Colorado Blueprint eco-devo plan released

DENVER – The Colorado Blueprint, an economic plan for the state built on
public comments and county goals set during the first half of 2011,
highlights six focus areas for economic development.

The plan, developed under the direction of Gov. John Hickenlooper, was
released July 20 and puts its emphasis on improving the state’s business
climate.

The six areas of focus include:

• Build a business-friendly environment;

• Recruit, grow and retain businesses;

• Increase access to capital;

• Create and market a stronger Colorado brand;

• Educate and train the workforce of the future;

• Cultivate innovation and technology.

Available for view on the state’s Office of Economic Development and
International Trade website, the plan is described as “not a
comprehensive collection of all-encompassing end-goals for all of
Colorado but rather a first set of achievable objectives to undertake
together.”

The plan was developed with input from more than 5,000 state residents
in all 64 counties, with each county putting together a summary of its
own needs and goals. In Northern Colorado, Larimer and Weld counties
combined their statements into one.

The Weld-Larimer goal statement included similar business-related focus
areas as the statewide plan but also included a goal to “develop,
preserve and enhance water storage and delivery options in the region.”

That goal was later objected to by the Fort Collins city council, which
wrote a letter to the governor’s office expressing the city’s nonsupport
for the goal based on its reservations about the proposed Northern
Integrated Supply Project that would include Glade Reservoir.

The NISP project, proposed by Berthoud-based Northern Water, is currently under review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Colorado Blueprint will continue to be updated over time and
Hickenlooper administration officials said they intend to re-evaluate
the plan every nine months to measure progress on its goals.