Golden Transcript 0423

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April 23, 2015 VOLU M E 1 49 | I S S UE 20 | 5 0 ¢

GoldenTranscript.net J E F F E R S O N C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O

A publication of

Housing raises concerns in Jeffco County hits lowest apartment vacancy rate since 1995 By Amy Woodward

awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com An increase in jobs and a decrease in unemployment rates were among recent updates presented by the Jefferson County Economic Development Commission to the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, April 14. Employment increased 3 percent in the third quarter of 2014 compared to 2013, according to a first-quarter report by the Jeffco EDC. The percentage represents an additional 6,600 jobs. Construction reported the largest increase in employment with an added 1,670 jobs, rising 13.4 percent over the years 2013

and 2014. Professional and business services, wholesale trade and information sectors also contributed to job growth. Retail trade fell behind by 0.1 percent, representing 19 fewer jobs. Lower apartment vacancy rates, higher selling prices for homes and a lag in salary increases raised concerns with county commissioners. The EDC reported Jeffco having the second lowest apartment vacancy rate out of six metro Denver county market groups. Vacancy rates fell in the fourth quarter of 2014 from a year earlier, with an annual vacancy rate at 3.5 percent, the lowest annual rate since 1995. In real estate, the average selling price for a single-family detached home was $367,146 in the fourth quarter of 2014. “This is very concerning to me,” said Commissioner Don Rosier, who spoke on the lack of affordable housing. “We’re recovering in some areas, but not

ECONOMIC HEADLINES FedEx Corp. announced a new location at RMMA’s Verve Innovation Park. The company plans to construct a 216,000 sq. ft distribution center occupying 26 acres at 112th Ave., west of Simms St. The project brings more than $16 million in new capital investment and 144 jobs to Jeffco. The Empanada Market LLC announced plans to open a manufacturing facility for their successful empanadas. The company will occupy 6,300 sq. ft. in Westminster and plans to hire 30 employees over the next couple of years. The project brings $800,000 of new capital investment to the county. Mountain Toad Brewing, located in Golden, announced plans to build Toad Mesa, a 21,000 sq. ft. production and packaging facility in the Coors Technology Center. The new facility will also include a small tasting room and beer garden. The project will bring an additional 10 jobs and over $800,000 in new capital investment to the county. Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation is relocating their operations from Denver to Arvada. The new 14,750 square foot facility will also house a milk bank. The project will bring 24 jobs and $500,000 in new capital investment to the county.

everyone is seeing it,” Commissioner Casey Tighe said. Although foreclosure filings increased in the fourth quarter of 2014 over a year earlier, activity has remained “near historic lows” in Jeffco.

“It sounds like everything is going well but that’s not what I am hearing from neighbors,” said Commissioner Libby Szabo. “We can put numbers on a page all day long,” she said, but portions of the EDC’s report are not “necessarily reflecting into real life.”

It’s story time

INSIDE THE TRANSCRIPT School negotiations get more specific. Page 2

Annual gathering brings tellers of tales together

Building bridges to youth through faith. Page 4

By Amy Woodward

awoodward@colorado communitymedia.com

S POSTAL ADDRESS

GOLDEN TRANSCRIPT (ISSN 0746-6382)

OFFICE: 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Golden Transcript is published weekly on Thursday by Mile High Newspapers, 722 Washington Ave, Unit 210, Golden, CO 80401. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT GOLDEN, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 722 Washington Ave., Unit 210 Golden, CO 80401 DEADLINES: Display: Fri. 11 a.m. Legal: Fri. 11 a.m. | Classified: Mon. 5 p.m. G ET SOCI AL WITH US

P LE A S E R ECYC L E T H I S C O PY

tory time isn’t just for kids anymore. The Rocky Mountain Storytelling Conference presents a weekend of tales and fables told by some of the country’s best storytellers in “Wickedly Funny & Soul Deep: The Story Road.” Presented for the first time in Golden, the third annual concert and conference makes its debut at the American IF YOU GO MountainTickets and schedules to the eering Center 2015 Rocky Mountain Storytellon Friday, ing Conference, set for May 1-2, May 1, and may be purchased online at Saturday, www.rmstory.org or by calling May 2. Kate Lutz at 303-941-1749. The event Friday concert tickets are $10 offers story online or at the door, space concerts and available. workshops Saturday conference tickets for a weekbegin at $55 for advance purend of fun chases, and $90 at the door. Satand educaurday tickets includes Friday’s tion. concert and Saturday lunch. “Oral language is our first language and we are hard-wired for story,” said Lev Ropes, known as “Grandbear, the storyteller,” of Golden. “We just automatically tune to stories.” Storytelling is one of many forms of communication that may be applied in professional fields where working with peers, public speaking and presentations is part of the deal. “If you want to be a better communicator, then storytelling is your key,” said award-winning storyteller Judith Black. “It is a folk art and everyone can do it.” Based out of Boston, Black is the featured performer for “Wickedly Funny” and will host a Saturday morning workshop; “Authentic Interactions: Creating Spontaneous Bridges Between Listeners, Story and Ourselves.” Black was the 2001 inductee in the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence, one of the largest storytelling membership organizations.

Story continues on Page 31

Special Guest Judith Black Courtesy photo


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