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Fortune 500 healthcare giant DaVita picks Denver for headquarters
DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), announced on May 27, 2009 that it will locate its corporate headquarters in Denver.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kent Thiry plans to move to the Denver area along with several other senior executives, but relocation efforts are not currently planned for teammates working in the current El Segundo, California headquarters or elsewhere in the company.
"We're very pleased to announce our search is over and we've selected the Denver area to make our home," said Thiry. "I want to thank Governor Ritter, Mayor Hickenlooper, and their staffs for making such a tremendous effort in helping us choose Colorado."
The decision to select the Denver area for DaVita's corporate headquarters was based on four critical factors:
- The city's geographic location is ideal for a nationwide company with facilities and operations spread across nearly every state in the country;
- The relative costs in the area are less expensive for families and companies alike;
- Denver is widely considered to be a highly desirable place to live and work; and
- DaVita's significant existing presence in the region provides a solid foundation upon which the company can continue to grow.
The passage of HB 1001 (see details in next article) was key to DaVita's decision to establish its headquarters in Denver. The newly passed legislation provides an income tax credit to companies creating more than 20 jobs in urban areas of Colorado.
Learn more:
» News release on metrodenver.org
» Health firm DaVita's move of HQ a tonic for Colorado
- Denver Post
»
New law lures Fortune 500 company to Colorado - 9News.com
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New legislation a 'game changer' for company expansions in Colorado
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed into law landmark legislation in early May that will help companies create new jobs and allow Colorado to compete against other states for new businesses.
House Bill 1001, The Tax Credit for Colorado Job Growth, allows companies to apply to the Colorado Economic Development Commission for a state income tax credit based on the payroll tax cost they incur from creating new jobs. To qualify for the credit, companies must create at least 20 new jobs in urban areas or five new jobs in rural areas, and pay wages above the local average.
If approval is received, the company is then credited half of the amount it paid in federal Social Security and Medicare taxes on the jobs created, which in most cases is roughly 3.8 percent of each job's annual wage.
"It has truly been a game changer," said Metro Denver EDC Executive Vice President Tom Clark. "In a perfect world, there would be no incentives. Everyone would rise and fall on their own, but that's just not the world we live in."
HB 1001 was key to Fortune 500 company DaVita's decision to locate its headquarters in Colorado (see details in previous article).
Learn more:
» News release on metrodenver.org
»
Tax Credit for Colorado Job Growth factsheet (PDF)
» HB 1001 (PDF)
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National media watching Metro Denver
In the past month, national media outlets have featured major stories on Metro Denver. Positive press on the region continues to grow, with journalists interested in our economic fortitude, the New Energy Economy, and our highly educated workforce.
The New York Times - The paper's Green Inc. blog highlighted Vestas Wind Systems and its significant investment in Colorado in the article
"Vestas Makes Colorado a Clean-Energy Hub." Vestas spokesperson Roby Roberts said "Colorado is a natural fit for wind energy companies." He further added that Colorado "is appealing because of its central location, proximity to transit links, qualified workforce, and a supportive regulatory regime."
NBC's Today Show - Real Estate expert Barbara Corcoran named Denver No. 1 on a list of "Five Cities in America on the Verge of Recovery from the Housing Slump."
According to Corcoran, "This city (Denver) is clearly on the rebound." She went on to note that Denver has a vibrant downtown, a high employment base, highly educated residents, and one of the biggest park systems in the country. "Everything in Denver is pointing up, up, up," she concluded.
Placements resulting from the Metro Denver EDC's national public relations/marketing efforts:
FOX Business - The Metro Denver EDC's national public relations firm, DCI, worked with FOX Business to feature Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper as a panelist discussing how local governments are dealing with budget deficits. Mayor Hickenlooper noted that the Federal government isn't going to be a solution for all issues. "We realize that real change is going to happen on the local level," he said. View the clips online:
Clip 1 Clip 2
FOX Los Angeles
- Through an interview with Metro Denver EDC Executive Vice President Tom Clark, FOX Business Reporter Alicia Acuna highlights the success of the COLORADOlovesCalifornia campaign and details the state's business selling points. "Colorado touts that it has the third-most educated workforce in the country and that it has changed its tax code to accommodate out-of-state corporations...and Golden State businesses are paying attention," Acuna reported. The interview was picked up by Fox affiliates throughout CA. View online:
Recruiting Californians
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