$40M in Downtown Corporate Attraction Incentives Announced as Part of Denver’s $100 million plan to invest in 10,000 jobs

Today, the Downtown Denver Partnership is proud to join with Mayor Mike Johnston, Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO) and the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDDA) to announce a $100 million plan to invest in 10,000 quality jobs citywide over the next three years. This package includes $40M in incentives to drive job creation and catalyze new office leases downtown from employers and talent across the country. 

“Every new employer that chooses Downtown Denver brings employees who support restaurants, retailers, hotels, transit, arts and culture, and the hundreds of small businesses that depend on a vibrant daytime economy,” said David Welsh, Executive Vice President of Economic Development and Real Estate at the Downtown Denver Partnership, “Those investments generate ripple effects throughout our local economy, strengthening property values, expanding the downtown tax base, and creating new opportunities for Denver residents.”

Spurred by new investments from the DDDA, the Denver Jobs Agenda builds on an existing framework to supercharge job creation and talent pipeline development. It provides critical support for in-demand sectors like technology, green jobs, and early childhood education. It connects jobseekers to education, training and employment opportunities, strengthens Denver’s innovation ecosystem and fuels sustainable small business growth throughout Denver. 

“The Denver Jobs Agenda will support thousands of quality jobs in Denver,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “This will help support the training that turns a job into a career, the loan that turns a dream into a business, and the paycheck that turns hard work into a good life.

The Denver Jobs Agenda rests on four integrated pillars:  

• $40M | Open Denver: The DDDA has newly authorized $40M in incentives to drive job creation, attract more jobs and catalyze new office leases downtown from employers and talent across the country. Approved by voters, the DDDA allows for the reinvestment of incremental taxes generated within the Central Business District and is separate from the city’s budget. 

• $6M | Launch Denver: In a partnership between CU Denver and DEDO, this effort will strengthen Denver’s innovative ecosystem by supporting startups, and entrepreneurs with tools and programming to launch businesses and spur job growth citywide.  Funding is allocated from the DDDA ($4.5M) and Denver Economic Development & Opportunity ($1.5M).  

• $45M | Work Denver: Over the next three years, the city’s Denver Workforce Development team will continue to connect residents to training, credentialing and skill-building to support pathways to employment across the city and will connect employers across key industries and hiring levels to a qualified and skilled talent pipeline. Jobseekers can explore new career opportunities, gain skills and credentials through customized services both virtually and in person.  

• $10.5M | BUILD Denver: In partnership with the Colorado Enterprise Fund, DEDO is offering financing through a unique revolving fund that offers affordable loans and business coaching to grow Denver small businesses citywide and support job creation through a previously budgeted special revenue fund allocated over three years.

  
  

“Denver’s economy thrives when the city helps employers create jobs and helps residents prepare to fill them,” said Adeeb Khan, Executive Director of Denver Economic Development & Opportunity. “The Denver Jobs Agenda takes a holistic approach to meet people where they are and connecting jobseekers to the skills and resources they need to grow in their careers. Placing the city's economic development, workforce, small business, permitting, industry, and downtown efforts under one plan with a shared measure of success: more jobs, and more Denver residents in them.”   

Interested jobseekers, employers or small businesses can visit denvergov.org/denverjobsagenda to get connected to resources and more information.