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Washington, D.C. 2008 Business Mission
a Success
The Aurora Economic Development Council conducted its Washington, D.C. 2008 Business Mission April 15 – 18. More than 70 business executives and political leaders met with the Colorado congressional delegation and discussed issues of importance to Aurora and Colorado including transportation, bioscience and aerospace.
The number one priority of the mission included discussions on securing federal funding for the interchange at I-225 and Colfax Avenue. The group also expressed its concern of cultivating the aerospace and defense industry in Colorado by protecting and growing Buckley Air Force Base. Equally important in the delegation meetings was conversations on Colorado’s bioscience industry and how we can continue to support it with additional funding from the National Institutes of Health among other sources.
Having the Aurora Economic Development Council group meet with our delegation for federal support helps ensure that Colorado maintains and enhances its leading position in these industries, keeping the state competitive in economic development.
Cyber Command
The Aurora Economic Development Council and the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce are playing leadership roles in the development of a proposal to the United States Air Force for the location of the headquarters of Air Force Cyber Command, the 10th major command for the Air Force, at either Buckley Air Force Base or Peterson Air Force Base. The new command will consolidate offensive and defensive efforts to dominate the new war-fighting theater of cyber space-the radio waves, computer networks, cell phone signals, and all other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum the modern world uses. Other participants in the proposal development are the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, and space industry companies with the support of the Governor’s Office and the Colorado Congressional delegation. There are 18 states vying for the command. A decision on the location is expected in late 2008 or early 2009.
National Space Symposium
The Aurora Economic Development Council was an active participant as a member of the Colorado Space Coalition (CSC) and the Colorado Space Business Roundtable (CSBR) at the recent 24th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. This symposium brought together over 7,500 of the top civil, commercial, and military leaders of the space industry to discuss critical issues affecting space exploration, space commerce and national security. Aurora EDC staff and other CSC members manned a large exhibit at the Symposium Exhibition Hall for four days and had extensive interaction with symposium participants and national political leaders. Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien distributed plaques to all companies at the exhibition with Colorado operations recognizing their contribution to the state’s economy. As a member of CSBR, Aurora EDC participated in co-hosting a reception with the Canadian Consulate from Denver for space industry companies. |