COLORADO CITIES NAMED BEST FOR BIZ: Forbes magazine has named four Colorado cities in their top 20 list of best places for business and careers in 2009. Fort Collins was ranked second, Colorado Springs tenth, Denver 14th and Boulder 20th. Raleigh, North Carolina topped the list, which was based on several criteria including job growth over the last five years and projections through 2011.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION LIMITS: Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D-Colo., a member of the House Financial Services and the House Rules Committee, announced he is supporting legislation that seeks to amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act to prohibit “unreasonable and excessive executive compensation.” House Bill 1664, which is designed to “ensure responsibility and accountability to the American taxpayers to prevent the large retention bonuses we saw with AIG,” according to a statement from Perlmutter’s office, passed out of the House Financial Services Committee yesterday.
MARKEY WITH PICKENS: Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., joined oilman T. Boone Pickens at a press conference in Washington, D.C. yesterday, along with Reps. Dan Boren, D-Okla., John Sullivan, R-Okla., and John Larsen, D-Conn., to promote legislation that seeks to expand the use of natural gas in the U.S. Markey has signed on to co-sponsor the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act, which was introduced yesterday in the U.S. House. The bill includes an 18-year extension of three tax incentives that focus on natural gas as a transportation fuel, the purchase of natural gas-fueled vehicles and the installation of commercial and residential natural gas refueling pumps. It would also require that by the end of 2014 at least 50 percent of the new vehicles purchased and placed into service by the federal government be capable of operating on compressed or liquid natural gas.
NEW MILLERCOORS RESPONSIBILITY CAMPAIGN: In an effort to strengthen its commitment to “being a responsible corporate citizen,” MillerCoors has unveiled a new identity and logo named “Great Beer, Great Responsibility.” The logo will serve as the company’s tagline and be displayed on the packaging, point-of-sale materials and advertising of MillerCoors brands.
EDUCATION STIMULUS FUNDING: Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., announced yesterday that the first installment of $272 million in recovery funding has been released to schools in Colorado for programs and services for low-income students and students with disabilities. Approximately half of the funds were released yesterday, with the second installment due to be released this fall.
KEYBANK OPENS 50TH BRANCH IN CO: KeyBank opened its 50th Colorado branch downtown at 16th and Champa, the first of eight new branches the bank plans to open in the state in 2009. The grand opening will be held tomorrow from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Colorado Avalanche player John Michael Liles will be on hand to sign autographs from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and the Denver Nuggets Dancers will appear from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
SMOKING PREVENTION LEGISLATION: Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., is part of a group of lawmakers that introduced companion pieces of legislation yesterday in the U.S. Senate and House that seeks to provide Medicare and Medicaid coverage to tobacco cessation treatments for senior citizens, people with disabilities and low-income adults. In a statement, DeGette said the legislation would save money in health costs, in addition to saving lives.
NATIONAL SERVICE LEGISLATION PASSES: The U.S. House yesterday passed legislation that would expand national community service programs, increasing the number of volunteer positions available. Named the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the bill would also expand the size of AmeriCorps. Colorado Republican Reps. Mike Coffman and Doug Lamborn voted against the bill, while Democratic Reps. Diana Degette, Jared Polis, John Salazar, Betsy Markey and Ed Perlmutter voted for it. The bill now heads to President Barack Obama’s desk, and he is expected to sign it.
CENSUS EXECUTIVE ORDER: Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien signed an executive order yesterday that forms the 2010 Colorado Census Complete Count Campaign. The campaign was formed as a volunteer committee to increase awareness about the upcoming census and to motivate residents in the community to participate. Yesterday’s signing marked the one-year-out point towards the 2010 count. In addition to legislators, some members of the 25-35-person committee will include people from the local community. The application deadline for the committee is April 20. Visit www.colorado.gov or call 303-866-6380 for more information.
RADIO STATION CHANGES NAME: Max Media’s recently acquired top 40-radio station KONN-FM was re-launched yesterday as HOT 107.1 FM. It was previously known as One-FM. Visit www.HOT1071Denver.com for more information.
