The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) released its annual report showing it hand a hand in creating 4,164 new jobs and retaining 3,076 jobs in 2015.
"Denver's hardworking employers, employees and entrepreneurs enjoyed a year of recording-breaking progress on many economic fronts," says Mayor Michael Hancock. "Their tenacity, coupled with the city's efforts to sustain and grow a next-generation economy built on Denver's traditional strengths, has simultaneously attracted new ventures, new industries, and thousands of new residents."
The jobs, as well as 628 affordable housing units, are proof of the effectiveness of the $304 million in strategic investments made last year. Those came in the form of incentives, tax credits, loans, and training assistance programs to help 89 firms expand in Denver in 2015.
Among the highlights were two incentive packages offered to major companies. One helped United Airlines consolidate its national flight training program to Stapleton. That will bring an additional 250 jobs to Denver while retaining roughly 400 positions. The other aided Costco's decision to open a business-services store in Denver. It will bring more than 100 sustaining wage jobs to the Athmar Park neighborhood.
Other major companies will continue to add jobs in Denver, according to the report. Just a handful will add thousands of jobs, they include FiveStars, KPMG, Comcast, Sunrun, Gusto, Transamerica, DaVita and Optiv.
"We've had an exciting run of new jobs from both startups and corporate locations, and at the same time posted major gains in the Mayor's ambitious 3x5 plan for affordable housing," asserts OED Executive Director Paul Washington. "It's critical that we continue to excel across a spectrum of public-investment strategies and tactics, so that the astounding growth momentum Denver has enjoyed can continue."
Denver's OED also took additional steps to help make the city more attractive for companies. Such steps include launching the Denver Manufacturing Map Tool and using OppSites to promote opportunities for companies. The manufacturing map details all manufacturing operations and support systems in Denver. OppSites also uses mapping and promotional data to showcase sites to developers, businesses and retailers across the U.S.
Contact Confluence Denver Innovation & Jobs News Editor Chris Meehan with tips and leads for future stories at chris@confluence-denver.com.
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