History is made in Upstate Colorado

"Weld County business leaders have long talked the E.D. talk. Now, many are walking the walk..." said the Greeley Tribune on September 29.

The buzz about exciting changes was everywhere in a crowd of more than 200 gathered at Upstate Colorado's campaign kick-off celebration September 30 in Greeley. "It is the first time, really, that leadership in Weld County has been convened in this fashion to stimulate economic growth," said Upstate CEO Larry Burkhardt to the audience, as he and Chairman John DeWitt announced the launch of Opportunity Now!, Upstate's five-year campaign to build wealth and jobs in this northeast Colorado county. At the event, DeWitt announced that 35 entities, mostly private businesses, had committed $10,000/year or more to be part of the new Upstate Leadership Council.

When R&M began working with Upstate several months ago, the organization had only one private investor at that level. What made the difference? According to Tom Rieger, R&M's campaign director, "The business case had never been made to leaders in this part of the state with the right mix of pride, ambition and accountability. Once they realized how leadership could drive positive change, they stepped up."

Upstate Colorado serves all of Weld County, a 4,000 square-mile expanse of diverse industry, agriculture, energy resources, and home to a growing mix of manufacturing anchored by the Danish-owned Vestas, a world leader in wind-energy technology (also a member of the new Leadership Council). Upstate's five-year workplan calls for the creation of 5,000 new primary jobs leading to $1.7 billion in new wealth across the county -- ambitious, but in the eyes of its leaders, a goal they've committed to pursue together.

Wrapping up the kick-off celebration yesterday, Upstate Director and Leadership Council member Jeff Bedingfield, a local attorney, said "This is the best thing that's happened to economic development in Weld County in 30 years. So I say to all of you, this train is leaving the station -- All aboard!"

Via The Greely Tribune
Greeley Tribune Editorial 10/4/09