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Investor e-mail |
February 2008 |
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Business News |
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Marc Parker, Senior Vice President and Division Manager of Commercial Deposit and Payment Solutions of U.S. Bank in Denver, has been named chair of the board of the Aurora Economic Development Council. He succeeds James M. Mulligan, Attorney at Law of Fairfield and Woods, P.C., who acted as chair for 2007. Parker will oversee the board effective immediately and will serve a one-year term. This will be Parker’s sixth year serving on the Aurora Economic Development Council board of directors.
“Marc Parker’s commitment to the Aurora Economic Development Council and the metro area business community makes him an excellent selection as chair,” stated Wendy Mitchell, president and CEO of the Aurora Economic Development Council. “Under Marc’s leadership, the organization will continue to raise the bar for economic development efforts in the state of Colorado and bring economic prosperity to the region.”
Congratulations to Southshore for receiving the “Community of the Year” award from the National Sales and Marketing Council of the National Association of Homebuilders. Southshore is the premier waterside master planned community developed by Laing/Village, LLC, a partnership of John Laing Homes and Village Homes. Southshore is the first community developed by the partnership and is located along the Aurora Reservoir near E-470 and Smoky Hill Road in Aurora. Southshore served as official host of the 2007 Parade of Homes during which more than 90,000 people visited over a five-week period. Southshore was also named 2007 “Community of the Year” by the Homebuilders Association of Metro Denver. |
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Colorado Legislative Update | |
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Development News |
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Majestic Realty recently announced that Core-Mark Midcontinent, LLC, a distribution center providing food and non-food products to more than 30,000 convenience store retailers, would be expanding its operations at the master-planned business park, Majestic Commercenter. Located in Building #23 at the northeast quadrant of I-70 and Tower Road, Core-Mark will occupy 182,000 square feet. To meet Core-Mark’s space requirements, Rocky Mountain Portable Storage, LLC, dba Portable On Demand Storage (PODS), will relocate from Building #23 to Building #24 this spring.
“We purposefully designed our master-planned park to fulfill the demand and needs of industrial users as they grow and their needs change,” said Majestic Realty Vice President Randy Hertel. “Core-Mark and PODS have both established their presence in our park and now have the opportunity to carry that momentum forward through their stability and growth opportunities within our park’s expansive borders. |
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The Aurora Economic Development Council is focusing on eight bills introduced in the current regular session of the Colorado General Assembly. In addition to these eight bills, the organization will be monitoring all bills with an economic development impact introduced in the House and Senate. The Aurora Economic Development Council and its Public Policy Committee continues to partner with other business organizations such as the Colorado Competitive Council, NAIOP, the Colorado Bioscience Association, and the Colorado Economic Leadership Coalition, among others to further our influence on key issues.
HB 1001 – Bioscience Research Grant Program – RIESBERG/BACON (Support)
Bill Summary
As part of the Governor’s economic development legislative package, this bill would help early-stage bioscience companies to get through the evaluation process for bioscience research discoveries, and to commercialization more quickly. The House Appropriations Committee increased the appropriation to $5.5 million from the General Fund in FY 2007-08, $4.5 million from the Limited Gaming Fund in FY 2008-09 and $5.5 million for each of the subsequent three years.
Aurora Economic Development Council Action
Senior Vice President Dick Hinson testified before the House Finance Committee. Staff took immediate action by drafting support for HB 1001 for public policy committee members and board of directors to call and/or
e-mail the House Finance Committee.
Status
02/26/2008 House Second Reading Passed with Amendments
Next Step: Third Reading of Bill for Final Passage of the House scheduled for 02/27/2008
HB 1189 – Prohibit Personnel Employee Strikes – RIESBERG/GIBBS (Support)
Bill Summary
Prohibits any employee in the state personnel system or any labor organization, through formal action or through its agents, from inciting, encouraging, aiding, or participating in a strike, stoppage of work, slowdown, or interruption of operations by employees in the state personnel system.
Aurora Economic Development Council Action
Monitoring – The Aurora Economic Development Council originally was monitoring HB 1187 – Prohibit Personnel Employee Strikes – and shifted its focus to HB 1189 after HB 1187 was Postponed Indefinitely by the House Committee on Business Affairs and Labor on 1/24/2008.
Status
02/04/2008 Introduced In Senate - Assigned to State, Veterans & Military Affairs
Next Step: State, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee scheduled for 2/27/2008
SB 94 – Modifies Urban Renewal Law – BACON/POMMER (Oppose)
Bill Summary
Amends the Urban Renewal Law so that agricultural land may not be included within an urban renewal area without the consent of other taxing entities unless the land is contaminated or constitutes less than 10% of the urban renewal area. In exchange for this concession, the bill authorizes the creation of community development areas to facilitate the development or redevelopment of property within municipalities.
Aurora Economic Development Council Action
Monitoring
Status
02/21/2008 Senate Committee on Local Government Postponed Indefinitely
Next Step: Currently not on calendar
HB 1225 – Business Personal Property Tax Exemption – RICE, BUESCHER/WILLIAMS, WARD (Support)
Bill Summary
As part of the Governor’s economic development legislative package, this bill would increase business personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $7,000.
Aurora Economic Development Council Action
Monitoring
Status
02/19/2008 House Committee on Finance Refer Unamended to Appropriations
Next Step: Currently not on calendar
HB 1259 – Special Districts - CARROLL M./(NONE) (Oppose)
Bill Summary
States that a special district may provide services only within the territory of the special district. Requires a special district that currently provides services outside its territory to file a petition within a specified time to modify its service plan in order to provide services only within its territory.
Aurora Economic Development Council Action
Monitoring
Status
01/31/2008 Introduced In House - Assigned to Local Government
Next Step: Local Government Committee scheduled for 2/28/2008
HB 1261 – “Fly-away” Sales Tax Exemption for Aircraft – BUESCHER/BACON (Support)
Bill Summary
As part of the Governor’s economic development legislative package, exempts from sales tax the sale of a new or used aircraft to a person who is not a resident of the state for registration and primary use outside the state.
Aurora Economic Development Council Action
Monitoring
Status
02/26/2008 House Third Reading Laid Over
Next Step: Third Reading of Bill for Final Passage of the House scheduled for 02/27/2008
SB 84 – Requirements for Development at Lowry Range – HAGEDOR/CARROLL M. (Oppose)
Bill Summary
This bill would severely inhibit or prevent development anywhere in or around Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range until remediation is complete for the entire sight, or until funds have been transferred from the federal government or other parties to the state for full remediation. Furthermore, the bill does not clearly define the lands to which it pertains. It unfairly restricts development in the area of the Lowry Bombing and Gunnery Range.
Aurora Economic Development Council Action
Staff took immediate action by drafting opposition to SB 84 for public policy committee members and board of directors to call and/or e-mail all members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Committee Chair Bob Hagedorn.
Status
02/21/2008 Senate Committee on Health and Human Services Postponed Indefinitely
Next Step: Currently not on calendar |
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