EXECUTIVE UPDATE / August 30, 2004

Forbes Names Colorado Springs One of Ten Best, Fastest Growing, Business Friendly Metros. The ten cities rated by Forbes are mainly located in America's South and West. www.forbes.com
The Colorado Springs Airport recently launched its newly redesigned website, www.flycos.com. The site provides search capabilities, enhanced content, easier access to downloadable flight guides and real-time flight information.
Significant progress has been made toward addressing growing local traffic congestion. El Paso County, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, and the town of Green Mountain Falls have signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) to form a Rural (Regional) Transportation Authority (RTA). Voters will decide in November about approving the RTA and funding it with a one cent sales tax to be used for improving local transportation infrastructure, maintenance, repair and transit. Contact the supporting Coalition regarding campaign donations, scheduling a speaker or volunteering: pikespeaktransportation.com, Bev Sanders-955-0756 or Mike Kazmierski at mjkazmierski@csedc.org.
A citizen’s Charter Review Commission has been asked by City Council to look at whether the form of government should be changed. Topics to be reviewed include whether City Council’s role as Utilities Board should be modified; whether the reporting relationship between the Council and the City Manager should be changed; whether Memorial Hospital oversight should be modified; whether Council’s compensation should be adjusted; whether candidate qualifications for Council should be modified and primary elections held; whether the City’s 30 word limit for ballot titles for TABOR issues should be removed; whether the City should continue to have separate Charter TABOR provisions in light of TABOR provisions also applicable to the City in the Colorado Constitution; whether term limits for Mayor and council members should be consistent. Minutes of the most recent Commission meeting are available at www.springsgov.com.
State and local budget impacts on local Human Services programs mean 450 families and 800 children have lost access to child care benefits; cuts in cash benefits to the disabled or elderly have resulted in an inability to pay rent and choose between food and medicine; processing of Medicaid applications for non-crisis cases takes beyond a month with caseloads now more than one thousand per worker. Many more vital human services programs have been severely impacted, according to the Joint Initiatives for Youth & Families.
Colorado’s international trade picture is stronger than expected. Through April 2004, exports were up 16.3% above the same period in 2003. Experts anticipate this pace of growth will continue for the remainder of 2004. Canada remains the top export market for Colorado, followed by Mexico, Malaysia, Korea, and China. Industrial machinery (including computers) still ranks first in terms of total dollar value of products being exported. Through April, aircraft, spacecraft, and related parts sector, along with the electric machinery sector, have shown major growth. (Source: Colorado Business Review.)
Growth in high-wage jobs has been healthy, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Figures show that the U.S. economy created more high-paying jobs than low-paying jobs in the year that ended in June. Traditionally low-paying sectors are boasting more high-paying jobs. Part-time jobs have been the bulk of job growth since February. Most people taking the part-time jobs do so from preference and only 3.2% for economic reasons. (Source: Business Week, July 26, 2004)
The Pikes Peak Workforce Center will kick off a month of workshops and events to help businesses succeed on September 2. For information and online registration go to www.ppwfc.org.
Hike the Habitat, Saturday, September 18th. The quarry scar north of the Garden of the Gods Park has undergone a highly successful transformation through the work of Colorado Mountain Reclamation Foundation volunteers and Castle Concrete. New vegetation includes more than 7,000 Pinon Pines, Rocky Mountain Junipers, wild grasses and wildflowers. The area is home to 50 Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. The hike begins at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast and entertainment. Register online at www.coloradomtnreclamation.com.