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From: Darin Atteberry
To: All Groupwise Users
Date: 3/6/2008 3:38:33 PM
Subject: AVA Solar
Colleagues;
The City and CSU Research Foundation have been working closely with AVA Solar for months on a deal
which would have brought up to 800 new manufacturing and high-tech jobs to Fort Collins. Earlier this
week the City learned that AVA Solar has decided to locate their manufacturing facility in Longmont, rather
than at 1-25 & Prospect. We are shocked and extremely disappointed by this news. The City took
extraordinary steps, beyond our standard business operations, to fast -track the process for AVA and
accommodate their needs. The land was under contract, a community meeting about the project was set
for this week, and the closing date of April 8 was just one month away. Given this, their change of plans
was both surprising and disheartening.
I want to reassure you that this news does not impact the City's short-term financial condition. However,
since 2001, manufacturing has been declining in Northern Colorado, and approximately 4,800 jobs have
been lost. Many people in Fort Collins are currently underemployed. The AVA manufacturing plant would
have been a big part in closing that gap and could have helped significantly.
There is a small silver lining in this cloud. At this point AVA is still indicating they will keep their
headquarters and R & D Center here. They currently employ 100 people at this facility, and expect to
grow to 200 in the next year.
It's important for you to know that we did everything we could to locate this manufacturing facility here.
Many people from many agencies invested a lot of time and effort. The City and CSU worked together in
an unparalleled partnership. City employees in Utilities, Transportation, Planning, Engineering, Natural
Resources, the City Attorney's Office and the Economic Office went to extraordinary lengths for this
project, far above and beyond what is typically expected. City Council moved quickly to approve a land
swap and rezoning.
I'm sure you'll be seeing more about this in the media, and hearing about it in the community. Please
know, and help us to communicate, that we are deeply disappointed with AVA's last minute change of
plans, but there is absolutely nothing more the City could have done.
Thanks,
Darin