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Report - Mail Packet - 11/10/2015 - Information From Darin Atteberry And Kelly Dimartino Re: Fort Collins Brag Book 2015
fort collIns brag book NatioNal raNkiNgs& awards Most satisfied city top 10 HealtHiest city tRee city playful city November 5, 2015 TO: Mayor & City Council FROM: Darin Atteberry & Kelly DiMartino FYI: Distributed in 10/31/15 BizWest /sek ® ® GROUPMortgage, LLC 3 TOGETHER = HEALTHY Kaiser Permanente + Banner Medical Group. Our collaboration with Banner Medical Group offers our members more choices and more access when it comes to care. Our members can now access 400+ providers in Northern Colorado. For more choices and more convenience, join us and thrive. kp.org/thrive 4 Over the years Fort Collins has earned a national reputation as a world-class community and is frequently listed as one of the best places to live, run a business, retire, innovate and more. Such recognitions affirm what our community members already know – there’s something special about Fort Collins. These accolades often feature our strong local economy. Fort Collins has an impressive mix of large, medium- size and small employers, along with grassroots startups and forward-thinking entrepreneurs. The presence of Colorado State University contributes to our economy and community vibrancy, and frequently places Fort Collins among the best university towns. The groundbreaking work of CSU researchers and local companies also led the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation to select Fort Collins as one of six featured communities in its “Places of Invention” exhibit. MAX Bus Rapid Transit has transformed our transportation spine and is helping drive a renaissance in midtown Fort Collins. A revived Foothills Mall will open for the 2015 holiday season, and a renovated Old Town Square will keep Downtown Fort Collins a thriving gathering space for decades to come. National rankings also laud the amenities and experiences that help create Fort Collins’ sense of place: outdoor recreation opportunities, quality neighborhoods, beautiful open spaces and more. The Cache la Poudre River is a Northern Colorado treasure that offers an array of environmental, economic and recreational opportunities. Fort Collins boasts 1,000 acres of parks, 40,000 acres of natural areas, 36 miles of trails, and three golf courses. Our thriving arts community offers vibrant experiences for residents and visitors alike, and our bicycling culture has earned national acclaim. When Time magazine named Fort Collins America’s Most Satisfied City, it was because the Gallup organization found that 94.9 percent of residents are satisfied with the community. That number echoes our own recent Citizen Survey, in which 97 percent of residents rated the community a good or very good place to live. That doesn’t happen by accident. It takes the vision of citizens, elected leaders and policymakers. It takes City staff who are committed to excellent service. It takes an innovative and thriving business community. It takes a world- class university, a top-notch educational system and high quality healthcare. It takes friendly neighbors and dedicated non-profits. And it takes individual passion and commitment making Fort Collins one of the country’s greatest communities. We’re proud to share some of these successes with you. — Mayor Wade Troxell City Manager Darin Atteberry Colorado State is a major 5 All photos courtesy city of Fort Collins Boulder Office 1790 30th St., Suite 300 Boulder, CO 80301 Fax: 303-440-8954 Fort Collins Office 1550 E. Harmony Road 2nd floor Fort Collins, CO 80525 P.O. Box 270810 Fort Collins, CO 80527 Fax: 970-221-5432 Publisher JEFF Nuttall jnuttall@bizwestmedia.com 970-232-3131 | 303-630-1955 Publisher & Executive Editor CHRiStOPHER WOOd cwood@bizwestmedia.com 303-630-1942 | 970-232-3133 Vice President of Strategic Partnerships SaNdy POWEll spowell@bizwestmedia.com 970-232-3144 | 303-630-1954 Controller BEvaN NOaCk bnoack@bizwestmedia.com 970-232-3151 | 303-630-1963 Copyright © 2015. BizWest Media llC. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without written permission is prohibited. Printed on Forest Stewardship Council certified paper BizWest BizWest BOULDER VALLEY t NORTHERN COLORADO To advertise BOuldER/BROOMFiEld 303-630-1954 laRiMER/WEld 970-232-3144 WyOMiNG wbr@bizwestmedia.com wyomingbusinessreport.com bizwestcom Places of Invention 6 Peak Award 8 Georgetown University Energy Prize 10 First Urban Bus Rapid Transit System in Colorado 12 America’s Most Satisfied City 14 One of the Best Places to Live 16 50 Best College Towns to Live in Forever 18 Best Places for Business and Careers 19 Let’s Move! For Healthy Efforts 22 Next Top 10 Cities for Tech Jobs 24 2015 Playful City 25 America’s Most Innovative Tech Hubs 26 America’s Safest Driving City 27 Top 10 Healthiest Cities 28 Gold Level Certification 30 6 Fort Collins is one of six communities featured in “Places of Invention,” the latest exhibition from the Smithsonian’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. The exhibit opened July 1, 2015 at the National Museum of American History. The exhibit showcases six communities that demonstrate what can happen when the right mix of inventive people, resources and inspiring surroundings come together: • The story of precision manufacturing in Hartford, Conn. in the late 1800s shows how a factory town puts the pieces together in explosive new ways. • Technicolor in Hollywood, Calif. in the 1930s puts the spotlight on the young town that gave birth to the movies’ Golden Age. • In the 1950s, cardiac innovations in Medical Alley, Minn. illuminate how a tight-knit community of tinkerers keeps hearts ticking. • Hip-hop’s birth in the Bronx, NY, in the 1970s looks at how neighborhood ingenuity created new beats. • The rise of the personal computer in Silicon Valley, Calif. in the 1970s–80s adds up to how suburban garage hackers plus lab researchers equaled personal computing. • Clean-energy innovations in Fort Collins today demonstrate how campus and community combine their energies for a greener planet. The Fort Collins portion of the exhibit highlights the work of Colorado State University researchers and local businesses to develop clean, sustainable alternatives to existing energy sources. It features the ongoing collaboration among industry partners, CSU and the City. Places of Invention 2015 Source: Smithsonian Sponsored by: What makes a university great? Location, in one of America’s best cities? Is it the $300 million-plus in annual research? Nearly a decade of record enrollment? That 9 of 10 students would choose us again? Perhaps it is the faculty, shaping young minds and making research, scholarly and artistic breakthroughs every day that change the world? Choose “All of the Above” as the reasons why Colorado State University, in the heart of Fort Collins, is one of the very best public research universities, anywhere. Learn more at: csueffect.colostate.edu 7 ZZZFROXPELQHKHDOWKFRP At Columbine, you're family. +20(&$5(_,1'(3(1'(17/,9,1* $66,67('/,9,1*_5(+$%,/,7$7,21 1856,1*+20(6_0(',&$/(48,30(17 3$//,$7,9($1'+263,&(&$5(_'(0(17,$&$5( /RFDOO\RZQHGDQGRSHUDWHG&ROXPELQH+HDOWK6\VWHPV KDVFDUHGIRUIDPLOLHVLQ1RUWKHUQ&RORUDGRVLQFH :HZHOFRPH\RXUIDPLO\WRMRLQRXUV )257&2//,16_/29(/$1'_:,1'625 8 In its ongoing quest for continuous performance improvement, the City of Fort Collins received the Peak Award from Rocky Mountain Performance Excellence (RMPEx). This prestigious designation is for organizations that undergo a rigorous examination of their business processes using the prestigious Baldrige National Quality Award Criteria. The City of Fort Collins is only the fifth organization to receive this honor in the 13-year history of RMPEx. Peak is the highest level in the program; in 2013, the City achieved the Timberline Award. As part of the evaluation process, a team of nine RMPEx examiners visited several sites throughout the City and talked with more than 200 City staff. They evaluated all parts of the City’s management model and improvement processes, and provided feedback in seven categories: leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, knowledge management, workforce focus, operations focus and results. The Peak recognition highlights the ongoing hard work of the City, and is just one milestone in the organization’s ongoing performance excellence journey. City staff are incorporating the feedback into their planning process to continue to improve the organization, and to pursue the national Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence award. Peak Award 2014 Source: Rocky Mountain Performance Excellence Sponsored by: Flood and Peterson is a full service insurance broker known for integrity, responsiveness, collaboration and an unmatched client experience. The combination of our business acumen and industry expertise ensures clients receive best in class coverage at the greatest value. We aspire to be long-term business partners guiding clients as they reduce risk and grow their business. Operating since 1939, our commitment to our clients, employees and the community make us Colorado’s leading broker and one of the largest privately held in the nation. www.floodpeterson.com 9 10 As part of Fort Collins’ ongoing commitment to leadership in energy efficiency and conservation, it is participating in a two-year energy efficiency competition, working to double energy savings in 2015 and 2016. Georgetown University is hosting a $5 million energy efficiency prize competition for cities across the country. Fort Collins is a semifinalist and is spending 2015-2016 working to increase energy efficiency awareness and action for the residential, municipal and K-12 sectors. Energy efficiency positively affects everyone, from individual consumers to entire communities. Although there are many innovative measures in place to help conserve energy, the United States still wastes more than half of the energy it produces because of inefficiencies in the system. The Georgetown University Energy Prize gives communities access to financial opportunities, educational and technical resources to help create far-reaching benefits that will last well into the future. The Fort Collins effort is a community-based initiative capitalizing on new and innovative approaches including community-based social marketing, a revamped FortZED website, and a focus on K-12 education and engagement. Georgetown University Energy Prize 2015 Source: Georgetown University Energy Prize Sponsored by: Platte River Power Authority is proud to serve and support the Fort Collins community by providing safe, reliable, environmentally responsible, and competitively priced energy and services. www.prpa.org 11 Employers Applicants “Building Diversified Through Integrity, Ethics & Value” Certifications: 8a -WOSB -EDWOSB-M/WBE-SBE -DBE www.actionsolutionsincorporated.com Corporate Office: 883 N. Cleveland Ave, Loveland CO 80537 (970) 667-4202 Denver Office: 51 W. 84th Ave, Thornton 80260 (720) 907-1350 12 First Urban Bus Rapid Transit System in Colorado In May, 2014, a new transit service launched in Fort Collins, transforming the city’s urban core. MAX – a service of Transfort, Fort Collins’ transit system – is the Front Range’s first bus rapid transit system. A project years in the making, MAX is the largest infrastructure project in Fort Collins history, and is funded through a variety of federal, state and local partners. MAX is a convenient, modern transit route offering service every 10 minutes during peak service hours and real-time bus arrival information at each station. MAX connects Downtown Fort Collins, Colorado State University, Midtown and south Fort Collins, providing access to popular destinations and employment centers for the community. Funded by the Federal Transit Administration, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State University, Colorado State University Research Foundation, the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority, and the City of Fort Collins, the $87 million project developed from a community conversation and long term planning effort to provide a transportation spine that would encourage economic redevelopment and catalyst projects in the heart of Fort Collins. 2014 Sponsored by: Transfort brings you closer to just about everywhere you need to go – home, work, school, shopping and more – with easy, modern transit. With more than 20 routes and more than 500 bus stops, Transfort provides exceptional, customer-focused service to meet Fort Collins’ present and future transit needs. www.ridetransfort.com 13 7KHUH¶VDZKROHQHZHUDRIKHDOWKFDUHLQ)RUW&ROOLQVZLWKWKHRSHQLQJRI%DQQHU)RUW &ROOLQV0HGLFDO&HQWHUDQG%DQQHU+HDOWK&HQWHU7KLVLVDQRSHQLQJRIFRPPXQLFDWLRQ EHWZHHQHYHU\RQH LQYROYHG LQ \RXUFDUH7KLVLV WKH ODWHVW WHFKQRORJ\7KLVLVUHPRWH SDWLHQWPRQLWRULQJJLYLQJGRFWRUVDVHFRQGVHWRIH\HV WRHQVXUHWKDWHYHU\ LQSDWLHQW UHFHLYHVWKHULJKWFDUHDWWKHULJKWWLPH7KLVLVJLYLQJ\RXDFFHVVWRDIXOOVSHFWUXPRI VSHFLDOLVWVDQGZRUNLQJFORVHO\ZLWKLQGHSHQGHQWSK\VLFLDQV,W¶VOLNHQRWKLQJ\RX¶YHHYHU VHHQIURPKHDOWKFDUHDQGHYHU\WKLQJ\RXVKRXOGH[SHFW %DQQHU+HDOWKFRP)RUW&ROOLQV 14 The Gallup organization and Time magazine named Fort Collins America’s Most Satisfied City. According to the Gallup poll, 94.9 percent of Fort Collins residents say they are satisfied with the city — a higher percentage than found in any other American city. Fort Collins has been a consistent high performer in the index since Gallup started asking the question in 2008. America’s Most Satisfied City 2014 Source: Time Magazine Sponsored by: Wilbur’s Total Beverage is a family owned and operated retail liquor store located next to Whole Foods Market in Fort Collins. For the past 15 years we have strived to offer the best service, selection and price on adult beverages in the state and work hard daily to take the intimidation out of wine shopping. If you need any help with your upcoming holiday parties, please give us a call as we offer delivery. www.wilburstotalbeverage.com 15 $VNXVKRZZHFDQKHOS\RXJHWWKHPRQH\\RXQHHG Credit qualications apply :HKDYHPRQH\WROHQG )RUW&ROOLQV 7LPEHUOLQH5RDG (0RXQWDLQ$YHQXH 6KLHOGV6WUHHW :LQGVRU :HVWJDWH'ULYH %HUWKRXG 0RXQWDLQ$YHQXH /RQJPRQW &RIIPDQ6WUHHW /DID\HWWH :6RXWK%RXOGHU5RDG 16 According to Livability.com, Fort Collins is one of the best places to live. They cite Fort Collins’ proximity to the foothills, 300 days of sunshine each year, a first- rate public school system and university, and an array of city amenities. Recreational activities in Fort Collins range from biking and hiking to snowboarding and kayaking. Thanks to 1,000 acres of parks, 40,000 acres of natural areas, 36 miles of trails, more than 280 miles of on-street bike lanes and a robust lineup of city-run indoor exercise facilities, Fort Collins residents have plenty of opportunities to get their hearts pumping. The city’s vibrant craft brewing scene serves as a hard-earned reward for Fort Collins’ active locals. Livability also praised Poudre School District. PSD students consistently perform higher than the statewide average in all subjects; and on a national scale, Fort Collins pupils consistently are ahead of the game when it comes to ACT and SAT college entrance exam averages. Fort Collins has invested extensively in its local library system, cultural offerings and public learning opportunities. Livability calls the Museum of Discovery “a gorgeous hands-on learning space, featuring an array of traditional and pop- science exhibits that fascinate the young and old.” The local economy benefits as well, as such amenities help attract and retain strong businesses and industry leaders, all of which make Fort Collins an engine of economic growth and stability in northern Colorado. One of the Best Places to Live 2014 Source: Livability.com Sponsored by: Columbine Health Systems has facilities in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor. Our independent, assisted, and skilled nursing facilities are modern and conveniently located in campus environments. The ease of moving from one level of care to another or back and forth for rehabilitation and health care changes is paramount to our goal of a fully- integrated senior health care system. Home care, medical equipment, pharmacy, case management, and a health club complete our locally owned continuum. www.columbinehealth.com 17 5IF&WBOHFMJDBM-VUIFSBO(PPE4BNBSJUBO4PDJFUZQSPWJEFTIPVTJOHBOETFSWJDFTUPRVBMJmFEJOEJWJEVBMTXJUIPVUSFHBSEUPSBDF DPMPS SFMJHJPO HFOEFS EJTBCJMJUZ GBNJMJBMTUBUVT OBUJPOBMPSJHJOPSPUIFSQSPUFDUFETUBUVTFTBDDPSEJOHUPBQQMJDBCMFGFEFSBM TUBUFPSMPDBMMBXT4PNFTFSWJDFT NBZCFQSPWJEFECZBUIJSEQBSUZ"MMGBJUITPSCFMJFGTBSFXFMDPNFª5IF&WBOHFMJDBM-VUIFSBO(PPE4BNBSJUBO4PDJFUZ"MMSJHIUT SFTFSWFE 4 ome places have a policy of providing excellence in retirement living. Others have a history of it. " 5*,)'#- 5) 5*,)0# #(!5 2 *.#)(&5- (#),5 , 5)*.#)(-5#-(].5$/-.5-)' ."#(!5 )/( 5#(5 5'#--#)(5-.. ' (.85 .]-5.5." 5 ), 5) 51")51 5, 85),5'), 5."(5of53 ,-65." 5)) 5 ',#.(5) # .35"-5) , 5")/-#(!5( 5-/**),.#0 5- ,0# -5.)5- (#),-5) 5&&5 #."-5 ( 5 &# -855 To learn more about our services, from home care to senior living to skilled nursing, call (970) 226-4909. 18 In addition to school spirit and a fun atmosphere, college towns also tend to have a thriving economy and culture that entice students to stay long after they receive their degree. Fort Collins is one of those towns, and that’s why College Ranker named it one of the best college towns to live in forever. Fort Collins has the fourth largest population in the state. It started as an Army camp in 1864 and is home to Colorado State University, a top research university. Due in part to the benefits of CSU, Fort Collins is home to several large research facilities including Hewlett Packard, Intel, AMD, and more. 50 Best College Towns to Live in Forever 2015 Source: College Ranker Sponsored by: Nearly 40 years ago, The Group Real Estate, an employee-owned company, was establshed in Northern Colorado. Every year since 1976, we have been the market leader and have been recognized consistently as one of the most productive companies in the country. Today we have 200 Realtors working in 6 offices. Like Fort Collins, we are proud to be ranked highly among our peers, but the most important thing to us is to give our customers excellent service day after day, transaction after transaction. www.thegroupinc.com 19 In selecting Fort Collins as one of the best places for business and careers, Forbes magazine lauds the strong business community and Colorado State University. Many high-tech companies including Hewlett Packard, Intel and AMD, among others, have relocated to Fort Collins to take advantage of the resources of CSU and its research facilities. Up-and-coming industries in the area include clean energy, bioscience, and agri-tech businesses. The large college-age population supports the local music scene and a number of well known microbreweries. The Downtown Business Association hosts a number of large festivals each year in the historic Downtown district, including NewWestFest in August, which features local cuisine, music, and businesses. The Fort Collins Lincoln Center is home to the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra and regularly attracts national touring companies of Broadway plays. Best Places for Business and Careers 2015 Source: Forbes Sponsored by: Action Staffing Solutions has greater than 100 years combined experience in the staffing industry, supporting the private and public sectors. “Our mission from the start has been to make a difference in people’s lives by providing meaningful employment opportunities for our associates, growth opportunities for our company staff, and a positive experience for our customers.” “We gain great satisfaction in finding the right jobs for people and the right people for jobs while contributing to the workforce in Colorado.” www.actionsolutions incorporated.com 20 THIS IS AN INVITATION TO FIND YOUR STATE. THIS IS AN INVITATION TO the innovators the convention-challengers the adventure-seekers the builders and the makers those who know we accomplish more when we work together. This is an invitation to join a family expand your comfort zone change your mind make your mark on the world. admissions.colostate.edu 21 22 Fort Collins leads the nation when it comes to promoting healthy living, according to the National League of Cities (NLC). The NLC has recognized Fort Collins for completing key health and wellness goals for Let’s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC). LMCTC awarded Fort Collins nine medals, including five gold medals, for improving access to healthy, affordable food and increasing opportunities for physical activity. LMCTC is a major component of First Lady Michelle Obama’s comprehensive Let’s Move! initiative, which is dedicated to solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. LMCTC calls upon local elected officials to adopt sustainable and holistic policies that improve communities’ access to healthy, affordable food and opportunities for physical activity through five goal areas. More than 450 cities, towns and counties are participating in LMCTC. Let’s Move! For Healthy Efforts 2014 Source: National League of Cities Sponsored by: It is a privilege to have the opportunity to serve Northern Colorado and meet the health care needs of the Fort Collins community. As a nonprofit health plan, Kaiser Permanente’s mission is to improve the health of our members and the health of our communities because we know the health of our communities goes beyond exam room walls. kp.org/thrive 23 0HPEHU)',&Ř)LUVW1DWLRQDO%DQNLVD3UHIHUUHG6%$/HQGHU 0D\EHLWZDVWKHLGHD7KHGD\\RXVDZWKHHPSW\VSDFH2UPD\EH ZKHQ\RXNQHZ\RXFRXOGGRZKDWWKHELJJX\VZHUHGRLQJRQO\ EHWWHU+RZHYHU\RXJHW\RXUVWDUW\RXQHHGDSDUWQHUWRVXSSRUW\RX IURPVWDUWXSWRH[SDQVLRQDQGHYHU\VWHSLQEHWZHHQ Potential from the very first day. $/HQGHU ŘVWQDWLRQDOEDQNFRPEXVLQHVV +RZGLG\RXUEXVLQHVVJHWLWVVWDUW" 8QIRUJHWWDEOH)LUVWVŘ8QIRUJHWWDEOH)LUVWVFRP 24 Entrepreneurs and young professionals looking to launch their careers or their startups in an active technology hub have a wide variety of alternatives to the costly traditional hotspots like New York, Los Angeles, and Silicon Valley. According to Fast Company, the country’s hottest up-and-coming tech scenes are typically found in mid-sized cities that offer big-city resources like universities, access to talent, and satellite offices of tech industry titans along with lower costs of living and a greater work/life balance. In naming Fort Collins one of the top up-and-coming cities for tech jobs, Fast Company says Fort Collins has seen an influx of major tech employers in recent years, saying Fort Collins has a small-town feel with access to world- class facilities. They list Fort Collins’ top five tech jobs as: software QA, SQL server database developer, application software developer, test engineer, and lead systems programmer. Next Top 10 Cities for Tech Jobs 2015 Source: Fast Company Sponsored by: Fort Collins is a thriving community with an impressive mix of large, medium-size and small employers, as well as grassroots startups and forward-thinking entrepreneurs. As the regional hub for innovation, retail and educational opportunities, Fort Collins’ location, demographics and quality of life make it a great place to run a business. www.fcgov.com 25 In 2015, Fort Collins was honored with its first Playful City USA designation. In partnership with the Humana Foundation, KaBOOM! honors cities, towns and counties across the country for making their communities more playable. With six community parks, 42 neighborhood parks, more than 35 miles of paved trails and nine recreation facilities, play is serious business in Fort Collins. The City of Fort Collins believes that by creating an environment where “playability” is accessible and abundant it can create a healthier and happier community. Fort Collins is a vibrant, creative and active community that values play and is focused on providing broad access and quality opportunities that allow children to stay active and healthy. Many families that call Fort Collins home live here because they believe play is a priority and living an active lifestyle is key to their quality of life. KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. 2015 Playful City 2015 Source: KaBoom! Sponsored by: Wilbur’s Total Beverage is a family owned and operated retail liquor store located next to Whole Foods Market in Fort Collins. For the past 15 years we have strived to offer the best service, selection and price on adult beverages in the state and work hard daily to take the intimidation out of wine shopping. If you need any help with your upcoming holiday parties, please give us a call as we offer delivery. www.wilburstotalbeverage.com 26 By assessing the impact of tech funding, innovation and startup activity, NerdWallet has determined Fort Collins is one of America’s Most Innovative Tech Hubs. Fort Collins ranked ahead of San Jose and San Francisco in terms of tech startup density, with three times the national average. The region also poses stiff competition in retaining engineering talent. NerdWallet evaluated the number of patents per 1,000 residents to find the areas with the most inventive residents. They also considered the density of startup companies, which allows innovators to benefit from idea sharing, and the amount of venture capital funding the area received, to understand whether entrepreneurs have access to the capital they need. America’s Most Innovative Tech Hubs 2015 Source: NerdWallet Sponsored by: What makes a university great? Location, in one of America’s best cities? Is it the $300 million-plus in annual research? Nearly a decade of record enrollment? That 9 of 10 students would choose us again? Perhaps it is the faculty, shaping young minds and making research, scholarly and artistic breakthroughs every day that change the world? Choose “All of the Above” as the reasons why Colorado State University, in the heart of Fort Collins, is one of the very best public research universities, anywhere. Learn more at: csueffect.colostate.edu 27 In recent years, Fort Collins has consistently ranked on Allstate America’s Best Driving Report®, a program that identifies which of the 200 largest U.S. cities has the safest drivers. The Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report® tabulates property damage and collision frequency. It is produced annually to boost the country’s discussion about safe driving and to increase awareness of the importance of being safe and attentive behind the wheel. America’s Safest Driving City 2014 Source: Allstate 28 Hiking, biking and swimming at Horsetooth Reservoir placed Fort Collins among Livability’s top 10 healthiest cities. Majestic mountains and crystal clear lakes create ideal conditions for outdoor lovers or anyone looking for a chance to exercise. Fort Collins’ recreational opportunities, highly active residents, low health-care costs and strong social support services make it one of the healthiest cities in the nation. Livability highlighted residents’ healthy choices: less than 19 percent of residents are considered obese, more than 80 percent engage in overall healthy lifestyles and exercise on a regular basis, and only about 15 percent of the population smokes. Throughout the year, five farmers markets in and around Fort Collins give people access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as beef and other meats. Fort Collins is surrounded by natural areas with hiking trails, and many residents get to work or run errands on foot. Top 10 Healthiest Cities 2015 Source: Livability.com Sponsored by: From Fort Collins, to Loveland, Greeley, Brush and Sterling, Northern Colorado takes good care of us. Which is why we love taking care of Northern Colorado. With Fort Collins ranked No. 9 of 2015’s “Top10 Healthiest Cities” (by Livability. com in April 2015), we’d like to think we’re the real winners. Thank you Fort Collins, for keeping us even healthier. www. BannerHealth.com/ FortCollins 29 lose-a-watt.com find out at BUY ® 30 Fort Collins is one of 16 Colorado agencies partnering in the Solar Friendly Communities (SFC) project. SFC is helping citizens go solar, by making rooftop solar permitting easier for local governments, faster for solar installers and less expensive for residents. By bringing down costs, the project is encouraging the spread of a locally powered, job-creating energy source that has no fuel costs and produces no pollution. SFC is led by the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association in partnership with the communities of Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder County and Golden along with the Rocky Mountain Institute and the American Solar Energy Society. In addition, Fort Collins Utilities offers solar rebates and a home efficiency loan program to help residents install solar energy systems. Gold Level Certification 2013 Source: Solar Friendly Communities 31 In 2012 , Fort Collins was named a bronze level Walk Friendly Community (WFC) by the Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center. WFC is a national recognition program that encourages communities across the U.S. to prioritize safer walking environments. Fort Collins is designated as a Bronze-level community due to its outstanding Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programming and pedestrian planning practices that include an excellent range of performance indicators. Fort Collins considers directness, continuity, availability of crossing signals, safety and visual aesthetics in developing walkable routes. Half of the Fort Collins’ elementary and middle schools have ongoing SRTS programs and the other half have special walk to school events. The City’s SRTS program has conducted comprehensive walkability audits at several schools, and it has developed Safe Routes maps for all schools in the district. Bronze Level Walk Friendly Community 2012 Source: Pedestrian & Bicycle Information Center 32 For the second year in a row, Fort Collins’ transit system, Transfort, was named the Large Transit System of the Year by the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies (CASTA). Transfort offers friendly, safe, convenient bus service in Fort Collins and beyond. Transfort operates 23 routes, including MAX Bus Rapid Transit, FLEX and the Green and Gold routes, as well as Dial-A-Ride paratransit service. The Large Transit System of the Year award recognizes CASTA member transit systems for achievements in providing innovative services in the community, being responsive to customer and community needs, and effectively supplying safe and reliable service. The award category recognizes transit providers operating more than 25 vehicles during peak periods. Transfort was specifically recognized for the implementation of MAX and associated routes, system enhancements including successful marketing of MAX, and improvements in customer communications through an advanced traveler information system. Large Transit System of the Year 2014 Source: Colorado Association of Transit Agencies Sponsored by: BizWest: providing the most comprehensive breaking business news in Northern Colorado and Boulder Valley through our biweekly newspaper, website, daily e-mails, weekly industry e-newsletters, many annual print products like the Book of Lists, Economic Profile: Market Facts Book, Giving Guide and more; plus multiple events throughout the year creating face-to-face connections through award ceremonies and conferences. www.bizwest.com 33 Fort Collins’ Stormwater Utility has earned Fort Collins a Class 4 Rating in FEMA’s Community Rating System, recognizing community stormwater and floodplain management programs and activities. Only 11 other communities in the country share this same rating or higher. A CRS Class 4 rating provides citizens and businesses up to a 30 percent discount on their flood insurance premiums. The Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum requirements. Actions taken to achieve the rating provide significant benefits to the community, including reducing flood damage to insurable property, and encouraging a comprehensive approach to floodplain management. FEMA’s Community Rating System, Stormwater 2014 Source: FEMA Sponsored by: With one of the most reliable electric distribution systems in the country, and water and wastewater services that are 100 percent compliant with all regulatory agencies, Fort Collins Utilities provides safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and cost-effective utilities to the community. www.fcgov.com 34 The STAR Community Rating System (STAR) is the first national certification program to recognize sustainable communities. Local leaders use STAR to assess their sustainability, set targets for moving forward, and measure progress along the way. In 2012, the City of Fort Collins became one of the first cities in the nation to combine its Economic Health, Environmental Health and Social Sustainability departments into one Sustainability Services Area. Two years later, Fort Collins became a certified 3-STAR Community. The rating system’s evaluation measures collectively define community-scale sustainability, and present a vision of how communities can become more healthy, inclusive, and prosperous across seven goal areas. The system’s goals and objectives provide a much- needed vocabulary that local governments and their communities can use to more effectively strategize and define their sustainability planning efforts. Highlights from Fort Collins designation include: • More than 50 codes and ordinances benchmarked as demonstrating sustainability leadership • Comprehensive and sustainable City planning in support of: compact, mixed-use development, bicycle and pedestrian transportation options, greenhouse gas mitigation, clean and secure water supply, building energy efficiency, and natural resource protection • Leadership in establishing local historic districts with specific design standards • Leadership in protection of natural resources through land conservation and corridor connectivity • Adoption of seven local practices to protect outdoor air quality and five to protect water in the natural environment • Violent crime rates much below selected thresholds The STAR Community designation provides City leaders with a roadmap of local actions and best practices that will help achieve long-term sustainability goals. 3 Star Sustainability Certification 2014 Source: STAR Communities Sponsored by: Vaught Frye Larson Architects is a full-service architecture firm located in Fort Collins, CO and Cheyenne, WY specializing in site and conceptual planning, sustainable architecture, interior design and urban design for residential and commercial developers. VFLA believes in sustainable 35 The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has selected Fort Collins’ Natural Areas program as the recipient of its hallmark annual award: Outstanding Service to Environmental Education by an Organization at the Local Level. NAAEE is an international leader in environmental education that promotes excellence and impact in environmental education. Award winners represent innovators in environmental education, community engagement, research and environmental justice. The City of Fort Collins has conserved 41 natural areas thanks to sales tax measures that make land conservation and environmental education possible. Last year the city reached more than 15,000 people through mostly volunteer-led activities, classes and special events, field trips for students, customized programs, and educational stewardship projects. The program serves a community that loves the outdoors and believes in celebrating and conserving natural areas for everyone, forever. Outstanding Service to Environmental Education 2014 Source: North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Sponsored by: With one of the most reliable electric distribution systems in the country, and water and wastewater services that are 100 percent compliant with all regulatory agencies, Fort Collins Utilities provides safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and cost-effective utilities to the community. www.fcgov.com 36 Fort Collins Utilities’ Water Reclamation and Biosolids Division has received two Gold Peak Performance Awards for water treatment excellence. The awards program, presented by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), recognizes public wastewater treatment facilities for outstanding compliance records. Both the Mulberry and Drake Water Reclamation Facilities received the award, which honors treatment works that have achieved 100 percent compliance with their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for an entire calendar year. The two facilities use state-of-the-art processes for treating wastewater within Utilities’ sanitary sewer service area. The effluent exceeds state and federal regulations for water quality before it is returned to the Poudre River and Fossil Creek Reservoir. Gold Peak Performance Awards, water treatment 2015 Source: National Association of Clean Water Agencies 37 Fort Collins has been a Tree City USA award recipient since 1976. The City of Fort Collins Forestry staff prides itself in its commitment to maintaining its urban forest, including more than 40,000 trees on city property. The Tree City USA program has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976. It is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees. Fort Collins is one of more than 3,400 communities that have achieved Tree City USA status by maintaining a tree board or department – ours is the Forestry Division, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day. Tree City USA 2015 Source: The Arbor Day Foundation Sponsored by: Reprographics is a locally owned and operated digital printer in business since 1976. We have been a proud member of the Fort Collins and northern Colorado business community supporting the architectural, engineering and construction industries for the first 20 years through processing blue prints to help build our city then adding digital color capabilities to support the graphics, marketing and hobby photographers and artists with their artwork or trade show displays, brochures, banners and posters. We are excited to support the continued growth of our wonderful gem of a city. We love you Fort Collins, thanks for shopping local. www.reprofortcollins.com 38 Fort Collins’ bike culture caught the attention of Bicycling magazine, which named the community the 9th Best Bike City. It celebrated Fort Collins’ platinum status from the League of American Bicyclists as well as: • The city’s Bike Library, where anyone can borrow a bike for a day. It was established in 2008, two years before the nation’s first official bike-share system in Washington, DC. • The Fort Collins Bike Co-op, which works to get the whole community riding and educate everyone on bike safety and maintenance. It offers bike repairs and many volunteer programs. • Local bike shops like Lee’s Cyclery, which has been tuning up two wheels since 1963 • Bike Fort Collins hosts several events throughout the community dedicated to improving riding in Fort Collins. • New Belgium’s Tour de Fat – it’s spread across the country, but the whole bike party thing started in Fort Collins. Best Bike City 2014 Source: Bicycling Magazine Fort Collins’ bicycle culture is key in defining the fabric of a unique sense of place. It is a primary means of transportation for many, a source of recreation, and a significant factor in attracting new businesses and residents. The City of Fort Collins works alongside many community organizations to build a seamless bikeway network and ensure a safe cycling community. In 2013 Fort Collins was named a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. The program offers national recognition for communities that actively support bicycling. A Bicycle Friendly Community welcomes cyclists by providing safe accommodation for cycling and encourages people to bike for transportation and recreation. Making bicycling safe and convenient are keys to improving public health, reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality and improving quality of life. FCBikes is a nationally-recognized program that works to increase bicycling through advocacy, programming and planning, while creating and maintaining a bicycle-friendly community atmosphere. Platinum Bicycle-Friendly Community 2013 Source: League of American Bicyclists 39 2201 South College • (970) 226-8662 www.WilbursTotalBeverage.com Open M-Sat 9-10 • Sun 10-6 Meet Dave, Frankie and Mat... Dave, Frankie and Mat are just a few members of the passionate team that makes Wilbur’s Total Beverage THE place to go for wine, beer and spirits. With the largest selection in Northern Colorado and a customer-centric approach to business, Wilbur’s has the perfect pairing for your next get together. Stop in today and see how the whole team makes Wilbur’s Total Beverage more than just a liquor store. So much more than a liquor store. FUN SMART INNOVATIVE JOSH BIRKS DIRECTOR (970) 416-2170 jbirks@fcgov.com SEONAH KENDALL POLICY & PROJECT MANAGER (970) 416-2164 skendall@fcgov.com CCCCCOOONNNNTTTTAAACCCTTT Want to learn more about resources for businesses? Contact the City’s Economic Health Office for assistance. WWW.FCGOV.COM/BUSINESS design practices and leading a sustainable lifestyle. Designing smarter buildings saves our clients tangible items like time and money. Let VFLA help you create the vision for your project. Contact us at (970) 224-1191 or info@vfla.com. www.vfla.com VAUGHT FRYE LARSON architects Member FDIC ZZZ+RPH6WDWH%DQNFRP /RYHODQG ((LVHQKRZHU%OYG :(LVHQKRZHU%OYG ( WK6WUHHW 1&OHYHODQG$YHQXH &RQYHQLHQWO\/RFDWHG,Q %DQQHU+HDOWK&RORUDGR+DUPRQ\5G /DG\0RRQ'U Bronze Level Walk Friendly Community 31 Large Transit System of the Year 32 FEMA’s Community Rating System, Stormwater 33 3 Star Sustainability Certification 34 Outstanding Service to Environmental Education 35 Gold Peak Performance Awards, water treatment 36 Tree City USA 37 Best Bike City / Platinum Bicycle-Friendly Community 38 We don’t mean to brag, but ... international research university – driving global innovation in fields ranging from clean energy to biomedicine and the fine arts. Our university has research sites and faculty working all over the world and extension offices serving every Colorado county. More than 114,000 CSU alumni currently live and work in communities across our state, contributing in significant ways to the cultural, civic, and economic health of our state. Even with this broad reach, CSU’s roots are firmly planted here in Fort Collins, where local business leaders banded together in the 19th century and fought to get the state’s land-grant university located here. For 145 years, our campus and community have aligned to support innovation and transformation through research, outreach, and lifelong learning. The campus and community have grown up together. CSU just welcomed the largest, most diverse, and among the most academically qualified freshman class in its history—and has become the destination school for Colorado students, attracting more of our state’s high-school graduates than any other college campus. That is possible, in large part, because Fort Collins is a welcoming community that embraces the vibrancy of a college town and strategically leverages the many advantages a university brings to a community. When the Smithsonian Institution chose to recognize Fort Collins and CSU as innovation hubs, they were acknowledging that the conditions that create an innovative community are not simple to build. But those communities that are successful in doing so have a rare and remarkable character – and nearly unlimited opportunity. CSU is proud to be part of this place – and grateful for our strong and continuing partnership with the city, the business community, and the people of Fort Collins. — Dr. Tony Frank President, Colorado State University Fort Collins: Sharing our successes Place matters