Denver Region’s Economic Development Strategy Looks Befuddled

It has not been easy to accumulate the number of bad headlines the Denver metro region’s economic development leaders have racked up in the last couple of months.  And, that has been in spite of news reports describing a steady recovery in Colorado.

The Gaylord project was a complete disaster, from attempting to hijack the Stock Show to the lack of candor on the part of Gaylord’s management related to their commitment to the project.  But in the last few days, the Gaylord project collapse has been joined by the GE solar plant delay due to bad economics, and most spectacularly, the Colorado Winter 2022 games initiative being shelved due to a lack of communication with the U.S. Olympic Committee, which has different plans.

One sympathizes with the economic development officials who have had to explain what’s going on:

“I don’t think it’s off the table for Denver, but for the near term it won’t be full steam ahead.”
— Sue Baldwin, Denver Sports

“Colorado made a long-term commitment to GE, and we intend to remain good business partners.”
— Ken Lund, Executive Director, Colorado Office of Economic Development

“It is difficult dealing with public companies.  They had issues they had to address.  We are still talking.”
— Wendy Mitchell, Chief Executive, Aurora Economic Development Council

“It’s a take a breath moment.”
— Tom Clark, Chief Executive, Metro Denver Economic Development Corp