Q: What role can the mayor play in bringing jobs to Denver?
A: The mayor of Denver can play a major role in bringing jobs to Denver. The mayor needs to be an ambassador for Denver and play a key role in actively recruiting new businesses and marketing Denver. The mayor of Denver should also form strong partnerships with regional mayors and Governor Hickenlooper to help reevaluate the current strategy for luring corporations from other states. At the same time, the mayor needs to implement programs through the Office of Economic Development that help new businesses gain access to adequate capital, help businesses take advantage of tax credits and incentives, streamline the application process for starting a business, and make the permit and licensing process more efficient for existing businesses. Lastly, the mayor must be a collaborator – someone who can bring parties on all sides of the table (small business owners, financial institutions, venture capitalists, and concerned citizens) together to successfully execute an economic development strategy.
Q: What are the most important steps that need to be undertaken to lure more businesses to Denver?
A: Denver has incredible assets, both at present and in the future, that it can provide to businesses. Denver offers a high quality of life, highly educated workforce, favorable tax climate, and ever expanding infrastructure. Denver offers one of the nation’s largest transportation hubs at DIA, and the construction of FasTracks is an enticing lure to prospective businesses. What Denver needs to do is gain national exposure – Denver needs to adequately market itself as a destination for corporate headquarters. The acquisition of DaVita was a major achievement for Denver. We need to continue to build off of that momentum. We need to work closely with the Governor, Legislature, and Colorado Office of Economic Development to start a domino effect of corporate headquarter relocation by not only improving the way we market Colorado, but going out and actively recruiting companies. We also need to expand the international flight service at DIA to increase Denver’s presence on the national stage.
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: Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Dallas are all located in states that place a large emphasis on recruiting major corporations. For example, Atlanta’s Office of Economic Development has business recruitment offices in California and the Midwest, and their Economic Development Commissioner was actively traveling across state lines to pitch the benefits of moving to Atlanta. Atlanta also utilized trade shows, site selection consultants, and cold-calling potential companies in order to recruit businesses. In addition to aggressively recruiting businesses, the Commissioner was able to offer substantial incentive packages. For instance, in 2010 when Atlanta acquired the NCP Corporation, it offered nearly $100 million in incentives that included corporate tax breaks, free research from state universities, and allowed NCP to keep the state payroll tax it deducted from employee paychecks. While the incentive package was substantial, the relocation of NCP will bring close to 2,000 new jobs to the Atlanta area.
To compete with cities like Atlanta, the mayor of Denver needs to work closely with the Governor and the Colorado Department of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to reevaluate Colorado’s approach to recruitment. Under Governor Ritter’s administration, the Director of OEDIT’s stance on recruiting large corporations was, “If they want to come, they’re going to come.” We need to work with Governor Hickenlooper to implement a new and activist approach to recruiting business within the OEDIT. We need to take advantage of our growing science and arts culture in our marketing efforts. We need to use all of our creative talent and resources to bring businesses to Denver, because it is a highly desirable place to live and conduct business.
Q: Describe your economic plan – something that drives economic development in the city?
A: My economic plan involves ensuring adequate access to capital, implementing a streamlined and more efficient process to obtain city approval for new businesses, removing the red tape surrounding the permitting and zoning process for existing businesses, growing the pot for new business incentives on a local level, developing a regional approach to growing the economy, and creating new programs through the Office of Economic Development that help new businesses and developers take advantage of various tax credits and financing programs.
Q: What experience in your own life would you bring that would guide you in improving economic development in Denver?
A: I understand that not only is recruiting large corporations to Denver important, but there is also great importance in supporting and developing small business. Every dollar spent in a small business results in three dollars being recycled back into the local community. I come from a family that relied on small business to earn a living in Denver. My grandparents owned Mancinelli’s Grocery in North Denver and a produce company in the Denargo Markets, and my family relied heavily on that income. I worked for small businesses both before and after I began my professional career and my husband works in a small law firm, so I personally understand the struggles small business owners face. Small business creates so many jobs and supports so many families in Denver, and it is through my lifelong experiences in small business that I gained the understanding of what resources are required for them to be successful in Denver.
