Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said today that it is “awfully hard” to get a corporation to move its headquarters but that, “We’re going to throw everything at it we can” in an effort to lure United Airlines’ headquarters to Denver.
Hickenlooper said the city, the state and the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. could put together “a very powerful package” that could provide “more money per job” to United than has ever been offered to a company in this region to relocate or expand. Hickenlooper did not estimate the price of such a package.
Asked if he had recent discussions with United chief executive Glenn Tilton, Hickenlooper indicated he had not.
United is reportedly seeking to relocate its headquarters and 350 corporate employees from Elk Grove Village, Ill. Downtown Chicago, Denver and San Francisco – three of the five markets in which United has major airline hubs – are in the running.
The Metro Denver Economic Development said today it had offered to send an economic incentive proposal to United Airlines executives within four business days, but the airline declined, saying plans to possibly relocate from suburban Chicago to Denver were still in a “very, very preliminary stage.”
“They said that when it became appropriate, they would contact us and ask us to do that,” said Tom Clark, the group’s executive director.
