News At-A-Glance
Brighton, Colorado
Economic Development News
Article by Susan Stanton
The last year of growth in Brighton has been amazing. Susan Stanton, President and CEO of Brighton Economic Development Corporation has written the article below giving an overview of what happened last year and some goals for the community. Economic development is a vital activity for any community. It’s the process of creating greater wealth within a community by bringing in new “outside” dollars. Our community is postured for more growth and we appreciate having this offering from Brighton Economic Development Corporation to recap our growth for the past year.
A new regional shopping complex and medical center. A revitalized Main Street and downtown core. Plans for a performing arts center, home-grown retail and lifelong learning and innovation campus.
Once known as a sleepy little agricultural town, Brighton has grown steadily into a city to watch. With more than 30,000 residents and ringed with projects designed to bring economic growth, Brighton is now coming into its own. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This has been a banner year for civic accomplishments, with much more in store for 2008.
“We know we’re going to grow,” said Jan Pawlowski, Brighton’s mayor. “We’re determined to do it the best way we can.”
Denver International Airport paved the way in 1995 when it opened just 15 miles south of Brighton. Colorado highway E-470 followed, opening access between Brighton and metro communities that had for decades been blocked by the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. It’s now possible to drive from Brighton to Denver in 20 minutes.
The Bromley Cos. built housing, retail and the Adams County Justice Center along Interstate 76, creating a critical mass of development. Soon after, St. Louis-based THF Realty discovered the potential, and began developing a 2,000 acre mixed-use project called Prairie Center.
In July, the Platte Valley Medical Center filled the gap between Prairie Center and the Justice Center, moving into a new 287,301-square-foot facility designed to bring state-of-the-art medical services to north eastern Colorado residents.
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