Target Industries

Business Retention and Expansion (BRE)
Why BRE is important: A letter from our BRE Taskforce Co-Chairs

According to an analysis by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, the expansion of existing businesses and industry across the United States accounts for the combined creation of nearly 80% of all new jobs.  This primary employer growth drives our local economies through increased employment and capital investment, resulting in increased spending in our communities.  ACED recognizes this critical dynamic and strives to support the overall business climate, ensuring the vitality and competitive advantage of Adams County’s existing industries.

By increasing local industry competitiveness and profitability, and by decreasing the frequency of downsizing, layoffs, outsourcing and business closure, ACED and the BRE Taskforce play a key role in our local economic health.  Through their unabated commitment to existing primary employers, ACED’s business retention and expansion efforts maximize the community’s investment into economic development initiatives; thereby, creating more jobs and better quality of life for Adams County citizens.

Sincerely,

Colin Walker, Fairfield & Woods
Mimi Larsen, Moye White

Find out more about the BRE Taskforce 
Get Resources Now 

Featured Business Success Story
Hammond’s Candies

Hammond’s Candies is a gourmet candy manufacturer featuring fun and nostalgic candies, chocolates and other sweet products.  In 2005, the company moved to unincorporated Adams County and found a great property in an Enterprise Zone.  Since 2005, Hammond’s has enjoyed healthy growth and expansion into new markets.  Due to its continued success and growth, Hammond’s Candies was in need of new space and wanted to make sure they retained their business in the Adams County Enterprise Zone.

President, Andrew Schuman and CFO, Ralph Nafziger partnered with ACED to perform a thorough property search, including sites tours of suitable facilities for their company.  ACED also was able to connect them with an SBA Small Business Loan provider to help secure financing for the expansion.

In February of 2011, ACED also referred Hammond’s Candies to its PR representative who was able to help the company be featured on 9News for a Valentine’s Day special about their candies.  ACED also nominated Hammond’s Candies for the Colorado Companies to Watch program, and the company was awarded as a finalist for 2011.

In September of 2011, Ralph Nafziger, CEO, was featured as a panelist at ACED’s 6^th Annual Business Appreciation Breakfast, after which quotes from Ralph about the company’s growth philosophy through the downturned economy were printed in the Denver Business Journal.  The following month, ACED featured Hammond’s Candies as a stop on the Adams County Manufacturers’ Tour.

Learn more about Hammond’s Candies at www.hammondscandies.com