< Previous66 C O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E hen VF Corp. selected Denver’s Lower Downtown district for its new global headquarters on Sept. , , the news surprised no one. Colorado has been wrangling corporate headquarters and professional services projects for a long time, and the pace of those wins is only accelerating. “We are excited that Denver’s vibrant Lower Downtown district will serve as the new home for VF and fi ve of our outdoor brands,” said Steve Rendle, chairman, president and CEO of VF Corp. “Our extensive search process led us to review multiple options across the Metro Denver area, and the combination of LoDo and the building at Wewatta came together to meet all of our criteria. It’s the ideal setting for us to create a dynamic, collaborative working environment where our business, brands and employees can thrive.” e news followed the company’s August , , announcement that it would co-locate VF corporate offi ces with the fi rm’s JanSport, Smartwool, e North Face, Eagle Creek and Altra brands, as well as the company’s Global Innovation Center for Technical Fabrics and Digital Lab, in Colorado. All of these operations are being consolidated into a -story, ,-sq.-ft. building owned by Bentall Kennedy’s U.S. Core Fund. Renovations of the space began earlier this year, and completion is set for early . “Our focus is to create an offi ce that is sustainable, highly functional, visually inspiring and refl ective of the active outdoor lifestyles that each of our brands enable consumers to enjoy,” said Rendle, whose fi rm expects to employ people in Denver over the next eight years. e building in LoDo could accommodate up to , workers, so VF has room to grow. Worldwide, VF employs nearly , workers with operations in more than countries. Michelle Hadwiger, director of global business development for the Colorado Offi ce of Economic Development and International Trade, says there are several reasons why companies like VF choose to base their headquarters in the state. It boils down to the four T’s: talent, time, travel and task density. by R ON S TA R N E R W C O R P O R A T E H Q & P R O F E S S I O N A L S E R V I C E S Colorado’s recipe for professional services growth is secret no more. 23 Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in Colorado. —Source: Colorado OEDITC O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E 67 “Colorado has the second most highly educated workforce in the country, with % of our workforce having bachelor’s degree or higher,” she says. “Colorado’s Mountain Time zone allows for same- day communications with U.S. coasts, Europe, South America and Asia, and Colorado’s central location allows travel to east and west coasts within hours.” She adds that Colorado’s density of industry in knowledge-based industries makes the state a natural fi t for professional services. In the fi nancial services sector, Colorado has more than , companies employing more than , workers who account for more than $ billion a year in exports. Some Fortune companies are headquartered in Colorado. ey include Molson Coors, Western Union, Liberty Media, EchoStar, Vail Resorts, Arrow Electronics, Davita, White Wave, Dish, Envision Healthcare and Liberty Interactive. Hadwiger says there are other location advantages. “Colorado has much lower operational costs than our peer coastal states and sits at No. on CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business in ,” she notes. Colorado also has one of the lowest combined federal and state corporate income tax rates in the country. e combined rate of .% is lower than that of other states, which is one reason why Forbes named Colorado the No. Best State for Business and U.S. News & World Reports said Colorado had the No. -ranked economy in the country. Among the headquarters expansions that have been announced in Colorado over the past months are Checkr, Marketo, Xactly, Accelo, Epsilon, Kiewit Corp., Slack Technology, FirstBank, Tata Consulting, Xero, Conga, Maxar Technologies and Agilent. is activity is a big reason why many people continue to refer to Metro Denver as the Wall Street of the West. “Colorado’s fi nancial services cluster is robust and home to many sub- clusters: investments fi nance, banking and insurance,” says Hadwiger. “ e fi nancial services sector in Colorado had outpaced the nation in growth and has had three consecutive years of growth since .” “Colorado has the second most highly educated workforce in the country, with 39% of our workforce having bachelor’s degree or higher. ” — Michelle Hadwiger, Director of Global Business Development, Colorado Of ce of Economic Development and International Trade Photo: Getty ImagesFOUR CORNERS OF FUN 68 C O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E Across the state, visitors are enjoying the great outdoors in record numbers. by S AVA N N A H K I N G TO U R I S M Photos courtesy of Visit Coloradoith its magnifi cent Rocky Mountains, abundant fresh powder, culinary and cultural scenes, outdoor adventures and Wild West heritage, the Centennial State has something for everyone. With so much in one location, it’s easy to see why the state is one of the Top Dream Destination for U.S. visitors, according to a study by TravelZoo. It’s also a driving force for the state’s economy with more than . million visitors from the U.S. alone and another million international visitors each year. In , visitors generated $. billion in direct spending and a record setting $. billion in state and local tax revenue. For a state with just .% of the U.S. population, Colorado has .% of the nation’s tourism jobs. In fact, the hospitality industry was Colorado’s second largest employer in . Colorado broke its all-time records for growth in visitors for the eighth year in a row in , and all signs point to its winning streak continuing. e state’s tourism industry has been on a path of sustained growth since the depths of the recession in , with domestic visitor numbers increasing by percent, more than double the national growth rate of percent. “With the full participation of destinations across the state, Colorado continues to build a national success story that is generating taxes for state and local jurisdictions, supporting businesses and creating new jobs,” said Colorado Tourism Offi ce Director Cathy Ritter. “By taking our message about superlative Colorado travel opportunities to an ever more national audience, we are generating travel in every corner of our state, from our cities to our mountains and plains.” e Colorado Tourism Offi ce (CTO) recently entered into a partnership with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to encourage travelers to the state to act like locals and be good stewards of its natural resources. Part of the new plan encourages travelers to visit destinations that have been overlooked by tourists in the past. e partnership stemmed from a stewardship initiative in the Colorado Tourism Roadmap, a three- to fi ve-year strategic plan to build the Colorado tourism industry’s competitive advantage. “Our take on the classic Leave No Trace Seven Principles are a direct response to the heartfelt concerns many Coloradans express about the impacts of visitation on the places they love,” said Ritter. “By sharing these Care for Colorado Principles, we can empower travelers to join us in protecting the very qualities that attracted them to visit our state in the fi rst place.” Encouraging visitors to treat the state like their own backyards makes sense considering some percent of Colorado’s landscape is managed by state and federal agencies. And with , marked trails and , designated campsites across the state, visitors really can enjoy the great outdoors. e state’s most obvious allure is its rich natural resources. Colorado’s four National Parks — Mesa Verde National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park — are a major draw for visitors. And with renowned ski areas and resorts, not to mention mountain peaks that top , feet, mountain lovers have more than they could explore in a lifetime. Regardless of which season tourists decide to visit, they’ll fi nd a state with unparalleled adventure stretching from corner to corner. C O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E 69 W70 C O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E Peak of Perfection Q U A L I T Y O F L I F E Colorado’s sky-high quality of life is attracting people from all over the world. by S AVA N N A H K I N GC O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E 71 olorado’s unique landscape and culture have turned the state into a veritable playground for nature lovers and city dwellers alike. On average, working-age Coloradans are healthier and more active than their counterparts in other states. With an endless supply of hiking and biking trails, mountains to climb, rivers to kayak, lakes to paddleboard and all the urban amenities one could want, Coloradan’s have a quality of life that can’t be beat. And with a robust business climate and more aff ordable cost of living than many coastal cities, they’re able to do more of the things they enjoy. U.S. News and World Reports ranked Colorado the No. state for its economy and the No. overall best state in its Best States Ranking. According to Zillow, Colorado’s median home value is $,, while the median monthly rent is $,. e state of . million people is projected to increase to . million by . Colorado was the No. growth state for , according to U-Haul data analyzing that year’s migration trends. While migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, U-Haul growth data is an eff ective gauge of how well states and cities are attracting and maintaining residents. Fort Collins, Aurora and Boulder placed among the top of Colorado’s net gain of one- way U-Haul trucks. Pueblo, Grand Junction and Delta were among other notable cities to record strong net gains. Much of the growth can be attributed to Colorado’s growing tech scene and business climate. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Colorado’s unemployment rate was .% in April . e latest Colorado Business Economic Outlook projects more than , jobs will be added in . “I’ve been in this area four-plus years and the growth I’ve seen is amazing,” said Mike Blau, U-Haul Company of Northwest Colorado president. “You used to drive down the Interstate corridor and see open spaces everywhere. Now you hardly pass a dirt lot. ere are no gaps. Colorado is bursting at the seams. Denver is overfl owing so much that folks are moving to the outskirts and into Westminster and ornton.” Coloradans have a reputation for being some of the happiest, healthiest and most productive people in the U.S. With more than days of sunshine and four temperate seasons, they’re able to enjoy more of the recreational activities the state is known for. In the urban centers, visitors can fi nd an abundance of arts and cultural activities that off er mind-enriching entertainment. e state is the national leader in arts funding and is home to popular attractions like the Aspen Art Museum, e Denver Art Museum, e Denver Performing Arts Complex, the Red Rocks Amphitheater and the Vail International Dance Festival. Several creative districts across the state showcase the state’s talent and creative industries. Colorado’s snow-capped mountains are a major draw for skiers, snowshoers and snowboarders. More than ski resorts and winter recreation areas operate in the state and off er an abundance of recreational opportunities. In the spring when the snow melts, the state’s rivers and lakes become a playground for kayakers, tubers and fl y-fi shers. Colorado is home to four national parks, state parks, national forests, more than river’s headwaters, mountain ranges and Fourteeners -- or mountains that reach at least , feet high. Outside of the state’s obvious appeal for workers moving up the corporate ladder, the state’s unmatched lifestyle makes it easy to attract talent and stay for the long haul. C Photo: Getty ImagesP H OTO G A L L E R Y A hike among the Aspens near Crested Butte Photo courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office 72 C O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E COLORADOC O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E 73 Rodeo in Colorado Springs Photo courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office Concert at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail Photo courtesy of The Colorado Tourism Office Clyfford Still Museum in Denver Photo courtesy of VISIT DENVER/ Ted Stedman74 C O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E Durango Photo courtesy of Visit Durango The Cumbres & Toltec Narrow Gauge Railroad Photo courtesy of The Colorado Tourism OfficeC O L O R A D O: B U S I N E S S C O M E S T O L I F E 75 Rafting down the Arkansas River in the Royal Gorge Photo courtesy of The Colorado Tourism OfficeNext >