DENVER—Space Command headquarters will remain in Colorado Springs after two-years of conflict over the potential relocation to Huntsville, AL. The decision preserves the nearly 1,400 Colorado jobs and annual economic impact of $1 billion reliant on Space Command’s HQ in Colorado Springs.
“The decision to keep Space Command in Colorado is in the best national security interests of the United States, and it respects what our military professionals have articulated all along,” said J. J. Ament, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. “Colorado is a leader in the aerospace industry, and Space Command’s military and civilian workforce and their families, are valued in our communities. The Chamber and our partners worked tirelessly to advocate for Space Command remaining here, and we’re proud to support the lead efforts of the Colorado Springs Chamber and EDC. We’re especially grateful to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper for their advocacy in elevating operational readiness over politics.”
Colorado is renowned for its access to talent and the state’s leadership role within the aerospace industry. Many unique space assets, including a highly cohesive ecosystem of aerospace companies, academic organizations, military partners and economic development groups work to make Colorado the best place for the aerospace industry. Colorado is also the nation’s #1 state for employment concentration in aerospace.
The state’s central location in the country also attracts aerospace industries and workers from coast to coast and globally. Simultaneously, the state’s abundance of high-tech companies are developing viable, cutting-edge technologies in fields such as renewable energy, cyber and quantum. This dynamic atmosphere for business growth further supports aerospace through cross-sector industries that advance aerospace development.
“Colorado is a unique and unmatched ecosystem of space and advanced industry, and with the second largest private space economy in the U.S., it’s where Space Command belongs,” said president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and executive vice president of the Denver Metro Chamber, Raymond H. Gonzales. “Space Command’s dedicated workforce plays a major role in our communities and in Colorado’s economic growth, development and prosperity. We’re thrilled to have Space Command remain in Colorado, and we’re proud to have advocated with our colleagues in Colorado Springs to keep this important headquarters in our state.”
The Denver Metro Chamber applauds both Sen. Hickenlooper and Sen. Bennet for their action and advocacy to keep Space Command in Colorado. To learn more about Colorado’s aerospace industry, view the Metro Denver EDC’s aerospace industry cluster study.
About the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
For 157 years, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a leading voice for Colorado’s business community. With a membership that spans the state, the Chamber is an effective advocate for small and large businesses. The Chamber’s family of organizations includes the Metro Denver EDC, the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation, the Denver Metro Small Business Development Center, the Colorado Competitive Council and B:CIVIC. For more information, go to denverchamber.org.
About the Metro Denver EDC
Often called a “center of influence,” the Metro Denver EDC was the nation’s first regional economic development organization. A division of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, from Castle Rock to Fort Collins and Golden to Greeley, we represent the nine counties and 66 communities that contribute to our robust economy and incredible culture. As the economic development function of the broader Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the EDC serves a 9-county territory that represents two-thirds of the state’s population and three-quarters of the GDP.
Thanks to the leadership and generosity of Colorado’s most influential companies, the Metro Denver EDC works to “future-proof” the Colorado economy through corporate attraction and retention; workforce development; domestic and global marketing; investments in infrastructure; and public policy that fosters a pro-business climate.