Existing Business

Retention Resource Overview

The Mission: Adam County Economic Development’s (ACED) Business Retention program works with our existing businesses to build a positive business environment in which all our existing primary employers can thrive and grow.

The Action: Since the fall of 2003 ACED’s business retention taskforce has been a proactive team of dedicated individuals that goes out into the community and executes face to face visits with 72 primary employers a year to get their direct and honest feedback on key issues. With an emphasis on relationship building and quality over quantity they assist in taking action to address the immediate challenges primary employers face and use that information to create action plans on how to improve the business environment going forward.

ACED’s 2009 Business Retention Taskforce Members
2009 Co-Chairs
Michele Warren- Chase Bank*
Colin Walker- Fairfield and Woods*

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Frank Martinez/Curtis Smith, Wells Fargo Bank*
Doug Shepherd, Vectra Bank*
Bill Willis, Martin and Martin Engineering
Bill Jensen/Mimi Larsen, Moye/White*
Trent Marshall- JR Engineering
Chad Mitchell- First Bank
Hazel Hartbarger- City of Arvada*
Scott Temple- Adams County Planning Dept.*
Claudia Ossola- Front Range Community College*
Anne Frye- Double Tree Hotel
Rebecca Post/Daniel Ryley- Workforce and Business Center*
Kevin Erickson– Summit Bank and Trust
Paul Jerez- Liberty Bank
Leann Schmitz- Goodwill Industries
Becky Chandler- City of Westminster*
Kristin Sullivan- City of Northglenn*
Will Gary- MacLaurin Williams
Eric Preston- Fairfield and Woods P.C.*
Nadine Pietrowski- GHP Horwath
Tanya Ishikawa- Federal Heights*
* ACED Board Members

Adams County Resources

• ACED’s Existing Business Resource Board
  This is an arsenal of “go to” players in the county who have volunteered to be a part of our resource board and dig up the hard to find answers for our members and existing businesses. We can help make your expansion plans go smoothly. The board has resources in Planning, Engineering, Public Works, Fire Department, Water, Legal, Assessors office, and key Utility providers to just name a few.
• ACED Real Estate Database
  ACED maintains a live data base of all Industrial and Commercial land and buildings with over 900 properties that is free to search and free to list on www.adamsed.org.
• Adams County Incentives
  Primary Employer, adding new jobs, $1 Million worth of Capital investment (If in EZ can use Real and Personal) if not in EZ it is personal only.
• Enterprise Zone (EZ)
  The Enterprise Zone offers businesses significant tax advantages for doing business in the zone. Contact ACED EZ Administrator at RCarrington@AdamsCountyED.com.
• SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
  ACED will perform free website analysis of existing websites and offer tangible solutions to their web marketing issues.
• Adams County RFP/Bid Notification
  This link allows companies to receive automatic bid notifications from Adams County and other statewide agencies. It is free to search or $50 for automatic notification www.rockymountainbidsystem.com.
• Workforce and Business Center
  A free employee locating and screening service for all Adams County Business owners. Contact your personal representative at the workforce and business center Rebecca Lloyd RLloyd@co.adams.co.us.
• PAB’s Private Activity Bonds
  PAB’s are a below market value financing tool that can be used for new and existing manufacturing operations that need a minimum of $2-$3 Million in building and capital improvements.
• GIS (Geographic Info System) and Demographic Data
  ACED can provide expanding businesses with customized strategic demographic data and GIS maps to help with their expansion plans.
• Workmans Compensation Program
  A close partner of ACED, The North Metro Chamber offers discounts on their group Worker Compensation Program.

State of Colorado Resources

• Colorado First / Existing Industry Customized Job Training Grant Funds
  Through the Colorado FIRST Program (targeted to new jobs being created that need training) and the Existing Industry Program (targeted to existing jobs that need retraining for the business to remain competitive), the state has funds available to assist with employee training for specific businesses. OEDIT, in conjunction with the Colorado Community College System, reviews and approves requests for funding. Generally, up to $800 per employee trained may be provided. Businesses must pay for a minimum of 40% of the total training costs.
• Job Creation Performance Incentive Fund
  The Job Creation Performance Incentive Fund (PIF) provides a performance-based incentive payment to qualifying companies that have created and hired net new full-time jobs paying above average wages. The employer must maintain all of the new jobs for at least one year in order to claim an incentive from $1,000-$2,500 per net new full-time job. The program is designed to support and encourage new business development, business expansions, and relocations that have generated new jobs throughout the state.
• Enhanced Incentive Program
  The Enhanced Incentive Program (EIP) provides an additional performance-based incentive payment to companies that have qualified under the state’s Job Creation Performance Incentive Fund (PIF) and have created net new full-time jobs paying at higher than average wages. The cash incentive award ranges from $2,000-$3,000 (including the PIF amount) per net new full-time job created based on the average wage rate of the new jobs actually created and the location of those jobs. The program is designed to support highly desirable and high-impact job creation opportunities.
• Venture Capital Authority
  The Venture Capital Authority (VCA) has selected a fund manager (High Country Venture, LLC) and established a fund (Colorado Fund 1) to provide seed- and early-stage capital to businesses. The minimum and maximum investment size may generally range from $100,000 - $3.375 million; however, High Country Venture has indicated a preference for investments ranging from $500,000 to $2 million. High Country Venture is independently operated and generally makes funding decisions. State approval is limited to ensuring that businesses receiving funding meet minimum specified requirements.
• Rocky Mountain Trade Assistance Council (RMATC)
  RMATC administers grants for Manufacturers who are feeling the effects of competing in global markets. www.RMTAAC.org