Aurora EDC Chair receives coveted International City/County Management Association Honorary Membership
Congratulations to Dr. Jay Gershen, vice chancellor for external affairs of the University of Colorado Denver and chair of the Aurora Economic Development Council board of directors, who was recently granted an Honorary Membership in the International City/County Management Association. Founded in 1914, ICMA is the premier local government leadership and management organization. Its mission is to create excellence in local governance by advocating and developing the professional management of local government worldwide. Honorary membership in ICMA is awarded to an individual outside of the profession of local government management in recognition of his/her distinguished public service and contributions to the improvement and strengthening of local government. Receiving an honorary membership is an extremely rare honor. Dr. Gershen has strengthened the university’s partnerships with the city of Aurora and the business community through his tireless efforts and involvement in numerous organizations such as the Aurora Economic Development Council (2009 chair), Colorado Colfax Marathon (past chair), and the city’s Blue Ribbon Citizen’s Panel for Aurora. Dr. Gershen was instrumental in the consolidation of the University of Colorado Denver and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and played an active role in the development of the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.


Dr. Jay Gershen, vice chancellor for external affairs of the University of Colorado Denver and chair of the Aurora Economic Development Council board of directors

Merrick & Company, CH2M HILL recognized as best company to work for in state
Congratulations to Merrick & Company, an Aurora-based company specializing in engineering, architecture, design-build, surveying, and geospatial solutions, that was ranked ninth on the list of the 2009 “Best Companies to Work for in Colorado” in the large company category by ColoradoBiz Magazine. And congratulations to CH2M HILL, a global full-service engineering, procurement, construction, and operations firm, for being ranked 14 on the list in the large company category this year. Employees were surveyed by Modern Think, a workplace-excellence consulting firm, on behalf of ColoradoBiz Magazine and ranked according to responses on topics including workplace environment, work flexibility, benefits, community involvement and leadership and internship programs.

Horizon Uptown sets new standard in energy-efficient development
Lend Lease announced that its Horizon Uptown project, located at the southwest corner of E-470 and I-70 in Aurora, received LEED Certification for its neighborhood plan under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot certification program. The certification program is used as a tool to help planners and developers create communities that not only protect the environment, but also address important public health issues such as physical activity, traffic accidents, respiratory illnesses and affordable housing. Horizon Uptown, one of eight LEED for Neighborhood Development projects in Colorado and 238 in the world, will combine residential, commercial and retail uses in an urban format that emphasizes community cohesion, lifelong learning and recreational opportunities. All homes and commercial buildings will meet green building and energy efficiency standards, and environmentally sensitive development techniques will be practiced across the community. At full build-out, Horizon Uptown will have up to 4 million square feet of office space, 1.3 million square feet of retail space (neighborhood, large-format and lifestyle) and 3,800 residential units. Overall, the community is slated to be home to roughly 8,000 residents and provide employment for an estimated 11,000 workers.

“The Lend Lease Horizon Uptown project helps position Aurora as a leader in energy-efficient development,” said Wendy Mitchell, president and CEO of the Aurora Economic Development Council. “This caliber of development sets a standard not only for the region but for the entire state of Colorado.”

Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs present for VA Hospital groundbreaking
Eric Shinseki, secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, members of the Colorado Congressional delegation, regional elected officials, business leaders and numerous veterans celebrated the official groundbreaking of a new 1.1 million-square-foot veterans administration hospital on 31 acres at the Fitzsimons Life Science District in Aurora on Saturday, August 22. The new hospital campus will replace the existing 670,000-square-foot Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, located at 9th and Clermont Street in Denver. The DVAMC currently serves more than 58,000 veterans from numerous states in the Rocky Mountain region and is projected to serve an influx of veterans due to the strong military presence and veteran migration to Colorado. Details of the new hospital are above. 


Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki addresses the audience at the groundbreaking ceremony at the Fitzsimons Life Science District in Aurora.  Also pictured are Governor Bill Ritter, Senator Michael Bennet, and Congressman Mike Coffman.

Steel fabricator selects Aurora for first Colorado manufacturing facility
Drake-Williams Steel, Inc. recently announced it purchased a 52,000-square-foot facility at 20400 E. 26^th Avenue in Aurora. The Omaha, Nebraska company with regional offices in Colorado and Iowa, furnishes fabricated structural steel, stair systems and miscellaneous fabricated steel, steel joist/deck, and fabricated concrete reinforcing steel for all types of building projects. Drake-Williams plans to hire 18 employees in the first 18 months of operations and eventually employ a staff of 50 once economic conditions improve. The Aurora Economic Development Council provided the company, which is owned and operated by fourth generation members of the Williams family, with site selection assistance.

New Jersey distributor plans to hire 50 at new Aurora location
Bradco Supply Corp., one of the nation’s largest distributors of building materials, recently announced its plans to lease a 27,000-square-foot facility at 17808 E. 24^th Drive in Aurora. The Aurora Economic Development Council worked with Bradco Supply on zoning and permitting issues in addition to obtaining final approval of the site from the city. The company plans to hire 50 employees at the new Aurora location.