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"EXTRA, EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT!"
Northern Colorado News Briefs
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July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
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July 2009
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Greeley downtown thrives with DDA improvements
The Greeley Downtown Development Authority (DDA) continues to fuel growth in downtown
Greeley. Past accomplishments of the DDA include the 9th Street Plaza renovation, the
book shop retail addition and lofts, and permanent lighting of the downtown trees.
Currently, the DDA is making streetscape improvements to the southern end of the district
and the Awning/Facade Grant Program offers businesses the opportunity to renovate the
front of their buildings. The downtown has come a long way since 2000 when it was listed
on the “Most Endangered Places” list by Colorado Preservation, Inc. Today downtown
Greeley is a vibrant place where events like Friday Fest, Oktoberfest and the Arts Picnic
bring the community together. For a complete list of downtown events go to:
www.GreeleyDowtown.com
Source: www.GreeleyDowtown.com, pulled 7/22/09
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Fort Collins and Denver ‘Best Places’ for Young Professionals
Since 1998, Next Generation Consulting (NGC) has ranked the best cities to live in for
young professionals between ages 20-40. The consulting group uses 45 criterion to create
three ‘Next Cities’ lists, each list is based on a different population size. This year,
amongst cities with a population between 100,000-200,000 people, Fort Collins was selected
as the number one best city to live in for young professionals. Denver
was ranked the number five best place to live for young professionals in a city over
500,000. NGC takes into consideration employment, education and social opportunities.
Source: Northern Colorado Business Report, “Fort Collins best place for young professionals,” by Staff, 6/11/09
http://www.ncbr.com/article.asp?id=100595
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Mead, CO: Largest Growth in 2008
A recently released Census Bureau report revealed Mead, CO as the fastest growing city in
Colorado last year. In 2008, Mead grew by 8.4% bringing the total city population to
3,408. This city that four years ago had dirt roads intersecting main street has seen
new subdivisions go in and the school district just built a new high school. People are
attracted to Mead because of the affordable living, small-town atmosphere, and easy
access to major employers in areas like Longmont, Greeley, Fort Collins and Denver.
Source: The Denver Post, “Small Colorado town a superstar for growth” by Burt Hubbard, 7/1/2009
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_12727787
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Centerra ground breaks for Agrium Inc. Crop Production Services
McWhinney broke ground in July on an $18 million dollar project that will house Agrium Inc. Crop Production
Services. The company is expected to bring 250 jobs from Greeley and add another 100 to 150 jobs in the
next five years. They have also announced they will be moving their Canadian-based Agrium Advanced
Technologies section into Centerra. That translates to 21 jobs from Canada and the potential for adding 50
new jobs in five years. In the short-term, it is estimated that 710 construction-related jobs will be
created by the project. The net gain in primary jobs is promising for the northern Colorado region.
Source: Coloradoan, “McWhinney begins $18 million building project” by Douglas Crowl, 7/20/09
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090720/BUSINESS/907200312
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June 2009
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Loveland “Best Place to Live 2009”
Loveland made another Top 10 List in early June as the
city was selected as one of the 10 “Best Places to Live
2009.” The U.S. News & World Report selects 10 cities
each year based on the strength of the local economy,
living costs and recreational opportunities. Loveland
aced the evaluation in all three areas. The city was recognized for their mixture of
natural and man-made beauty. There are 27 public parks, 16 miles of recreation trails
and over 200 pieces of sculpture and two-dimensional works on display in the community.
With the average 2008 median home price at $186,000, Loveland is also an
affordable place to live.
The Top 10 "Best Places to Live 2009"
1. Albuquerque, New Mexico
2. Auburn, Alabama
3. Austin, Texas
4. Boise, Idaho
5. Durham, North Carolina
6. La Crosse, Wisconsin
7. Loveland, Colorado
8. San Luis Obispo, California
9. St. Augustine, Florida
10. Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania
Source: U.S. News & World Report, “Best Places to Live 2009,” by Luke Mullins, 6/8/2009
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/real-estate/2009/06/08/best-places-to-live-2009.html?PageNr=1
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Northern Colorado a Top 10 Housing Market for Next 10
The U.S. News & World Report recently identified the
top 10 housing markets for the next 10 years, and Northern
Colorado made the list. The rankings were based on
Moody’s Economy.com data that was analyzed with regard
to geographic and industry trends to generate 10-
year home price projections for each of the nation’s 384 distinct metropolitan statistical
areas. In addition to the natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain region, Northern
Colorado was touted for the quality of university research, local support and private
investment in traditional and renewable energy. According to the report, home prices
in the Fort Collins/Loveland area will rise an average of 4.1% annually over the next
10 years.
The Top 10 Housing Markets for the Next 10 Years
1. Anchorage, Alaska
2. Corvallis, Oregon
3. Decatur, Illinois
4. Bremerton & Silverdale, Washington
5. Duluth, Minnesota
6. Fort Collins and Loveland, Colorado
7. Glens Falls, New York
8. Pittsfield, Massachusetts
9. Sandusky, Ohio
10. Santa Fe, New Mexico
Source: U.S. News & World Report, “The Top 10 Housing Markets for the Next 10 Years” by Luke Mullins, 6/4/2009
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/real-estate/2009/06/04/the-top-10-housing-markets-for-the-next-10-years.html
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Weld to Lead State in Growth
According to American City Business Journals Inc., Weld County’s projected population growth for the next 15 years ranks as 17th-fastest in the nation. More specifically, the Greeley metro area is projected to grow 60.61% by 2025. That translates to 226,354 residents in 2005 to 363,539 in 2025. The journal used U.S. Census Bureau population data and existing rates of growth to predict growth rates in 250 U.S. metropolitan areas over the next 15 years. Nationally, Denver ranked 78th, Fort Collins 106th, Colorado Springs 122nd and Boulder 172nd.
Source: The Greeley Tribune, "Study: Weld to lead state in growth pace," by Chris Casey, 6/4/2009
http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20090604/NEWS/906049994/1001
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May 2009
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Preliminary Approval for Berthoud Net-Zero Development
The Berthoud Town Board has approved preliminary plans
for the Prairie Star Development, a 190-acre development
that would be located near Larimer County Road 17 and
U.S. Highway 287. Project developers have already met
with staff at the Governor’s Energy Office to discuss the
inclusion of a large-scale solar farm on the property. In
addition, the development would include a pedestrian-friendly mix of high-density
residential, office, retail, public areas and open space. The developers have been
praised for this “net zero energy consumption” approach, as the solar farm could support
the energy needs of the entire development. Source: The Berthoud Recorder,
“Prairie Star Development Ahead of the Curve” by Shari Phiel, 5/14/09
Source: The Berthoud Recorder, "Prairie Star Development Ahead of the Curve" by Shari Phiel, 5/14/09
http://www.berthoudrecorder.com/News/2009/may/14/news-local/prairie-star-development-
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New Building on Horizon for Technology & Scientific Startup Companies
The Rocky Mountain Innovation Initiative, or RMI2, has
been approved for a $5.3 million dollar loan from the city
of Fort Collins to construct a 31,000-square-foot, four-story
building to house technology and scientific startup companies.
The new building will be located on East Vine Drive
north of Old Town within the North College urban renewal area. It will have the
ability to house a bioscience wet lab and the capacity to serve a large number of
startup companies, mainly in the clean energy, bioscience and information technology
industries. RMI2 originally started as the Fort Collins Technology Incubator in
1999 and became regional in 2008 as RMI2. The incubator has helped establish 27
companies.
Source: Loveland Reporter-Herald, "RMI2 secures loan from Fort Collins" by Shelley Widhalm, 5/18/09
http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=23179
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Constant Contact Opens Doors at Centerra
In May, Constant Contact held a grand opening celebration
at their new 50,000 square foot facility located at
3675 Precision Drive. The company expects to employ up
to 100 employees by year-end. The Massachusetts-based
company is a leading provider of email marketing and
online surveys for small organizations. Last year the
growing company chose Centerra as the place to expand its customer service and direct
sales staff. Centerra is a 3,000-acre master-planned community. You can learn
more about upcoming events and developments at Centerra on their website: http://
www.CenterraColorado.com.
Source: McWhinney Centerra Update, 5/14/09
www.CenterraColorado.com
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Denver Tops ‘Today’ Rebound List
Denver was named America’s
No. 1 city on the verge
of recovery from the housing
slump in a segment on
NBC’s “Today” show. In
addition to encouraging real
estate trends, the city’s vibrant
downtown, solid employment
base, educated
population and outdoor recreation
opportunities contributed
to the high ranking.
Source: Denver Business Journal, “Denver tops on ‘Today’ show list of cities poised for real-estate rebound” by Mark Harden, 5/19/09
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/05/18/daily31.html
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