The Best Place to Move and Open a Business in Colorado
The best of Colorado professional service providers
BEST COLLEGE + UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER
CU Boulder has more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and a retention rate of 87 percent. While they are attending school, many students find time to work in the community with more than 14,500 students participating in community service. They also do plenty of research. Recent developments include a study on how a dietary supplement can mimic caloric intake, how electric cars can recharge wirelessly while driving and how to transmit real-time visual information from drones to people using augmented reality.
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COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY FORT COLLINS
BEST MBA PROGRAM
The University of Denver MBA program at the Daniels College of Business uses four core challenges to give students real-world situations that will help them succeed after graduation. They launch businesses through the Enterprise Challenge; partner with a local organization to solve an issue in the For the Social Good Challenge; tackle a situation presented by a company in the Corporate Challenge; and work with international clients in the Global Challenge. The MBA program also helps students grow as leaders with help from career services, academic advising and executive coaching.
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UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO-BOULDER
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, FORT COLLINS
BEST EMBA PROGRAM
The Daniels College of Business at University of Denver Executive MBA program has been transforming the lives and careers of experienced business leaders for more than 40 years.
"Using a holistic approach, our EMBA program focuses on the person as well as the professional, and allows students to find fulfillment, leadership insights and a more robust personal narrative amid a fast-paced and market-centered curriculum," Dean Brent Chrite says. "As a result, our graduates exit the program as value-creators who are poised to positively impact their organizations and their communities locally, regionally and globally."
Chrite adds that Daniels has a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, which aligns with the University of Denver's "unyielding commitment to integrity, rigor and excellence."
BEST COWORKING + COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACE
WeWork is more than a place where new businesses can rent office space on a budget.
"What really makes us stand apart is our focus on community," says Tanya Nygaard, director of community for Denver WeWork. "We're bringing people together from different industries, different companies, into a space where they can collaborate, get to know each other, work with each other as well. Providing that kind of environment makes a difference for people.
New York City-based WeWork has three locations in Denver: near Union Station, in LoHi and coming soon, in the Tabor Center downtown.
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BEST FITNESS CLUB
It's not just lifting weights anymore. There is much more to do these days in workouts, and 24 Hour Fitness offers studio classes such as GX24 Dance Party and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Personal fitness trainers set goals and help motivate, and the 24Go Custom Workout app and recommends the perfect workouts. There's even a kids club where children can play while parents work out.
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BEST FUNDRAISER + CHARITY EVENT
Florence Crittenton Serice educates, prepares and empowers teen mothers to become productive members of the community. One of the big fundraising events is the Cycles of Success Gala; in 2017, the Denver nonprofit changed the format to a breakfast on campus. There was a science fair type setup in the gym, and donors and sponsors visited booths staffed by student representatives to find out more about the programming, academics, the health center and art therapy.
"Our teen moms are our best spokeswomen," says Julia Goodman, marketing and communications coordinator.
The event raised more than $70,000. Florence Crittenton Services also hosts a School Supply Drive, Miles for Moms 5k Run/Walk, and a holiday adopt-a-family style gift giving program.
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ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
BEST NONPROFIT
Bayaud Enterprises provides training, assessment, coaching, placement and job mentoring services to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Last year, Bayaud's 110 volunteers served 1,406 people, including helping 245 find employment. It also launched the Denver Day Works program in partnership with the Denver Department of Human Services. The program created new opportunities for more than 170 homeless people to have day labor work through Denver Parks and Recreation, Denver Public Works and the Denver Public Library. the nonprofit is able to direct 90 percent of its income to providing employment services by keeping its overhead and operating costs to a minimum.
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VOLUNTEERS FOR OUTDOOR COLORADO
BEST PLACE TO MOVE + OPEN A BUSINESS
Last year, Colorado Springs was on Forbes' list of "Seven Cities You Didn't Expect to be Great for Business," by Brian Rashid, who noted "there are multiple organizations, tax incentives and resources that have encouraged dozens and dozens of entrepreneurs to start their businesses" there. It's also the nation's fastest-growing city for millennials, who will account for 75 percent of the workforce by 2025. The city saw a 14.7 percent millennial growth rate from 2010 to 2015, according to Brookings' report, "The Millennial Generation: A Demographic Bridge to America's Diverse Future."
It ranks sixth in the country for the highest share of millennials overall, at 26.4 percent.
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LOVELAND
STEAMBOAT SKI RESORT
CENTENNIAL
