During an annual awards breakfast, Northwest Douglas County Chamber and Economic Development Corp. officials announced a merger and rebrand. The new entity is called the Douglas County Economic Development Corp.
“This exciting rebrand signifies a unified approach to economic development in Douglas County,” said the EDC’s CEO Ellie Reynolds. “We are committed to providing you all with the best possible resources for economic development and growth.”
The move comes after a merger with the Douglas County Economic Development Collaborative.
The newly-dubbed EDC partners with the private and public sectors to shape and provide business policies for municipalities within the county.
One of the reasons behind the restructuring, said Reynolds, was to help propel the county in its aim to become a preferred site for finance, health care and other industries. Economic development partners will have access to ongoing programming that includes conferences, marketing and a robust incentive package.
“We hope to offer a county incentive package to attract and retain our primary employers here in Douglas County,” said Reynolds.
County Commissioner Abe Laydon added that the initiative package will include an integrated planning process that will help potential businesses get a sense of why they should do business in Douglas County.
Along with Laydon, the event included speakers Fred Marvel of Brannan Companies, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and fellow commissioners Lora Thomas and George Teal. The commissioners spoke about projects and initiatives throughout the county such as the HEART program, a newly-formed water commission, approaches to the immigration and more.
Like others, Teal believes the merger will allow the county to contribute to the economic development of the region. While speaking about U.S. Highway 85 roadway construction and future water and wastewater projects along the corridor, Teal said the goal is to give the infrastructure a backbone. The highway corridor, he said, will be home for economic development in the county. He added the county will also continue to focus on Parker and Castle Rock.
“The merger adds to Douglas County’s reputation for intentional and strategic commitments to effective partnership with the business community,” Teal, who is also a board chairman of the EDC, said.
Thomas referenced the launch of a 23rd Judicial District starting in 2025, which will include Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties. Arapahoe County will remain in the 18th Judicial District.
“One of the important things commissioners need to do is make sure that the tax dollars the people pay are well spent and we were subsidizing the prosecution of crime in Aurora,” said Thomas. “That’s not our job at Douglas County.”
She added that there is potential for speciality courts with the new judicial district that would focus on mental health.
Raymond H. Gonzales, president of Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation said in a statement that the Douglas County EDC fortifies the economic development ecosystem.
“This development is a significant stride ahead and should enhance all business attraction and expansion efforts while increasing opportunities in the amazing community that make up Douglas County,” said Gonzales.
At the breakfast, State Demographer Elizabeth Garner encouraged the attendees to look at how to balance housing development with economic development.
“Colorado attracts young adults, 20 to 40 years old,” said Garner, adding that there is going to be a shortage of young adults in the future, making competition for them as workers greater.
Garner asked: “What kinds of jobs are you going to be growing here? What are their wage rates? And what else will they want to do?”
Age is going to be the biggest challenge this decade for the county as it is the biggest impact, said Garner, as births are down, deaths are up and migration is slowing, and when migration is lower than deaths, there is a total decline in the adult population.
Peak Millennials, ages 29 to 31, are going to be growing and pushing demand as they age, said Garner. This group is entering prime childbearing and homebuying years.
On the other hand, with over 50% of the county’s growth in the 65+ group, there are a lot of people in the labor force that have fallen in love with the county and will retire and age in place.
“You’re creating demand for new jobs, creating demand for retirement, plus demand for remote workers, where are they all going to live?” asked Garner.
The event also recognized its 2023’s business award recipients, Minuteman Press Parker, Gelato&Company, Cranelli’s Italian Restaurant, Help and Hope Center, Douglas County, Zoomin Groomin and Sarah Hubbard of Vertex Financial Group.
Let’s think about it.
Doesn’t it seem strange that this new economic development organization, ostensibly representing DougCo business interests, would immediately host Lauren Boebert and Debora Flora, two GOP candidates for CD4?
And what about the CEO of the new organization, Ellie Reynolds – she’s a graduate of the right-wing training program, Leadership Program of the Rockies?
Maybe the local GOP has positioned the new EDC to be another instrument of the DougCo right-wing cabal…