EXECUTIVE UPDATE / April 22, 2005

Four Colorado areas in top 20 nationwide in entrepreneurship. The Innovation-Entrepreneurship Nexus Study, commissioned by the SBA and the Edward Lowe Foundation, examined a decade of data from 394 U.S. regions. Fort Collins finished first with the Denver metro area, Colorado Springs and Glenwood Springs also in the top 20. Click here to view the full report or go to www.sba.gov/advo/research/rs256tot.pdf.
Medical and health research is important to the U.S. Economy. The U.S. should be a global leader, according to a nationwide poll by Research!America. Respondents feel that research is important for job creation and incomes, have overwhelming support for increasing federal funding of state and local health care departments, and expressed nationwide support for embryonic stem cell research. Research!America.
Wind and other renewable sources will provide a growing share of Colorado power needs. Passage of Amendment 37 last fall means that large Colorado utilities will generate or purchase a growing percentage of their electricity from renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal heat, biomass, methane, small hydroelectric stations and hydrogen fuel cells. Click here to view the full report or go to www.renewableenergyyes.com.
Colorado 2004 year end wind power capacity 229 (MW)
Wind Powering America is a commitment to dramatically increase the use of wind energy in the United States. This initiative will establish new sources of income for American farmers, Native Americans, and other rural landowners and meet the growing demand for clean sources of electricity. To view a map of Colorado's wind power potential, click here or go to www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/pdfs/wind_maps/co_50m.pdf.
The Broadmoor to host the U.S. Senior Open Golf Championship in 2008 with 156 amateur and professional contestants and more than 2,800 volunteers from around the world participating. Attendance is expected to reach 165,000 people. Colorado Springs will benefit from more than 14 hours of international broadcast TV coverage and an estimated economic impact of $30 million. (7,000 room nights, $7 million budget spent primarily with local vendors and suppliers, and $500,000 spent in local restaurants).
Military base closure and realignment recommendations will be sent to an independent Commission from the Department of Defense by May 16. The Commission and the President will forward their recommendations to Congress in September, which must vote up or down on the entire list by the end of October. The impact on Colorado Springs could be substantial.
By 2020 Colorado Springs will have a shortage of 20 - 40 million gallons of water per year if we do nothing to increase our delivered supply. That shortage grows an average of 10 – 25 MGD every 5 years. The Southern Delivery System has been designed to provide that increased supply at a total cost of almost $1B. Political obstacles in Pueblo County threaten the construction of the system. To view E-Bulletins click here or go to www.csu.org/about/projects/sds/ebulletin/index.html.
“Growing a Sustainable Economy" will be the subject of a luncheon on Thursday,
May 5, 2005 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. "What challenges and opportunities are ahead for Colorado Springs as we continue to grow and maintain our quality of life?” Panelists will address innovative and sustainable business practices for our growing community. The event will be co-hosted by EDC and the Pikes Peak Sustainable Business Network in Cooperation with the Catamount Institute. Please call (719) 475-6461 for reservations.