Denver Mayoral Race: Economy and Jobs
While Denver’s metro area was ranked as the third best among the 366 metro areas in the U.S. in the 2010 Economic Strength Rankings study, its current unemployment rate remains 9 percent, only half a percentage point lower than the national average. According to the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, Denver metro employers expect to hire slightly more employees during the next quarter than they did last year at this time, but most plan to leave staffing levels unchanged or remain unsure of their hiring plans.
Such hesitancy among local employers doesn’t bode well for Denverites looking for work, and voters want to know what—besides touting Denver’s beauty and climate—mayoral candidates plan to do if elected to bolster the city’s economy, bring in new businesses, and create more jobs.
The following insights into how each candidate plans to tackle such critical economic issues are gathered from comments either made at campaign events or published on-line or in printed campaign materials.
We’ve also included “Experience Potentially Related to this Issue” to provide pertinent suggestions of the skills and insights each candidate would likely bring to bear while addressing this issue while in office. Candidate names are listed in the order in which they are listed on the ballot.
Michael Hancock
Bottom line:
Economic growth is driven by collaboration.
On his campaign website:
In the “Issues” section of the Hancock site under “Economic Development,” Hancock promotes his job-creation and economic-development action plan, which will:
• establish Denver as the Startup and Small Business Capital of the Country to retain existing jobs and grow new jobs from the ground up
• launch new initiatives to increase access to capital for small businesses and startups so they can retain existing jobs and add new ones
• create “StartUp Denver,” a public-private partnership that will combine resources from the city, businesses, and economic-development experts to create new opportunities for startups
• introduce “Invest in Denver,” an awareness and outreach campaign that will target potential angel investors and convene venture capital firms and encourage them to increase their investments in Denver while strengthening relationships with state, federal, and private lenders to help Denver businesses gain access to capital
• ensure that Denver businesses, including minority- and women-owned firms, are given preference when it comes to procuring city contracts
• promote Denver businesses, goods, and services to consumers throughout the state, across the country, and around the globe
• collaborate with private partners to create new “zones of affordability” for small and startup businesses to connect companies with cost-effective office, manufacturing, warehouse, and research space
• explore innovative initiatives such as micro-credit lending
• raise the visibility of existing capital programs to ensure accessibility for Denver businesses
• launch a new Peak Performance initiative, a data-driven, goal-oriented strategy to ensure city services are delivered more efficiently and cost-effectively
• re-boot the Denver Office of Economic Development and all of city government to become an efficient, fiscally responsible and strong partner for business
• re-focus the Denver Office of Economic Development on growing jobs from high-potential economic sectors, industries, and neighborhoods
• revive the Business Concierge Program to help businesses navigate city government and obtain permits, licenses, and other approvals and assign individual project managers to large-scale projects
• set identifiable and achievable standards in government regulations and procedures to help new businesses start and existing businesses expand
• streamline and simplify business taxes
• give businesses the option of paying the Occupational Privilege (or head) Tax annually instead of through the cumbersome monthly payment plan now required
• deploy new technologies to streamline building permits (including automated and electronically issued permits for pre-approved preliminary plans), zoning changes, and other items to help save businesses time and money
• develop a Strategic Economic Development Master Plan for DIA and the surrounding area to guide future airport expansions, coordinate growth, attract foreign businesses, and increase import-export opportunities for Colorado goods, services, and innovations
• work with partners in Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City, and Adams County to create the nation’s next and best “aerotropolis” around DIA
• create an inspired “Gateway to Denver” from DIA to downtown Denver
• launch a targeted neighborhood development initiative to bring city agencies and resources together with private partners to target and address the unique needs of specific neighborhoods
• advance projects in areas such as Arapahoe Square, the I-70 industrial corridor, Cherry Creek North, and 19th and Humboldt
• reinvent development projects slowed or derailed by the recession, such as those at the Gates Rubber site and 9th and Colorado
• solidify Denver’s standing as a regional leader by building on our strengths and assets, such as the Anschutz Medical Campus, the Auraria Higher Education Center, DIA, and the Denver Center for Performing Arts
• convene the city, school district, higher education, and business community to set high goals, clear measures of progress, and get specific commitments from all partners in order to attain:
--efficiencies between the city and DPS
--improved student learning
--higher graduation rates
--meaningful internship programs
• improve coordination among businesses, Auraria Campus colleges, and workforce training programs to ensure Denver can offer businesses highly skilled and educated employees
• improve public-private partnerships and relationships with existing businesses and economic-development agencies
• aggressively recruit new companies and new jobs to Denver
• aggressively market Denver to elevate its brand as a business-friendly city with the highest quality of life
• create the Mayor’s Business Advisory Council of leaders from across the city and spanning strategic sectors to grow jobs and strengthen the economy
• create a Strategic Retention Task Force to advise the mayor on a range of issues that will help keep existing companies prosperous and operating within the city limits
• strengthen partnerships with economic development and industry organizations to reduce duplication, provide greater support to businesses, and more quickly strengthen our economy
• partner with organizations such as the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, Downtown Denver Partnership, Visit Denver, Colorado BioScience Association, Clean Tech Industry Association, and the Colorado Software Industry Association
• play an active leadership role with regional partners in coordinating resources and developing and implementing economic growth strategies
• work with the governor, Colorado Office of Economic Development, the legislature, and federal officials to ensure Denver businesses have access to their share of available resources such as new small business lending, state job growth incentives, and transportation funding
• ensure Denver acts as a strong advocate for new resources such as targeted incentives and additional venture capital.
In his campaign flyer:
Under “Michael’s new ideas for creating a better city together,” Hancock promises to “establish Denver as the Startup and Small Business Capital of the Country.”
Issue-specific ideas or solutions presented at March 24 and April 6 events:
Hancock said the next mayor must recognize all the city’s partners, including the Chamber of Commerce, voters, and community and organization leaders who believe in the greatness of Denver. He also emphasized the need to strengthen Denver’s education and transportation systems to attract more businesses to relocate here.
Issue-related comments:
In a November Westword profile, Hancock was quoted as saying growing jobs will be his number-one priority as mayor. Toward this goal, he will focus on the expansion of small businesses and bring together private firms with other city stakeholders in order to determine the best way to grow the economy by growing local businesses.
Hancock also said economic growth is driven by collaboration across district boundaries, and cites the Anschutz campus as well as Stapleton and DIA as areas that ought to represent centers of economic development in Denver for the next three decades.
Experience Potentially Related to this Issue:
City Councilman 2003-Present
• President 2006-2008
• Business, Workforce, & Sustainability Committee, Co-Chair
• Economic Development Committee, Former Vice-Chair
• Finance Committee, Former Member
Chris Romer
Bottom line:
Denver’s city government needs to be faster, friendlier, and smarter.
On his campaign website:
In the “Issues” section of the Romer site under “Jobs and Economic Development,” Romer presents his Jobs and Economic Development Agenda, through which he promises to:
• cut red tape to promote business growth and create jobs
• conduct a top-to-bottom review of all city regulations
• eliminate unnecessary rules that stymie growth and cost jobs
• reform approval processes for job-creating development districts in the city
• establish a Model Service Plan for all districts to make the process of establishing Business Improvement, General Improvement, and Metropolitan districts more efficient, predictable, and effective
• focus the Office of Economic Development (OED) on job growth
• create a Business Ombudsman at the OED who will support and advocate for businesses inside city government
• eliminate duplicative review processes and enhance an online, one-stop website for all permits, regulatory, and licensing filings
• increase communication among the OED, business owners, investors, and developers
• coordinate an annual business and economic development summit
• foster new ideas for economic growth, create dynamic new public-private partnerships, and help the City improve operations
• connect Denver schools and higher education institutions with local businesses to create effective training and education programs
• link local businesses with community colleges and vocational programs to ensure the creation of good jobs and provide Denver companies with skilled workers
• actively recruit new companies and good jobs to Denver
• use Denver’s most effective salesmen to drive economic development –Denver CEOs and senior managers
• target logical industries to recruit for headquarters or major corporate offices in Denver
• offer appropriate tax incentives to businesses looking to locate operations in Denver
• attract innovative businesses
• make City Hall work for small businesses and entrepreneurs
• ensure small businesses have a government partner helping them identify where capital can be obtained
• prioritize the refinancing program within the OED
• create a plan to identify and partner with private financial institutions actively lending to small businesses
• establish an advanced technology business incubator in Denver that partners with local colleges to utilize their laboratories and technological facilities for business start-ups.
In his campaign flyer:
Under the heading “Expecting More to Recruit and Retain Good Jobs,” Romer states he will “expect more cooperation from city government for companies wanting to come here by cutting red tape and making it easier to do business in Denver.” He also states he’ll “expect businesses to do more toward creating good jobs, investing in our community and being a proactive partner.”
Issue-specific ideas or solutions presented at March 24 and April 6 events:
Romer said as mayor he’ll expect more from City Hall in order to cut red tape for businesses and help small businesses. He said he agrees with Doug Linkhart’s strategy to help put more small and mid-sized businesses to work. Also emphasized that businesses need to understand how to work with government and the city government needs to become faster, friendlier, and smarter.
Issue-related comments:
In a December Westword profile, Romer was quoted as saying city personnel can help the mayor come up with ideas to put people back to work such as “accelerating planning permits and establishing clear rules under which people can hire new employees.” He also promoted accelerating construction of projects such as Union Station, heavy rail to DIA, and FasTracks, and repeated his support for “zipper lanes” on I-70 to help the area’s tourism economy and create more tourism jobs in Denver.
In a December Colorado Independent profile, Romer promoted job-readiness efforts for high school students and said the city of Denver needs to grow its own talent rather than focus on importing talent.
In a Washington Park Profile article, Romer was quoted as saying education is key to economic development and Denver needs a world-class education system if it hopes to attract world-class businesses. Romer added that as mayor he would get involved with new business negotiations as well as education.
Experience Potentially Related to this Issue:
• Senator 2007-2010
• Experience as a public finance banker who specialized in municipal finance
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