Business and civic leaders remain optimistic about the economy next year, despite the pinch of higher prices and tighter labor markets, a survey from Vectra Bank Colorado said Tuesday.
Nearly two-thirds of the respondents were optimistic or very optimistic about the prospects for the economy as it relates to their organization or industry.
“We anticipate stronger growth rates during the remainder of 2006 and into 2007,” said Vectra Bank economist Jeff Thredgold.
Additional business news briefs:
RICHMOND, Va.
Self-storage company to open area outlet
SmartBox, a Richmond-based portable-self-storage company, on Tuesday said it will open a Denver-area franchise in late February. The company provides portable containers that customers can fill and then store or relocate. The company has recently opened franchises in Baltimore and Jacksonville, Fla.
DENVER
Whiting sells interest in noncore properties
Whiting Petroleum Corp. said it has sold its interest in several noncore properties to undisclosed buyers for $24.6 million in cash. Whiting is a holding company in the oil and natural-gas business.
DENVER
Affordable-housing vacancies at 3.8%
The vacancy rate for affordable housing in metro Denver was 3.8 percent for the third quarter, according to a study released Tuesday by the Colorado Division of Housing and the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Statewide, the vacancy rate was 4.7 percent.
The study also included Colorado Springs, which reported an 8 percent vacancy; Pueblo, 4 percent; Greeley, 2.9 percent; Loveland, 8.2 percent; Fort Collins, 6.7 percent; and Grand Junction, 7.9 percent.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Lockheed’s latest GPS satellite operational
The U.S. Air Force declared Lockheed Martin’s newest Global Positioning System Block IIR satellite fully operational, the company announced Tuesday. The satellite was launched last month from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
It is part of an eight-satellite series, with new features to improve operations and navigation-signal performance for military and civilian GPS users.
WASHINGTON
United’s workforce down, Frontier’s up
United Airlines’ workforce fell to about 52,000 in October, down from 54,000 a year ago and 78,000 in 2002, when measured by the number of full-time-equivalent employees. Data released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics also showed Frontier Airlines’ workforce grew to about 5,000 in October, up from 4,000 last year and 3,000 in 2002. United is the largest carrier at Denver International Airport, and Frontier is the second-largest.
Employment at passenger airlines nationally fell 2.2 percent in October from a year earlier.
MINNEAPOLIS
2 Colo. execs added to Xcel Energy board
Xcel Energy will expand the size of its board of directors from 11 to 13, with two Colorado business executives filling those new seats.
David Westerlund, corporate secretary at Ball Corp. in Broomfield, and Timothy Wolf, global chief financial officer for Molson Coors Brewing Co. in Denver, will join the Xcel Energy board in February.
The current board of directors voted the two onto the board, although shareholders must approve their appointment.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md.
Airline workers asked about merger worries
The International Association of Machinists union, which represents employees at United Airlines and Continental Airlines, is surveying those employees about their concerns regarding a potential Continental-United merger.
The two airlines have reportedly had talks about a merger, but no deal has been publicly proposed.
MONTE VISTA
N.Y. company plans solar park in valley
SkyFuel, a New York City company, announced plans Tuesday for a new San Luis Valley solar park called “SolarDunes.”
The company said it wants to start building the $2 billion concentrating-solar project in 2010. It eventually would generate 1,000 megawatts, which could power at least 300,000 homes, according to the company.
DENVER
AAA: More to travel for holidays this year
AAA Colorado is projecting that a record number of 64.9 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. That’s up 2.2 percent over last year.
Gas prices are roughly even with where they were last year, at about $2.20 a gallon for regular unleaded. A gallon of regular unleaded averaged $2.20 as of Dec. 13, compared with $2.18 last year. Christmas hotel rates are expected to be up 4 percent.
DENVER
Quiznos’ bid to delay injunction is denied
U.S. District Court Judge John Kane on Tuesday denied a request by Quiznos to delay a preliminary-injunction hearing in a case involving 10 recently terminated franchisees.
The franchisees are seeking an injunction to block the termination of their contracts with the sandwich chain. Quiznos terminated the group’s contracts this month following the group’s publication of a suicide note left by another franchisee who had been having problems with the company.
Quiznos said the group was exploiting the death and damaging the company’s reputation. The hearing is scheduled for Friday.
DENVER
DIA seeks operator for pet boarding
Denver International Airport is seeking businesses interested in operating a pet-boarding facility at the airport.
The airport is requesting qualifications for a pet-care concession agreement to provide “resort-quality boarding, kenneling and related pet- care services.” Those who respond will meet with DIA officials Jan. 10 and 11.
DENVER
Frontier to wrap gifts after security check
Frontier Airlines will offer post-security airport gift-wrapping at Denver International and Dallas/Fort Worth airports this week, with proceeds benefiting the USO. Passengers have been advised not to wrap gifts before going through security.
Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said the airline will offer the service Thursday through Sunday from about 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
