Cities Find Ways to Invest in Economic Development Without State Help

Erin O'Toole (2010-01-20)

GREELEY, CO (KUNC) - A report from the Colorado Municipal League says cities struggling with the economic recession aren't waiting for the state to help them create jobs.

Budget cuts have forced virtually every Colorado municipality to scale back on services and infrastructure projects and that has cities looking for other ways to invest in their own growth. The 2010 "State of Our Cities and Towns" report says cities are using tax incentives, tourism promotion and "buy local" campaigns to promote development.

Mark Radtke, a legislative and policy advocate for the CML, says municipalities have many tools at their disposal.

"Cities have the ability to create improvement districts and provide the infrastructure needed for new building projects," he says. "There's urban renewal and downtown development authority-types of districts that can assist in redeveloping an entire area."

The report says almost two-thirds of the state's larger cities are focusing on redevelopment projects to create jobs. Although the economic picture is likely to be flat or even a bit worse in 2011, Radtke says most cities and towns will continue to dedicate resources toward economic growth.