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9/1/2008
A new kind of businessman can be spotted on the tree-lined streets of Boulder, Colorado. He sports a North Face top with jeans rather than the traditional matte gray suite. She bikes to work rather than commuting for 2 hours in 5-mph traffic. They share more than an appreciation for the fresh mountain air, however. These business people are executives of international movers and shakers such as Google, Whole Foods Market, and Sun Microsystems.
One such example is Scott Green, Engineering Site Director for Google's offices in downtown Boulder. "No one sits behind a closed door and we can work from anywhere in the building: the deck with a view of the mountains, the massage chair in the library, or the gallery overlooking the [rock] climbing wall," boasts Green. Executives stroll through the hallways, taking an occasional break to play a game of ping-pong or sip Fair Trade organic coffee with colleagues.
This laid back atmosphere belies the acuity of Boulder’s business environment, however. Leading brands such as Crocs, Pangea Organics, White Wave Foods, and Gaiam all originated in Boulder before bursting onto the international scene. In June, Conoco Phillips announced its plans for a new site on the perimeter of Boulder, projected to employ 7,000 workers. This Global Technology and Corporate Learning Center will be home to research and development of new energy technologies, as well as the center for training employees worldwide. Alternative energy technologies rank second only to high-tech industries in Boulder's diverse business climate. American Electronics Association notes that annual average tech wages in Boulder rank sixth nationwide at $96,100. Indeed, high wages and immediate turnover of available homes are two signs of Boulder's healthy climate indoors.
As noted by Monocle Magazine in their 2007 issue The Best Places to Call Home, “it’s little wonder web developers and organic enthusiasts constantly feel like scaling new peaks" with the iconic Rocky Mountains soaring upwards in the background. Alex Bogusky, the chief creative officer of renegade advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky, was interviewed for the issue. Citing one of the reasons for his firm's move from Miami to the Rocky Mountains, Bogusky observes, "Miami runs on money; Boulder runs on creativity." Bogusky's appreciation of Boulder's innovative minds only serves to catapult his company towards further financial success. CP+B is responsible for the effective marketing of the Mini Cooper and Volkswagen Rabbit relaunches, Virgin Atlantic, and Burger King's profitable guerrilla marketing.
In a rapidly shifting economy, Boulder is considered one of the few "recession-proof" communities in the United States. Jonathon Smoke of Housing Intelligence, an online resource for real estate investors, was asked to identify the nation's Top 20 cities for economic resilience. Reviewing metrics such as household income growth, job creation, unemployment rates, home sales and increasing prices, Smoke found Boulder, CO at the top of the list. Nearby Fort Collins holds a place in the Top 20, as well. "If you could only use one piece of intelligence to make a market investment decision, economic prospects would likely be the best to use," advises Smoke. In a smart move, Boulder city officials placed a cap on population growth at 2% each year. This, combined with the natural barrier of the Rocky Mountain Front Range to the west, means increasing demand for housing with finite supply.
Forbes Magazine places Boulder as 4th in 2004’s “Best Places,” while Money Magazine ranks it second only to neighboring Fort Collins as “Best Places to Live.” Quality of life is easy to uphold in this city of 94,000 that blends the relaxed pacing of a small town with the business opportunities of a cosmopolitan city. Located within an hour of Denver International Airport, the country's fifth busiest airport. Rocky Mountain National Park and many of Colorado's world-famous ski resorts are within two hours. The town bursts with cultural opportunities, due in part to the presence of the University of Colorado at Boulder. In addition, Boulder touts the highest percentage of college degrees in the US, making it Forbes' two-time winner of "Smartest City in the US."
The humming atmosphere found indoors is only heightened by the natural splendor outdoors. Outside Magazine recognizes Boulder as the #1 "Dream Town" of America. With over 30,000 acres of thriving parks and open space the city receives multiple awards each year for its green standards. Urban Land Green magazine listed Boulder as one of the "Top 10 World's Greener Cities" in 2008. Men's Journal ranked Boulder as "Best Overall Place to Live." The low crime rate, clean air, community environment and healthy economy all combine to make Boulder an ideal place to call home. As Forbes writer Elisabeth Eaves put it, "some places are magnets for the brightest of the bright."
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