Happy Fourth of July!
In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Events

Carma is a 48-year-old company with offices in Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO and Austin, TX. It has developed 80 master-planned communities across North America; its first Colorado community, Tallyn's Reach, was home to the 2000 Metro Denver Parade of Homes and was named Community of the Year by the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver. Carma is part of Brookfield Properties, Inc.

The 2008 Parade of Homes begins on Saturday, July 26 and runs through Labor Day. 

For more information visit www.paradeofhomesdenver.com

West Chamber Seeks Leadership Jeffco Applications
Celebrating its 21st year, Leadership Jefferson County (LJC) strives to identify and develop community leaders, acquaint these leaders with community need and issues and to focus on alternative solutions, challenge leaders to greater community involvement and educate leaders about all aspects of the community .

The program identifies 25-30 emerging leaders living or working in the Jefferson County area through an application process and puts them in direct contact with the people and institutions that shape the community. The program begins in September and continues through June.
 
Monthly one-day forums expose participants to all aspects that determine the health of a community, including but not limited to local and state government, business, arts and culture and health care. Through contact with a wide range of professionals, participants have the opportunity to expand their knowledge, meet new contacts and influence their community.

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2008-2009 class.  Application deadline is Friday, July 18.

For more information, or for an application, visit www.westchamber.org and click on "Foundation" on the top menu bar , or call Kim Mears at the West Chamber at 303-233-5555, ext. 4.

Business News

Contemplated since the inception of C-470, the Alameda Interchange finally came to fruition last year through the collaboration among Jefferson County, the City of Lakewood, the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Green Tree Metropolitan District. These entities coordinated the funding to construct the interchange, for which an Environmental Assessment was completed in 1999 with a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

The EA findings included a recommendation to close Alameda Avenue west of C-470, over the Hogback, assisting the preservation of Dinosaur Ridge paleontological elements and increasing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. This decision was made jointly by Jefferson County, the City of Lakewood and CDOT, and was validated through the EA process.

Credit for the successful, timely completion of the Alameda Interchange construction project largely goes to Felsburg Holt & Ullevig, project engineer, led by project manager Tom Nead, and SEMA Construction, Inc., general contractor, led by project manager Jud Barlow.

Belmar Welcomes Wystone's Tea
Be sure to visit this fabulous Colorado-based tea company. This cozy restaurant offers guests a menu filled with fabulous specialty hot and cold tea drinks, plus a simply amazing menu of tapas and lunch items including salads, paninis, cheese plates, hummus, sandwiches, soups, cakes and more. Whether you are looking for a delicious tea drink on the run or an afternoon tea and a tray of delectable's, Wystone's is the perfect spot for the summer.

Wystone’s World Teas is located on Alaska Drive in Belmar next to Dick’s Sporting Goods. 

The Integer Group Named to National List
Five Colorado companies are considered among the best to work for in the nation.  The Great Place to Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management said three Colorado companies made the cut for the "Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for in America."

Lakewood-based The Integer Group, an 800-employee advertising and marketing agency, ranked No. 24.  

Other winners include, InsureMe, a 67-employee financial services company, which ranked No. 8 and McWhinney Real Estate Services, a construction and real estate company that employs 83, ranked No. 11.  A separate list of the best large companies to work for that was compiled for Fortune magazine included two Colorado companies: CH2M Hill, an engineering company with 15,764 employees, which ranked No. 54; and PCL Construction, with 3,558 employees, ranked No. 77.

The Integer Group is one of America’s largest retail promotions agencies and a key member of the TBWA Marketing Services portfolio. The Integer Group resides at the intersection of branding and selling and creates strategic marketing solutions for clients in categories that include beverage, packaged goods, telecommunications, fast food, home and shelter, and power sports.

Integer™ is a part of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC), a leading global advertising, marketing and corporate communications company. Omnicom's branded networks and numerous specialty firms provide advertising, strategic media planning and buying, interactive, direct and promotional marketing, public relations and other specialty communications services to over 5,000 clients in more than 100 countries.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the
Economic Development Staff at 303-987-7730.

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