Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Expansion of local companies results in 150 new Colorado jobs

Businesses choose to stay in Commerce City over Phoenix and Houston

COMMERCE CITY, COLO. – State, county and city officials joined with executives from Cummins Rocky Mountain, LLC, UE Compression and Precast Concepts today to announce the companies’ decisions to expand their businesses within Colorado, resulting in 150 new jobs and more than $30 million in capital improvements to Commerce City.

“We are working to make Colorado the best state to do business in the nation. The companies' decision to retain and expand their local operations demonstrates the strength of Colorado's advanced manufacturing industry. This is a boost to the entire state and certainly to Commerce City and the Metro Denver region,” said Governor John Hickenlooper.

Both Cummins Rocky Mountain and UE Compression chose to remain in Adams County rather than move facilities to Phoenix, Ariz. and Oklahoma City, Okla. or Houston, TX respectively. Precast Concepts relocated the manufacturing operations of a recently acquired Ohio-based company on its current property to support its StoneBilt product line.

“All three of these advanced manufacturing companies are critical to our local and state economies,” said Commerce City Mayor Sean Ford. “We’re thankful these firms leveraged the collaborative incentives to remain in Commerce City. To date, the city’s program has helped 30 firms create 668 jobs and more than $85 million in capital investments.”

Cummins Rocky Mountain is expanding its existing 104th Avenue campus in Commerce City to house four significant business operations. This new project is staged in phases and includes a training center, back-office shared services center, and a potential manufacturing facility. An estimated 73 net new jobs will be created with this project. This phase one expansion of the 35,000 sq. ft. facility complements the existing remanufacture operations and allows for future expansion that could result in a $20 million campus in the long-term. The new Technical Training Center will host 800 customers and distributors from around the globe each year, while the new Technical Support Call Center will handle over 50,000 calls annually from 10 states.

“We are excited about our upcoming expansion in Commerce City, Adams County and the State of Colorado,” said Eric Sparks, chief financial officer and executive vice president for Cummins Rocky Mountain LLC. “The economic development agencies at the city, county and state levels continue to foster an environment that is conducive to business and is receptive to growth.”

UE Compression’s 2010 expansion plans were put on hold when it was purchased by the Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX) in April 2011 and the parent company decided whether to consolidate its new holdings to Oklahoma or Texas. A leader in the design and fabrication of custom gas compression systems, UE Compression is currently building a new 100,000 square-foot building to house its manufacturing and business operations on 96th Avenue. UE Compressions is using local Commerce City companies for the construction, and the new facility will add 65 new jobs paying above county-average wages.

“UE Compression is excited with our new facility and our ongoing relationship with Commerce City, said President John Vevurka, UE Compression. “This building is the culmination of our planning that began in 2002 to have a world class facility to serve our customers in the Rocky Mountain area. Commerce City has been our base for a number of years and we plan to be here for a long time.”

Precast Concepts needed more space following the purchase and renaming of the Ohio-based Shawnee Mold Company to Distinctive Modes as well as the expansion of the StoneBilt Concepts product line, which manufactures decorative concrete paving slabs that simulate natural stone, architectural precast products, and plastic molds for precast concrete garden and architectural products. The family-owned company’s multi-million capital investment acquired property adjacent to its existing campus and expanded the current building by 48,000 sq. ft. for the StoneBilt and Distinctive Mold operations. Twelve new jobs were added to support the division.

“StoneBilt Concepts is very pleased with staying in Commerce City and values the partnership with Commerce City in making this expansion a reality,” said Ed Anderson, president of Precast Concepts, StoneBilt Concepts, and Distinctive Molds. “The efforts of everyone with Commerce City Economic Development and the Planning Department fostered an environment of cooperation in achieving the completion of this expansion.”

“The Adams County Board of Commissioners is focused on creating jobs in our county,” said Commissioner Alice J. Nichol. “With up to 60 percent of all new jobs coming from the existing business community, it is imperative that they have our continued support. We congratulate these expanding businesses for their success in the private sector and thank them for their investments in capital, new job creation and a jumpstart in our local economy.”

Each company received the following incentives to remain and expand in Colorado:

· Cummins Rocky Mountain, LLC

o Commerce City: Rebate of city building permit and plan check fees as well as sales and use tax, valued at approximately $170,000.

o Adams County: Rebate of personal property and real estate taxes, approximately $170,000.

o State of Colorado: State Enterprise Zone and Job Incentive Growth Tax Credit.

· UE Compression

o Commerce City: Rebate of city building permit and plan check fees as well as sales and use tax, valued at approximately $143,000.

o Adams County: Rebate of personal property and real estate taxes, approximately $143,000.

o State of Colorado: $130,000 from the Economic Development Commission’s Strategic Fund and State Enterprise Zone.

· Precast Concepts

o Commerce City: Approximately $181,000 of building permit and plan check fees, sales and use tax.

“Colorado’s economic development strategies within the Colorado Blueprint are helping drive job growth and giving Colorado a competitive advantage,” said Ken Lund, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “Our focus on creating jobs and retaining companies is working, and today’s announcement is a tangible outcome of the Blueprint in action.”

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