Happy New Year, everyone! The Commerce City Economic Development Division had an amazing 2010 and looks forward to an even better 2011! A few of our accomplishments from 2010 include, but are not limited to, the following:• City Council approved the first Economic Development Strategic Plan in Commerce City’s history that identified our target industries and action plan for the next 5 to 10 years!
• The Business Advancement Taskforce (BAT), a group of existing and prospective Commerce City businesses, helped us create the Commerce City Incentive Program. Developed to spur business and development growth in Commerce City, to date the program has incentivized the creation of over 450 new jobs and more than $33 million in capital investments! The program has received national attention and in December we were asked to speak to the Atlanta Regional Commission about it.
• With the help of Planning, Public Works, and Finance, we were able to annex the Mile High Marketplace into Commerce City in a record 90 days!
• In June, we announced the addition of Cummins Rocky Mountain to the Commerce City business community. We competed against Salt Lake City for this Fortune 500 Company that later this year will open the world’s largest High Horse Diesel Engine Remanufacturing Center right here in Commerce City!
• Again with the help of Planning and Public Works, we revolutionized the way we handle development review in Commerce City and rolled out a new development review process that has streamlined the way we review and process building and development plans. We continue to have one of the fastest development review times in the Denver-Metro area!
• In October, we launched the first Commerce City Economic Development “Commerce Connection” Newsletter and Commerce City Economic Development Twitter Page. This month we hit over 100 followers on Twitter! Follow us at www.twitter.com/CommerceCityED.
• In December, City Council approved a $2 million incentive for a Kings Soopers Marketplace on the northwest corner of 104th and Chambers! Attracting a grocery store to the Northern Range part of Commerce City has and continues to be the number one priority for my division. This puts us one step closer to making this goal a reality!
I want to personally thank my staff – Michelle Hill and Lisa Wayne – for their hard work and dedication over the past year. We could not have had so many successes in 2010 without them, and I look forward to all that 2011 has in store for the three of us! A snapshot of what is on our agenda…
• Our second annual Business and Development Summit will be held on Friday, February 11, from 7:30 to 9:30 am in the Council Chambers
• We will launch an aggressive business attraction and marketing campaign called “Redefining Commerce”
• We are in the final round of interviews for a Senior Economic Development Specialist position who will join our team later this year
• As discussed throughout last year’s economic development strategic planning process, we will be forming a Commerce City Economic Development Business Advisory Committee and a Commerce City Economic Development Citizen Advisory Committee
• The Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Program will kick into high gear to help our existing Commerce City businesses survive and grow in this economy
• We will work with our partners at Kroenke Sports Enterprises and Jones Lang LaSalle to help market “Victory Crossing” (the second phase of development surrounding Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and the Civic Center)
Thanks again for taking the time to stay in touch with Commerce City Economic Development by reading this monthly publication. I look forward to hopefully doing business with each and every one of you in 2011!
Best wishes,
Brittany A. Morris
Director of Economic Development
Commerce City
