BUSINESS LEADERS LAUNCH WEBSITE TO TRACK STIMULUS SPENDING

The Loop: BUSINESS LEADERS LAUNCH WEBSITE TO TRACK STIMULUS SPENDING

July 7, 2009, vol 2, no. 44

BUSINESS LEADERS LAUNCH WEBSITE TO TRACK STIMULUS SPENDING

Construction associations, Denver biz leaders aim for efficiency when spending taxpayer dough

In an effort to ensure stimulus dollars are utilized to their full potential, representatives from the construction industry and members of the business community say they unveiled a Web site this month to facilitate better communication between the public and private sectors.

StimulusColorado.org went live on July 1, and sponsors of the site say their hopes are that it will improve how the private businesses spend the billions of federal dollars flowing into state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In addition to a detailed database of the nearly $2.9 billion slated to be spent on infrastructure in Colorado, the website also includes news updates on federal spending and a message board where organizations can meet and discuss stimulus project opportunities.

"This level of collaboration will certainly position Metro Denver and Colorado favorably," said Michael Gifford, of the Associated General Contractors of Colorado. "We want to show that we can move quickly and efficiently to put stimulus dollars to work to create jobs and help the economy."

AGC Colorado and the Colorado Association of Mechanical & Plumbing Contractors spearheaded the initiative to launch the Web site. The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and the Colorado Contractors Association were partners in the development of the website.

StimulusColorado.org focuses primarily on ARRA spending in the areas of building, energy, natural resources and transportation infrastructure.

"Developing this Web site has improved the collaboration and communication within our business community and our public sector partners, federal labs, and universities to maximize Colorado's share of ARRA discretionary and competitive grants," said Holli Baumunk of the Metro Denver EDC.