and contributing millions of dollars in revenue. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) launched the program in 2009 in conjunction with the Edward Lowe Foundation and valuable community partners from across Colorado.

For more information on Colorado Companies to Watch, visit ColoradoCompaniestoWatch.org, facebook.com/ColoradoCompaniestoWatch and Twitter @coloradoCTW.

 

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Media Contact
Tiffany Ramsdell, PR
720.325.2517 x603
[email protected]

 

Downtown Denver Partnership Honors Six Transformational Projects at 55th Annual Downtown Denver Awards

The Downtown Denver Partnership presented six awards today to transformational projects in Downtown Denver that contribute to an economically healthy, growing and vital center city at the 55th Annual Downtown Denver Awards Dinner, presented by Polsinelli.

The honorees, selected by a jury of key business leaders convened by the Downtown Denver Partnership, are businesses, projects and initiatives that had the most significant impact on the center city in 2015.

The 55th Annual Downtown Denver Awards winners are:

·        16M (Video)

·        Balfour at Riverfront Park (Video)

·        Co-Development Expansion Project at the Denver Art Museum │ the ART Hotel (Video)

·        Elan Union Station │ King Soopers (Video)

·        Lawrence Street Community Center (Video)

·        Regency Athletic Complex at MSU of Denver (Video)

“We are grateful for the opportunity to pause each year to celebrate the achievements that advance us toward our vision of a world-class center city,” said Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “These projects support our place-based economic development strategy and have made significant contributions to bolster Downtown Denver as a powerful economic engine for the city, state and region.”

More than 1,000 people – a new attendance record – celebrated award winners at the Hyatt Regency Denver at Colorado Convention Center.

More information about each winner is below. Click here for images available for media use, please credit the individual project for the photo. Additional information, as well as videos highlighting each project, are available at downtowndenver.com.

16M

16M is a thoughtfully designed mixed-use building in Denver’s historic Lower Downtown (LoDo) District that brings an authentic modern development to activate a previously overlooked intersection of 16th and Market Streets. The 10-story, 340,000-square-foot building creates space for residents, businesses, ground-level retail and increases pedestrian activity and vibrancy along the 16th Street Mall.

“16M supports the vibrancy of downtown Denver through its ‘live, work, play’ uses within the building’s modern yet contextual architectural design. Having our work honored for contributing to the transformation of downtown Denver makes this award very special to us!”

Brent Mather, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, Design Director, Gensler

Balfour at Riverfront Park

Balfour at Riverfront Park brings one of America’s only four-star senior living communities to Downtown Denver. Balfour expands opportunities for seniors to experience all that Downtown Denver has to offer, while also accessing an entire continuum of care to meet their long-term needs.

“On behalf of the entire Balfour at Riverfront Park team, it is our honor to receive a 2015 Downtown Denver Partnership Award. By presenting Balfour with this prestigious award, you have recognized that vibrant cities are places for everyone, not just young professionals and empty nesters. And that’s how Balfour at Riverfront Park became more than a vision. We’d like to believe our community has helped in its own special way to make Downtown Denver a more dynamic and exciting place.”

Michael Schonbrun, Founder

Co-Development Expansion Project at the Denver Art Museum │ the ART Hotel

The mixed use Co-Development Expansion Project at the Denver Art Museum, including the ART Hotel, has bolstered the Broadway corridor and Golden Triangle neighborhood and established the city block as the cultural core of Downtown Denver. This world-class transformation of a public parking lot brings a new tier of visitors to Downtown and includes private mixed-use space for 55 luxury residences, new retail, 50,000 square feet of office space and the ART Hotel. 

“Mile High Development and Corporex Colorado are truly thrilled to receive a prestigious Downtown Denver Partnership Award on behalf of the Co-Development Expansion Project which validates the strong commitment made over 15 years ago to enter into a public-private partnership with the City and County of Denver and the Denver Art Museum to help transform the Civic Center neighborhood.”

George Thorn, Mile High Development

Elan Union Station │ King Soopers

Elan Union Station solidified Lower Downtown’s transition from a business district to an urban neighborhood by fulfilling a long-standing commitment to bring a first-of-its-kind, full-service grocery store to Downtown Denver. The development also features a 314-unit apartment complex and additional ground-floor retail that broadly impacts Downtown’s residents, workers and visitors.

 “The Elan Union Station project is the “front door” to the Platte Valley and adds a critical urban component to downtown Denver – the first full-service grocery store.  The Nichols Partnership, along with Loftus Developments, worked with the Downtown Denver Partnership, the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, King Soopers and a variety of other constituents over a 10-year period to create this valuable amenity and advance Denver as a true 24/7 city. We are honored to be recognized by the Downtown Denver Partnership.”

Nichols Partnership

Lawrence Street Community Center

The Lawrence Street Community Center provides a safe, clean and dignified place – the first of its kind – where Denver’s homeless community can access basic services during the day, including bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities, food, drinking fountains and power outlets. The facility includes a 325-seat dining center and outdoor courtyard, reducing neighborhood sidewalk congestion and helping the Denver Rescue Mission support homeless individuals on the path towards becoming self-sufficient citizens.

“This award means a tremendous amount to the Mission and all of our staff. We fought many uphill battles to see the Lawrence Street Community Center open its doors, and now we’re serving more meals and providing more services than ever before. It’s doing what it was supposed to do -- help people in dire need. And we’re so grateful Downtown Denver recognizes the value of this.”

Brad Meuli, CEO, Denver Rescue Mission

Regency Athletic Complex at MSU of Denver

The Regency Athletic Complex at MSU of Denver transformed a previously unused plot of land into a 13-acre field of dreams, enhancing health and wellness among student-athletes and the community, and creating an amenity that strengthens physical and economic connections to Downtown Denver.

“The Regency Athletic Complex allows us to engage with the neighboring community, provide premier facilities for our student-athletes and bring new people to the center city. We’ve created a place that is a vital part of the urban fabric of Downtown Denver and we are thankful for this recognition.”

Dr. Stephen Jordan, President, MSU of Denver

 

About the Downtown Denver Partnership
The Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. partners with public, private and non-profit entities to implement high-impact strategies, outlined in the organization’s long-term strategy the 2007 Downtown Area Plan, to support its vision for an economically healthy, growing and vital Downtown Denver. For more information, visit www.downtowndenver.com.

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Media Contact: 
Brea Olson
303.775.4712
[email protected]

Colorado business confidence holds steady heading into second quarter of 2016, says CU-Boulder index

The optimism of Colorado business leaders remains unchanged entering the second quarter of 2016, but is projected to slightly dip ahead of the third quarter of the year, according to a University of Colorado Boulder report.

Released today, the Leeds Business Confidence Index shows the same level of optimism now as was recorded at the start of the first quarter with an overall reading of 55.4. This is down by 6.3 points from one year ago. A decrease in confidence to 54.4 is expected ahead of the third quarter of 2016.

Expectations measured positive – at 50 or higher – for all of the metrics in the index except the national outlook. The current standings represent 18 consecutive quarters of positive expectations, according to the index. Business leaders’ outlook remained positive for the state economy, industry sales, industry profits, capital expenditures and hiring plans.

“While expectations remain positive for the next two quarters, expectations will slip slightly heading into the third quarter,” said economist Richard Wobbekind, executive director of the Leeds School’s Business Research Division, which conducts the index. “Heading into the third quarter, our panelists noted concerns about the pending election, energy prices and the global economy.”

Additionally, more than half of respondents surveyed for the index indicated a talent shortage in Colorado, which can lead to higher salaries or wages, lower retention rates, slower business growth and higher project costs, as well as longer recruiting processes and the need to hire from out of state.

Sector-by-sector highlights from the second-quarter Leeds Business Confidence Index for 2016 are as follows:

  • State economy expectations fell to 57.3 from 59.3 in the first-quarter index;
  • National economy confidence decreased to 49.5 from 50.5 in the first-quarter index;
  • Profits expectations rose to 56.7 from 55.3 in the first-quarter index;
  • Sales expectations ticked up to 59.5 from 58.4 in the first-quarter index;
  • Capital expenditure expectations were relatively flat at 54.1 compared with 54 in the first-quarter index;
  • Hiring expectations increased to 55.6 from 54.9 in the first-quarter index.

Colorado’s unemployment level decreased from 3.5 percent in November 2015 to 3 percent in February 2016. The February rate compares with a national unemployment rate of 4.9 percent at that time.

Year-over-year employment growth was recorded in most of the Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) of the state with the Fort Collins-Loveland (+3.8 percent) and the Colorado Springs (+2.7 percent) MSAs seeing the fastest expansion. They are followed by the Denver-Aurora-Broomfield (+2.5 percent), Boulder (+1.8 percent), Pueblo (+1.5 percent) and Grand Junction (+.2 percent) MSAs. The Greeley MSA (-.6 percent) has now recorded six consecutive months of year-over-year declines.

Statewide, the biggest employment gains in February 2016 compared with the same month in 2015 were in the leisure and hospitality (+6.3 percent), construction (+4.3 percent) and education and health services (+4 percent) sectors.

Visit the Leeds School’s Business Research Division page for the second-quarter report and more information.

Editors: Audio clips of Richard Wobbekind discussing the current business confidence index are available at https://www.colorado.edu/news/news/multimedia/colorado-business-confidence-holds-steady-heading-second-quarter-2016-says-cu.

 

-CU-

Contact:
Richard Wobbekind, Leeds School of Business, 303-492-1147
[email protected]
Brian Lewandowski, Leeds School of Business, 303-492-3307
[email protected]
Elizabeth Lock, CU-Boulder media relations, 303-492-3117

Creative District Certification Guidelines and Application Now Available

Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) announced on March 23, 2016 that guidelines and applications are available for Colorado Creative District certification. This certification recognizes districts that are contributing to Colorado's economy through creativity, culture and the arts, and the program supports these districts in their endeavors to bolster investment, job growth and local revenue through supporting strategic investments in the development of creative places.

New this year, there will no longer be candidate status and all applicants will apply to become a certified district. Communities selected for certification will have access to enhanced program benefits.

Creative Districts receive access to marketing, data, funding and other support. Twenty districts have been accepted into the program since its inception. Click here to see a complete list.

Eligibility
Applicants for Colorado Creative District Certification must be:

  • A structured entity representative of a community located in Colorado (e.g. municipal or county government, a registered neighborhood organization, downtown or economic development authority, 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 or other)
  • An entity representing an area formally recognized as a creative or arts district
  • A creative district or organization with a mission reflecting a commitment to arts and culture and/or creative placemaking

Application

Districts must go through a rigorous application and certification process in order to become a Colorado Creative District. Certified Creative Districts must meet a number of important criteria:

  • Clearly define their unique place and niche, and identify what sets them apart
  • Comprise a geographically contiguous area
  • Be distinguished by physical, artistic or cultural resources that play a vital role in the quality of life of the community, including its economic and cultural development
  • Be the site of a concentration of artistic and cultural activity, a major arts or culture facility, arts and entertainment businesses, arts and cultural activities or artistic/cultural and creative sector production
  • Be engaged in promotion, preservation and educational aspects of arts and culture, provide interpretive, education or entertainment uses

The application to become a Certified Creative District can be accessed at coloradocreativeindustries.org. All applications must be submitted online. A free webinar to answer questions about the application will be held on April 1 at 12 p.m. Click here to register for the webinar.

 

Deadline

The deadline for receipt of applications is April 28, 2016 at 4 p.m.

 

Administrators

CCI administers the Colorado Creative District Program, and the Boettcher Foundation is a partner. 

 

About Colorado Creative Industries

Colorado Creative Industries, Colorado's state arts agency, is a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Established to capitalize on the immense potential for our creative sector to enhance economic growth in Colorado, the mission of Colorado Creative Industries is to promote, support and expand the creative industries to drive Colorado's economy, grow jobs and enhance our quality of life.