The Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC’s Foundation for Colorado Springs Future launches Titans Capital Campaign to advance economic development in the Pikes Peak Region
The Foundation for Colorado Springs Future (FCSF) advances into a new era with the official launch of the Titans of Economic Development campaign. The campaign goal is to raise funds to be dedicated to proactively advance and grow economic development activity in Colorado Springs and El Paso County. Greg Cerbana, Vice President, Public Relations and Government Affairs of Weidner Apartment Homes, will chair the Titans of Economic Development campaign.
A minimum of $10,000 investment for three years is requested and allows donors to join the Titans of Economic Development Advisory Council. The Council will assist staff to identify and win economic development attraction and expansion projects, attending industry sectors of focus conferences, institute a site/shovel ready program and help market the region to potentially relocating talent and companies.
The FCSF is a 501(c)3 donor-driven fund, designated in the Enterprise Zone, serving as the charitable foundation of the Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation. The FCSF’s purpose is to enhance, grow, and diversify the economy and expand the employee base within the Colorado Springs Metropolitan Area through the recruitment and retention of employers and talent committed to the Pikes Peak community. FCSF’s articles of incorporation allow for the following types of donations: cash, stock, land, grants, and trust funds.
“Colorado Springs and El Paso County are well-positioned for diversified, smart growth. We need this added investment and Council of experts if we are to compete in the future. We want to drive the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC’s vision, execute a proactive economic development strategy, and focus on talent retention and attraction.” –Greg Cerbana, Vice President, Public Relations and Government Affairs of Weidner Apartment Homes.
The Titans campaign will run for six months, followed by a three-year strategic plan that will include investor involvement in attraction and expansion projects, research and data to drive decision-making, and initiatives to attract and retain talent. The Campaign Cabinet includes Greg Cerbana, Weidner Apartment Homes and Chair of the Campaign Cabinet; Ramon Alvarez, Minuteman Press; Andrea Barker, HB&A Architecture; Kathy Boe, Boecore (retired); Trinity Bradley-Anderson, Stockman Kast + Ryan; Brian Burns, Bryan Construction; Kyle Hybl, El Pomar Foundation: Chris Jenkins, Norwood Development Group; Mike Juran, Altia; Kevin Kavaney, Northwestern Mutual; Pam Keller, Toll Brothers (retired); Laura Neumann, Weidner Apartment Homes; Dan Nordberg, Bank of Colorado; Tyson Nunn, Nunn Construction; Kevin O’Neil, The O’Neil Group Company; Jacob Pruitt, Fidelity Charitable; and Judy Mackey, Garden of the Gods Resort & Strata Health; from diverse industries of real estate, defense and aerospace, cybersecurity and software development, financial services, advanced manufacturing and small business.
“We’re creating a roadmap to make long-term investments in job growth and talent attraction in Colorado Springs and El Paso County. This is a plan to ensure all companies thrive by seeing our region grow, and an opportunity for investors to build their legacy in the community we call home,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, president & CEO, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC.
Reeder Kleymeyer has been in her role as the leader of the Chamber & EDC
since January 2022. In just 18 months, she’s led the closing of 13 economic development projects resulting in $1.6 billion in capital investment, 2,440 new jobs with an average annual wage of $113,612 – nearly double El Paso County’s average annual salary of $60,151. Notable projects include Entegris’ Manufacturing Center of Excellence, Colorado’s largest manufacturing project in the past 10 years, which just broke ground last month; and Microchip’s $880 million expansion announced in February of this year. “I am proud of our economic development team’s efforts and accomplishments with a slim budget and limited resources. The Titans of Economic Development Advisory Council will help us elevate our game to a premier organization in the country,” said Ms. Reeder Kleymeyer about the organization’s jump in success since 2022.
“Johnna’s dynamic leadership style and change-agent energy is what will take our community’s economic development efforts to the next level. With the proper resources and tools, we can truly build a place where our families and future generations can thrive,” Ramon Alvarez, Board Chair for the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC, and owner of Minuteman Press.
Last year, the CSCEDC implemented Find Your COS (pronounced “cause”), the city’s first talent initiative designed to address one of the greatest needs of existing businesses and businesses seeking to expand or relocate here. Find Your COS includes a suite of programs to help various talent sectors engage with key industries and the local community, helping them broaden both careers and personal lives here. In its second year, the program has more than doubled partnerships, companies, and young professional registrations over 2022. The 2023 cohort includes 75 young professionals representing 16 states, three countries, and 30 universities. Forty-two young professionals are from Colorado.
In August 2022, the Chamber & EDC launched an economic development Deal Closing Fund in partnership with the City of Colorado Springs. The Deal Closing Fund is a public private partnership to incentivize the creation of new high-paying jobs within the city limits of Colorado Springs. The program is performance-based, and to be eligible businesses must create new full-time permanent jobs in the City and have met certain requirements. Once announced, strong interest was immediately received from companies looking at the Colorado Springs area for a new or expanded location. By March 2023, nearly $3 million was committed across competitive projects, representing 1,292 new jobs with an average annual wage of $100,125 (167% of El Paso County’s average annual wage) and $1.54 billion in capital investment. The staff of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC anticipates that all $3,000,000 will be awarded by the end of 2023. The FCSF hopes to launch a second Deal Closing Fund to incentivize high impact economic development projects after the Titans campaign successfully end later this year.
To learn more or donate to the Titans Campaign, contact Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, president & CEO, Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. Phone: 719-500-9485 | email: jreederkleymeyer@cscedc.com.
Additional resources: