16th Street Mall, Denver

Current Economic Climate + Future Impact

The state of Colorado already has an extremely robust business climate, one that is especially favorable to the bioscience industry. The Rocky Mountain region’s bioscience cluster has grown rapidly over the last ten years, with a diverse mix of locally founded companies growing alongside national players like Amgen, OSI, Baxter and Roche.

Now, with the ongoing expansion of the Fitzsimons Life Science District and the adjacent Anschutz Medical Campus—currently the most ambitious scientific development in the country—Northeast Metro Denver is asserting itself as a premier national community for science and technology. Indeed, Fitzsimons has already been recognized for its innovation; in 2003, we received the 2003 National Award for Excellence in Technology-Led Economic Development from The U.S. Department of Commerce.

And our success is self-perpetuating. By 2010, the site's employment is expected to reach 19,000; this number is expected to grow to more than 30,000 over the next 20 years. With an advanced infrastructure specifically designed to support the unique needs of the bioscience industry, the area is destined to become one of the nation’s primary hubs for research and patient care—a development that can only continue to benefit  a city that is already fertile ground for business.

Recent Top-10 Rankings for Colorado Business

#1 in Concentration of Tech Workers
former American Electronics Association, 1999–2006

#2 in Potential for Technology Growth
Science and Technology Index, Milken Institute, September, 2002

#2 for Entrepreneurial Activity
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, 2006

#2 for Economic Freedom
Economic Freedom of North America, 2005 Annual Report

#3 for Economic Competitiveness
Suffolk University's Beacon Hill Institute, 2005

#5 for Short-Term Employment Growth
Corporation for Enterprise Development, 2006

#5 for Short-Term Development Growth
Corporation for Enterprise Development, 2006

#5 for Venture Capital Investment
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Thomson Venture

For additional economic development information, please refer to these websites: 
City of Aurora
City and County of Denver
Aurora Economic Development Corporation
Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation
Adams County Economic Development Corporation
State of Colorado, Office of Economic Development and International Trade