Council adopts economic development plan, sets stage for future growth

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The business climate in Commerce City may soon be shifting. By unanimous vote, City Council adopted Commerce City ’s “Economic Development Strategic Plan” at its council meeting Monday, April 5. The plan – in development since 2009 – is considered to be a vital business development tool and a tremendous accomplishment for the city, especially since this is the first economic development plan created in the city’s history.

“Adopting an economic development plan is a tremendous success for the city, and I’d like to thank all of the residents, businesses, partners, staff and consultants that worked so hard to bring this plan together,” said Mayor Pro-tem Tracey Snyder. “The real success will come when we see transformations take place in the Commerce City business and development community.”

The ED plan complements the recently updated Commerce City “Comprehensive Plan,” and will act as a blueprint for economic growth and development over the next 5-10 years. Business attraction, retention and job creation will be the focus, and strategic marketing efforts will better position Commerce City to compete for local, national, and international business.

“Our objective was to develop the economic development and comprehensive plans at the same time,” explained City Manager Jerry Flannery. “We’ve succeeded in both and are now positioned perfectly to tackle economic recovery and become one of Colorado ’s top desired business and residential communities.” Implementation will begin immediately and the Economic Development Division will provide quarterly progress updates to City Council.

In June 2009, Commerce City hired Angelou Economics, an Austin-based site selector and economic development strategy firm, to spearhead the development of the ED strategic plan. A diverse group of residents, land owners, developers, and economic development and business partners formed the “Technical Advisory Group (TAG)” and “Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC),” and worked closely with Angelou and city staff to:

- Assess Commerce City ’s current economic competitiveness


- Create a shared vision for the city’s economic future


- Outline specific implementation strategies

Based on research and a comprehensive competitive analysis, Angelou identified five target industries to focus ED efforts:

1. Denver International Airport (DIA) Technology – includes time-sensitive manufacturing and distribution, third-party logistics firms, e-commerce fulfillment, office complexes that house air travel-intensive professions, and hotel and exhibition complexes.

2. Advanced Manufacturing - includes renewable energy, aerospace, fabricated metal product, and medical device manufacturing.

3. Logistics and Distribution – includes freight forwarding, supply chain management and warehousing.

4. Business and Professional Services – includes regional offices, back office support services, and technical support facilities.

5. Retail/Hospitality/Leisure – includes dining, entertainment, sports and health-related retail.

Commerce City ’s Final Action Plan outlining details of the ED strategic plan can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.operationcommerce.com.

About Commerce City
Commerce City, Colo. is a thriving community northeast of Denver . Ranked by Forbes Magazine in 2007 as the second fastest growing city in Colorado and the 16th fastest growing city in the U.S. , Commerce City is now home to more than 42,000 residents.

In addition to a strong business district, Commerce City now boats a vibrant housing and living community with new residential developments, the award-winning Buffalo Run Golf Course, abundant parks and recreation, dining and social activity including the 18,000 seat soccer stadium, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park . The city is also adjacent to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge, one of the largest urban national wildlife refuges in the U.S.

Commerce City is where the past, the present and the future come together to develop a Quality Community for a Lifetime. For more information, visit Commerce City online at www.c3gov.com.