[CPN] PRESS RELEASE: Mayor Hancock Jump Starts 2013

 

		PRESS RELEASE        For Immediate Release     Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013
	City and County of Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock Amber Miller, Press Secretary Amber.Miller@DenverGov.org Denver Office of Economic Development Derek Woodbury, Communications Director Derek.Woodbury@DenverGov.org   Mayor Hancock Jump Starts 2013   DENVER — Mayor Michael B. Hancock today launched JumpStart 2013, a new short- and long-term economic development plan for Denver. Building on strategies from last year, the plan introduces 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," Mayor Hancock said. "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 26-page JumpStart 2013 strategic plan identifies major, immediate steps Denver's Office of Economic Development ("OED") will take this year to bolster business development, community lending, and investment and workforce development. The plan also includes a broader, three-year plan.   "We're taking an intentional, data-driven approach to economic development that is designed to further strengthen Denver's standing as a world-class city," said OED Executive Director Paul Washington. "Our plan provides a clear signal to the community as to how we are working to build a stronger Denver, with jobs and housing opportunities for all."   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. Each pillar includes several initiatives, goals, and partners with which the OED will collaborate to implement the plan.   Among the new strategies included in JumpStart 2013 are the following: ·         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).   CLICK HERE to read the full JumpStart 2013 plan.   Last year, the Mayor and Washington launched the first-of-its-kind JumpStart 2012 strategic plan. On Tuesday, the OED released an annual report on key outcomes of that plan, as well as other signature wins gained in the areas of business retention, business recruitment, small business advocacy, business lending, sustainable neighborhood development and workforce development. CLICK HERE for that report.   # # #