EXECUTIVE UPDATE /March 25, 2005

Colorado Springs has been designated a “Five-Star Quality of Life Metro” by Expansion Magazine. The designation is awarded to the top 20 percent of metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. A total of 362 MSAs were ranked on crime, affordable housing, public schools, adult education level, standard of living, spouse employment, traffic and congestion, continuing education and air access. Quality of Life is a key consideration for employers as it affects their ability to attract and retain quality employees. www.expansionmanagement.com.
The Colorado Springs Airport is moving forward with its terminal building expansion project. Construction of the exterior walls has been completed, doubling the size of the terminal’s central core. Work will soon commence on a new food court, restaurants, two gifts shops and a news stand. The new businesses will include brand names such as Gordon Biersch, A&W Root Beer, Pizza Hut Express, Quiznos, Freshens Smoothies and Pikes Perk. Improvements to the baggage screening system are also underway. Later this spring construction will commence on external improvements to the terminal, including roadways, parking lots and a new canopy system. www.flycos.com.
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy will reopen April 9. To celebrate, the Hall of Fame is hosting a variety of activities for families throughout the day, along with appearances by some of ProRodeo’s top names, including eight-time world champion bull rider and Hall of Fame member Donnie Gay. Planned activities include autograph signings, fun clinics in roping, face painting and stick horse races. For more information, call Julie Jutton (719) 548-4763.
The Asphalt Rubber (A-R) Workshop held March 23 attracted nationally recognized experts to discuss the benefits of A-R roadway surface pavements in cold climates. Colorado College, Denver University, Colorado Technical Institute and EDC hosted the workshop. Presentations were given by George Way, Chief Pavement Design Engineer, Laird Weishahn, Flexible Pavement Engineer, Dr. Gary Hicks and others, producing compelling evidence of A-R success in Arizona, California, Nebraska and Canada. Benefits of the A-R include: reduced tire noise, lower life-cycle costs, reduced stopping distances and the disposal of 4,000 used tires per mile. Colorado Springs is taking the lead in the State by proposing some test (demonstration) projects in the next year. For more information, contact Mike Kazmierski at mjkazmierski@csedc.org or go to www.asphaltrubber.org.
The Partnership for Community Design is now accepting applications for its Spring Community Planning and Design Workshop. The CPDW will be conducted over a six week period beginning Tuesday, April 5, and concluding Tuesday, May 17. The three hour evening sessions include both lectures and interactive activities, which take an in-depth look at design and development, zoning and ordinances, visioning, and other critical aspects of community growth. The workshop is provided as a service of the Partnership for Community Design at no cost to the participants. For further information or to receive an application, call (719) 475-3040.
The Spring 2005 “What Art Means” (WAM) Youth Cultural Festival will be held at the Phil Long Expo Center April 11-16. Youth from regional high schools will be involved in this after school activity with community-wide appeal. To set up a booth or provide sponsorship for the event contact Linda Weise at lweise@fatlady.org or call (719) 577-4556.