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News and Deals
Several companies announce location/expansion plans in region
 SkyFuel Inc.,
a leading supplier of utility-scale concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, announced in October plans to move its corporate headquarters from Albuquerque to Unincorporated Jefferson County in west Metro Denver. The company will consolidate the new headquarters with an existing research and development center in Jefferson County.
Google Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, CA, announced in October plans to expand its presence in Boulder, leasing 16,000-square-feet of new space. Google did not say how many new hires it would make, but expects the jobs to be in software engineering and sales. Google already employs 100 people in Boulder.
GE Analytical Instruments, a division of General Electric Co., announced it would expand in Boulder. The company will add 24 new staff and subleased 19,000 square feet to expand its manufacturing capabilities for producing equipment to test water quality.
Rally Software expanded in Boulder in October 2010, moving to a 65,645-square-foot building to accommodate rapid growth. The company offers software development tools for the software industry.
Martifer Solar USA, a Los Angeles-based leader in turnkey photovoltaic solutions, announced in September an office expansion in Denver. Martifer chose Colorado due to its renewable energy incentives and 30 percent RES standard. The office will work to finance, install, and maintain residential, commercial, and government installations.
Trimble Navigation, based in Sunnyvale, CA and the Hilti Group,
based in Liechtenstein, announced a joint venture in September for the building and construction market--Intelligent Construction Tools LLC--to be based in Westminster.
Learn More:
» News and Deals - metrodenver.org
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Colorado's cleantech industry takes global stage
Economic mission to Europe highlights innovation and opportunity in state
 Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and a contingent of state economic development leaders traveled to Denmark and Finland Sept. 30-Oct. 4 to seek new opportunities and investment in the state's burgeoning cleantech industry.
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (Metro Denver EDC) Executive Vice President Tom Clark joined Ritter on the trip. The group met with European and Nordic companies interested in either investing or expanding in Colorado or building partnerships with the state's existing firms. They also visited the international headquarters of Vestas, which has located four manufacturing plants and $1 billion in investment in Colorado.
"Colorado has done an exceptional job in building a clean-energy economy that supports business development and growth opportunities for companies such as Vestas," said Martha Wyrsch, president of Vestas Americas. "We located our factories in Colorado and are actively hiring in the state because we believe in Colorado's vision."
In addition to meeting with business leaders in Denmark and Finland, Ritter also participated in events highlighting Colorado's cleantech economy, including keynote addresses at the International Cleantech Cluster and World Climate Solutions Conferences.
During the trip, Ritter signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs); one with the Danish city of Kalunborg and Fort Collins-based Spirae, to support smart grid development in Kalunborg; and another between Colorado and Schneider Electric, based in France, but developing the emerging smart vehicle market in the U.S.
"Governor Ritter's devotion to promoting the state as a leader in clean energy and the public policy and statutory infrastructure necessary to drive the cluster has put us in the enviable position today," explained Clark. "Ritter has played a pivotal role to bring international attention to Colorado and it is his tireless promotion of this sector that has generated thousands of new jobs in Colorado."
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Forbes again ranks Colorado fourth-best state for business
State ranks No. 1 for labor supply
 For the second year in a row, Forbes has ranked Colorado as the
fourth-best state for business and for fostering economic growth. CNBC has also rated Colorado the third-best state for business two years in a row.
"Even in this tough economy, Colorado has remained aggressive, disciplined, and focused when it comes to supporting businesses and encouraging economic growth," Governor Bill Ritter said. "This ranking by Forbes
shows that our strategies and investments in emerging and innovative industries like clean energy, healthcare, aerospace, bioscience, and technology are working. We still have many challenges ahead, but we are indeed moving forward."
"Amid a terrible national economy, the top-four states, Utah, Virginia, North Carolina, and Colorado are finding ways to foster growth," according to Forbes. The report ranks Colorado first for labor supply, sixth for overall economic climate and growth prospects, and ninth for quality of life.
Read the story on Forbes.com, see the 50-state
ranking table, and watch a photo slide show of images from the top states.
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