As some businesses cratered during the pandemic, others not only thrived, they expanded — and moved to Colorado. That included vertical-landing aircraft maker PteroDynamics, which touched down in Colorado Springs in late July. Months earlier, the California firm was finalizing a contract for its autonomous aircraft with the U.S. Navy. The deal made CEO Matthew […]
Office of Economic Development and International Trade
Posted inNews, Outdoors
Nathan Fey leaving Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office after two years
Nathan Fey, who took over as director of the Colorado Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry in 2019, is leaving his post next month. Fey, a sixth generation Coloradan who spent 12 years as the state’s regional director of American Whitewater, is leaving the state’s recreation office to serve as director of a Colorado-based philanthropic foundation. […]
Posted inBusiness, Housing, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s governor wants to enlist private companies to help fix public problems with new partnership office
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wants private companies to help solve public problems like a shortage of child care options and affordable housing and to help develop a Front Range passenger rail service. The Democrat’s budget proposal asks state lawmakers for more than a million dollars to open up a new public-private partnership office. The proposal […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Newsletters, Outsider, Transportation
An upgraded Grand Junction rail yard could accelerate Western Slope economic development
What if something as simple as getting freight trains to stop for a moment in Grand Junction could keep businesses and jobs on the Western Slope, support Grand Valley economic-development and reduce truck traffic on Interstate 70? “It would be huge; an absolute game-changer for the Western Slope,” if rail owners Union Pacific and Burlington […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News, Technology
What’s Working: Why there are at least 2,314 new technology jobs in Colorado
The number of Coloradans receiving unemployment benefits continues to decline as, presumably, people return to work. That doesn’t mean unemployment woes have vanished. Gaining steam in my inbox this week were people who said they were notified they had been paid too much and now must return money to the state. (More on overpayments below.) […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Tourism Office boss suddenly shown the door to dismay of officials across the state
On his first day as the boss at Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Pat Meyers dismissed Cathy Ritter, the well-regarded director of the Colorado Tourism Office. “Cathy Ritter has concluded her service with the Colorado Tourism Office. We thank her for contributions to the state and we wish her the best of […]
Posted inArts, Business, Coloradans, COVID, Culture, Music, News
Coronavirus killed 59,179 arts jobs in Colorado and crippled key economic and cultural engines. Can they be revived?
While it may not feel as urgent as an eviction notice or the fear of food scarcity, the devastation of the arts and culture scene due to the coronavirus pandemic portends long-term ripple effects. The arts in Colorado are a powerful economic driver as well as a defining aspect of our community and fuel for […]
Posted inCOVID, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Democrats unveil plan for $70 million in federal coronavirus aid, including small business loans and renter help
Democrats in the Colorado legislature announced a slate of initiatives Thursday to spend $70 million in federal coronavirus aid, including a grant program to help small businesses recover from the pandemic and funds for mental health, domestic violence and renter assistance. The money is a portion of the $1.67 billion Colorado received through the federal […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Outdoors, Politics and Government
Colorado’s tourism marketing budget revived as lawmakers bet travelers will be crucial to coronavirus recovery
The Joint Budget Committee on Friday finalized a plan to give the Colorado Tourism Office $10 million, reversing an initial plan to defund tourism promotion as lawmakers slash more than $3 billion from the state’s COVID-19-ravaged budget. The tourism industry rallied last week after committee staff recommended eliminating 87% of the state’s tourism budget. The […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Tread lightly when looking at cuts to Colorado’s economic-development programs
As part of the state’s efforts to find cash during the novel coronavirus pandemic, sweeping cuts have been proposed to the budget and staff of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). The office may not be familiar to many, but OEDIT houses programs that support some of our state’s most important economic […]