STANDARD BLADE B R I G H T O N
SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1903
75cI
VOLUME 118
Issue 11
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021
Adams Co. economic summit tries to keep spirits high “State of the Region” event features Sen. John Hickenlooper and economist Patty Silverstein to deliver optimistic message BY LIAM ADAMS LADAMS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The pandemic might have done damage, but the future looks bright, was the message the Adams County Regional Economic Partnership (AC-REP) sought to send at the State of the Region event on March 4. The economic development group’s inaugural event featured an uplifting message from Sen. John Hickenlooper and a forecast from economist Patty Silverstein about the county’s post-pandemic recovery. Concluding her presentation, Silverstein, president of Development Research Partners, said, “Hang in there. In another four to six months, we will feel oh, so much better. We will start to feel like we’re on a growth track once again.” Still, Silverstein’s optimistic predictions didn’t overshadow data about the destruction that COVID-19 has caused. When the data is final-
Construction at Lennar at Buffalo Highlands, a new subdivision in eastern Commerce City. New housing development will be a key economic driver to help Adams County recover from the current recession, said economist Patty Silverstein at an Adams County
ized, Silverstein said she expects Adams County’s 2020 average unemployment rate to be about 8 percent. Depending on how one looks at the numbers, though, Adams County did better than some of its neighbors. When unemployment skyrocketed last spring as public health restrictions tightened, Adams County “had the least job losses of any of the metropolitan area counties,” Silverstein said. That’s partly due to Adams County’s employment base.
Fifty percent of jobs in the county are considered middle-wage, like those in the manufacturing, construction and government sectors. Unemployment didn’t hit high and middle-wage jobs as severely as lowwage ones, like those retail, leisure and hospitality, a group that represents 27% of workers in the county. Still, Silverstein said, “Adding all that together, then, we saw, again very significant job losses in 2020.” Her firm projects that the Denver
metro region lost 74,000 jobs in 2020. On the flip side, Silverstein sees promising trends to help make up for losses. For example, a large share of Adams County residents are Millennials who have disposable incomes and are interested in buying homes. Plus, Silverstein said, “We have been building to population growth.” Also, a third of industrial commercial real estate in the SEE ECONOMICS, P5
Councilors want review of Vestas deals, past agreements Company layoffs merits review of hiring quotas, sales tax revenues BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Vestas Blades announcement that it is laying off 280 at its Brighton plant has City Councilors wanting to go over city records to make sure that the company is keeping up with deals it made. “There were records that show
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how many Brighton residents that they need to keep employed at that facility,” City Councilor Matt Johnston said. “I want to make sure they are sticking to that.” Danish-based manufacturer Vestas-American Wind Technology announced in February that it plans to consolidate its footprint in Colorado, combining operations in Windsor, Pueblo and Brighton. The consolidation means that the company will cease making blades for the company’s towering windmills at the East Crown Prince Boulevard location, laying off 280 workers. The company will also cut employees at
its Pueblo towers factory and Brighton nacelles factories by a total of approximately 170 colleagues. Plans call for using the remaining Brighton facility to maintain installed Vestas wind generating machines around the country. Brighton Economic Development Director Michael Martinez said there is no requirement that the company hire a certain number of Brighton residents written into the city’s development agreement with the company. “There is only mention that Vestas will make the attempt to hire Brighton residents,” Martinez
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EDUCATION
2 • State favors reduced 3 COVID quarantines for 7 10 student athletes • Page 13 15
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• BHS’ Bowman selects South Dakota Mines for his college career • Page
said. “As you can imagine, over the past 11 years they will say they have met and made an attempt. The only number that is only solid in any agreement is that 900 employees must be maintained at the Brighton facilities.” Johnston said that was frustrating and challenged his colleagues to make sure they do not approve contracts and deals like that. “I think it’s important anyone listening to this meeting to know that we would not allow that to happen with current businesses,” SEE VESTAS, P5
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