Economic Development Commission Business Meeting - September 10, 2026

The Economic Development Commission (EdComm) met on September 10, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers. Chair Hartman called the meeting to order with all members present (Atkins, Toy, Noppinger, Weisrock, Weiler, Trout). The agenda and the August 13, 2026 meeting minutes were approved unanimously. There was no public comment.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of the September 10, 2026 meeting agenda (moved by Atkins, seconded by Weisrock, all in favor).
• Approval of the August 13, 2026 meeting notes (moved by Weisrock, seconded by Noppinger, all in favor).

Discussion Items

Makerspace Feasibility Study Update

• Staff reported that a contract has been signed with Artspace Consultants for a preliminary Makerspace feasibility study, with a kickoff call scheduled for mid-October 2026.
• Staff recommended forming a formal subcommittee to provide ongoing support. Board members Tracy Atkins and Nick Noppinger volunteered to serve, and Cindy Weisrock offered to serve as an alternate. The subcommittee will be ad hoc.
• The board agreed to the subcommittee formation; no formal vote was taken.

Economic Study Proposals and Dashboard Options

• Staff presented two data visualization platforms: mySidewalk (narrative-driven, customizable, $5,500/year) and Lightcast (focused on labor market intelligence, $7,500–$10,000/year). Both offer trial access.
• Staff noted challenges in obtaining city-level data because Golden’s population (under 65,000) limits data to American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates rather than single-year snapshots.
• The board discussed key metrics to track, including industry clusters, housing data, sales tax stability, commuting patterns, quality of life indicators, and school quality. Board members emphasized starting with simple, objective data and growing over time.
• Board members suggested coordinating with Jefferson County EDC and neighboring cities to avoid duplication and enhance data consistency.
• Staff will compile a menu of available data from the platforms and from the prior Anderson Analytics economic contribution study for board ranking and prioritization.
• Target implementation: 2027, using the 2027-2028 budget line item of $20,000 per year for such initiatives.

Staff Report

• 2026 Budget: No modifications; formal 2027-2028 budget discussions will begin next month.
• Business Retention and Prospect Activity: Staff reported over 15 direct business contacts in the last month. A new aerospace company from Luxembourg is being recruited, with a sponsorship at the Colorado School of Mines career fair in September 2026. Staff will attend fall conferences (Downtown Colorado Inc., etc.).
• Sales, Use, and Lodging Tax (May 2026):
  • Sales tax revenue through May 2026 was up 2.87% year-to-date compared to 2025 ($9,477,787 vs. $9,213,782). Collections are $89,688 behind budget but $264,005 ahead of the prior year. Out-of-city sales continue to drive growth.
  • Use tax revenue declined 22.97% year-to-date, but a $466,013 audit recovery (primarily from a local energy company’s software use tax) offset part of the decline.
  • Heritage Square experienced the largest year-over-year drop in sales tax at 20.09%. The Finance Department is monitoring.
  • Lodging tax revenue decreased; May 2026 collections were $45,267 lower than May 2025, and year-to-date collections are $62,993 behind budget.
  • Marijuana tax revenue continues to exceed budget projections and is on pace for a record year.
• Communications:
  • DDA: Progress on downtown beautification; a Clayworks site tour is scheduled for September 15, 2026. Sweet Bloom Coffee will open a new location at Clayworks.
  • GURA: The Nazarene Plan Area developer secured grant financing; TIF negotiations will begin shortly. The board advanced The Junction Plan Area at a special meeting on August 24, with infrastructure challenges (sewer pumping, Highway 93 improvements, power constraints from Xcel Energy).
  • Golden Hour Mashup events continue on September 16 and October 14, 2026, with positive early feedback.

Key Outcomes

• Subcommittee Appointed: Atkins and Noppinger will serve on the ad hoc Makerspace subcommittee, with Weisrock as alternate.
• Economic Dashboard Direction: Staff will provide a list of available data indicators and platforms for board ranking. The board supports prioritizing industry clusters, housing, sales tax stability, and quality-of-life metrics. Implementation targeted for 2027.
• Upcoming Tour: Commissioners are invited to the Clayworks site visit on September 15, 2026, at 3:30 PM.
• Commissioner Comments: Concerns were raised about bike lane damage from Google Fiber installations; the board will raise the issue of smoothness standards with city transportation colleagues.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30 PM.