Business community uniting behind a new WEDA

By Gary Raham
Wellington Correspondent

Doug Andersen, president of the Wellington Economic Development Association, spent a "very encouraging couple of hours" with fellow business owners during a recent special session of the organization.

The meeting served to renovate the organization's mission statement and bylaws, he said, reflecting its new existence as a separate entity from the town of Wellington.

A dozen individuals representing eight businesses and town government attended, and Andersen said he believes "everybody is pulling in the same direction." That direction is highlighted by the group's mission statement "to enhance the economic well being of the Wellington area by actively supporting the creation and preservation of quality, primary jobs."

WEDA has listed these goals: attract primary jobs and promote expansion of employment opportunities in the Wellington area; promote advantages of locating businesses in Wellington; assist the town in diversifying and expanding the community tax base; and contribute to the improvement of quality-of-life considerations in the area.

Andersen pointed to a lack of buildings suitable for new businesses as one critical need. Because growth is active all along the northern Front Range, such building availability could serve as an important enticement to prospective businesses, he said.

One topic discussed was WEDA's preliminary plans to sponsor a developer/builder forum. According to Reggie Kemp, recently hired by WEDA as an administrative consultant, such a forum would "pick the brains" of various regional developers to see what would make Wellington most attractive to business growth.

Wellington town administrator Larry Lorentzen advised WEDA that some town trustees were concerned about such a forum, saying that the group's funding from the town board is not intended for WEDA to lobby for concessions like relaxation of building code standards. He recommended that WEDA should be prepared to clearly explain its intent for such a forum to the town board.

The town of Wellington is currently applying for a grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, which would contribute one third of the cost of a $25,000 economic development study for Wellington. DOLA representatives will interview WEDA members as part of the grant review process and will invite WEDA to participate at a March 15 meeting with the DOLA Advisory Board. Lorentzen said that competition this year from other Front Range communities is heavy for the limited funding available. DOLA will make its decision in late March or early April.

In addition to Andersen, a real estate broker and developer with ReQuest Real Estate Services, WEDA is directed by a board that includes Richard Seaworth, vice president, owner of Seaworth Farms and Wellington Commercial Park; Helmut Roy, secretary, owner of R.V. Travel Park; Doug Means, treasurer, a building contractor with Anderson Construction; Fred Ziegler, land developer and builder with Zwest Corp.; Lou Kinzli, real estate broker and developer with Kinzli Real Estate; Travis Stevens, insurance agent and financial planner; and Larry Noel, Wellington town mayor and real estate broker. Noel is a nonvoting member.

WEDA has an office at 3734 Cleveland Ave. across from the town hall. Kemp will field questions directed to WEDA at 568-7075. The organization's web address is www.wellingtonbusiness.com. WEDA meets monthly. Anyone interested in the area's economy is welcome to attend.