Denver Mayor Michael Hancock Jump Starts Economic Development
DENVER (CBS4)- Denver Mayor Michael Hancock launched a plan for economic development for Denver on Wednesday.
Hancock launched JumpStart 2013 which is a short and long-term economic development plan.
It will build on strategies from last year. It will also introduce new tactics to further spur job creation, business development and the building of sustainable communities.
"To compete and succeed in a global marketplace, it is critical we create an economy that is built to last," said Hancock. "Denver supports dozens of major development projects throughout the city and works to boost the region's primary industries while keeping our attention on growing our small and start-up businesses. JumpStart 2013 features a wide range of innovative strategies that will carry these initiatives forward."
The plan identifies major, immediate steps Denver's Office of Economic Development will take this year to bolster business development, community lending and investment and workforce development.
JumpStart 2013 outlines the following seven major pillars of economic development: business retention, small business advocacy, business recruitment, sustainable neighborhood development, business lending, key strategic projects and workforce development.
- Economic Development Summit – Host a Denver economic summit and publish a strategy that identifies methods of collaboration.
- Business Investment Program – Initiate and market the new business development and expansion investment tax credit program created through voter-approved Measure 2A.
- Publish a Denver "State of Venture Capital and Business Investment" report.
- Establish a new sustainable energy business program, offering loans for energy efficiency improvements as a recruitment tool to firms.
- Create an Affordable Housing Preservation Strategic Plan to help preserve expiring restrictive affordable housing units.
- Target OED business loan programs to companies providing good, middle-skill jobs.
- Manufacturing Center – Encourage development of a Denver-based manufacturing park for innovative and precision manufacturers.
- Workforce Development – Train and place at least 200 individuals in key sectors (information technology, manufacturing and healthcare).
