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August 21 - Ritter Promotes 21st Century Agenda to Boost Jobs and Economy

"Colorado is open for business," gubernatorial candidate declares.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill Ritter today released his economic-development plan for adding jobs, attracting and retaining businesses, and expanding Colorado’s economy in the 21st century.

“Coloradans deserve nothing less than an economy that provides secure, quality jobs,” said Ritter, who served as District Attorney of Denver from 1993 to 2005. “Businesses large and small need a governor who sends a clear message across the country and around the globe that Colorado is open for business. They need a governor who will provide leadership on critical issues necessary to support a vibrant economy such as affordable health insurance, education reform, and building a world-class transportation system.”

Ritter is constructing a bi-partisan coalition of business, economic-development, and job leaders in his campaign for governor. He demonstrated his commitment to Colorado’s future economic well-being by strongly supporting Referendum C and opposing Initiative 88 and Amendment 38.

In contrast, the Republican candidate for governor has taken positions harmful to Colorado’s economic health, as noted in recent accounts in:

Ritter’s complete jobs and business-development plan, “Growing a Strong Economy for Colorado,” is posted on the campaign website. The plan calls for:

  • Providing a 21st century economic infrastructure so that the economy can grow and thrive, including:
  • Creating a Colorado Jobs Cabinet within the administration. The cabinet will be composed of senior business leaders and representatives of higher education, economic-development agencies, and workforce-development officials to align economic development and educational goals.
  • Bringing every government agency with a role in economic development together with business and education leaders to create modern economic-development strategies, and placing a renewed sense of priority and urgency on the work of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
  • Strengthening Colorado’s rural economies by establishing regional partnerships between state government and each economic region. These partnerships will research and analyze economic and labor-force trends, court businesses that show an interest in locating or expanding in the region, and develop recruitment and retention business packages. These partnerships will address the unique needs of the state’s five major economic regions – the Western Slope, San Luis Valley, Eastern Plains, mountain resorts, and Front Range – as well as the statewide needs of all of Colorado.
  • Streamlining government to be more responsive by improving permitting and licensing processes, responding more efficiently to inquiries about available land or office space, and providing quick and thorough answers to questions about state policies or services.
  • Establishing a statewide incubation strategy that will coordinate existing incubator programs and recruit new ones.
  • Providing greater access to small-business capital by serving as an effective resource for information on a wide variety of private sector and government-sponsored sources of capital.
  • Directing businesses to under-used federal economic-development programs.
  • Focusing efforts on industries that provide exceptional opportunities for growth, including renewable energy, aviation, aerospace, biomedicine, biotechnology, medical research, travel, and tourism.

“I want Colorado to be the first state that businesses think of when considering relocation and the last state they would ever want to leave,” Ritter said. “I will make it my duty as Governor to market Colorado as the best state to do business.”

Read additional articles and commentary about Bill's economic development plan:

August 23, 2006 in Policy Corner |

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