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COLORADO REAL ESTATE JOURNAL
— May 18-May 31, 2016
For complete contact information, links and
Key Facts, visit our Web site
Adams County Economic Development
Arvada Economic Development Association
Aurora Economic Development Council
Town of Berthoud
Brighton Economic Development Corporation
City and County of Broomfield
Castle Rock Economic Development Council
City of Centennial
Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance
City of Commerce City
Denver Office of Economic Development
Denver South Economic Development Partnership
Downtown Denver Partnership Inc.
City of Englewood Community Development Dept.
Town of Erie
Federal Heights Redevelopment Agency
Grand Junction Economic Partnership
City of Greenwood Village
Jefferson County Economic Development Corp.
Lakewood Economic Development
City of Lone Tree
Longmont Economic Development Partnership
City of Louisville
City of Loveland
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
Northern Colorado Economic Development Corp.
City of Northglenn
Northwest Douglas County EDC
Town of Parker
Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority
City of Thornton Office of Economic Development
Town of Superior
Westminster Economic Development
City of Wheat Ridge
Wheat Ridge Localworks
Town of Windsor
For information regarding appearing in the EDC Profile
Section, please contact Jon Stern at 303.623.1148
Economic
Development
Councils Directory
Economic Development News
The Denver Office of Eco-
nomic Development released its
latest Denver Venture Capital
Report, an analysis on the lev-
els and kinds of venture capi-
tal being invested in local com-
panies. The report shows that
Denver firms raised a total of
$345 million in venture capital
investments in 2015, represent-
ing nearly double the volume of
activity compared to 2011.
“The city’s venture capi-
tal progress has brought new
opportunities each year, cata-
lyzed our growing startup sec-
tor and puts us in a position
to build on those successes as
we move forward,” said Mayor
Michael B. Hancock. “This
report provides a road map for
Denver to continue to strength-
en its position in the venture
capital ecosystem, as well as
bolster the impressive strides
Denver has made over the last
five years.”
Among its many highlights,
the report shows that the inter-
net sector has attracted $786 mil-
lion in venture capital invest-
ment over the past five years.
In addition, the combined tech
sectors of internet, software and
telecommunications represent
more than 84 percent of the ven-
ture capital here.
“Our office is dedicated to
shining a spotlight on the incred-
ible activity centering around
Denver’s startup and early stage
businesses,” said Paul Washing-
ton, OED executive director. “By
focusing exclusively on Denver
firms, the report illustrates how
our venture capital marketplace
is not only growing, but how
it is maturing with later stage
investments.”
According to the report, the
annual seed and angel capital
investment in Denver startups
has more than doubled since
2012, with $38 million invested
locally in 2015 and reinforced
with an additional $125 million
in Series A and B venture capi-
tal.
The report also noted that the
merger and acquisition activity
in Denver has nearly quadru-
pled in five years, from 17 deals
in 2011 to 63 in 2015.
The Denver Venture Capital
Report – 2015 analyzes data
from CB Insights and was pro-
duced with assistance from
Innosphere, Access Venture
Partners and the Colorado Tech-
nologyAssociation. The 20-page
report analyzes investments
by quarter, sector and series,
among other factors. The report
is available online at
vergov.org/oed.
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The city of Thornton recent-
ly presented its 29th annual
Thornton Business Apprecia-
tion Awards, which recognizes
area businesses that distin-
guished themselves in 2015.
• The Entrepreneurial Inno-
vation Award went to Blue
Mountain Kitchens. The award
recognizes a small Thornton
business that brings a unique
business concept with ingenu-
ity and determination to the
community while practicing
positive values in the work-
place.
• The Community Spirit
Award went to VCA Thornton
Animal Hospital. The award
recognizes a Thornton busi-
ness that demonstrates strong
involvement in the community
and/or that has made a signifi-
cant impact on the community.
• The Retailer of the Year
Award went to Cheddar’s
Casual Cafe. The award rec-
ognizes a Thornton retail busi-
ness that has shown excellent
customer service, unique prod-
uct/service offerings and has
improved the retail experience
for consumers.
• The Company on the Move
Award went to Intrex Aero-
space. The award recognizes
a Thornton business that has
demonstrated a solid success
pattern and/or tremendous
growth potential, expand-
ing lines of business through
innovation and improved pro-
cesses.
• The Industrial/Office Com-
pany of the Year Award went to
The Northern Group Inc. The
award recognizes a Thornton
primary business that has dem-
onstrated growth, innovation
and/or significant potential for
the community. This award is
different in that the recipient is
selected by the Office of Eco-
nomic Development.
• The People’s Choice Award
went to Brothers Plumbing,
Heating and Electric. The
award recognizes a Thornton
business chosen by popular
vote.
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At the Cornerstone Awards
Gala in April, the Longmont
Economic Development Partner-
ship awarded five Cornerstone
Awards to Longmont businesses
in recognition of their contribu-
tions to the economic health of
the community over the past
year. This year’s awards recog-
nized businesses in every sector
of the Longmont economy.
The 2016 winners were:
• Primary Job Creator Award
– West, Safety Services Divi-
sion. Nominees for this award
were selected based on net new
job creation in 2015. These four
nominees together added 747
net new jobs in 2015, which rep-
resents almost half of the total
existing industry expansions in
2015. West, Safety Services Divi-
sion delivers technology solu-
tions and services that provide
the link between the public and
public safety. The professionals
who make up the West, Safety
Services team spend every day
anticipating, developing, main-
taining and improving 911 and
emergency communications.
• Project of the Year Award –
Micron. Nominees for this award
were selected for their capital
investment in 2015 and potential
for positive economic impact on
the community. Micron designs
and builds some of the world’s
most advanced memory and
semiconductor technologies.
In 2015, Micron completed a
21,075-square-foot expansion at
its existing facility in Longmont.
• Local Business Award
– Cheese Importers. Cheese
Importers is a Colorado family
owned business founded in 1976.
It offers natural, organic and
imported cheeses, cured meats
and specialty foods. Cheese
Importers’ wholesale customers
include over 400 restaurants, nat-
ural grocers, hotels and neighbor-
hood buying clubs. Its European
Marketplace features the largest
walk-in refrigerated cheese and
cured meat market in Colorado.
• Startup Award – Diabase
Engineering. Diabase Engineer-
ing is a Longmont advanced
technology startup company cur-
rently housed in the TinkerMill,
which is focused on developing
new products for the 3D print-
ing industry. Founded in 2015,
the company launched its first
product – the Flexicon Extruder
– in March. The Flexion Extruder
provides a significant advance in
performance for the desktop 3D
printing industry. Diabase Engi-
neering was awarded the first
Longmont Community Founda-
tion Ingite Grant.
• Rising Star Award – Alpen
High Performance Products.
Nominees for this award are
primary industry businesses
within one of the Advance Long-
mont Target Industries with 50
employees or less. The firm was
selected for its net new job cre-
ation in 2015. Alpen High Perfor-
mance Products is an American
window and door manufacturer
that designs and builds some of
the most energy-efficient win-
dow and door products in North
America and the world.
“With this year’s awards, we
really wanted to highlight the
fact that it takes businesses of all
size and type to make our econ-
omy strong,” said Longmont
EDP President Jessica Erickson.
“These awards show that busi-
nesses in every sector of our local
the economy are making signifi-
cant contributions to our econo-
my through job creation, innova-
tion, and capital investment.”
s
‘With this year’s
awards, we really
wanted to highlight
the fact that it takes
businesses of all
size and type
to make our
economy strong.’
Jessica Erickson,
Longmont EDP
