Regional cooperation has been key to Denver’s recent success.
That was the overarching theme as business and civic leaders met Wednesday for the Denver Metro Chamber’s fourth annual State of the City luncheon at the Denver Performing Arts Complex.
“We have to continue to cross borders and sectors and push collaboration in everything we do,” said Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, the event’s keynote speaker.
Metro Denver excels in three key areas, noted Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer: revitalizing core neighborhoods, managing controlled growth and responding to issues as a region.
Communities such as Lowry, Belmar and Stapleton exemplify the region’s efforts to revitalize core neighborhoods and commitment to managing growth. They offer a cross section of housing that, combined with retail and services, helps to reduce traffic and sprawl, Tauer said.
He pointed to Lowry as an example of collaboration between Aurora and Denver. He also noted that Westminster and Thornton have revenue-sharing agreements.
The metro area isn’t without challenges, however. Among them are immigration legislation, water availability and housing costs, said Richard Wobbekind, associate dean and director of business research for the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Providing quality education is also crucial to ensuring a qualified labor force, he added.
Staff writer Margaret Jackson can be reached at 303-820-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com.
