News & Publications

February 2010
Reprinted with permission from Grand Junction Sentinel, Colorado Springs may preview budget problems for state
By Bill Grant, February 2, 2010

October 2009
ACED submitted the Northeast Metro Update featured in the October 21-November 4 edition of the Colorado Real Estate Journal.  Suggestions for future news stories can be submitted to Barry Gore (BGore@AdamsCountyEd.com) at ACED.

September 2009
Reprinted with permission from Gateway News
Gateway News Editorial by Kathy McIntyre, August 28, 2009

Reprinted with permission from The Colorado Statesman:
“Here’s a novel idea: Let the voters choose.” Norman Duncan, August 14, 2009

Reprinted with permission from The Colorado Statesman:
“Somehow, some way, we have got to end term limits.” Jim Martin, July 31, 2009

May 2009
Adams County Breaks Ground for New Government Center
Colorado’s fastest growing county broke ground on the first phase of a new 91-acre government center on Thursday, May 14. The first phase of construction is the 5-story, 330,000 sf Adams County Administration Building which consolidates the offices of many administrative and public services now scattered throughout the county. Two wings radiate from a central public entrance plaza that acts as the County’s “front door.” Fifteen departments most accessed by Adams County residents are arranged along a central concourse for “one-stop shopping” by citizens. 

Designed by Gensler to high sustainability specifications, the Administration Building is a low impact development that balances warm natural stone, wood and brick with streamlined metals and glass. Natural light and fresh air ventilation are maximized, and solar panels will be used for heating. The site will use native plant materials and consideration was given to supporting the area’s wildlife habitat.

“The Board of Commissioners had a strong vision of this project,” says Ala Hason, Managing Principal of Gensler’s office in Denver. “Our design team focused on a simple building that engages the past with the future, the citizens with their government, and the surrounding landscape with the built environment.  It’s designed to last a century and serve the citizens in a welcoming, efficient manner.” The project will be built by Saunders Construction.

March 2009 Newsletter
ACED Welcomes New Investor
Saunders Construction is ACED’s newest board member. Brian Cohen and Greg Schmidt will be the primary contacts. As a leader in the Colorado commercial construction industry since 1972, Saunders has demonstrated its dedication to the Front Range and beyond. Saunders consistently ranks as one of the top contractors in the state (based on revenues) and is also one of Colorado’s largest private companies. The organization is 100% employee owned and operated by the construction professionals who are responsible for its success. Saunders’ target markets include Education, Healthcare, High Tech, Light Industrial, Mixed-Use, Municipal, Office, Residential, Retail, Warehouse, and Worship. Saunders is one of the region’s leaders in sustainable construction. As such, Saunders has 49 LEED Accredited Professionals in-house and has successfully completed seven (7) LEED Certified projects in Colorado, with 13 additional LEED projects currently under construction.

Vectra Bank recently upgraded from a silver level membership to join ACED’s Board of Directors. Jon Hanson, Ron Singh, and Doug Shepherd are the primary contacts. Vectra Bank is Colorado’s sixth largest bank with assets of $2.6 billion and 40 branch locations throughout Colorado. Their banking team is made up of 850 talented and dedicated employees.

ACED Investor News
White Construction Group received the General Contractor Excellence in Safety 2008 Award by the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado and Pinnacol Assurance CRS Insurance Brokerage at their 19th Annual Awards Banquet.

Tina Nida of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck joined the board of the Denver Film Society.

Professional development training and Continuing Education classes are offered by Front Range Community College and Colorado State University at the Brighton Learning and Resource Center. Classes include Managing Diversity, Process Improvement, Enhancing Customer Relationships, and Core Leadership. For more information visit Leadership & Professional Development Classes or contact Claudia Ossola 303-404-5461 or claudia.ossola@frontrange.edu.

The City Council of Brighton appointed Manuel Esquibel to the permanent position of City Manager.

James Caldwell has been appointed regional president of DeVry University for Colorado. Caldwell will oversee the national proprietary university's "Colorado Metro" district, which includes locations in Greenwood Village, Westminster and Colorado Springs. Caldwell most recently served as president of DeVry’s Westminster campus.  DeVry offers career-oriented degree programs at 93 locations in 26 states and Canada and also online.

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. received the 2008 Governor’s Excellence in Renewable Energy (GERE) Award for the Large Business category. The company is in the process of moving its headquarters from Littleton to Thornton. Ascent Solar produces flexible thin-film solar modules. The award is presented by the Governor’s Energy Office and recognizes “individuals, businesses, institutions and nonprofits that are advancing renewable energy in outstanding ways in Colorado.”

Lennar recently unveiled its new Champions Collection and Legends Collection of homes at Heritage Todd Creek. Eight new model homes are open to tour. This active adult community is anchored by an 18-hole Arthur Hills golf course. Call the Welcome Home Center at 720-685-0873 or visit at 15343 Heritage Circle in north Thornton.

Jim Dover, CEO of St. Anthony North Hospital and a good friend and board member of ACED, announced his decision to accept the position of CEO at O’Connor Hospital in San Jose, CA. Jim’s last day at St. Anthony North will be Friday, April 4th. We wish Jim much success in his new position.

ACED News
ACED promotes CO at medical device trade show
Frank Gray, ACED’s VP of Business Retention & Expansion, joined representatives from the Colorado BioScience Association, Metro Denver EDC, City of Westminster and Jefferson Economic Council to help showcase Colorado’s vast medical device sector at the 25th annual Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) West Expo in Anaheim, CA, in February. John Collar, CBSA Executive Director, says more than 16,000 medical device and product development professionals are attending MD&M West. “The MD&M West Expo is the largest event for the medical device industry, and this is our opportunity to showcase Colorado’s flourishing industry,” said Collar.

New Front Range Airport Authority board member
The Front Range Airport Authority appointed Barry Gore, ACED’s VP Investor Relations, as a new board member. Barry replaces David Pehr, who had to resign after moving out of Adams County.

New Enterprise Zone Contribution Project approved in Adams County
The St. Anthony North Health Foundation recently received approval to provide the Enterprise Zone Contribution Tax Credit to donors. The Foundation designated the Family Medicine Residency Center as the recipient of the Contribution Project. This center is located in the Medical Office Building of St. Anthony North Hospital in Westminster. Annually the Family Residency Medical Center trains 27 new family physicians, sees 30,000 clinic visits and currently performs 645 of the 1,000 baby deliveries per year at St. Anthony North Hospital.

The Enterprise Zone Program encourages job creation and capital investment in economically challenged areas by providing tax credits to businesses and projects to promote and encourage economic development activities. Any taxpayer who makes cash or in-kind contributions to an eligible project may claim an income tax credit of 12.5 percent (in-kind) or 25 percent (cash) of the value of the contribution up to a maximum credit of $100,000.

For more information regarding the state’s Enterprise Zone Program, contact Rita Carrington, Adams County Enterprise Zone Administrator, 303-450-5106.

Adams County, CDOT and Commerce City hold meeting on 96th Avenue Construction Process
On March 9th ACED and Commerce City Economic Development hosted a meeting with 35 area business owners in both Commerce City and Unincorporated Adams County to hear about the construction plans for the I-76 and 96th Avenue infrastructure improvements  to begin this spring. The meeting included a brief history of the project by ACED and a short presentation by CDOT on how the project may affect business access during construction. A mixture of planning and public works staff from Adams County, Commerce City and CDOT were on hand to answer questions from area businesses. One CDOT official said “it is great to see the business community so interested and active in the project. ACED, Adams County and Commerce City have been active in this process. I believe this meeting is the first of its kind where CDOT has worked so closely with local jurisdictions and the business community.”

January 2009 Newsletter
ACED Welcomes New Investor
Colorado-based Ascent Solar joins ACED this month as a new board level investor.  Ascent Solar uses new thin film roll-to-roll processing and manufacturing techniques to harness the sun’s power for viable clean-energy. Focused on photovoltaics (PV) – commonly known as solar cells – the company produces solar modules on very lightweight thin-film plastic substrates that turn natural sunlight into electricity. More flexible and affordable than most traditional solar panels, the product can be integrated into electronics, portable power, transportation, commercial and residential buildings, and space and near-space applications. For more information, visit the Ascent Solar website at www.AscentSolar.com.

ACED Investor News
JR Engineering’s Greenwood Village office has moved to 7200 South Alton Way, Suite C100 Centennial, CO 80112 www.jrengineering.com. The North Denver Office is still located at 12195 Mariposa Street, Suite 100 in Westminster.

ACED Sponsorships
ACED is proud to be a 4-Star Sponsor of the Metro North Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala at the Westin in Westminster on Friday, January 30, 2009.

Adams County News
Adams County Government Center Moving Forward
Adams County secured more than $94 million for construction of a new Government Center at 124th Avenue and Sable Boulevard in Brighton. The net interest cost of the transaction was 4.85 percent. This financing is supported by a 20-year extension of a county sales tax that was approved by voters in 2006. The sales tax also funds critical transportation projects and the Justice Center expansion which includes a pre-trial holding facility. Adams County took advantage of a rapidly improving market to generate this financing with an excellent interest rate. Groundbreaking for the new Government center is scheduled for later this spring. The capital project is anticipated to provide construction jobs over the next 18-24 months.

Regional Economic Development News
Denver tops list of cities where people want to live
A new national survey by the Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends project finds that nearly half (46%) of the public would rather live in a different type of community from the one they're living in now -- a sentiment that is most prevalent among city dwellers. When asked about specific metropolitan areas where they would like to live, respondents rank Denver first, San Diego second and Seattle third among a list of 30 cities, and Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati at the bottom.
Get the entire article and full report on metrodenver.org

Strong long-term prospects will support a solid recovery for Metro Denver's economy 
Colorado's economy continues to weaken as the near-term outlook for global demand and business activity remains poor. Even so, strong long-term prospects for many of the state's key industries, a talented workforce, and a reputation for innovation will support a solid recovery for the regional economy, according to data compiled by the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (Metro Denver EDC).

The 50 millionth passenger of the year traveled through Denver International Airport (DIA) on December 23, 2008. The airport opened Feb. 28, 1995, with a capacity for serving 50 million passengers a year. This marks the first year 50 million travelers have passed through the airport, topping the record of 49.8 million set in 2007.

State Economic Development News
Colorado remains highly rated as one of the best places to start a business.  Colorado ranked third among states (behind Washington and Virginia) in rankings published by US News and World Report.  The new rankings factored in previous studies from the 2008 New State Economy Index, by the Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, and the Small Business Survival Index 2008, by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council.

Colorado was the nation's fifth-fastest growing state between July 1, 2007, and July 1, 2008, as its population climbed 2 percent, according to estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Between July 2007 and July 2008, the state's population grew by 96,686 people, for a total population of 4,939,456.