Greeley

Greeley is home to one of the nation’s largest rodeos, but the Weld County government seat is by no means a cow town.

The largest city in Weld County, Greeley has long expanded beyond its farming and ranching roots, forging its way into industries including manufacturing, health care and most notably in recent years, energy.

Growth in the oil and gas sector has rippled throughout the larger economy in Greeley, bringing in more workers and with them, more consumers.

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Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP), part of the UnitedHealthcare family, has pledged its commitment to uplift these communities through substantial investments in organizations addressing the distinct needs of our communities.

According to the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, with the help of industry giants like Noble Energy and Anadarko Petroleum Corp., oil and natural gas contribute more than $625 million to Weld County’s economy, and provide some of the highest-paying jobs in the region.

Agribusiness, however, is still the city’s largest sector. With more than 31 percent of local employment related to agriculture in one way or another, agribusiness contributes more than $1 billion to the local economy. Weld County ranks in the nation’s top five for agricultural products sold, and is No. 1 in livestock, lamb and poultry.

While the rest of the country was facing a fledgling recovery from one of the worst recessions in U.S. history, Greeley was still growing: the Bureau of Labor Statistics identified Greeley as second in the nation for job creation from September 2010 to September 2011.

A number of community organizations, including the Downtown Development Authority, Small Business Development Center and Upstate Colorado Economic Development, all play a role in the health of Greeley’s business sector.

Upstate, a Greeley-based agency that works to foster business growth in Weld County, targets the industry clusters that have largely led to the city’s growth in recent years, including energy, food processing, information technology/software and manufacturing. Upstate’s efforts are complimented by Greeley’s Economic Gardening program, a city-backed effort to nurture existing businesses by providing resources to assist in their growth. The GEG aids businesses with marketing, research, intelligence and targeting demographics.

Downtown Greeley boasts both a collection of historic architecture and ongoing contemporary renovation. The area is home to the Union Colony Civic Center, a state-of-the-art performing-arts center, and the Greeley Ice Haus, an indoor ice arena.

The downtown area has undergone many redevelopment efforts in the last years, with more plans in the works by the Downtown Development Authority to boost retail spending and encourage multi-family housing in the area. Most recently, the city added the Go-Cup district to its Ninth Street Plaza, the first Common Consumption Area in Colorado.

Academia also plays a role in Greeley’s culture. The University of Northern Colorado, with an enrollment of more than 10,000, has an undeniable presence in the city. UNC offers more than 100 master’s and bachelor’s degrees, and is renowned for its programs to train nurses and teachers.

Aims Community College is also based in Greeley, and works closely with local employers to tailor courses for their needs. Additionally, the Institute of Business & Medical Careers expanded to Greeley in 2008, and offers accelerated career training in business and medicine.