Metro Denver: Energetic Bodies, Energetic Minds A business climate as uplifting as Denver's 300 days of sunshine.

Contact: Kate E. Horle, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
phone: 303-620-8040 c 720-201-2522
e-mail: kate.horle@denverchamber.org

Consistently ranked among the top 10 places to live in the United States, Metro Denver also has all the things businesses need to flourish, including our young, healthy, educated workforce, an affordable cost of doing business, and a multimodal transportation system that will take us years into the future. Find out why Metro Denver is simply one of the best places in the country to live and work.

An Energetic Business Environment.

Metro Denver is a place that stimulates business.

Nestled between the towering Rocky Mountains to the west and the vast high plains to the east, Metro Denver sits almost in the center of the United States -- a strategic location that makes the area a natural crossroads for both domestic and international commerce.

Our growing multi-modal transportation network encourages global interconnectivity, starting with Denver International Airport, the fifth-busiest in the nation and one of the most modern in the world. Set for completion by 2017, Metro Denver is constructing FasTracks, the largest one-time build out of a metro area mass transit system in U.S. history.

Data moves efficiently in Metro Denver, too. As a national center for telecommunications, the area is home to giants in the satellite, subscription TV, and telephone industries -- not to mention one satellite bounce away from virtually anywhere on earth.

Many factors make the cost of doing business in Metro Denver affordable. The area has some of the lowest health insurance premiums in the nation and utility rates that are consistently among the lowest of any major U.S. city. From modern office parks wired with Internet capabilities for the needs of high-tech industries, to warehouse and distribution space, Metro Denver's large inventory of commercial and industrial real estate gives companies room to grow and expand. A competitive commercial real estate market has allowed existing businesses to re-negotiate leases, move up to higher quality space, and shift from lease to ownership. Now is the time to rent or buy prime industrial and retail spaces in Metro Denver.

Colorado's extremely low state corporate tax, fair regulatory environment, moderate business costs, and incentives at both the state and local levels also make Metro Denver one of the nation's most competitive business venues.

An energetic, highly educated workforce.

With all the amenities that both attract and retain a highly educated workforce, Metro Denver is a magnet for young, smart, and diverse workers. In fact, the region of 2.8 million people is one of the fastest growing in the country.

Colorado has nation's third-highest percentage of college graduates. Our robust statewide educational system includes a network of world-class research institutions, graduate and professional schools, and a wide spectrum of undergraduate programs.

People gravitate here from other areas of the country for Colorado's high-tech economic base and quality environment. According to the U.S. Census, Colorado had the second-highest migration rate in the United States between 1995 and 2000 for unmarried college graduates, with Metro Denver having the sixth-highest migration rate among all U.S. cities. Many of these workers have put down permanent roots and resisted moving. As a result, unemployment is around four percent.

To further develop our workforce, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded the seven-county Metro Denver region (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson), and two-county Northern Colorado area (Larimer and Weld) a three-year, $15 million WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) grant.

The Metro Denver WIRED Initiative's goal is to expand the pipeline of highly skilled workers in the region's fastest growing industries and to implement a "transformational" approach to regional workforce development.

With 300 annual days of sunshine, Metro Denver residents dabble in everything from skiing to hiking, mountain biking to river rafting. Perhaps that's why Metro Denver is one of the nation's fittest cities with the nation's second-highest percent of physical activity and the highest percentage of residents with health club memberships.

All this is good news for employers, who can recruit and hire from a vigorous and diverse pool of workers with the skill sets needed for corporate growth over the long term. Today, Metro Denver's employer base represents a cross-section of industries including aerospace, aviation, bioscience, energy, financial services, and information technology.

The qualities that make Metro Denver a great place to live also makes it perfect for business.

An inspiring natural setting.

You need only look out your office window to feel energized in Metro Denver. But if you're looking for more activity, you'll find it here in abundance. Stunning landscapes, a mild climate, and plentiful outdoor activities make this a year-round recreational haven.

The City of Denver has the largest public parks system of any U.S. city. Thousands of acres of open space dot the area, allowing citizens to hike, bike, and snowshoe right outside their backyards. The spectacular Rocky Mountains, with their world-class ski resorts and scenery, are only minutes away. It's no wonder that Colorado has the lowest obesity rate in the nation.

When they're not energizing their bodies outside, residents energize their minds by cheering on eight professional sports teams and taking in events at the Denver Performing Arts Complex -- the largest such facility in the country under one roof.

Even the most discriminating consumers will be delighted with the 15 major shopping centers and districts that dot the area. Metro Denver has all the attractions you expect in a metropolitan hub -- from museums and a world-class convention center to amusement parks and a zoo.

As if that weren't enough, the cost of living is easier on the wallet than in many major cities. An area of distinctive neighborhoods, Metro Denver offers residents a broad range of housing options and advanced medical facilities.

With its balanced lifestyle and natural appeal, recruitment has never been a problem in Metro Denver.

Invigorate your business in Metro Denver.

With a vibrant, highly educated workforce and one of the best business economies in the country, Metro Denver offers relocating and expanding companies everything they need to grow and thrive.

¥ The nation's third-most educated workforce

¥ Young, active workers who are more productive due to their balanced lifestyles

¥ A well-connected, diverse business environment

¥ Growing multimodal transportation network

¥ Technology and research resources

¥ Robust Internet, satellite, and cable communications

¥ World-class cultural amenities, sports teams, and recreational opportunities

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
For more than 150 years, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a leading voice for Colorado's business community. With a membership that spans the seven-county metro region and includes 3,000 businesses and their 300,000 employees, the Chamber is a powerful and effective advocate for both small and large businesses at the local, state and federal levels. For more information, visit www.denverchamber.org or contact Kate Horle, director of communications at 303.620.8040.

Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
The Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (Metro Denver EDC) is the region's leading economic development organization. An affiliate of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Metro Denver EDC focuses on six areas: national marketing, existing business, mobility, DIA/international air travel, tax reform, and special opportunities. For more information, visit www.metrodenver.org or www.metrodenverGIS.org or contact Janet Fritz, director of marketing at 303.620.8039.

ECONOMIC OVERVIEW

POPULATION

Metro Denver's population totaled nearly 2.8 million in 2008. The regionÕs population growth rate has consistently outpaced U.S. growth every decade since the 1930s. Metro Denver has grown steadily during the past 10 years, averaging 1.9 percent per year from 1998 to 2008.

Population by County, 2008

Adams 433,267

Arapahoe 561,388

Boulder 293,232

Broomfield 49,686

Denver 594,740

Douglas 284,144

Jefferson 542,152

Metro Denver 2,758,609
Colorado 5,008,259

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

High school graduates: Metro Denver - 88%; U.S. - 84.1%

College graduates: Metro Denver Ð 37.7%; U.S. - 27%

MEDIAN AGE

Metro Denver Ð 35.5

United States Ð 36.4

MEDIAN INCOME

Metro Denver - $54,994

United States - $48,451

MEDIAN HOME PRICE

Metro Denver - $245,400

United States - $217,800

MAJOR INDUSTRIES

Aerospace

Aviation

Bioscience

Energy

Financial Services

Information Technology - Software

LARGEST EMPLOYERS