In 2001, the Brighton Urban Renewal Authority was created to act as an economic catalyst for downtown Brighton and adjacent areas. Since then, we’ve attracted about $120 million in private investment for new stores, restaurants, offices, homes and cultural amenities in our community.

These early investments created a foundation to build on today, when the national recession has made starting new things very difficult – especially in core urban areas. Our job is to “prime the pump” to attract new business, and we’re doing that through infrastructure improvements, matching grants, workforce training, and a strategic downtown reinvestment and marketing program.

Now it’s all about jobs. If we do our part to attract new employers to Brighton, they will generate new local spending and related business, adding to the sustainable economic base we’re building. That’s why we’ve created two new urban renewal areas, one adjacent to the Vestas Wind Systems campus to the north and one to the south in the Adams Crossing development. Our targeted investments there, in partnership with the Brighton Economic Development Corporation, will help attract more renewable energy firms and primary employers.

Already, our efforts have created or retained approximately 600 jobs in the downtown urban renewal area. Approximately 300 adults are enrolled in postgraduate classes offered by Colorado State University and Front Range Community College at the Brighton Learning and Resource Campus. Nearly one million square feet of commercial/retail space has been built or renovated and 472 new apartments and hotel rooms have been built.

We offer many thanks to the Brighton City Council, our volunteer Board of Commissioners and professional staff, as well as our public and private sector partners. Together we are taking care of business in Brighton.