Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Welcome to Denver

Denver has become one of the nation’s leading urban economies and centers of innovation.

The City has invested in 21st Century transportation; noted cultural, arts, and sports facilities

and programs; and, most importantly, in our community.

Denver at a Glance

• City and County of Denver population:

704,6211

• Total number of employer

establishments: 24,9862

• Median household income: $56,2583

• Median age: 34.2 years4

• Education levels: High school graduate

or higher – 86%; Bachelor’s Degree or

higher – 45.7%5

1 As of July 1, 2018; US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/denvercountycolora

do 2 As of 2016; US Census Bureau 3 2012-2016; 2016 dollars; US Census Bureau

4 Colorado Demographic Profiles, Denver County;

Colorado Department of Local Affairs,

https://gis.dola.colorado.gov/apps/ProfileDashboard/ 5 Percent of persons 25+ years, 2012-2016; US Census

Bureau

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

A tour of Denver’s Center City neighborhoods6

AURARIA

The Auraria Higher Education Center is specifically unique as a higher-education community

located in Downtown. Its 150-acre campus is home to three distinct academic institutions

offering both four-year and advanced degrees, and Connecting Auraria to foster expanded

physical and programmatic connections between the Auraria Campus and the rest of

Downtown.

BALLPARK

The Ballpark neighborhood lies to the north of Lower Downtown (LoDo) and Downtown

Denver’s Central Business District. The southern end of the neighborhood is anchored by

Coors Field and stretches to the north into a section of Downtown that is still very much a

functioning warehouse and light industry district. Now a historic district, most of its original

industrial buildings still stand today.

6 “A Diverse Community Unified by the Unique,” Downtown Denver Partnership,

https://www.downtowndenver.com/experience-downtown/neighborhoods/

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

CAPITOL HILL

With lots of walkable streets and almost every amenity close by, foot traffic outnumbers car

traffic. Capitol Hill’s longstanding popularity has made it the center city’s most densely

populated neighborhood. Strolling through the neighborhood, you’re reminded that Capitol

Hill was founded in the 1880s as a new residential suburb for Denver’s wealthiest families.

CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (CBD)

The Central Business District is also the commercial core of Downtown Denver, and is home

to more than 7,000 citizens. Residents here are surrounded by some of the city’s best

dining, shopping, arts and culture. Everything is a quick walk or a short free shuttle ride

away. The Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Denver Art Museum, Colorado History

Museum, Cherry Creek bike path, Denver Public Library, Civic Center Park, Pepsi Center and

the Paramount Theatre are just a few of the treasures within walking distance for these

residents.

CENTRAL PLATTE VALLEY (CPV)

One of Downtown Denver’s fastest growing neighborhoods, the amenity-rich Central Plate

Valley is home to nearly 6,000 residential units and 90 beautiful acres of parks. Along the

South Platte River lie Gates-Crescent, Centennial, Fishback, Confluence and Cuernavaca

Parks, plus the neighborhood’s 30-acre centerpiece, Commons Park.

FIVE POINTS

Five Points was founded in the 1860s as one of Denver’s first residential suburbs. It

features some of Denver’s oldest homes and historic storefronts. Its commercial district was

a requisite stop for the world’s premier African American jazz musicians – including Charlie

Parker, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton and countless others – who stopped in Denver on

their way between Midwest and West Coast tours to play in Five Points’ clubs and

performance halls.

GOLDEN TRIANGLE

The Golden Triangle includes Civic Center Park, the Colorado State Capitol, Denver Art

Museum, U.S. Mint Museum, state and federal offices. In addition, there are hundreds of

unique business, retail and dining, and thousands of residents.

HIGHLAND

With its hilly, tree-lined streets and eclectic mix of housing, the Highland neighborhood

overlooks Downtown Denver. This thriving area has become the place to be for young

urbanites wanting to own homes close to Downtown, contributing to a boom in home sales,

new buildings, and the overall vibrancy of the neighborhood.

JEFFERSON PARK

Just to the south of the Highland neighborhood, a community called Jefferson Park is

situated on a perch overlooking Downtown Denver. This neighborhood is sought after by

those looking for homes close to the urban core in a district that offers apartments, condos

and single-family residences with yards.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

LA ALMA/LINCOLN PARK

La Alma/Lincoln Park is one of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods. This charming neighborhood

is close to the heart of Downtown, housing the Denver Health Medical Center and Denver

Public School’s West High School, as well as the Asian and Hispanic Chambers of Commerce

and the Latino Cultural and Visitors Center.

LOWER DOWNTOWN (LODO)

Lower Downtown includes historically-preserved buildings, new lofts and some of the best

shopping, dining and entertainment venues in town. This urban neighborhood is a

combination of historical storefronts, brick warehouses, industrial buildings and commercial

structures that have been renovated into offices, lofts and retail space.

RIVER NORTH (RINO)

Located just north of downtown Denver, RiNo includes a remarkable concentration of

creative businesses, and an array of studio spaces. RiNo is “Where Art Is Made” in Denver.

UPTOWN

Just to the east of Downtown Denver, Uptown boasts an array of great restaurants, shops

and office buildings. One of the nicest things about this area is the mix of services and living

styles all melded together – restaurants and shops sit next to historic mansions, new

construction lofts and condominium projects.

SUN VALLEY

Sun Valley is home to Lakewood Gulch Trail and is an excellent connection to Denver’s

western suburban neighbors. The area is quickly growing and is home to more than 1,500

residential units.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Business and Economy

Most recently, Denver’s exciting and notable growth has been occurring within the tech and other

knowledge-based industries. Although Denver’s economy is traditionally backed on oil and gas and

natural resources, other industries such as IT, financial services, and healthcare have expanded as

the city’s economy continues to diversify and attract new talent with fresh skillsets.

Largest Employers in the City and County of Denver7

Company Industry Local Employees United Airlines Airline 6,050

University of Denver University 4,140

Southwest Airlines Airline 3,990

Frontier Airlines Airline 3,430

HealthONE Healthcare 2,930

Kaiser Permanente Healthcare 2,430

Saint Joseph Hospital Healthcare 2,340

CenturyLink Telecommunications 2,120

Anthem Blue Cross

Blue Shield

Insurance 2,090

Xcel Energy Utilities 1,830

Denver’s Largest Industries

7 “Largest Employers 2018-2019,” Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and Development Research Partners

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Headquarters Based in Denver and the Metro Area

For Job Seekers in Denver

Andrew Hudson’s Jobs List – career connections in Colorado

Luke’s Circle – a network connecting talented professional to growing companies in Denver

and Boulder

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Job Board – job postings from the Chamber

community

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Transportation and Connectivity The Denver metro area

has taken bold steps in

investing in our

transportation

infrastructure, systems,

and mobility, not just for

today’s needs, but for

future demand. From

enhanced light rail and

bus rapid transit services

across Metro Denver to

our FasTracks System

connecting urban and

suburban corridors,

employment centers and

residential areas are

increasingly connected.

Enhanced transportation mobility is not achieved by solely increasing our infrastructure and systems

– it requires changing how we travel. Denver was recently granted funds as part of the SMART

transportation initiatives, and the City will introduce new technologies and approaches in its

planning. From driverless shuttles to smart grid systems, from electric vehicles to last-mile solutions,

we are striving to improve our individual and business mobility in smart ways.

Recent and future planned investments in

Denver’s transportation system are highlighted

below:

$7.4 billion dollars spent to build out

Metro Denver’s mass transit system by

2019

140 miles of new light rail and bus rapid

transit

#1 largest buildout of a U.S. transit

system since the construction of the

Washington, DC metro system

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Living in Denver

A Growing Community

Between 2015 and 2016, Colorado grew

by 223,000. Those residents moved

predominantly from California, Texas,

Illinois, Florida, and Arizona.8

Denver’s fastest-growing areas include

these neighborhoods:

• Stapleton (+12.6%)

• Whittier (+2,000 residents)

• Mar Lee (+2,067 residents)9

Apartment Living

See the chart below to explore the population breakdown of Denver’s City Center

neighborhoods and the apartment inventory outlook in each area.

Neighborhood10 Total Population Population growth since

2010

Housing units added or

currently under

construction

Highland 9,700 22% 1,717

River North (RiNo) 1,417 38% 1,866

Ballpark 4,751 52% 1,688

Central Platte Valley 6,609 58% 5,669

Jefferson Park 3,183 25% 1,171

Auraria 622 5% 0

Sun Valley 1,593 9% 0

La Alma/Lincoln

Park

7,061 16% 459

Capitol Hill 17,142 12% 816

Uptown 9,569 25% 972

Central Business

District

7,077 39% 1,147

Lodo 2,505 25% 47

Five Points 5,688 26% 1,763

8 “States of Migration: Where Coloradans are moving, and who’s replacing them,” James Rodriguez, July 2018, Denver

Business Journal, https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2018/07/12/states-of-migration-where-coloradans-are-

moving.html 9 “States of Migration.” 10 “Center City Housing: State of Housing,” Downtown Denver Partnership, http://www.downtowndenver.com/wp-

content/uploads/2017-Center-City-Housing-Report.pdf, published in September 2017

Denver County Average Apartment Rents1

• Efficiency: $1,237.21

• 1 bed: $1,339.37

• 2 bed/1 bath: $1,357.75

• 2 bed/2 bath: $1,847.74

• 3 bed: $1,880.52

Denver County vacancy rate (Q4 2017):

7.2%

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

More on

apartment living:

Crane Watch

Denver – an

interactive map

showcasing metro

Denver

developments and

construction

projects

This map is an up-

to-date screenshot

to demonstrate the

number of

multifamily

developments occurring in Denver in October 2018.

Pet-Friendly Denver

Denver’s city neighborhoods are becoming increasingly pet-friendly as the population grows.

The region is home to many pet-friendly activities and destinations, including dog-friendly

hotels and dog parks.

Top 5 Low-Cost Vet Clinics in Denver

Visit Denver’s Pet-Friendly Denver page

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Buying or Renting a Home

Denver metro home inventory is up 7% in October 2018 compared to September, and has

increased more than 16% year-over-year from 2017. The average sold price of a single-family

home decreased 3.79% month-over-month from August to September of 2018.

The Denver Metro Association of Realtors note that signs of the housing market cooling are

apparent, with inventory increasing 2.33 months for single family homes compared to 1.68

months of inventory in August. Condos in the Metro Denver area also saw inventory increase

from 1.48 months to 1.93 months from August to September.11

Denver Metro Area Statistics - October 201812

2017 New Housing Stock13 Denver County

2017

Single-family detached: 2,370

Single-family attached: 198

Multi-family: 7,957

Total units: 10,525

2016

Single-family detached: 1,887

Single-family attached: 374

Multi-family: 5,581

Total units: 7,842

Condominiums

An important change impacting the Denver housing market is recent legislation spurring the

development of condominiums in 2017. Governor John Hickenlooper signed a reform bill

making it more difficult for associations of condominium owners to file multi-million-dollar

construction defect lawsuits against builders. Since the signing of the bill, there are signals

that inventory is bouncing back as developers are beginning to design new projects to meet

high demand for housing.

Ideally, Denver will begin to experience the development of product ranging from affordable

studios for first time buyers, or luxury penthouses for buyers looking for high-end, amenity rich

buildings.14

11 “Inventory is up and prices are down in Denver’s housing market,” Kelcey McClung, October 3, 2018, Denver Business

Journal, https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2018/10/03/denver-housing-prices-inventory-september-report.html 12 Denver Metro Association of Realtors, https://www.dmarealtors.com/infographic-market-trends-overview-oct-18 13 “New Residential Units by County,” Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation 14 “A year after construction-law reform, Denver’s condo supply starts to bounce back,” Kelsey McClung, Denver Business

Journal, September 6, 2018, https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2018/09/06/denver-condo-supply-construction-

law-reform.html

Single family plus condominium month-

over-month data

Active Inventory: 8,807 (+7.04%)

Sold Homes: 3,983 (-28.91%)

Average sold price: $455,980 (-3.36%)

Median sold price: $399,500 (-1.96%)

Average days on market: 26 (+13.04%)

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Costs of Living and

Taxes Colorado has a single, low tax rate and

is easily navigable thanks to the fact

that there are only two tax brackets.

The state assesses a flat tax of 4.63%

of an individual’s federal taxable

income. The state was ranked 14th out

of 50 in the 2019 State Business Tax

Climate Index by the Tax Foundation.

Colorado property taxes have three

main components: the actual value of

the property, the assessment rate,

and the mill levy. Local assessors establish the actual value of the property and the

property’s classification. According to the Tax Foundation, Colorado is ranked #43 out of fifty

for the lowest property tax rates (#50 = lowest effective property tax rate; #1 = highest

effective property tax rate). New Jersey has the highest at 2.11%, which Hawaii has the

lowest (0.28%). Colorado’s rate is competitive at 0.59%.

The state sales tax rate of 2.9% is the lowest of the states that levy a sales tax. Keep in mind

that municipal sales taxes vary. The Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation has a

regional breakdown of sales tax rates for the greater Denver area.

The State of Colorado’s Department of Revenue is home to the Motor Vehicle Division, the

Taxation Division, and others which provide everyday service to Coloradans. The Treasury

Division handles Business and Property Taxes at the City and County level in Denver.

The table below illustrates a general Cost of Living analysis between Denver, Raleigh, and

Charlotte. In general, Denver is costlier than either market. However, Denver is more

affordable when it comes to the cost of groceries and utilities.

15 January 2018, Council for Community and Economic Research

City15 All items Grocery Housing Utilities Transportation Healthcare

Misc.

Goods

Services

Denver 112 98.3 133.5 94 105.5 105.7 107.6

Raleigh 96.4 106.1 83.4 98 99.7 100.8 101.3

Charlotte 96.2 96.6 86.7 100 96.3 105.4 101.4

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Additional Education Information

Early Childhood Resources The City and County of Denver is putting a progressive foot forward to support citizens in the

need for early childhood care. The Denver Preschool Program (DPP) helps make preschool

possible for all Denver families – regardless of income – through tuition support and access

to information.

In addition to serving as a liaison between parents and preschools, DPP works to improve

preschool quality, studies how preschool affects kindergarten readiness, and is a national

advocate for excellence in early childhood education.

• Colorado Shines: a quality rating and improvement system used to assess, improve, and

communicate the level of quality in early care and education programs.

• Clayton Early Learning: provides national leadership to advance the field of early childhood

education by researching, implementing, and disseminating innovative teaching models.

• Child Find: part of Colorado’s system for identifying children suspected of having a delay in

development.

• Colorado Child Care Assistance Program: helps low-income families that are homeless,

working, searching for work, or in school find child care assistance.

• RMSER Head Start: this culturally sensitive Head Start Program educate over 2,200 children

yearly who are enrolled throughout Colorado.

• Denver Great Kids Head Start: an award-winning program that prepares children to enter

kindergarten confidently with the social, physical, emotional, cognitive skills, and

competencies necessary for continue school success.

• Colorado Office of Early Childhood: provides collaborative leadership to align resources for

children, families, and early childhood professionals to best prepare Coloradans for future

success, through access to coordinated and quality early childhood programs and family

supports.

• Colorado Preschool Program: a state-funded early childhood education program

administered by the Colorado Department of Education.

• Countdown to Kindergarten: a community-wide effort established to better inform parents of

preschool-aged kids on several school readiness topics and the importance of their role in

the academic achievement of their children.

• Denver’s Early Childhood Council: a coalition of leaders across Denver committed to working

together on behalf of our youngest children.

• Early Childhood Mental Health Specialists Program: seeks to create nurturing environments

and relationships that encourage mental health and well-being among children, families, and

staff.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

• Early Intervention Colorado: Colorado’s Infant and Toddler Initiative under the Individuals

with Disabilities Education Act.

• Qualistar: an organization with a mission to elevate the quality of early childhood education

in Colorado by improving the everyday practice of professionals, and by building safe,

supportive environments.

• Family Resource Center Association: provides public advocacy, capacity building, and

resource development to strengthen our statewide network of Family Resource Centers.

Higher Education

The City of Denver and the greater metro area is home to nationally-recognized higher

education institutions of all sizes. See below to learn more about the region’s offerings and

the unique career pathways available to students of all disciplines.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Unique industry partnerships and certifications in Denver

Institution Program/Certificate

The University of

Colorado Denver

Comcast Center for Creative Technology

J.P. Morgan Center for Commodities

Jake Jabs Center for Entrepreneurship

Metropolitan State

University of Denver

Additive Manufacturing Engineering

Advanced Composite Materials and Manufacturing

Aging Services Leadership

Airport Management

Beverage Management

Brewery Operations

Health Data Science

Outdoor Recreation Leadership

Hotel Management

Unmanned Aerial Systems

Community College of

Denver

Certificate in Business – Entrepreneurship Certificate

Certificate in Machine Technologies – Basic Machining

Computer Information Systems – Certificate in Cybersecurity

Healthcare Data Analytics Certificate

Denver apprenticeships and alternative career pathways

Denver Workforce Services serves as a comprehensive employment and training resource

for employers, job seekers, and youth. The Denver City Council is focused on workforce

development, particularly expanding funding for available apprenticeship programs

throughout the city with targeted employers in key industries.

CareerWise modern youth apprentices earn a wage while receiving hands-on work

experience where they can apply their high-school classroom learning each week. By the

conclusion of the program, students will have meaningful work experience, a nationally-

recognized industry certification, a professional network, and the opportunity to earn debt-

free college credit. The three-year model ensures businesses realize financial ROI based on

the apprentice’s production and develop a skilled talent pipeline for hard-to-fill positions.

Apprenticeships are in five different pathways: advanced manufacturing, information

technology, financial services, business operations, and healthcare. Denver-based

companies currently accepting apprentices include: DaVita, University of Colorado Denver,

HomeAdvisor, Skillful, and more.

The College and Career Pathways Council is charged with guiding the expansion of

CareerConnect pathways at Denver Public Schools so that Denver can lead the nation in K-

12 outcomes and workforce development. The Council advises DPS leadership on strategic

questions, including big ideas to break the mold of traditional K-12 education, advocacy to

break through the stigma of vocational education by tying in STEM opportunities, access to

programming, partnerships, and resource stewardship.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Healthcare Resources

Denver Health As a comprehensive, integrated organization providing level one care for all, Denver Health is

Colorado’s primary safety net institution. Denver Health is one of four Level I trauma centers in

Colorado and one of the primary teaching hospitals in Denver. Since becoming Denver Health and

Hospital Authority in 1997, the number of individuals cared for at Denver Health annually has

increased from 120,000 to 220,000 and the 911 ambulance transports increased from 54,000 to

112,000. Denver Health has provided $5.5 billion in uncompensated care. Twenty-five percent of all

Denver residents, or approximately 150,000 individuals, receive their healthcare at Denver Health.

Rankings & Notable Designations

• Healthgrades awarded Denver Health a 2017 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical

Excellence, placing it among the top five percent of hospitals in the nation.

• The American Hospital Association’s Health Forum recognized Denver Health as a most wired

healthcare system.

Rose Medical Center HCA-HealthONE is one of the region’s largest healthcare systems with more than 10,000 employees.

Major facilities in the region including The Medical Center of Aurora, North Suburban Medical Center,

Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Rose Medical Center,

Sky Ridge Medical Center, Swedish Medical Center, and Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital work

together to provide a higher level of care. Other services include seven free-standing emergency

departments, numerous ambulatory surgery centers, CareNow Urgent Care Clinics and Occupational

Medicine, physician practices, and AIRLIFE-DENVER.

Rankings & Notable Designations

• Rose Medical Center, the Medical Center of Aurora, Sky Ridge Medical Center, and

Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center were named among the nation’s “Best Hospitals,”

according to U.S. News & World Report. Rose was also named as a Best Hospital (#40) in

national rankings for gynecological care, and achieved the highest rating possible in five

procedures or conditions.

• Rose Medical Center achieved the Healthgrades 2017 Outstanding Patient Experience Award for

the third year in a row.

• The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for

Excellence on the Intensive Care Unit at Rose Medical Center.

National Jewish Health National Jewish Health is a worldwide leader in treating patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune,

and related disorders. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health remains the

only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these disorders.

Rankings & Notable Designations

• National Jewish Health was named the top respiratory hospital in the nation by U.S. News &

World Report in its 2017 Best Hospitals rankings. The Hospital was also recognized as “High

Performing,” the best rating available, for care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease and for lung cancer surgery in the Common Adult Conditions and Procedures categories.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Leisure and

Recreation

The City of Denver is rich with

opportunity in arts, culture,

and recreation.

Scientific and Cultural

Facilities District

Since 1989, Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) has distributed funds from a

1/10 of 1% sales and use tax to cultural facilities throughout the seven-county Denver,

Colorado metropolitan area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and

Jefferson counties). The funds support cultural facilities whose primary purpose

is for enlightening and entertaining the public through the production, presentation,

exhibition, advancement or preservation of visual arts, performing arts, cultural history,

natural history, or natural sciences. Pictured above is the Denver Art Museum, which is

partially funded through SCFD.

Visit Denver is the source for daily activities happening throughout Denver. Highlighted

below are some of the City’s largest and most well-attended annual festivals.

Indigenous Film and Arts Festival

Denver Film Festival

Denver Arts Week

Christkindl Market

A Taste of Colorado

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

Great American Beer Fest

Denver Comic Con

Denver Underground Music Showcase

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA)

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts is the nation’s largest non-profit theatre

organization. The DCPA offers six unique experiences: DCPA Broadway, DCPA Theatre

Company, DCPA Cabaret, DCPA Off-Center, DCPA Education, and DCPA Event Services. The

DCPA is the nation’s largest arts complex under one roof. See below for current and

upcoming shows at the DCPA.

Oklahoma!

The Constant Wife

Dear Evan Hansen

Corduroy

Come From Away

A Bronx Tale

Last Night and the Night Before

Sweat

Cats

Wicked

Fiddler on the Roof

Anastasia

First Fridays – neighborhood-based arts experiences

River North Art District

Art District on Santa Fe

Tennyson Street Cultural District

South Pearl Street

Golden Triangle Museum District

40 West Arts District & Block 7 Galleries

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Fitness and Outdoor Accessibility Without a doubt, newcomers venture to Colorado for its outdoor beauty and accessibility. As

one of the nation’s fittest states, visitors and new residents will have no trouble finding their

preferred fitness option whether it is inside or outside, and regardless of the season.

See Fitt Denver’s website for a recommend list of various workout gyms and opportunities to

try something new.

Denver Outdoors

The Denver Parks and Recreation system includes nearly 20,000 acres of urban and

mountain parkland including off-street trails, parkways and natural areas, eight golf courses,

24 lakes, more than 78,000 trees, over 80 miles of trails, nine off-leash dog parks, and over

300 athletic fields. The recreation system includes 28 rec centers, 16 outdoor pools, and 15

indoor pools serving more than one million visitors annually.

Below is a map of Denver’s parks. You can learn more about both parks and recreation

centers throughout the city at Denver’s Parks and Recreation website.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Shopping and Dining

Denver ranked restaurants

Home to award-winning chefs and restauranteurs, Denver has emerged as one of the top

dining locations in the country. Denver’s local culinary scene is thriving, offering everything

from farm-to-table bistros to classic steakhouses to historic Denver restaurants. Zagat has

rated several restaurants in Denver as the year’s hottest.

The popular website EATER has chosen Denver as one of its coveted feature communities.

EATER Denver is a great resource for visitors and residents to keep up with restaurant

openings and trends.

The City is known for excellence in beverage

production, and while anyone is out and

about, there is a great chance that there is a

locally-owned distillery, a brewery, or a winery

right around the corner.

Denver Distilleries

Denver Wineries

Denver Beer Trail

Denver Bars and Clubs

Increasingly popular are collocated retail,

food and beverage, and lifestyle companies all under one roof. Read further to discover

some of the most popular collocation projects in Denver.

The Dairy Block – This historic block

located in the LoDo neighborhood

was once home to Windsor Dairy and

is now the stomping ground for

tastemakers, fun seekers, and

seasoned regulars.

The Source - A collection of

independent retail, restaurants, and

100 design-forward hotel rooms in

the heart of Denver’s River North Art

District. (Pictured right)

Denver Central Market – The Denver

Central Market is a gourmet marketplace and food hall.

The Denver Flea – The Denver Flea is a regularly-scheduled retail experience showcasing

independent artisans from throughout Colorado. The event features the vendors, seasonal

cocktails, food trucks, and live music.

Denver Restaurant Week

The 14th annual Denver Restaurant

Week took place February 23 – March

4, 2018. Hundreds of Denver’s top

restaurants offered multi-course

dinners for three tasty prices: $25,

$35, or $45 during the 10-day-long

event spread across Denver’s

neighborhoods.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Volunteer and

Philanthropy

Opportunities The Denver Office of

Economic

Development and City

partners strive to

encourage both

individual and

corporate civic

engagement by

providing a range of

resources. See below

for more information

about philanthropic

and volunteer

activities in the region.

Colorado’s largest foundations16

1. The Colorado Health Foundation

2. Daniels Fund

3. The Denver Foundation

4. El Pomar Foundation

5. The Colorado Trust

6. Gates Family Foundation

7. Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation

8. Community First Foundation

9. Rose Community Foundation

10. Boettcher Foundation

Boards of Directors

To learn more about becoming a board member of a local nonprofit organization or a city or

state boards and commissions member: Denver Boards and Commissions; Colorado Boards

and Commissions; Spark the Change Colorado; Mile High United Way

Volunteering

For resources connecting individual volunteers and groups of all sizes to volunteer

opportunities: Spark the Change Colorado, Mile High United Way

16 “2017 Largest Foundations,” Denver Business Journal, https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/subscriber-

only/2017/09/01/2017-largest-foundations.html

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Media Resources and Local Government Information

Denver Business Journal: Breaking business news, photos and

videos, updated throughout the day. Also features stories from

the print edition of the publication

Denver Post: Daily newspaper covering

Colorado, the US, and international

news

Colorado Sun: A journalist-owned and ad-free news

agency based in Denver covering all of Colorado

BusinessDen: A Denver-focused electronic periodical

concentrating news on small business

Denverite: Denver-focused electronic periodical on news, arts, and

entertainment throughout the city

Colorado Public Radio: CPR is the local National Public Radio

station. CPR produces and curates in-depth and meaningful

news and music. CPR is home to a news station, and CPR

Classical and CPR’s OpenAir music.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Denver City Council Information

Denver City Council makes laws, budgets City money, and has the authority to investigate

City agencies and employees. The Denver City Council has 13 council members, 11 from

equally populated districts and two elected at large.

The full Council meets most Mondays in regular session at 5:30 pm at the City Council

Chambers in the City and County Building. Council committees also meet frequently to

discuss and prepare proposed laws. All Council meetings are open to the public.

The Metro Denver area is well-known for its regional collaboration in political, environmental,

and economic matters. The Metro Mayors Caucus creates a neutral area for 40 members of

government of municipalities of all sizes for the exchange of ideas on issues that affect the

entire region.

Cooperation among political and civic groups in the Metro area include work on multimodal

and sustainable infrastructure development, growth management, multimodal

transportation, energy conservation, affordable housing, and further intergovernmental

cooperation.

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Elevate Denver Bond Program

The Elevate Denver Bond

Program is a 10-year, $937

million general obligation bond

approved by voters in 2017 to

enhance the City and County of

Denver by providing critical

citywide improvements to the

infrastructure that defines

Denver – our roads and

sidewalks, parks and

playgrounds, libraries and

museums. Through more than

500 projects, Elevate Denver

ensures our city works for

everyone.

Public improvement projects

touch every corner of the city,

benefitting all of Denver’s 78 neighborhoods in seven unique ways: transportation and

mobility, cultural facilities, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, libraries, public facilities,

public safety, and parks and recreation.

2018 Ballot Initiatives in Denver and the State of Colorado17

Denver Initiative 300

Prosperity Denver would dedicate a .08 percent sales tax increase to post-secondary

scholarships for Denver high school graduates. The less than a penny increase on $10

would generate nearly $14 million annually and sunset in 12 years. The new funding would

underwrite scholarships, based on a sliding income scale, for eligible Denver residents

between the ages of 18 and 25 who have lived in Denver for at least 36 months. Students

with a high school diploma or GED may attend a Colorado-accredited public or nonprofit two-

or four-year college, university, community college or technical college.

Proposition 112

This initiative requires that all new oil and gas development be located a minimum distance

of 2,500 feet from occupied buildings as well as areas defined separately as vulnerable that

could include playgrounds, sports fields, public parks, lakes and more.

17 “2018 Business Ballot Guide,” Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce,

https://denverchamber.org/policy/ballot-issues/

Denver Office of Economic Development

101 W. Colfax Avenue, Suite 850 | Denver, CO 80202

www.denvergov.org/oed

720-913-1999

Proposition 110

Let’s Go Colorado would fund transportation improvements in our state through a 6.2%

sales tax increase. This six cent increase on $10 would raise $767 million a year for

transportation and unlock $6 billion of bonding capacity to be used for statewide projects on

a priority list developed and released by the Colorado Department of Transportation; local

projects determined by municipalities; and, regional projects like senior bus service.

Proposition 109

Proposition 109 allows the state to take out $3.5 billion in bonds to address state

transportation projects.

Amendment 74

This initiative requires property owners to be compensated for any reduction in fair market

property value caused by the application of any government law or regulation.

Amendment 73

Amendment 73 is a $1.6 billion tax increase for preschool-to-12 public education. It

changes Colorado’s tax structure to a graduated income tax for income above $150,000.

The current income tax rate is at 4.63%. This proposal creates a graduated income tax

between 5% and 8.25% for earnings of $150,000 and above; increases the corporate tax

rate from 4.3% to 6%; reduces the residential property tax rate from 7.2% to 7%; and,

reduces the commercial property tax rate from 29% to 24%.

Amendment Y and Amendment Z

Fair Maps Colorado is a congressional and legislative redistricting package. Amendment Y

would create a 12-member independent congressional redistricting commission with four

members from the state’s largest political party, four members from the state’s second-

largest political party, and four unaffiliated members. Amendment Z would create a 12-

member independent legislative redistricting commission of the same makeup, and would

require districts to be competitive, which is defined as having reasonable potential to

change political party at least once every 10 years.