Friday, September 28, 2007

GOV. RITTER VISITS WESTERN AND SOUTHERN COLORADO TODAY & SATURDAY


 

Gov. Bill Ritter is scheduled to make stops in western and southern Colorado today and Saturday as he continues his statewide outreach tour.
 
Here is Gov. Ritter's complete two-day schedule:
 
Friday, Sept., 28, 2007
 
7:30 a.m.:       Craig Business Roundtable
Location:         Holiday Inn Hotel
The Moffat Room
300 S. Highway 13, Craig
 
10:30 a.m.:     Yampa Valley Community Town Hall Meeting                                       
Location:         Boys and Girls Club of Craig
1324 E. Highway 40, Craig
 
1:30 p.m.        Rifle Veterans' Home 20th Anniversary Celebration
Location:         815 E. 5th St., Rifle
 
4 p.m.              Tour of Colorado Mountain College's New West Garfield Campus
                                    Location:         CMC West Garfield Campus
3695 Airport Road, Rifle
 
Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007:
 
10 a.m.:           Action 22 Annual Conference
Location:         Double Eagle Hotel & Conference Center
442 Bennett Drive, Cripple Creek
 
2 p.m.:             Alamosa Workforce Center Site Tour
Location:         Alamosa Workforce Center
1016 West Ave., Alamosa
 
3:45 p.m.:       Rio Grande Hospital Tour & Business Roundtable
Location:         0310 County Road 14, Del Norte
 
5:30 p.m.:       Visit to San Luis Valley Information Center & Ski Hi Complex
Location:         SLV Information Center
                        947 1st Ave., Monte Vista
 
                        Ski Hi Complex
                        2435 Sherman Ave., Monte Vista
 

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES 2007 AMERICORP STATE GRANT AWARDS


Gov. Bill Ritter recently announced that five Colorado organizations have been awarded close to $1.4 million in AmeriCorps state grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The funding allows placement of 110 AmeriCorps members in communities across the state.  When coupled with the $921,000 in awards announced in June, the total amount awarded totals just under $2.3 million. 
 
"Organizations like AmeriCorps and the recipients of the 2007 grants provide an extremely valuable community service when it comes to working with those children, families, and communities most in need," Gov. Ritter said. "We are extremely pleased with the partnerships we enjoy with the organizations supported by the AmeriCorps grants, and we're especially grateful for funding support from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that funds AmeriCorps."
 
Organizations receiving awards include:
 
  • $163,800 to the Board of Weld County Commissioners, Weld County Division of Human Services, to fund the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps Program.
  • $334,314 to the City and County of Denver to fund the Community Partnership for Youth in Transition program. 
  • $260,381 to Adams County School District 14 to fund the CARENET (Community Action on Reading and Education Network) program.
  • $316,019 to Mesa State College to fund the College's AmeriCorps program.
  • $287,917 to Catholic Charities and Community Services of the Archdiocese of Denver to fund the Operation Jumpstart program. 
 
The impact AmeriCorps and its members have had in their communities is significant:  
"AmeriCorps has been an amazing asset for Catholic Charities over the past 10 years," said June Jones Paulding, Center Administrator for Catholic Charities.  "Approximately 200 members have brought incredible amounts of enthusiasm and support to our child care programs.  This past year, we were fortunate enough to expand our program by adding members to other areas of Catholic Charities, including Youth Services, Foster Care and the Samaritan House. The program has had a tremendous impact on the lives of our children and families.  We will be forever grateful for AmeriCorps' caring and compassionate contributions."
 
"From Foster care to AmeriCorps, Community Building Partnership, AmeriCorps program at Denver Human Services, presents opportunities for young people in and out of the foster care system by providing them invaluable professional development, mentoring and independent life skills, and by connecting them to community resources that facilitates successful emancipation to adulthood," said Pearl Lopez, program administrator, City and County of Denver's Community Partnership for Youth in Transition.
 
"For the past 10 years, CARENET AmeriCorps members have worked directly with Adams County School District 14 to provide individual and small group tutoring to increase student literacy and improve test scores," said Kathryn Gray, CARENET AmeriCorps program coordinator for Adams County School District 14. "Last year, the team devoted over 34,000 hours of service to the community as a result of tutoring and investments in local service projects."
 
The Governor's Commission on Community Service, housed in the Office of Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, administers the Colorado AmeriCorps State grant program.  Since 1994, more than 12,565 AmeriCorps members in Colorado have provided nearly 10 million hours to local communities through AmeriCorps. 
 
For more information on AmeriCorps and other programs of the Colorado Governor's Commission on Community Service, visit www.colorado.gov/gccs.
 
 
# # #
 

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES 2007 AMERICORP STATE GRANT AWARDS

Gov. Bill Ritter recently announced that five Colorado organizations have been awarded close to $1.4 million in AmeriCorps state grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service.  The funding allows placement of 110 AmeriCorps members in communities across the state.  When coupled with the $921,000 in awards announced in June, the total amount awarded totals just under $2.3 million. 
 
"Organizations like AmeriCorps and the recipients of the 2007 grants provide an extremely valuable community service when it comes to working with those children, families, and communities most in need," Gov. Ritter said. "We are extremely pleased with the partnerships we enjoy with the organizations supported by the AmeriCorps grants, and we're especially grateful for funding support from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that funds AmeriCorps."
 
Organizations receiving awards include:
 
  • $163,800 to the Board of Weld County Commissioners, Weld County Division of Human Services, to fund the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps Program.
  • $334,314 to the City and County of Denver to fund the Community Partnership for Youth in Transition program. 
  • $260,381 to Adams County School District 14 to fund the CARENET (Community Action on Reading and Education Network) program.
  • $316,019 to Mesa State College to fund the College's AmeriCorps program.
  • $287,917 to Catholic Charities and Community Services of the Archdiocese of Denver to fund the Operation Jumpstart program. 
 
The impact AmeriCorps and its members have had in their communities is significant:   

"AmeriCorps has been an amazing asset for Catholic Charities over the past 10 years," said June Jones Paulding, Center Administrator for Catholic Charities.  "Approximately 200 members have brought incredible amounts of enthusiasm and support to our child care programs.  This past year, we were fortunate enough to expand our program by adding members to other areas of Catholic Charities, including Youth Services, Foster Care and the Samaritan House. The program has had a tremendous impact on the lives of our children and families.  We will be forever grateful for AmeriCorps' caring and compassionate contributions."
 
"From Foster care to AmeriCorps, Community Building Partnership, AmeriCorps program at Denver Human Services, presents opportunities for young people in and out of the foster care system by providing them invaluable professional development, mentoring and independent life skills, and by connecting them to community resources that facilitates successful emancipation to adulthood," said Pearl Lopez, program administrator, City and County of Denver's Community Partnership for Youth in Transition.
 
"For the past 10 years, CARENET AmeriCorps members have worked directly with Adams County School District 14 to provide individual and small group tutoring to increase student literacy and improve test scores," said Kathryn Gray, CARENET AmeriCorps program coordinator for Adams County School District 14. "Last year, the team devoted over 34,000 hours of service to the community as a result of tutoring and investments in local service projects."
 
The Governor's Commission on Community Service, housed in the Office of Lt. Gov. Barbara O'Brien, administers the ColoradoAmeriCorps State grant program.  Since 1994, more than 12,565 AmeriCorps members in Colorado have provided nearly 10 million hours to local communities through AmeriCorps. 
 

GOV. RITTER AND BUSINESS LEADERS ANNOUNCE ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE

GOV. RITTER AND BUSINESS LEADERS ANNOUNCE
STATEWIDE ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE

 

AURORA — Gov. Bill Ritter, Economic Development Director Don Elliman and Colorado business leaders today announced a comprehensive economic-development package for a more competitive Colorado in the 21 Century. Key components of the package will be introduced during the upcoming legislative session.

 

"As Governor, I am committed to leading a state government that partners with businesses, listens to their concerns and comes up with ideas to help our businesses get ahead in this increasingly competitive global marketplace," Gov. Ritter said during an announcement ceremony at the Anschutz Medical Campus at Fitzsimons. "The package we're announcing today will help businesses large and small, in rural Colorado and urban Colorado, capitalize on new economic opportunities. It cuts taxes, and it simplifies, streamlines and reduces red tape."
 
Major elements of the package include:
 
1.      Simplify corporate income taxes by eliminating the complicated multiple factors that businesses must use to calculate their taxes and establishing a simple single-sales factor, as well as streamlining other aspects of corporate income taxes in a revenue-neutral fashion.
 
2.      Cut taxes for 30,400 businesses by raising the Business Personal Property Tax exemption threshold from today's $2,500 level to $7,000.
 
3.      Establish a $3.5 million a year Bioscience and Life Science Fund. The fund will be administered by the Office of Economic Development to promote the growth and sustainability of the bioscience industry, provide Colorado research institutions with funding to commercialize viable technologies, and provide incentives to help attract new businesses and retain and expand existing companies.
 
4.      Eliminate the so-called "fly-away" sales tax. Colorado is one of only a few states that charges a "fly-away" sales tax on planes manufactured in Colorado even if they are housed in another state. Eliminating the fly-away tax would match current practices in other states.
 
5.      Make it easier for businesses – especially rural small businesses – to qualify for job-creation incentives by modifying Colorado's Performance-Based Incentives Fund. This will help small, rural businesses grow.
 
6.      Dedicate $3.5 million from the new Clean Energy Fund specifically for economic-development opportunities.
 
7.      Analyze spending of Colorado's tourism-promotion dollars, and work with industry partners to devise new strategies to better invest and leverage state funds.
 
"This package will make Colorado businesses more competitive not just in the intermountain area but nationally as well," said Joe Blake, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. "The efficiency and common sense that this package brings is great news for large and small businesses. Thank you, Governor. This is a strong step forward for Colorado's economy."
 
"I'm committed to making Colorado businesses the most competitive in the country," Gov. Ritter said. "This is the most significant, comprehensive business package Colorado has seen in more than a decade. These proposals will give businesses more tools to succeed – from a reduced tax burden to less red tape. This package is good for our economy, good for our small businesses and good for our communities."
 
Also participating in today's announcement were University of Colorado President Hank Brown, University ofColorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center Chancellor M. Roy Wilson, Denver Metro Chamber Chairman John Ikard and David Perez, president and CEO of Gambro BCT in Lakewood.

 

Additional Details About Gov. Ritter's 2008 Legislative Business Proposals
 
1) Simplify Corporate Income Tax (Rep. Jahn/Sen. Shaffer)
 

Background

 
Under current law, a company that does business in more than one state must determine how much income is subject to corporate income tax in each state.  This is done by distributing a company's federal taxable income based on three or fewer criteria: sales, property and payroll.  Each state determines which factors are considered, as well as the relative weight of each factor.  In Colorado, companies may choose one of two apportionment formulas to calculate its Colorado corporate income tax liability:
 
         Two-Factor Method: Equally weighted sales factor (50 percent) and property factor (50 percent).
 
         Three-Factor Method: Equally weighted sales factor (33⅓ percent), property factor (33⅓ percent) and payroll factor (33⅓ percent).
 
Proposal
 
Simplify the corporate income tax structure by eliminating the multiple-factor apportionment formula and establishing a simple, single-sales factor, as well as streamlining other aspects of corporate income taxes. These revenue-neutral steps would act as an economic development incentive for the state and would decrease the current accounting burden that falls on multi-state corporations that do business in Colorado.
 
2) Business Personal Property Tax Exemption & Simplification
(Rep. Rice/Sen. Williams)
 

Background

 
Today, the average business in Colorado pays four times more property tax for real estate (29 percent assessment ratio, with declining rates as property depreciates) than a similarly priced home. Taxable personal property generally consists of any equipment that is used in an income-generating enterprise, including machinery, furniture and computers.
 
Proposal
 

Increase the exemption threshold for the business personal property tax, from today's $2,500 exemption level to $7,000 over five years. In 2008 and 2009 threshold would be $4,000; in 2010 and 2011 it would be $5,500; and in 2012 and 2013 it would rise to $7,000. Beginning in property tax year 2014, the amount of the exemption would increase biennially based on the consumer price index for the Denver-Boulder-Greeley area. This would exempt an additional 30,400 businesses from the tax.

 

Seek new methods to streamline and simplify the filing process for businesses.


3) Establish a $3.5 Million Annual Bioscience and Life Science Fund

(Rep. Reisberg/Sen. Bacon)

 

Background

 
Bioscience is one of Colorado's most promising economic sectors. With projects like Fitzsimons and its bioscience park, Colorado is poised to become a major player on the nation bioscience stage. Using available resources, the state can help leverage the talent at our research institutions and assist our entrepreneurial-minded companies grow.
 

Proposal

 
Establish a $3.5 million annual Bioscience and Life Science Fund to promote the growth and sustainability of the industry, provide Colorado research institutions with funding to commercialize viable technologies; and provide business-growth incentives.
 
4) Eliminate the "Fly-Away" Sales Tax (Rep. Buescher/Senate sponsor TBA)
 
Background
 
Colorado is one of only a few states that charges a "fly-away" sales tax on planes manufactured in Colorado but not housed here. Other states only charge a sales tax on planes bought and kept in the state. No other surrounding state applies its sales and use tax in this manner. Other states impose sales taxes on aircraft domiciled in their jurisdiction, but not domiciled in other states or countries.
 
Colorado's "fly-away" tax acts as a disincentive and impediment to grow this particularly attractive sector of the economy. It is particularly onerous on the makers of small private aircraft, as it will ultimately increase the price of manufactured aircrafts. 
 

Proposal

 
Repeal or modify the state sales and use tax of manufactured aircrafts that are not domiciled in Colorado. Currently, many other states only charge sales and use tax on aircrafts that are domiciled within their jurisdiction – a practice that Colorado should follow. 
 
5) Rural Small-Business Growth Plan (Rep. Hodge/Senate sponsor TBA)
 

Background

 
In 2006, the General Assembly passed HB06-1017, creating the Performance-Based Incentives Fund (PIF).  The PIF program was designed to provide incentives to businesses that create new high-paying jobs throughout the state. In order to qualify for this incentive program, the legislation used a scale that took into account geography (urban vs. rural), number of new jobs created (10 for an urban area; five for a rural area), a specific timeline (one month), and the amount paid above the average county wage.  All jobs must be kept for one full year.   
 

For example, for a company to qualify for an incentive of $1,000 per new job, the company must hire 10 or more employees in one full month (five in a rural area), pay at least 110% of the county wage and keep those jobs for one full year. Since the passage of HB06-1017, local economic development agencies and local businesses have expressed concerns that businesses will be unable to meet the one-month requirement, especially rural businesses that may not hire five new employees in one full year, let alone one month. 

 

Proposal

 
Expand the timeline for job creation from one month to six months, allowing more companies to qualify for the program.  This change would benefit rural companies across Colorado that may struggle to meet the strict job requirements set fourth by this legislation. The change would also be helpful to many start-up companies in their infancy. 

 

6) Utilize Portion of Clean Energy Fund for Economic Development

 

Background

 

In 2007, the legislature passed and Gov. Ritter signed into law Senate Bill 246, establishing a $7 million Clean Energy Fund. For the fund to be most effective, a portion of those dollars should be used for economic-development purposes.
 
Proposal
 
Dedicate $3.5 million specifically for economic-development purposes. Up to $1 million will be made available to companies seeking funding assistance in the form of state grants; consideration will be given to providing support to a renewable energy incubator; and funds will be used to attract and retain renewable energy businesses.
 
7) Promote New Tourism Strategies
 
Background
 
In 2006, the legislature passed and Gov. Owens signed House Bill 1201, which allocated $19 million for tourism promotion in Colorado. Over the past year, the Colorado Tourism Office has begun investing those funds to increase tourism visits to the state. Promotional campaigns have targeted new key areas such as Boston,Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., with a component also aimed at keeping Coloradans in Colorado.
 

Visits to promotional websites, calls to 1-800 numbers, visits to the nine official Colorado Welcome Centers and requests for the Official State Vacation Guide are all up this year over last year thanks to these efforts. Second-quarter lodging sales are up almost 17 percent over last year. 

 
Proposal
 
The Colorado Tourism Office is developing a strategic plan and analyzing how it can better leverage funds and partner with tourism industry members to maximize the impact of state promotional dollars and further promoteColorado as a premiere travel destination.
 
# # #
 

Monday, September 24, 2007

GOV. RITTER TO ANNOUNCE BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE TOMORROW

Gov. Bill Ritter and Economic Development Director Don Elliman will announce the Governor's business and economic-development agenda for the upcoming legislative session at a news conference on Tuesday.


WHAT:          News conference to announce business and economic-development legislative proposals for the upcoming session of the Colorado General Assembly will be held Tuesday at Fitzsimons.

 

 

Colorado Adult and Youth Smoking Rates Lowest Since 1990

Colorado Adult and Youth Smoking Rates Lowest Since 1990
 
DENVER – Governor Bill Ritter today announced significant reductions in the smoking rates among youth and adults in Colorado.  Colorado's 2006 adult smoking rate puts Colorado in the nation's top ten for lowest smoking prevalence.  And, among Colorado high school youth, the state has surpassed the national 2010 goal of a smoking rate lower than 16 percent.
 
"The willingness of individuals to take responsibility for their own health and well-being plays a significant role in building a healthy state and a sustainable health care system," said Gov. Ritter.  "I believe that the only way to achieve comprehensive health reform is through shared responsibility. Everyone – individuals, families, employers, health care providers, government and insurers – must be a part of the solution and must have a stake in the success of the outcome.
 
"That starts with individuals taking charge of their own health," said Gov. Ritter. "The data being released today shows this not only is a possibility, but a reality here in Colorado."
 
Colorado now ranks 9th in the nation for the lowest prevalence of adult smoking, up from a ranking of 14th in 2005.  The adult smoking rate dropped from 22.3 percent in 2001, to 17.9 percent in 2006.  Colorado's 17.9 percent smoking rate, surpassed the national average in 2006 of 20.1 percent. The 17.9 percent rate is the lowest rate for Colorado since at least 1990.  [See attached table for historical data on adult smoking rates in the U.S. and Colorado.]
 
Among high school students, cigarette smoking declined from 18.2 percent in 2001 to 14.6 percent in 2006, thus surpassing the Center for Disease Control's Healthy People 2010 goal of 16 percent.
 
These successes can be directly attributed to the funding provided by Amendment 35, the 2004 voter-approved increase in the tobacco tax that funds the state's work in tobacco education.  This funding is administered by the State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership, housed within the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which provides comprehensive programs to reduce youth smoking rates, assist adults who want to quit, reduce the exposure to secondhand smoke and to work with populations disparately affected by tobacco.
 
According to the department, tobacco use is the number one risk factor for chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and lung disease.  Tobacco is the leading cause of early death and disability and is a leading cause of chronic disease.
 
"Reducing smoking among Coloradans is a primary strategy for reducing chronic disease because quitting by the age of 30 eliminates nearly all excess risk associated with smoking," said Colorado Chief Medical Officer Ned Calonge. "And, smokers who quit before the age of 50, cut in half their risk of dying in the next 15 years."
 
The department reports that approximately 16,000 Coloradans die each year from cancer, heart disease, stroke and chronic lower respiratory disease.  An estimated one-quarter of these deaths were due to smoking.
 
Annual health care costs in Colorado, which are attributable to smoking, are estimated at $1.3 billion by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
 
One program of the Department of Public Health and Environment that helps adults quit smoking is the Colorado QuitLine, a free telephone-based service, which offers a free supply of the nicotine patch and personalized assistance from an experienced quit coach. The QuitLine number is 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
 
In addition to helping adults, the department has an extensive outreach program to prevent youth and adolescents from ever starting smoking, such as a school-based curriculum in middle schools, high schools and colleges as well as a partnership with a number of the Tony Grampsas non-profit organizations, which reach out to high-risk youth.
 
Trend Data, Colorado and US
Adult Cigarette Smoking Rates
 
Current Cig--overall (BRFSS)
 
YEAR
CO
US
1990
21.3%
23.0%
1991
23.7%
23.1%
1992
23.1%
22.2%
1993
23.8%
22.6%
1994
24.2%
22.7%
1995
21.8%
22.4%
1996
22.8%
23.4%
1997
22.5%
23.2%
1998
23.0%
22.9%
1999
22.5%
22.6%
2000
20.0%
23.2%
2001
22.3%
22.8%
2002
20.4%
22.5%
2003
18.6%
21.6%
2004
20.0%
20.9%
2005
19.8%
20.6%
2006
17.9%
20.1%
 
 
 
Source:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006.