Federal labs and university research pump $3 billion into regional economy

Federal laboratories and research universities provide an estimated $3 billion in money and jobs to the community annually in Colorado, a key economic driver in the region.

Federal research funding makes up the largest chunk of the total, based on reports. About 30 federal laboratories in Colorado brought an estimated $2.3 billion into the state economy in 2012 based on a September 2013 report from CO-LABS Inc., an economic development group that helps create connections between business, educational and government sectors in Colorado.

The Business Research Division at the University of Colorado-Boulder’s Leeds School of Business conducted the report, titled Colorado…