National site selectors laud Metro Denver labor force

Nine national site selection consultants attended the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation's (Metro Denver EDC) annual Site Selection Conference August 25-27, 2010. The conference was coordinated in partnership with the Metro Denver EDC's investors and economic development partners throughout the nine-county Metro Denver and Northern Colorado region.

Over the three-day familiarization tour, the site selectors experienced the region's business assets first-hand with the area's top business and economic development leaders as their guides.

Their agenda included an economic briefing and industry panel discussion, a welcome by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, a helicopter tour of the region, and guided tours of the Comcast Media Center, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Vestas' nacelles factory in Brighton, the Fitzsimons Life Science District, and the Anschutz Medical Campus. They also dined with area companies and Governor Bill Ritter at the Denver Art Museum.

In the Conference's final event, site selectors participated in a panel discussion about site selection trends, Making the Cut: Factors Driving Today's Site Selection Decisions. Moderated by Josh Gould, chairman and CEO of RNL and co-chair of the Metro Denver EDC's Board of Governors, the guests spoke about Metro Denver's position nationally and internationally regarding company relocations and expansions.

When asked about Metro Denver's rank in global competitiveness, the site selectors overwhelmingly agreed the region's labor force is second to none.

"The smart and educated workforce here is outstanding, and you have a great work ethic. You work hard and play hard. I was always under the assumption you guys worked just enough to get to the weekend. My view has completely changed," said Jeffrey Pappas, executive vice president and partner of Arledge Partners Real Estate Group, Dallas.

"I've not seen a region work together as well as you," stated Spiros Antoniadis, senior managing director at Corporate Properties, New York, NY.

"The sheer presence of over 400 members of the business community speaks volumes to your dedication to economic development in the region," added Tracey Bosman, director of strategic consulting at Grubb and Ellis, Chicago.

Corporate sponsors of the breakfast included: Presenting Sponsor, Snell & Wilmer; Gold Sponsor, Wells Fargo; Silver Sponsor, CB Richard Ellis; Travel Sponsor, Southwest Airlines; and Media Sponsor, the Colorado Real Estate Journal.

The Metro Denver EDC's economic development partners served as hosts to the visiting consultants. Conference sponsors included: Associated General Contractors of Colorado, Colorado Association of Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors, the Southeast Business Partnership, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, and the Denver Art Museum.

Learn more:

» Denver eco-devo officials welcome site selection advisors - Denver Business Journal
» Relocation experts: Colorado needs to shed anti-business image - The Denver Post
» Denver flaunts its charms for visiting business site pickers - Denver Business Journal
» Photo gallery of events - Flickr
» Tweets on #SiteSelect10 - Twitter
» Site Selection Conferences - Positioning Metro Denver for the upturn - Clark's Cone of Silence