GARDNER: Tell the truth about economic development – ​​Aurora leads the metro area

A recent editorial in the Sentinel attacked the city of Aurora for its recent economic development win with Philip Morris International, with a false caption: “Why does Denver get investments from tech companies, artificial intelligence, health care and more, while Aurora gets lower-tier industries?”

While I am sure the author, a board member of the Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions, knows the facts about the dangers of illegal drugs, when it comes to economic development, he is completely clueless about what he is doing.

Here are the facts: Aurora is a leader in the Denver metro area in attracting high-quality, premier employers across a variety of sectors. As of early 2022, Aurora is leveraging economic development efforts to attract employers in the following industries:

• Aviation and space: 555 jobs
• Production: 650 jobs
• Distribution: 720 jobs
• Manufacturing/Product Services: 468 job offers
• Data centers: 15 workstations

This is not an exhaustive list and does not include the thousands of new jobs Aurora has created in the healthcare sector at Anschutz Medical Campus, which currently employs more than 16,000 people, or at dozens of other medical facilities across our city, or the jobs created in the defense industry supporting Buckley Space Force Base, which currently employs more than 12,000 people, and its associated missions and more.

This new Philip Morris International plant in Aurora will employ over 500 Aurora residents, with an average salary of $90,000. In addition to the initial investment of $600 million, this new plant will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for the City of Aurora. This revenue will be used to pave roads, hire police and firefighters, and build new libraries for our residents. And the $7 million incentive is based on performance, a small rebate of entirely new taxes—which is different from a taxpayer subsidy.

The reality of being a responsible policy maker is that you have to meet the needs of a growing city with limited resources. As Aurora has grown, the need for new city services has increased, such as new roads and other city amenities. To meet this need, Aurora must attract major employers to our city so that we can move from a bedroom suburb to a vibrant city that can meet the needs of our residents.

Our diverse economic development strategy reflects the realities of the 21st century^saint Century – We are not just competing with other cities in Colorado, but with cities across the United States. Aurora continues to be a leader in attracting high-quality employers to our city and is well-positioned to continue competing in the future.

In fact, much of the residential, commercial, and industrial growth that the Denver metropolitan area will experience in the coming decades will occur in the city of Aurora. This growth will mean less reliance on retail sales tax for the city of Aurora, which is a good thing and means we will be even more insulated from the economic crises that weigh on retail sales. But more importantly, it will lead to good-paying jobs and economic mobility right here in Aurora, so our residents will be able to enjoy even more opportunities to live, work, and play in the city they call home.

And this is not happening by accident. It is the direct result of a coordinated economic development strategy aimed at different sectors.

Curtis Gardner is a city councilor representing the city of Aurora.

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