So Colorado Business Forum & Digest

The Library Seating up to 25 people

FOUNDER, COLORADO MEDIA GROUP & EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER, SO. CO. BUSINESS FORUM & DIGEST

Dirk R. Hobbs dhobbs@coloradomediagroup.com

VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

John Lerohl jlerohl@coloradomediagroup.com

MEDIA SALES & ACCOUNT MANAGER

Heila Ershadi heila.coloradomediagroup@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Lee Harper lharper@coloradomediagroup.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Christopher Tombaugh ctombaugh@coloradomediagroup.com

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Geraldine Villanueva

STUDIO NARRATOR/ BUSINESS DIGEST WEEKLY

Rachael Plath

SENIOR WRITERS

Pam Bales, Jeanne Davant & Wayne Heilman

STAFF WRITERS

Olivia Bond, Kim Daly, Emilie Hagopian

Keri Kahn, Kay Rowe & Tiffany Underwood

SOCODIGEST.COM WEB TEAM

Sterling McMannis & Angelina Pecoraro

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER

Don Jones - Studio 9 Commercial Photography

HEAD OF OPERATION & BILLING

Stephanie Lerohl

STRATEGIC MEDIA & PRODUCTION PARTNERS

KKTV

&

Media AM1460/101.1FM

Publisher’s Letter

Wisdom:

a. An ability to discern inner qualities and relationships (insight)

b. Good sense (judgment)

c. Generally accepted belief

d. Accumulated philosophical or scientific learning (knowledge)

e. Having a wise attitude, belief, or course of action based on lessons learned from previous experiences or results.

So. Colorado is home to some of the most sophisticated aerospace and defense, cybersecurity, energy, and advanced manufacturing companies on the planet. We’re home to SpaceCom! We have five military installations and one of only three service academies in the nation. We have an emerging innovation hub, and we’re intentionally re-examining and re-engineering how we prepare our next-generation workforce for today’s and tomorrow’s occupations. The venture capital and private equity discussions are more organized and significant than at any time in recent memory. Energy and manufacturing sectors are rising in prominence in Pueblo and our agricultural sectors continue to be a steady force.

Tourism and hospitality have always been strong contributors throughout the region, now offering more and more variety in dining, entertainment, culture, and attractions than ever before. Nonprofits continue to thrive and are enjoying the critical mass in population and patronage that have their operations in a mode of sustainability.

Colorado Springs is home to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), 26 National Governing Bodies (NGBs), the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, and the USOP Training Center. Sports medicine and training facilities like the William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center are

world-class, state-of-theart centers where athletes and medical professionals alike can optimize their respective practices. It’s no surprise we’ve earned and maintained the moniker, “Olympic City, USA.”

No question, So. Colorado is in something of a renaissance on many fronts. We are well positioned to continue to develop clusters that are emerging at a time when the sectors mentioned above represent several of the nation’s critical key industries.

The wisdom on all of this: a diverse economy. There are two stories in this edition that represent one similar lesson learned from past economic development efforts: Don’t rely on just one or two key sectors to keep a burgeoning economy going. Balance that with the notion that we cannot be all things to all people, yet we can strike a balance where we continue to attract the right companies, the right people, and the right lifestyle elements. This common sense approach allows us to navigate unforeseen changes and shifts in the economic landscape while becoming a destination for those players in the industries mentioned herein who have found So. Colorado’s economic and workforce ecosystem to be fertile ground.

Learn more from the pros inside this great edition of The Digest!

Dirk R. Hobbs,

Founder & Executive Publisher Colorado Media Group, Inc.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center debuted in 1978 on the site of the former Ent Air Force Base. P. 17

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

9 Signs of Progress on Housing Affordability

Small businesses need contingency plans as much as large ones, maybe more. Bonsera Consulting works to help mitigate risks through emergency preparedness.

BY KAY ROWE

10 The Caffeinated Cow

This little shop south of town helps customers with their sugar and caffeine needs, featuring locally sourced products and a small town atmosphere.

BY PAM BALES

MILITARY

16 Beyond Bravery

The Air Force Academy talks about four women who are shaping the future of the Air Force.

BY KIM DALY

ECONOMIC DEV’T/ BUSINESS

11 Going from Ashes to Action

A downtown COS fire in December had businesses scrambling during the holiday season. Read what’s next for some of those affected.

BY EMILIE HAGOPIAN & TIFFANY UNDERWOOD

13 Not Just Silicon Mountain

Decades ago, Colorado Springs was known for semiconductor manufacturing. Then production moved overseas. The return of this industry and others creates a new economic landscape.

BY JEANNE DAVANT & WAYNE HEILMAN

24 UCCS Report Compares COS with Peer Cities

Decades ago, Colorado Springs was known for semiconductor manufacturing. Then production moved overseas. The return of this industry and others creates a new economic landscape.

BY JEANNE DAVANT

26 Springs Moves to 15th in Rankings

Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities list put COS at No. 15 for sustainable growth and resilience. Read more about other SoCo areas measured by 13 critical criteria.

BY JEANNE DAVANT

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING

17 Springs Wins Entegris Project

Beating Austin and Denver, COS was selected to increase the company’s North America presence. A planned manufacturing center will rise where a Hewlett-Packard plant once stood.

BY JEANNE DAVANT

EDUCATION

19 Coalition to Start STEM School

Nearly eight years in the making, a group of industry, government and education experts are poised to launch a new school focused on the fields of space, technology, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship.

BY JEANNE DAVANT

21 D70 Partners Get Students Career-Ready

Multiple programs help this Pueblo school’s goals of getting students ready for work faster. Concurrent enrollment offers real world training and earned credit.

BY TIFFANY UNDERWOOD

HOUSING

27 Signs of Progress on Housing Affordability

This month’s Economic Forum discusses apartment vacancy, mortgage and other rates that impact the area’s housing market.

BY DR. BILL CRAIGHEAD

ENERGY

29 CSU Talks about Drake Power Plant

Out of commission for well over a year, the site’s recent activity prompts a whirlwind of questions about its future. CSU’s CEO helps settle the dust.

BY TRAVAS DEAL

QUESTIONS RELATING TO THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE SO THAT YOU CAN GAIN ACTIONABLE INSIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS TO HELP YOUR BUSINESS TO STRATEGIZE, MARKET, AND DELIVER EFFECTIVELY IN 2024. Think Strategically.

OUR APRIL BUSINESS LUNCHEON FEATURES A PANEL DISCUSSION WITH SUZANNE TULIEN OF BRAND ASCENSION, CAMILLE BLAKELY OF ADPRO, AND MORGANA LEBOLD OF RED DOOR CONSULTING. EACH PANELIST WILL ANSWER

SUZANNE TULIEN

Owner, Brand Ascension

For 30+ years, as an inquisitive brand clarity expert, international speaker/ consultant, and author, Suzanne Tulien is on a quest to guide her clients to uncover your brand’s value position.

CAMILLE BLAKELY

Camille is a Colorado native with over 30 years of marketing experience locally, regionally and nationally. AdPro is a full-service advertising agency with clients all over the country. President, AdPro

MORGANA LEBOLD

Owner, Red Door Consulting

Owner of Red Door Consulting, a company specializing in marketing for small businesses. With over 8 years of experience in social media marketing specifically, she is an expert in helping businesses and nonprofits of all sizes build their online presence and grow their customer base.

The Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber has been named BEST CHAMBER by the Colorado Springs Business Journal.

Updates From Around the Region

Castle Rock

Lost Canyon Preservation

In its largest ever funding cycle, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) announced a $3 million grant to preserve Lost Canyon for conservation and recreation, according to The Colorado Springs Gazette, on March 19. Seth Boster writes that Lost Canyon, a surprise canyon on the plains between Denver and Colorado Springs, draws researchers tracking the land’s connection to Indigenous cultures going back thousands of years.

“You only have so many undeveloped parcels left on the Front Range,” the Conservation Fund’s Colorado director Justin Spring says in the article. “It’s going to provide amazing benefits, not just for Castle Rock and Douglas County residents, but for folks around the state and around the region,” Spring continues.

The Conservation Fund is working to purchase the 680 acres to be managed by Castle Rock. The Gazette report says purchase of the land could be complete by the end of April.

Colorado Springs

All Things Dog

Downtown Partnership announced that Hank’s K9 Social Club officially opened in downtown Colorado Springs in February 2024. Located at 815 S. Sierra Madre St., Hank’s is a fullservice daycare, boarding, grooming and training facility with indoor and outdoor play areas, sleeping quarters, and plenty of toys and activities to keep dogs entertained.

Colorado Springs was recently named the No. 1 Best City to Walk Your Dog [from Lawnstarter.com] and Hank’s owner Robert Tunink says that, knowing how much locals love to spoil their dogs, Hank’s is the perfect nearby place to get their social life on track.

Downtown’s new apartments are dog-friendly and Tunink notes, “With the new development and all the apartments and the density, we thought we could help out the residents of the Downtown area.”

Military Honors Gold

Kimberly Gold was named the 2024 Armed Forces Insurance Army Spouse of the Year. Currently stationed with her husband, SFC Zakaria Traore, at Fort Carson. Gold was named Army Spouse of the Year after review of hundreds of nominations nationwide and a national vote.

Gold is president of the Colorado Springs Black Chamber of Commerce, and is known for fostering economic growth and opportunities for her community. Gold is a passionate advocate for mental wellness, particularly for military families.

Colorado City

New Center to Serve Six States

Omaha, Nebraska-based AMCON announced it has acquired a new distribution facility in Colorado City. The facility is 249,200 square feet, set on 38 acres; it will feature significant refrigerated and frozen capability, refrigerated docks, extensive docks, parking and land for future expansion.

Andrew C. Plummer, AMCON’s president and chief operating officer, notes, “This facility aligns with AMCON’s strategic geographic growth objectives and enables us to significantly enhance our distribution capabilities. The prime location and extensive amenities of this new distribution facility will enable us to provide cutting edge service to our customers and accommodate a diverse range of needs across the Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma Panhandle, and Western Kansas markets.”

AMCON, and its subsidiaries Team Sledd, LLC and Henry’s Foods, Inc., is a leading Convenience and Foodservice Distributor of consumer products, including beverages, candy, tobacco, groceries, foodservice, frozen and refrigerated foods, automotive supplies and health and beauty care products with distribution centers in Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Justin Spring, The Conservation Fund

Regional Professional Business Organization Links & Events

BBB of Southern Colorado bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-of-southern-colorado

Castle Rock Chamber castlerock.org

Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC coloradospringschamberedc.com

The Colorado Springs Black Chamber cosblackchamber.com

Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber cshispanicchamber.com

Downtown Colorado Springs Partnership downtowncs.com

The Greater Pueblo Chamber pueblochamber.org

Latino Chamber of Commerce of Pueblo, Inc. pueblolatinochamber.com

Pueblo Economic Development Corp. pedco.org

Royal Gorge Chamber Alliance royalgorgechamberalliance.org

Colorado SBDC - Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center pikespeaksbdc.org

Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber scwcc.com

Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Visitor Center trilakeschamber.com

Trinidad & Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce tlacchamber.org

Small Business Spotlight

Preparing for the Unexpected

BY KAY ROWE

Through Patty Bonsera’s work she empowers small businesses to navigate challenges and mitigate risks. She understands that, while disruptions are inevitable, proactive contingency planning can make all the difference in safeguarding livelihoods and sustaining communities.

That work is as an emergency preparedness educator and business continuity and resilience consultant.

Bonsera’s first experience with disaster recovery planning was shortly after the 9/11 crisis. Over the years since, she’s gained experience developing and implementing risk management and business continuity plans.

She grew up in a family whose livelihood depended on their small business, and witnessed firsthand the challenges, dedication, hard

work and resilience it takes to succeed. Thus, being a small business owner herself, she is a champion of small business success.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses comprise 99.9% of American businesses. Thus her consulting role exists to fill the gap in the realm of contingency planning for the small business sector, as it has been traditionally implemented in large companies.

While Bonsera strives to fortify their operations against unforeseen events, her advocacy for small businesses resonates on many levels. She believes they not only drive local economies and foster innovation, but also serve as pillars of community strength through the impact of those they serve and their families.

On a larger scale, Bonsera’s purpose is to contribute to the broader goal of building more resilient

local communities, cities, counties, and ultimately, a more resilient nation.

She is a firm believer in the power of networking, and seeks new opportunities to collaborate and connect with like-minded individuals who share her vision and

drive for success.

As for credentials, Bonsera holds the CBCI (Certificate of the Business Continuity Institute) designation. She also volunteers with Pikes Peak CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), Team Rubicon and teaches emergency preparedness classes to Habitat for Humanity homeowners.

Kay Rowe is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Talking About Colorado Liquor Laws, One Year Later

BY KAY ROWE

In November 2022, Proposition 125 passed with 50.6% of voters in favor and 49.4% against, expanding the retail sales of wine to grocery and convenience stores. Colorado Public Radio’s Tony Gorman reported then that “most of the votes against the measure came from rural counties. The state’s most populous areas, such as metro Denver and El Paso County, were in favor of it.”

Gorman’s CPR article also shared that Rick Reiter, Wine in Grocery Stores campaign director, commented, “We’re pleased that Coloradans will soon be able to pick up a bottle of wine when purchasing groceries. Consumer habits are evolving, and it was inevitable that either [in] this election or one soon thereafter, that

Colorado would become the 40th state to have wine in grocery stores.”

Leading the charge to oppose the measure was the Colorado Licensed Beverage Association. They believed independent, family-owned liquor stores — already reeling from the expansion of beer sales in 2019 and

the COVID pandemic — would be negatively affected.

A year after the measure took effect, some local liquor store owners and managers share their opinion on the changes.

The store manager of Colorado Liquor Outlet in Colorado Springs states that their sales have dropped by around 10%. They are compensating with creativity and diversification. To that end, they have added cigars and more specialty beers to their inventory.

According to CPR’s Sarah Mulholland, who spoke with Springs Liquor Outlet in Colorado Springs, “Owner Vamsee Amara said he’s seeing the largest decline in sales in name brands like Apothic and Josh Cellars. Those are the types of wines you’ll find on the end caps at King Soopers

and Safeway. Amara has the space to purchase large orders of those big brands and get a good price. But it’s still tough to compete with the grocery chains.”

Jack Backman, owner of Cheers Liquor Mart in Colorado Springs, says the effect of Proposition 125 has been devastating, representing a loss of 25-30% in wine sales for his store. He reports less traffic and significantly smaller purchases. The store promotes a frequent shopper loyalty program, military discounts, and a variety of clubs, events and activities, resulting in larger discounts for customers than in grocery stores. However, these efforts have not made up for the profit loss.

Kay Rowe is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Patty Bonsera

Coffee and Ice Cream Featured at the Caffeinated Cow Small Business Spotlight

BY PAM BALES

Cow tipping is encouraged at this neighborhood coffee and ice cream shop on the way to Cheyenne Cañon in Colorado Springs. Owned by husband-and-wife duo, Jake and Harmony Norment, the Caffeinated Cow has quickly become a local sensation in the Colorado Springs region, and regulars enjoy the whimsical, cow-themed environment. Customers receive a loud “moo-ooo” from the entire staff along with a cowbell ring after each tip. And cow motif can be seen throughout the entire shop.

“We have clients bring in cow pictures, cow statues, they even create cow art for us — it’s just fun,” says Harmony Norment, co-owner. “We focus on family, community and

locally sourced ingredients.”

Their partnership with local businesses is by far the most important ingredient in their success, according to Jake Norment, the other co-owner. The partnership between this husband and wife also leads to success.

“Our coffee beans are roasted by Barista Espresso in small batches with a focus on quality. Denver’s own Lik’s Ice Cream churns out fresh ice cream and delivers our products daily,” he says. “We source our bread and pastries from a variety of Colorado Proud bakeries throughout the state. Our products never have to travel far, and we make sure of it. We care about our customers, and we serve only the freshest products available, always.”

The Caffeinated Cow has become an indispensable meeting place for several community groups including

the Ivywild Improvement Society Board, ASL Cows (a social group of hearing impaired and deaf folks that meet and communicate through American Sign Language), Girl Scouts, church groups and various school groups. They are open to new groups as well, according to the Norments.

Their newest addition for the summer is the Big Heifer. No, it’s not a real cow, but it is really big. The small business is expanding with a specially designed food trailer.

“Of course, it will have our trademark ‘cow pattern,’ laughs Jake. “We’re excited to start taking our fabulous coffee, ice cream and food to festivals, breweries and any place folks need a sweet treat.”

For more information, visit the caffeinatedcow.com or stop in at 1791 E. Eighth Street in Colorado Springs

for their famous ice cream and coffee pour over. Yes, you can eat ice cream for breakfast!

Nonprofit Hygienist Aims for Affordable Dental Care Expansion

BY JEANNE DAVANT

Anonprofit business that began with a dental hygienist providing mobile services has grown to serve multiple patients in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, many of whom wouldn’t be able to afford dental care otherwise. Now founder Michelle Vacha hopes to expand to other states.

After Vacha quit private practice in 2006, she and her husband Mike used a 0% interest credit card to buy a chair and other equipment they’d load into their family van for trips to assisted living and nursing homes. Vacha knew many residents couldn’t get to a dentist or afford to pay for one and that it was affecting their overall health.

What began as Senior Mobile Dental is now Community Dental Health, with two offices and 25

dentists, hygienists, assistants and technicians who provide more than $1.5 million worth of care each year. Although the practice has expanded, Community Dental Health in Colorado Springs and Grand Avenue Dental in Pueblo retain their mission to provide a dental home for low-income, uninsured and underinsured patients, veterans and insured adults.

“We’re known and appreciated for our philosophy in dental care — providing dental services based on true needs,” Vacha says. “Even well-todo people come to us.”

Vacha formerly was one of only two practitioners providing mobile service, but that changed after the state approved Medicaid to cover dental services. She set up an office in the Golf Acres Shopping Center, and in 2019 got a grant to open a Pueblo location.

“We expanded with really good financial sense,” she says. But in 2022,

the practice faced a challenge when the city and Pikes Peak YMCA took over the shopping center to build a new senior center, forcing Community Dental and other senior-oriented businesses to move. Vacha chose the new location at 3650 Rebecca Lane with sustainability and her patients in mind: The practice occupies the top floor, and the ground floor contains 4,400 square feet she is leasing to senior-related services.

Last year, Vacha won the national Jefferson Award for community service. She’s hoping the award will focus attention on the national need for affordable dental care.

“My hope is to bring it to other states,” she says. “Hopefully, there might be a reader that has the business savvy to help us.”

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Vacha accepts the 2023 Jefferson Award for public service.

facebook.com/CaffeinatedCow

Enjoy a signature COW-lorado Style espresso any time of the day — a single scoop of ice cream topped with hot fresh espresso!

Pam Bales is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Business Going From Ashes to Action Downtown COS Fire Update

BY TIFFANY UNDERWOOD & EMILIE HAGOPIAN EDITED BY LUCY RICHARDSON

Business owners can prepare for a myriad of potential devastations, like blows to funding and market slowdowns, but unforeseen disasters are impossible to plan. This is the reality currently facing several local businesses near Bijou Street and Cascade Avenue in downtown Colorado Springs, where a ruinous fire started in December, 2023.

The three-alarm fire began in the city block housing A Taste of Jerusalem Café, a UPS facility, Icons Nightclub, Local Honey Collective and Yobel boutique. The Colorado Springs Fire Department responded in time to avoid any physical injuries, but several businesses were burned by property and inventory losses.

CSFD deemed the fire an accident caused by faulty electrical components of a refrigeration system. While the fire was contained quickly, the exigent plumes of smoke caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. “The way that these buildings are built, there are some voids in between the floor,” Ashley Franco of CSFD explains, describing how the fire spread so fast. She says the smoke could move through the air gaps quickly and easily, reaching other

businesses in the building in minutes.

Emily Ross, owner of Yobel, says they may lose $100,000 worth of inventory, according to an article by CBS KKTV 11 News. Nasser Abdul, owner of Taste of Jerusalem Café, says the restaurant may be a total loss.

Forced to pivot their operations quickly, the scrappy community of local business owners leaned on each other for temporary solutions. “We’re so grateful for the downtown businesses we’re neighbors with, like Novis Mortem Collective, Eclectic Co., MST Goods, and Terra Verde,” says Ross. “They all immediately offered space in their shops for us to pop up in.” Yobel has also launched an online store where gift cards can be purchased while the owners regroup from their losses.

Next door, the Local Honey Collective experienced a similar, near-total loss of inventory. A small selection of surviving products became the backbone of a temporary location at The Meanwhile Block on 425 South Sierra Madre Street. “It was pretty devastating,” says Cara McQueeney, who owns the business with Hailey Sardi. “We lost our home for our business...we are heartbroken.”

This disaster leads to an upcoming

The fire struck at approximately 10 a.m. on Dec. 4, 2023. Colorado Springs Fire Department

Mark Reis, Special, The Colorado Sun

The Yobel storefront prior to the devastating downtown fire.

Cara McQueeney and Hailey Sardi, owners of Local Honey Collective.

Josh Franklin, left, and John Wolfe, owners, in the ICONS bar before the devastating fire.

collaboration between Local Honey and two other locally owned boutique brands, Idyll Manor and Kamp Goods. A collaborative brick-and-mortar location will soon open at 425 S. Sierra Nevada, showcasing goods from each of these vendors. “Colorado Springs is so unique in the way that small businesses support each other,” McQueeney says. “From the day of the fire to today, we have felt so supported; the community is really driving us.”

The co-owners of ICONS Nightclub, John Wolfe and Josh Franklin, have leaned on the community to continue hosting drag shows, concerts, trivia nights and bingo in neighboring businesses. They aim to continue supporting their staff while the club’s doors remain shut. With the hope of a summer reopening, Franklin organized a fundraiser on GoFundMe with a goal of $75,000. As of mid-March, over 300 people have made donations, raising

approximately $30,700.

“We are most concerned with keeping the soul of the place, which we think is the people,”

Wolfe says. “We have faith that our people will come back when we reopen!”.

Tiffany Underwood is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Emilie Hagopian is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Lucy Richardson is a copyeditor for Colorado Media Group and a recent graduate of the University of Denver.

Economic Development

Not Just Silicon Mountain EDC Promotes Many Peaks

BY JEANNE DAVANT & WAYNE HEILMAN

Colorado Springs made its name during the final decades of the 20th century as home to semiconductor and electronics manufacturers ranging from Apple and Digital Equipment to Mostek and Intel.

By the 1990s, the city had developed “Silicon Mountain” as a marketing tagline to reflect the growth of semiconductor operations that, at one time, included eight manufacturing operations employing thousands of people. The industry included big names like Ford, Honeywell and United Technologies that built local plants, but also startups like Ramtron International and Simtek.

Many of those operations shut down during waves of offshoring, leaving just one major chip plant — operated by Arizona-based Microchip Technology — and a handful of smaller niche players and design operations.

Colorado Springs built its semiconductor and electronics manufacturing industry on its reputation as a low-cost place to operate a business, says Robert “Rocky” Scott, who headed the

Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. The group, now part of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, recruited many of the technology industry’s biggest names to the city.

“During much of the 1980s and 1990s, Colorado Springs had abundant cheap homes, labor, real estate and buildings,” he says. “If you wanted to expand or relocate your business, we were a bargain. At that point, home prices were good and the talent (pool) was good.”

Since then, those advantages have disappeared as the local cost of living has surged past the national average and neither homes nor buildings are cheap or abundant.

With the 2022 passage of the CHIPS and Science Act, some business leaders are wondering if the Pikes Peak region could recapture some of its previous Silicon Mountain glory. The federal law makes $52.7 billion available for U.S. semiconductor research and development, manufacturing and workforce development through grants and tax credits.

Microchip plans to spend $940

million expanding semiconductor production at its 50-acre campus near the Broadmoor World Arena and has received preliminary approval for $90 million under the CHIPS Act. The company, which was awarded $47 million in state and local incentives for the project, employs nearly 1,000 people in Colorado and expects to add another 400 jobs as part of the expansion.

Chip-industry supplier Entegris is spending $600 million building a plant in northwest Colorado Springs to produce liquid filter and wafer handling products for semiconductor plants, and is seeking $130 million in CHIPS Act funding for its project. The company employs 350 at another local plant and expects to hire 200 for the new plant scheduled to open late this year.

The Colorado Springs area still hosts plenty of high-tech employers — a report provided to The Digest by Tasha Baker, the Chamber & EDC’s director of business intelligence, found 67 companies in Teller and El Paso counties listed under North American Industry Classification System codes for semiconductor and

advanced manufacturing. Fourteen of those companies — such as InnovaFlex Foundry, SemQuest, Semtech Corp. and Symetrix Corp. — are listed as part of the semiconductor industry, while others — such as Northrop Grumman, Collins Aerospace, Philips, Aerospace Corp., Navsys and L3 Harris Corp. — are classified as advanced manufacturers producing high-tech navigational, measuring, electromedical and control instruments and components. Baker compiled the data from DatabaseUSA and independently verified it.

While the city’s semiconductor industry is expanding more rapidly than at any time in the past 30 years, local officials aren’t trying to build an economy or even a marketing campaign on a single industry or two. The city’s high-tech sector today also includes cybersecurity and a variety of companies developing software and other technology products for the defense and aerospace industries.

Those industries are growing fast locally after President Joe Biden last year reversed a decision by former President Donald Trump to move the headquarters of U.S. Space

Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Ala. Scott says the decision triggered “an explosion of defense contractors expanding in Colorado Springs” to create “an area of opportunity” for economic development.

Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, president and CEO of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, says the group isn’t concentrating its economic development efforts on one or two industries.

“I don’t think we should put labels that say, ‘this is what we’re known for, and this is what we will only focus on,’” she says. “In the ’80s, they went all in on semiconductors, and then the market changed.” While the CHIPS Act is a major opportunity for the Colorado Springs area that the Chamber is pursing, she says, “we have to be sure that we have a balanced economy. That’s why we’re known in aerospace and defense, cybersecurity, IT and advanced manufacturing.”

Diversified economy

That diversified economic development strategy is paying off — 14 of the 21 economic development projects announced during the past two years are in the defense and aerospace sector. Those projects will generate 2,762 jobs; twothirds of the overall total.

The Chamber & EDC helps state and local funding sources put together economic development packages for Microchip and many of the defense and aerospace contractors, including several based in Colorado Springs, Kleymeyer says. The Titans of Economic Development Council, composed of 78 business and industry leaders, assists in the sales process. [Disclosure: Colorado Media Group’s and The Digest’s publisher, Dirk Hobbs, is a member of the council.]

These leaders talk to prospects about their industry and what it’s like to do business

here, from workforce needs to business regulations, Kleymeyer says. When it comes to talent, they can tout UCCS’s strong offerings in engineering and cyber, and credentialing offered by Colorado Technical University and Pikes Peak State College.

“We have one of the highest educated populations in the country,” she says. “That’s the kind of thing we can sell on.”

Site availability is another big factor, and the Chamber & EDC is launching a site readiness program in the second quarter to find shovelready sites, evaluate existing buildings and look at utilities and infrastructure, Kleymeyer says.

Kleymeyer and Scott agree that state legislation in the past several years that imposed new requirements on business has damaged Colorado’s reputation as a business-friendly location. Kleymeyer says the Chamber opposes legislation that adds regulatory and other burdens for businesses, and also is lobbying for measures like SB24-106, the construction defects reform bill, as part of a larger effort to expand housing options.

The Chamber & EDC also is reaching out to prospects through conferences, trade shows and direct contact, Kleymeyer says.

“Our pipeline for projects is strong,” she says. “We will have more announcements soon.”

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Wayne Heilman is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

COS WE CARE. JOIN THE CREW.

Military

Beyond Bravery

Four Women Shaping the Future of the Air Force

BY KIM DALY

From pioneering roles during World War I to today’s leadership positions, U.S. service women have consistently defied expectations and shattered glass ceilings. According to the Department of Defense (DoD), women make up 25% of the total military force. In honor of Women’s History Month, here are four Air Force leaders who exemplify the diverse value and expertise shaping today’s armed services.

Brig. Gen. Linell Letendre

Dean of the Faculty

Mission Area: Academics

Letendre commands a 750-member team, overseeing the annual design of more than 500 undergraduate courses for 4,000 cadets across 32 disciplines, and directing five support agencies with resources over $350 million. A 1996 USAFA alumna, she subsequently graduated from the University of Washington Law School and served as legal advisor for the DoD Comprehensive Review Working Group surrounding the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  She reflects on her selection as the first female in over 10 years to earn the position of cadet wing commander during her senior year, an experience that taught her to apply for opportunities despite her own fears.

“The honor of serving as cadet wing commander definitely came as a surprise to me and demonstrated the importance of throwing your hat in the ring for opportunities. Do not self-limit,” says Letendre. “You may be surprised at what happens.”

Col. Amy Glisson

10 th Air Base Wing Commander

Mission Area: Installation

Glisson commands a team of more than 3,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel who conduct baselevel activities, including security, civil engineering, communications, logistics, finance, contracting, chaplaincy, legal, lodging, medical, military and civilian personnel, and force support programs.

A former gymnast, she draws on discipline, resilience and the ability to perform under pressure. All were instrumental in her role as Commander of the 86th Mission Support Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where Glisson oversaw the evacuation camp for Afghans fleeing the Taliban in 2021.

Glisson says, “I understand the importance of collaboration in achieving shared goals and driving progress. Leveraging these diverse experiences, I am committed to servicing our military community, leading into the future, and developing the next generation of leaders.”

Ms. Jennifer Block

Executive Director, Department of Athletics

Mission Area: Athletics

In 2018, Block became the first female athletic director at a Division I service academy. A 1992 USAFA graduate, she earned four letters in volleyball, served as team captain, and received all-region honors. As an officer, she administered over 850 contracts valued at $1.5 billion, and built a base in Uzbekistan following Sept. 11, 2001, earning her a Bronze Star.

A decorated former Air Force officer, director, squadron commander, staff officer, executive officer and fully qualified level III contracting officer, Block is committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive, be safe and feel valued.

“When you create an environment where diversity and inclusion are present, your teams perform better and you arrive at better solutions,” says Block. “I think it is vitally important that a woman’s perspective and voice is present and heard during decision making.”

Kim Daly is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Col. Nancy Taylor

306th Flying Training Group Commander

Mission Area: Airmanship

As commander at Davis AirField, Taylor provides training for more than 4,000 cadets and officers annually. A 2001 USAFA alumna, she boasts over 3,900 flying hours and was deployed for operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and Resolute Support.

She says fields like aerospace, cyberscience, and systems engineering need diverse perspectives and approaches; and while young women who aspire to lead in these fields may feel they need to change who they are or how they approach challenges to be successful, “that’s simply not the case.”

“The individual gifts and skills each woman brings to a team are critical to raising performance and approaching problems. A willingness to share your unique abilities, along with dedication to developing and maintaining technical expertise, will prepare you well to lead in any field,” says Taylor.

Springs Wins Entegris Project After Highly Competitive Process Advanced Manufacturing

Entegris’s new manufacturing facility will be built in phases, with the first phase slated to open in early 2025.

BY JEANNE DAVANT

In December of 2022, hightech supplier Entegris publicly revealed plans to build a $600 million manufacturing center of excellence in northwest Colorado Springs. The announcement was celebrated with champagne toasts by city and state economic development officials.

Entegris had been a key part of Colorado Springs’ high-tech manufacturing industry for 30 years. Its Arrowswest Drive facility off Garden of the Gods Road employs about 350 people.

The new facility will bring up to 600 new jobs with an average annual wage of almost $75,000 and could have a $2.47 billion total impact on the local economy, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC President and CEO Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer exulted then.

It was a big win, but it wasn’t a sure thing as it still needed a lot of negotiation, savvy pitches and millions of dollars in incentives.

Expansion rationale

Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, Entegris operates sites in 14 states and 10 other countries, from Canada to Taiwan, and employs more than 9,000 worldwide. It is the

Entegris dominates the market with its wafer carrier, called a Front Opening Unified Pod (FOUP).

world’s leading supplier of a product essential to the semiconductor manufacturing process — the carriers that transport and protect silicon disks within highly automated manufacturing plants and other specialty materials and delivery systems.

“We sell to big chip manufacturers like Taiwan Semiconductor, Intel, Microchip and Micron Technology, and the smaller guys too,” says Senior Vice President Bill Shaner, who heads the company’s Advanced Materials Handling division.

The past two and a half years have witnessed significant growth in the semiconductor industry, driven by 5G communications and the Internet of Things, Shaner says. To meet the

increasing demand, Entegris made a large investment in its facilities in Taiwan, the location of its biggest customer.

“We also made a decision that we wanted to build our presence in North America,” he says. The engineering for the wafer carriers was done in Colorado Springs, but as of now, they are produced in Malaysia. “It was a strategic decision by Entegris to have the ability to manufacture these products in the United States,” he says.

Selection process

Entegris developed a highly competitive process to determine where that expansion would happen,

evaluating locations in 14 states before selecting the 88-acre site between South Rockrimmon Boulevard and Ute Valley Park.

Colorado Springs was a sentimental favorite. The company’s founder fell in love with the area when looking to move his original company, Empak, out of Minnesota, says Shaner, a Colorado Springs native who joined the company in 1992 as a young engineer. The city also provided a welcoming environment for high-tech companies, a good source of talent, a strong military presence and better access to customers locally and abroad.

The site proposed for the new plant has a high-tech manufacturing history — at one time, it was the

Bill Shaner, Senior Vice President and President, Entegris Advanced Materials Handling Division.

location of a large Hewlett-Packard campus. Those buildings were torn down in 2012, but the site is designated as an enterprise zone, which makes it eligible for tax breaks.

The site’s existing infrastructure was also a plus, and Colorado Springs’ quality of life, labor costs and quality educational facilities, taxes and local business climate helped narrow down the search to a few locations, including Austin, Texas, and Denver. The company also considered that, in Colorado Springs, it could be a big player in a smaller ecosystem, Shaner says.

“We felt very confident that the city, county and mayor’s office in Colorado Springs, along with the EDC, were really committed to collaborating and helping us to be successful,” Shaner says. “We’ve had exceptional responses from the school districts that are wanting to collaborate with us. When we looked at all those things, Colorado Springs became the clear leader.”

Of course, financial incentives played a huge role. Entegris’s $115 million state and local incentives package includes city and county tax rebates, rebates from Colorado

Springs Utilities and urban renewal and enterprise zone funding, plus performance-based tax credits approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission. The company has applied for $130 million in federal CHIPS and Science Act funding.

In June 2023, Entegris broke ground on the project’s first phase: a 100,000-square-foot building that will cost about $200 million. It will house the company’s microcontamination control and advanced materials handling divisions and employ about 350 people when it begins operations in early 2025,

Shaner says.

The company expects the new plant to bolster Colorado Springs’ and the state’s positions as leaders in the semiconductor ecosystem, says Entegris CEO Bertrand Loy.

“The semiconductor manufacturing industry is set to expand in the United States, and Entegris’ manufacturing center of excellence will enable our organization to play a meaningful role in this important effort,” he says.

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Inspirational IQ “

If you work hard, you have a better chance of producing something that you’re proud of. If you don’t, you won’t. It’s really simple.

— Bryan Cranston

Education Coalition to Start STEM School

BY JEANNE DAVANT

The leaders of an ecosystem composed of industry, government and education are working to create a unique charter school that will promote the learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics at advanced levels.

I’m not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps ... I’m the first Simone Biles. “

— Simone Biles

You do this because you like it, you think what you’re making is beautiful. And if you think it’s beautiful, maybe they think it’s beautiful. “ “

— Lou Reed

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.

— Abraham Lincoln

Colorado Springs School District 11 has been tapped to host the charter school, called the Colorado Springs School of Technology. Characterized as a STEM Innovation Zone school, it will provide an environment where students can excel in the fields of space, technology, cybersecurity and entrepreneurship. But the school also will instill core values, including ethical leadership and social responsibility. The school will also integrate subjects such as history, literature, philosophy and the arts.

“Our vision is to cultivate students who merge technical proficiency with ethical values, encouraging them to become pioneers in critical fields,” the school’s website states.

The school initially will serve students in grades 9 and 10, but the plan is to expand to include grades 6-12, says Vance Brown, founder and CEO of Exponential Impact and a partner in the project. It will offer certifications so that students can go to work directly from high school, but it will also prepare students for advanced study at elite colleges.

At first, Brown explains, the school likely would be housed in existing facilities, but the founding consortium hopes eventually to build a new facility on North Nevada Avenue, adjacent to the building that houses the National Cybersecurity Center, the UCCS Cybersecurity Program, Exponential Impact and the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

“The goal is to have a corridor going into the UCCS space and to be physically located where you have professionals and students; where government, education and industry are rubbing shoulders and sharing coffee and hanging out together,” Brown says.

The school is the brainchild of

a regional ecosystem composed of the U.S. Air Force Academy, UCCS, Pikes Peak State College, the National Cybersecurity Center, Space ISAC, The Space Foundation, Exponential Impact, Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation and the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC.

With the support of former Gov. John Hickenlooper, this ecosystem started coming together in 2016, Brown says.

The consortium applied for and won a $941,375 National Science Regional Innovation Engines Development grant in 2023 to ignite technological innovation and create economic opportunities. The project, called Advancing Space Technologies/Resilient Space Infrastructures, Systems and Economy (RISE), would focus on three pillars: technological innovation, accelerating commercialization and building community, policy and workforce. The first award will enable the consortium to apply for an additional $160 million grant from the NSF to formalize and implement the innovation engine over the next 10 years. According to an abstract about the grant, The RISE project will expand throughout Southern Colorado to include Pueblo, Trinidad and Cañon City, and possibly other nearby states.

“The consortium already has a

global impact,” he says. “Imagine us working together more closely to solve some of these problems.”

Brown and the other leaders knew education would be a key part of creating this innovation engine, and they had started looking at workforce development needs even before applying for the grant.

Early efforts focused on higher education, but several years ago, Brown, who was one of the founders of the Classical Academy, thought, “Man, it would be cool if we had a high school. I brought it to the group to say, ‘Let’s do this.’”

The coalition decided not to wait until it received grant funds to start the school and approached District 11 about a partnership.

The leadership of District 11 liked the idea. The district’s board on Feb. 28 approved an application for an innovation zone that will be submitted to the state board of education. If it’s approved, the district will be able to start specialized STEM coursework in several locations, including the UCCS Cybersecurity and National Cybersecurity centers. Students also will be able to enroll in courses at UCCS and PPSC. The school is asking parents to visit its website and express interest in having their children attend. These expressions of interest will help obtain state board of education approval and determine when the school will open.

“Because we’re closely partnering with D11, we think they’ll give us some room within a school,” Brown says.

“If that’s the case, we hope to start on a limited basis in the fall of 2024.” A board of directors composed of leaders from each of the partnering organizations has been selected. Brown serves as president; he says, “... there is no other opportunity like this for students in our country.”

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Education District 70 Partners to Get Students Career-Ready

BY TIFFANY UNDERWOOD

District 70, in collaboration with local colleges and businesses, has established multiple pathways as part of its college and career connections, or concurrent enrollment, program. The program’s goal is to promote college and career readiness for high school students. Concurrent enrollment offers students opportunities to earn elective credits while gaining realworld training, college credit and necessary career certifications.

Drew Hirshon, assistant director of Curriculum and Instruction, says, “It’s been a goal for us to have more opportunities for our students to develop their craft and get into industries that they are passionate about. I think it benefits both sides, it helps boost our local economy while giving students real world work experience.” A few of the pathways included in this program are WorkBased Learning (WBL), School To Employment Program (STEP), Teacher Recruitment and Education Plan (TREP) and Federation of Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME).

The WBL program merges classroom education with practical professional training, equipping students with both the knowledge and practical skills necessary for

success in their chosen careers. This program offers various avenues for career exploration including classroom speakers, job shadowing, internships and apprenticeships. With a minimum requirement of 75 hours for half of a credit and up to 150 hours for a full credit per semester, students are encouraged to fully immerse themselves in the program to maximize their educational and career opportunities. District 70 connects with local colleges and businesses across a variety of fields including construction, manufacturing, biotech, law and justice.

Similar to WBL, the STEP program connects students with professionals in their chosen career path, specifically focusing on Parkview Medical Center and careers in the medical field. The program provides observation opportunities to confirm students’ career interests, offering benefits such as up to 209 observation hours, a letter grade from the home

D70 high school and college credit

from Pueblo Community College.

According to the District 70 program website, “The mission is to generate a quality academic experience and provide observation opportunities which will confirm a student’s desire to pursue a career in healthcare.”

The TREP program is available to high school seniors interested in teaching careers. If accepted, the program will pay for the first two years of college education while giving students additional support services such as mentorship and shadowing industry professionals. This program does have a few requirements to receive program benefits. For example, students must take the necessary prerequisite courses for the educator pathway and maintain a 2.0 GPA. Students interested in the manufacturing career pathway have the option to apply for the FAME program. Once accepted into the program, students can receive 1800

hours of paid, on-the-job training and an associate degree in Advanced Manufacturing while learning realworld manufacturing practices, professional behaviors and other skills. The program requires at least one of the following: Career and Technical Education (CTE) course, Project Lead The Way (PLTW) course or interest in STEM career field based on ICAP. According to the Pueblo Community College FAME program page, “In many cases students in this program receive a full-time job offer in a high-paying industry after graduation.”

These programs are designed to assist students in becoming productive community members while gaining valuable experience and skills vital to their future. Through partnerships with colleges and businesses, District 70 is working to develop more opportunities for sustainable local employment. “There is a need in our community for these types of programs,” says Hirshon. “Our students want to get out there and they have the skills to be able to do it.”

Tiffany Underwood is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Project Cultivates Sustainable Food System in Pueblo Agriculture

BY TIFFANY UNDERWOOD

The Pueblo Food Project is a community-led coalition that provides public services and learning opportunities to promote local agriculture and farming. The aim is to establish a more vibrant, nutritious and equitable food system for all residents of Pueblo County. The

project currently encompasses seven programs, including edible landscapes, food and farm education courses, and entrepreneur development Programs. Edible landscapes are similar to community gardens, however, they are usually located in areas where you least expect to see food growing. Landscapes typically designated for decorative plants are repurposed to cultivate local crop species. Program

Manager Megan Moore says, “The goal of these landscapes is to show the community how easy it can be to grow your own food.” There are currently four locations available to the community: Central Plaza, Mineral Palace Park, J.J. Raigoza Park and Sunset Park. Each edible landscape location hosts gardening classes during the summer, as part of the food and farm education program.

The Food and Farm Literacy and Education Working Group, as described on the Pueblo Food Project website, “serves as a resource hub and pathway for the community to gain intimate awareness, knowledge, and skills, of our farm and food systems to the well-being of ourselves, our community, and our planet.”

Agriculture

CONTINUATION FROM P. 19

Pueblo Food Project

The goal of these courses is to foster opportunities for community members to engage with the local food system and acquire food-related skills and knowledge. Courses cater to all skill levels, are offered in multiple languages, and are accessible by public transportation.

The Entrepreneur Development Program offers a course created for aspiring business entrepreneurs in the food, beverage and farm industries. Throughout the 16-week program, participants create a comprehensive business plan while receiving guidance through mentor and training courses. At the conclusion of the program, students have the opportunity to showcase their plans by participating in a pitch competition — they have the chance to secure cash prizes to further support their businesses growth. Serena Sakkal, program manager, says, “We want to be a one-stop place for community members to receive helpful information and support to get their food and agriculture businesses off the ground. Even well-established businesses can benefit from the services and courses we offer in this program.”

By providing accessible learning opportunities and valuable food services, the program supports local community members and entrepreneurs in developing a healthier connection with food and agriculture. Moore says, “This project is a direct response to the needs of the community. We are here to strengthen the Pueblo food system and provide opportunities to anyone who needs support.”

Tiffany Underwood is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: PUEBLOFOODPROJECT.ORG

Experience elevated meeting spaces perched above Garden of the Gods Park. With stunning new interior features, elevate your business meals with a setting that inspires meaningful conversations.

Welcome to Garden of the Gods Resort and Club, where the location is as impactful as the discussions taking place within.

Pueblo Food Project hosts Alan Brownstein, local garlic farmer, for garlic master class.

facebook.com/pueblofoodproject

Sports Economy Olympic City USA Here to Stay

BY KERI KAHN

Colorado Springs may have adopted the nickname Olympic City USA only nine years ago, but the thriving sports economy which makes the city deserving of that title has been in the making for nearly half a century.

In 1978, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) moved from New York to Colorado Springs and unveiled the nation’s first U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center. A year later, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation (CSSC) was established to advance the city and promote tourism through sport.

Became a Hotbed for Amateur Sports

Fast forward to 2024; Colorado Springs has invested in the USOPC’s presence to build an entire ecosystem around it, with world-class facilities sought by organizations, tourists and athletes the world over.

Today, 26 of the country’s 50 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) have a Colorado Springs mailing address – the same number as 2021, when Megan Leatham first became CEO of CSSC.

“If you look at all the NGBs across the nation, there is only one other

town that has multiple NGBs. It’s Indianapolis; and they have three,” Leatham says.

Her group is currently working with the city on the possibility of relocating the World Dodgeball Federation here from Canada. Additionally, they are actively working on other NGB relocation opportunities.

Olympic City USA is also home to the U.S. Antidoping Agency, four international sports federations, multiple non-Olympic groups and three collegiate athletic programs.

“I think it’s incredibly important for us to be in Colorado Springs because that’s where the Olympic movement is. That’s where the vast majority of NGBs are,” says USA Archery CEO Rod Menzer. “It would just not make sense for us to go anywhere else. There’s literally a good business reason to be there.”

USOPC’s VP for Strategic Communications Jon Mason echoes that statement when he explains that the USOPC has had no conversations about relocating.

“This is a community that’s made a commitment to celebrating Olympic and Paralympic sports which is certainly why the USOPC and so many NGBs call it home. And then there is the idea of supporting sport in the community and the great work

of Sports Corp and Visit Colorado Springs. They’ve encouraged the idea of people coming here to celebrate sport, to practice sport… There’s something for everyone here.”

Brings Significant Economic Impact

When the city entered a 30-year economic development agreement with the USOPC back in 2009 to the tune of $31.47 million, it cemented itself as a bucket list destination for event organizers.

“The International Jump Rope Union brought approximately 22,000 room nights last summer to us with an estimated economic impact of about $9 million,” says President and CEO of Visit Colorado Springs Doug Price. “They wanted to come specifically to Olympic City USA to show the Olympic movement that jump rope someday should be an Olympic sport. They knew there was no place better to showcase.”

Last year, CSSC’s 59 owned or promoted events brought 25,035 athletes with 52,277 room nights and over $100 million in economic impact. The 2023 Colorado Juniors Sparkler Softball Tournament poured an estimated $12 million into the local economy.

Inspired by Olympic City USA

branding, the City for Champions project further promoted COS as a sports hub with the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Weidner Field, Ed Robson Arena, William Hybl Sports Medicine & Performance Center and the soon-to-be-completed USAFA Gateway Visitor Center.

Team USA Athletes Train Around the World

The Colorado Springs Olympic & Paralympic Training Center is one of only two in the country, with the other being in Lake Placid, N.Y.

While Colorado Springs saw more than 10,000 athletes utilize its world-class aquatics center, multiple gymnasiums, velodrome, dining hall and dorms for 600 rehab or training camps last year, it’s not unusual for NGBs to implement programs in cities other than where they’re headquartered.

“The NCAA pipeline is the reason why the USA wins so many gold medals and there are colleges with Team USA athletes all over our nation” says CSSP’s Leatham.

USA Swimming’s athletes, for instance, often train at their colleges. USA Cycling is headquartered in Colorado Springs but operates a European logistics base in the Netherlands, and a satellite office in

The Rocky Mountain Vibes bring baseball action to Colorado Springs every summer with home games played at UCHealth Park.

Colorado Springs set the backdrop for Stage 1 of the 2017 Colorado Classic which brought 16 world, continental, or national cycling teams from around the globe.

Photo courtesy of Visit Colorado Springs

Photo Credit: Colorado Springs Sports Corporation

Bentonville, Ark. USA Archery, which leases space alongside USA Fencing in the USA Cycling-owned building, hosts tournaments and camps in various locations but most archers train at home or in their local clubs.

Rumors have circulated that USA Archery was amongst a handful of NGBs moving to the new U.S. Performance Center in Charlotte, NC. However, CEO Menzer tells the The Digest that USA Archery moved nothing from Colorado Springs, but instead utilized resources to implement a new complimentary program in North Carolina.

Also, USA Taekwondo recently relocated its high performance department and 12 fulltime athletes to a resident training program in Charlotte because of the resources available there to develop even more athletes, but the group’s events and finance departments are still headquartered here in Olympic City USA.

USOPC’s Mason says, “In addition to the teams and athletes based here in Colorado Springs, or accessing the resources available at the OPTC, there are athletes overseas for large amounts of the year, athletes on college campuses across the country, and athletes that are in population centers that are important to their sport.”

Though athletes train around the world, NGBs still regularly choose Colorado Springs as a go-to location for major events, with at least 17 Olympic or NGB-related events in Colorado Springs last year, including the U.S. Figure Skating ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships at the Broadmoor World Arena and USA Weightlifting’s National Championships Week at Robson Arena.

Celebrate the Olympic Spirit this Summer

Sports fans are welcome to check out training center facilities by booking tours at teamusa.com/ visit. Another way to get in the Olympic spirit is to visit with NGBs and other exhibits during Downtown Summer Fest (coloradospringssports. org/events/summer-fest) on July 27 where residents can rally behind Team USA and help kick off the Paris 2024 Games, from right here in Olympic City USA.

Keri Kahn is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Economic Development

UCCS Report Compares COS with Peer Cities

BY JEANNE DAVANT

Colorado Springs has some similarities to other fast-growing cities like Boise, Idaho; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; and Salt Lake City, Utah. These cities, along with Denver and Pueblo, share housing affordability concerns. One thing that stands out about Colorado Springs is the role of the military.

“San Antonio has a pretty big military presence,” says Dr. Bill Craighead, program director of the UCCS Economic Forum. “But 1.4% of their over-16 population is in the Armed Forces, compared to 5.9% here.”

These facts are sourced from data compiled by the UCCS Economic Forum about these seven cities, which was sent to their partners in February.

The five-page report focused on three outof-state cities identified by the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC as peers — Boise, Salt Lake City and San Antonio. A fourth city, Raleigh, was deemed an “aspirational peer” by the report. The UCCS Economic Forum added Denver and Pueblo for additional comparison points.

The report groups data into categories including income, poverty and inequality; selected population characteristics; employment, commuting and cost of living; and gross domestic product, all of which influence or reflect the economy.

This is where Colorado Springs’ high military

and veteran population comes in, Craighead says. “The businesses that are coming here, a lot of them have defense and military ties, and some of that’s related not just to the military installations here but also to having people in our workforce who have that military experience,” he says.

Some striking facts from the report (mostly from 2022) include:

• Colorado Springs’ poverty rate is relatively low (8.2%) compared with Boise (9.2%), San Antonio (14.2%) and Pueblo (14.8%).

• Colorado Springs has a lower percentage of foreign-born people (6.4%) than all the other cities except Pueblo (4.5%), and less than half the U.S. percentage (13.9%).

• Median single-family home price in November 2023 topped $400,000 in Colorado Springs ($467,000), Boise ($469,000), Raleigh ($410,000), Salt Lake City ($522,000) and Denver ($555,000). Homes in San Antonio ($300,000) and Pueblo ($237,000) were relatively lower, but prices went up everywhere.

Median monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment topped $1,200 in all of the cities, though Pueblo was not listed.

To obtain a copy of the report, visit the UCCS Economic Forum’s website and fill out the request for information at the bottom of the page.

business.uccs.edu

BY JEANNE DAVANT

Colorado Springs regained a spot in the Top 20 of the nation’s Best Performing Cities list, compiled annually by The Milken Institute.

The institute’s 2024 report, published Feb. 6, ranked Colorado Springs 15th out of 200 large metro areas for sustainable growth and resilience.

The Santa Monica, California-based Milken Institute evaluated 403 cities overall, divided into large and small cohorts. It compared Colorado Springs in a group of 200 of the most populous metropolitan areas in the country, ranking them on 13 measures covering labor market conditions, high-tech

Economic Development Springs Moves to 15th in Rankings of Sustainable Growth Chamber Report

impact and access to economic opportunities. Other Colorado cities in the largest 200 group were Denver (20), Fort Collins (29), Boulder (47) and Greeley (93).

Colorado Springs rose in the rankings from 37th in 2023, topping San Antonio (35) but trailing metro areas like Austin, Texas (1), Raleigh, North Carolina (2), Boise City, Idaho and Salt Lake City, Utah (4).

The Colorado Springs metro area scored highest in community resilience (4) and a measure of income distribution (12). Scores on broadband coverage (21) and high-tech GDP growth in 2021-22 (28) also contributed to the Springs metro area’s ascent in the rankings.

However, the area’s rankings in housing affordability (128) and short-

term job growth (127) dampened its overall score.

The report also ranked 203 less populated cities, including Grand Junction (58) and Pueblo (119), the latter of which dropped from 87th in 2023.

Among its rankings, Pueblo scored highest in high-tech GDP growth (29 in 2017-22 and 23 in 2021-22) but was ranked low in broadband coverage (165), housing affordability (180), shortterm job growth (181) and wage growth (170 in 2021-22).

The Milken report focuses on metro areas because, post-pandemic, they “remain at the heart of the nation’s growth,” the report states.

Affordability is a major factor in the rankings, but sustainability of growth also is heavily weighted.

“The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled

with recent weather-related events such as storms and floods, has focused attention on cities’ resilience to natural and economic disasters,” the report says. This year’s rankings added a measure of community resilience that illustrates a metro area’s ability to recover from such disasters. A measure of income inequality, the Gini index, was also added to account for the social sustainability of growth; cities with lower inequality ranked higher.

Women in the Workforce By the Numbers

BY LOLA WOLOCH

“

Research from the Women’s Leadership Foundation shows when we have a diverse workforce, or even a diverse board of directors on publicly traded companies, profits and revenue increase,” explains Lola Woloch, president of the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

Having just celebrated International Women’s Day, Woloch points out that, from a world view, the United States is not sufficiently closing the gender gap in pay between women and men. Its gender gap score improved slightly, resulting in 167 million women facing a remaining gender gap of 23.1%. The U.S. ranks 27th out of 149 countries, according to the World Economic Forum annual rankings. Iceland continues to lead in closing the gap at 90%, with the U.S. coming in at 76.9%.

However, Colorado is currently a leader in the United States, with its gender gap coming in at 87% as of 2022. The state also is a leader for woman-owned businesses.

“Women are not only leaning in, but they are leaping into business ownership,” says Woloch.

Currently, 45% of all Colorado’s small businesses are owned by women, accounting for more than 244,000 throughout the state, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2021 profile.

“Women still need to break into certain industries,” notes Woloch. “Specifically, management, utilities and construction are the lowest percentage of women employees and womanowned companies.”

Industries with the highest percentage of woman-owned firms in 2021 (over 30% of total firms) included professional, scientific and technical

services, administrative and support healthcare, social assistance, real estate and other services. (U.S. Annual Business Survey, 10/26/23, for 2021)

“We’re proud to report that Southern Colorado leads the state in woman-owned businesses by region reporting in 2021,” ends Woloch. Combining 22.78% businesses in Colorado Springs/metro and 13.85% in the Pueblo and metro areas, Southern Colorado is the highest area of womanowned firms at 36.63%. Boulder comes in at 25.22%, and the Denver metro area is currently at 23%.

Lola Woloch is the President and CEO of the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

Jeanne Davant is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Lola Woloch, President and CEO of the Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

Economic Forum

Signs of Progress on Housing Affordability Inspirational IQ

BY DR. BILL CRAIGHEAD

Housing affordability has been a top concern in the Pikes Peak region. Recent data shows some signs of improvement.

According to the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors, the median sale price of a single-family home in the Colorado Springs area peaked at $495,000 in June 2022. It came in at $455,950 in February this year — down 7.9% from the peak, though up 3.6% from a year ago (it is important to bear in mind that house prices can be somewhat seasonal).

Of course, the cost of buying a home depends not only on prices, but also on interest rates. Although expectations of Fed rate cuts have receded following some of the macro data releases this year, mortgage rates are still down about a percentage point from their lateOctober 2023 peak.

The Atlanta Fed estimates the

payment on a home purchased at the local median price as a share of local median income. For the Colorado Springs metro area, this had been below 30% until the summer of 2021. It then increased sharply, reaching a high of 45.4% in October 2023 before falling back to 41.3% in December.

Apartment rents have also become more affordable recently — according to Apartment List, the median rent of a two-bedroom apartment in Colorado Springs peaked at $1525 in August-September 2022, and had fallen by 6.9% to $1420 in February 2024.

Prices are hard to predict. Demand is uncertain, but there are indications that supply may be a source of further downward pressure. After the extreme lows of 2021, the number of single-family homes on the market has rebounded. While it tends to peak in late summer and early fall, we can see that the number of active listings in February 2024 was running ahead of last year’s pace, and higher than at the same

point in 2019. This is somewhat different from the national situation — according to Zillow, U.S. February inventory is up 15% from 2021, but still 38% below 2019. For apartments, Apartment List reports a vacancy rate of 8.0% in Colorado Springs for February, which is above the local 2017-2019 average of 5.9%, and also higher than the current national rate of 6.6%.

Construction has been one driver of the additional supply — we are seeing the effects of strong building permits in 2021 and 2022. However, with higher interest rates, the number of dwelling units permitted fell sharply in 2023. Looking further down the road, continued progress on affordability will depend on the extent to which new permitting refills the building pipeline this year.

Dr. Bill Craighead is the Director of the UCCS Economic Forum.

“

The achievement of one goal should be the starting point of another.

— Alexander Graham Bell

“

When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.

— Henry Ford

“

The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.

— Steve Jobs

“

We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.

— Arianna Huffington

Local Photographer Turned Author

Colorado Springs photographer, Mandy Penn, recently released an anthology of 14 inspirational stories from different authors, including her own. The book, titled “The Hands They Were Dealt,” launched on February 1st through Amazon. A portion of each sale goes to CONO, a Colorado Springs nonprofit that inspires neighbors to create vibrant communities.

Penn’s own story inspired the idea for the book. “I’m the proud mother of preemie twins,” explains Penn, owner of Mandy Penn Photography. “My emotions ran the gamut in the first few months after their births, from frustration to love to empathy. Over the last five years, I’ve met amazing people who shared their stories with me that were sad, brave, inspiring, hard and all of them demonstrated the resiliency of the human spirit.”

Many of her long-time clients don’t realize that Penn started in front of the camera.

“For a lot of people, photography begins as a hobby, but I was in the industry for a long time, as a model,” explains Penn. “I loved modeling, but one day I had an awful experience at a modeling call and I was done. I realized what I

The Hands They Were DealtInspirational Stories of Overcoming the Odds

by Mandy Penn

loved about it had nothing to do with modeling; it was about being behind the camera and being part of creating an entire atmosphere that leads to a beautifully finished product.”

Penn is a member of the Professional Photographers of America, Professional Photographers of Colorado and the Professional Photographers of Colorado Springs Guild. Her dedication and talent have earned her the prestigious “Best of the Springs” accolade for five consecutive years, and she is a Master Craftsman through the Professional Photographers of America.

Penn’s work has garnered attention on national platforms, including features on Good Morning America, POPSUGAR, Sad Panda and more.

Energy Colorado Springs Utilities Talks About Drake Power Plant

Demolition of the Martin Drake

Power Plant and our Energy Future

BY TRAVAS DEAL

There’s no clearer symbol for the size and scope of our energy transition than the demolition of the downtown Martin Drake Power Plant — a fixture of the city’s skyline for nearly 100 years. As each building and stack comes down, the reality of what’s ahead becomes clearer.

Like many other energy providers across the state and nation, we are amid major changes in how energy is produced and delivered. For example, Colorado is one of the most aggressive states in implementing air quality regulations and carbon emissions reduction targets; regulations that make the long-term operation of coal-fired power plants like Drake nearly impossible.

The regulatory landscape isn’t getting easier. In late February, the state unveiled its Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap 2.0. This updated plan outlines even more aggressive targets and includes a commitment to 100% clean energy by 2040 – a goal that could have unprecedented financial and reliability impacts on our customers. I addressed these issues in my recent blog.

As demolition efforts at the Drake site move forward and as concerns about the future of energy rates become more pronounced, we understand it has reawakened debate about the decision to close the plant.

No longer cost effective to operate

It’s important to note that in the months prior to Drake’s closure, the plant was a peak load facility only –running about 4% to 6% of the time during the hottest or coldest days. Its life as a daily power generation workhorse was over.

The six efficient and low-emission natural gas units installed adjacent to Drake and commissioned in 2023 are serving the downtown plant’s former role at much less cost and human resources and with far fewer emissions.

At nearly 100 years old, Drake was no longer cost-effective to operate and maintain. It had become inefficient and resource intensive. We estimate that closing the plant saved more than $200 million in operation and maintenance costs.

Reducing carbon emissions

The demolition of Drake and the planned closure of the Ray Nixon Power Plant within the next six years will help us achieve an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, as identified in our Sustainable Energy Plan (SEP). This emissions reduction target is consistent with regulatory mandates passed by the state legislature in 2019.

Our Sustainable Energy Plan (SEP)

We adopted the SEP in 2020 to help meet air quality regulations and to navigate the closure of two major power plants, while also prioritizing cost management and system reliability.

To ensure a responsible, reliable and cost-effective transition to more renewable resources, the SEP includes natural gas as a bridge generation source; transmission line upgrades; general enhancements to the electric grid; 1,700 megawatts of new energy resources; and the addition of largescale battery storage.

The Future of the Site

The Drake site will continue to provide reliable energy to our

community for years. The previously mentioned natural gas units and a substation located just to the south of the old power plant will remain onsite for the foreseeable future, to ensure grid reliability.

We will request independent environmental reviews of the site after demolition efforts are complete, which is expected by the end of 2024. These reviews will ultimately determine what level of mitigation and remediation will be required.

As we explore future uses on the Drake site, our main priorities are

protecting the financial interests of our customers and maintaining service reliability.

Travas Deal is the CEO of Colorado Springs Utilities.

Stop flushing money down the toilet and start saving with a new high-efficiency one. Learn more at csu.org.

POTTY TRAINING FOR ADULTS:

SAVE $60 A YEAR ON WASTEWATER WITH A HIGHEFFICIENCY TOILET.

Nonprofit Wrapping Care around the Most Vulnerable

BY KAY ROWE

The KENNA Foundation, founded by Kim Randall in November of 2022, is a Colorado nonprofit serving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, throughout El Paso County. The nonprofit works in partnership with healthcare professionals and community organizations.

Randall is not only the founder of The KENNA Foundation, but also a mother of three and a retired army nurse. In 2004, her family moved to Colorado in pursuit of better care for her daughter, MaKenna, who faced significant disabilities.

After a year of struggling to access essential resources, Randall made it her mission to make the healthcare system work for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. She attended nursing school and earned her nursing degree from Colorado State University-Pueblo in 2008. Randall

In

Memorium

strives to create a free healthcare network for special needs children.

She does this single-handedly through Kenna Nursing Services, founded December, 2020. Randall says, “Kenna Nursing Services operates to fund The KENNA Foundation by

donating 85% of its revenue to support its program for all-inclusive care of special needs kids providing medical and non-medical grants to children with special needs, their immediate caregivers, and siblings.”

The following are some of the wrap-around healthcare and social services the KENNA Foundation provides, regardless of the recipient’s financial resources:

• Skilled nursing and respite care

• Nurse case management

• Care coordination

• Covering costs of healthcare services and supplies

• Covering the costs of immediate family needs that directly impact the individual with developmental disabilities

Some recent instances of care and services to those in need include; providing an oxygen concentrator, assisting three families relocating to Colorado, obtaining and delivering household goods and aiding an individual with an emergency move due to flooding.

Tragically, her daughter, MaKenna Houser, succumbed to her disorder on July 15, 2010. Driven by MaKenna’s journey, Kim founded the foundation, as a living tribute to: perpetuate her legacy of love, acceptance and celebration of diversity.

Kay Rowe is a staff writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

KENNA-FOUNDATION.ORG

Academy Mourns Loss of Life

BY KIM DALY

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) mourns the loss of life in two recent but unrelated incidents.

On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Mrs. Chong Hirthler, a 23-year civilian employee, was found deceased in her vehicle after family members reported her delayed in returning from work. One day later, Cadet 2nd Class Tristen Burton, 21, of Granger, Texas, was killed in an off-base motorcycle incident.

Col. Dan Werner, 10th Air Base Wing deputy commander, remembers Chong as a dedicated 23-year member of the Mitchell Hall Food Service team. “She was

well-known and loved across the 10th Air Base Wing, the Preparatory School, and throughout the Cadet Area. Cadets, faculty and staff enjoyed her thoughtfulness and mentorship. She will be missed by everyone.”

Regarding Tristen, Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, USAFA superintendent, says he was studying mechanical engineering and hoped to be a special warfare officer. “He will be remembered as a trusted peer and respected wingman, who excelled in the classroom and in the gym as an avid weightlifter.”

Kim Daly is a senior writer for the SoCo Business Forum & Digest.

Kim Randall launched the KENNA Foundation and Kenna Nursing Services to provide healthcare and social services to children with special needs and their families.

Cadet 2nd Class Tristen Burton Mrs. Chong Hirthler

People

Professionals on the Rise

Celebrating Achievement of So. Colorado’s Workforce!

Linda Urrutia-Varhall, Maj. Gen. (Ret.), USAF and Julissa Soto, CEO, Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting have been appointed to the Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber Board of Directors.

Jessica Fierro is the 2024 Hispanic Chamber Board Chairwoman and Owner/ Head Brewer at Atrevida Beer Company

Lauren Martinez is a dynamic professional, currently serving as the Deputy Director of Opus Creative Industries. With a diverse background in restaurant management, Lauren brings a unique perspective to her role.

Emma Pirzadeh is an experienced event manager joining Sports Corp, leading some of the city’s best events from Downtown Summer Fest to the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame.

Evan Owen is a dedicated volunteer coordinator, managing hundreds of event volunteers to ensure smooth operations for Colorado Springs Sports Corp

Sector Report

Ann Alba, recipient of the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association’s ZENITH Award and 37-year veteran of the Broadmoor, will now act as the hotel’s Vice President and General Manager. She will oversee the establishment’s many unique operations and experiences.

Dylan Parsons is a strategic thinker with a passion for partnership development, driving growth and innovation at Colorado Springs Sports Corp

NOTE: Professionals on the Rise is The Digest’s newest feature to highlight those people in Southern Colorado who are doing big things. Promotions, new hires and outstanding accomplishments should be recognized. Do that here for the standouts in your organization. Shout it from the rooftops (or at least the laptops).

Email newsdesk@coloradomediagroup.com with details (up to 40 words) and a photo of the esteemed.

VBOC Connects Veteran Owned Businesses to Lenders

BY KIA PALMER

The Colorado Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) is addressing concerns heard from lenders and small business owners about how to gain access to capital and how to build a sustainable financial plan.

The concern from a small sample of lenders is that small business owners don’t fully understand critical aspects of business ownership: how their personal credit impacts their new business venture, the need for a financial plan that shows promise and a return on investment, how to select the best capital funding and how to

develop a cash-flow management plan that works. Lenders say they often deny loans or refer veteran-owned small businesses to small business resources such as the Colorado VBOC or to the U.S. Small Business Administration for assistance. It’s a problem for new and growing businesses — and it’s one reason why

we are here. Powered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Colorado VBOC offers workshops, training, counseling and mentorship for Colorado veterans, military members and their families.

Throughout March, we held

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Linda Urrutia-Varhall Julissa Soto

Jessica Fierro

Emma Pirzadeh

Evan Owen

Dylan Parsons

Lauren Martinez

Ann Alba

Sector Report

CONTINUATION FROM P. 27

VBOC

workshops to address these concerns and finished the month with a Lender Expo to connect entrepreneurs and small business owners with the lenders who may be able to provide them access to capital to start or expand their businesses. In the long run, our goal is to create positive economic impact by providing resources that lead to job creation and sustainability. The SBA Colorado District Office was a main speaker during the Lender Expo, and the Rocky Mountain Regional U.S. Patent and Trademark Office presented on intellectual property.

We collaborate to support and host workshops focused on the needs of veteran-owned small businesses, and the motivation for the workshop series is the fact that access to capital can be difficult on both ends.

In our work with entrepreneurs and small business owners, we know that things change: business plans, financial projections, market and industry needs and the economy. Lenders, community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and investors all want to see a return on their investment, a strong business strategy and an exit plan. These workshops focus on small business lending requirements that come up during the application process.

Our help is especially valuable, not simply because we are hosting the workshop series, but because the workshops are led by the bankers that the business owners may go to for access to capital. From understanding CDFIs and improving personal and business credit to learning how certifications can work for owners, leveraging that relationship with a lender and optimizing cash flow management.

We are the first and only Colorado VBOC. Since our inception in May 2023, we have registered over 350 clients. We conduct Boots to Business classes in conjunction with Transition Assistance Programs at all five Colorado military installations, and we also conduct Reboot classes for the military-connected off of the installations.

As we start our second year in Colorado, we invite veterans, service members, reservists, National Guard and military spouses to learn more about the Colorado Veterans Business Outreach Center and how we can help them achieve their business goals. We are available to help prepare for access to capital; create business plans; establish corporate, government and federal contracting; and market and industry research.

Kia Palmer is the director of the Colorado Veterans Business Outreach Center. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. To reach Kia, email kpalmer@mtcarmelcenter.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Reach out on the VBOC website at VETERANSCENTER.ORG/VBOC

Over 20 years of award-winning, 5-star event catering in Colorado Springs

BIG CITY FLAVORS, ELEVATED FAMILY EXPERIENCES, UNMATCHED SERVICE

Events are meant to be unique and focused on the experience–your catering should be too. For two decades, our unmatched service and an all-inclusive offering has made Garden of the Gods Catering & Events synonymous with excellence in event planning and execution. Our team takes pride in crafting the perfect day for you and your guests. If you can dream it, we can create it.

Now Offering Texas-Style BBQ I Check Out Our New Seasonal Menus Online

Anyone Can Cook for You...But We Turn The Ordinary Into Extraordinary

For over twenty years, Garden of the Gods Catering has been a pillar of culinary innovation and unparalleled service in the Colorado Springs community. From humble beginnings, this catering company has evolved into a one-stop shop for all event needs, offering numerous services under one roof, including catering, floral arrangements, and event spaces.

What sets Garden of the Gods Catering apart is our unwavering commitment to crafting new experiences daily. By focusing on continual innovation, we bring a fresh perspective to every event we touch. Our dedication to providing a personalized experience ensures that each client’s vision is brought to life with meticulous attention to detail.

One of Garden of the Gods Catering’s hallmarks is our all-inclusive offering. Clients can enjoy the convenience of having everything they need for their event sourced from a single vendor, from stunning floral arrangements to delectable menus crafted from real, fresh ingredients. This unique approach transforms event planning from a stressful endeavor into a seamless and enjoyable process.

Recently, Garden of the Gods Catering has introduced Texas-style BBQ to our menu, adding a bold and flavorful option that reflects our commitment to innovation and diversity. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant culinary scenes of big cities, we infuse their dishes with tantalizing flavors that leave guests craving more.

However, Garden of the Gods Catering is not just about the food and decor; it’s about the personalized service that sets it apart. Our team goes above and beyond to ensure that each client feels valued and heard, creating an atmosphere of trust and collaboration that is unmatched in the industry.

As Garden of the Gods Catering celebrates over two decades of excellence, we remain dedicated to pushing boundaries and exceeding expectations. Our commitment to providing a unique and unforgettable experience for every client underscores our status as a leader in the catering industry. For those seeking a partner to elevate their events to new heights, Garden of the Gods Catering stands ready to deliver an exceptional experience.

Now featuring new Texas-style BBQ

Thank you to each and every advertiser listed herein.

Alpine Bank

APG

Bank of Colorado

Boot Barn by Bourbon Brothers

Colorado Springs Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Colorado Springs Utilities

Financial Talent Group

Flying Horse Realty

Garden of the Gods Catering & Events

Garden of the Gods Resort

Marquesa Hobbs/Platinum Group

KKTV

Kaiser Permanente

Notes Bar

Notes Live

Pikes Peak Air Show

Salem Media

Southern Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce

US Bank

PRESENTED BY

HOSTED BY

2024 Pikes Peak Region Small Business Week

The week starts with the Small Business Awards Ceremony & Kickoff Bash followed by three days of impactful workshops plus a networking event designed to educate, celebrate, and champion local small businesses.

DAY 1 AWARDS CEREMONY & KICKOFF BASH

MONDAY

APRIL 29

Boot Barn Hall

Awards Ceremony: 4:00-5:30PM

Live Entertainment: 5:30-7:00PM

Join us in honoring our local business community with festivities and live entertainment.

DAY 3 MARKETING PANEL

WEDNESDAY MAY 1

Catalyst Campus | 9:00-10:30AM

Join our expert panelists with years of industry experience and cutting-edge insights. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, ask burning questions, and connect with like-minded professionals.

DAY 5 CLOSING CEREMONY

FRIDAY MAY 3

Lulu’s Downtown | 4:00-6:00PM

The grand finale of Small Business Week! Join us for an unforgettable opportunity to mingle with a week’s worth of esteemed panelists, captivating speakers, and like-minded attendees. As we close out this week, seize the chance to connect with industry leaders and foster new relationships.

DAY 2 VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS

TUESDAY

APRIL 30

Beginning at 9:00AM

These virtual sessions will include guest speakers and subject matter experts covering multiple topics to equip you with the knowledge and resources needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.

DAY 4 SMALL BUSINESS LISTENING TOUR

Bluestaq | 8:00-10:00AM

THURSDAY MAY 2

Mayor Yemi Mobolade will join Small Business Week for a Listening Tour of our small business community. Mayor Yemi’s administration has committed to responsive governance and believes that real progress is rooted in the thoughts, concerns, and ideas of Colorado Springs’ business owners and entrepreneurs.