Q: What role can the mayor play in bringing jobs to Denver?
A: The Mayor of Denver plays a critical and essential role in attracting jobs and keeping them in Denver. A strong Mayor will set the tone for business development in the city with a sound economic development plan. As Denver’s next Mayor I will support local businesses and will aggressively market the city to the country and the rest of the world. As Mayor I will become the convener that brings together the public and private sector to sell the city. For example, the Amigos Program in New Mexico puts government and business officials on a plane together traveling to market their assets and competitive advantage thereby increasing business and tourism for their state. As Mayor I will work hard to earn a high level of confidence from the business community. A confident and successful business community will ensure future jobs for Denver.
Q: What are the most important steps that need to be undertaken to lure more businesses to Denver?
A: Successfully bringing business to Denver must begin with the Mayor office. When I am elected I will make it a priority to aggressively pursue those companies seeking to relocate and I will provide the resources necessary to compete for those relocations. As Mayor I will make it easy to do businesses in Denver. We need to reinvigorate the small business loan fund and strengthen our performance in the Mayor’s office of Economic Development. I will work with local banks to ensure business owners once again have access to sorely needed capital. As Mayor I will invest the City’s money in banks that loan to Denver’s small business community.
Q: Why have Dallas, Minneapolis and Atlanta been able to land those major corporate headquarter businesses and not Denver? What could be done to attract those kinds of businesses to the city?
A: There are many factors companies look at when deciding on where to locate corporate headquarters. In the case of Atlanta, they have the busiest airport in the world with direct flights to every continent. Companies will look at Minneapolis and the quality of life is a major factor in relocation. Dallas has long been a hub for the technology and oil industry.
Denver can attract corporate headquarters by demonstrating these companies will have the full support of the City. We can learn from the companies did not choose Denver. For example, when Boeing looked to relocate one of the reasons they did not choose Denver was the lack of international flights from DIA. Other companies have cited the Denver’s high cost of doing business. As Mayor, I will demonstrate that Denver is open for business and willing to support businesses relocating to our city.
Q: Describe your economic plan – something that drives economic development in the city?
A: My economic plan focuses on completing the development of Denver’s considerable assets. We have an opportunity to develop the Platte River beyond LoDo, from Overland through the Sun Valley north to Globeville. The Platte River can become an economic catalyst much like the River Walk in San Antonio. Denver has in-fill projects that need completion. The soon to be vacant St. Anthony’s campus, 8th & Colorado and Gates Factory are examples. Perhaps one of our greatest development opportunities is the acreage surrounding DIA. As Mayor I will work to attract and retain large business. At the same time we will support small business with access to capital. We need to keep more money at home through the Buy Denver Initiative which will market local businesses to the public and give them priority with the City’s procurement process.
Q: What experience in your own life would you bring that would guide you in improving economic development in Denver?
A: While working as Deputy Director in Economic Development I helped small business create jobs by implementing the Small Business Loan Fund, I managed and led teams that brought targeted sector businesses to Denver and secured the last new, direct international flight to DIA. Having renovated half a dozen homes in Denver I am familiar with our permitting process and what works and what does not work. Take the case of my close friend Jesse Morreale, a successful restaurateur whose latest opening was delayed 9 months because he was caught up in an inefficient permitting and inspection quagmire. In his case the creation of more than 100 jobs were put on hold while the City of Denver’s bureaucracy added delay after delay with multiple agencies contradicting and complicating the process.
