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Moving the South Metro
Denver Economy Forward

By Jeff Holwell, Director of Economic Development, South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce

At the risk of sounding overly optimistic, I believe our greatest economic days are ahead of us, for both our country and our community. I say this recognizing that the last decade included 9/11 and its aftermath, two foreign wars, the “Dot-Com” recession and the “Great” recession, as well as the current threat to the Euro and all of its economic implications. It all sounds so daunting, and we are justified in feeling skeptical about the future, however a macro view of our economy and our history should tell us a different story.

The United States is a growing country of 300 million people, we are living longer and healthier lives than ever before, our values of democracy and capitalism are thriving across the world (as evidenced by surging and real freedoms provided to us by technology or through the rapidly growing economies in the emerging “BRIC” markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China), and we still remain a country of innovators, manufacturers, and the largest economy in the world.

Our economic problems are real, however many are self-inflicted, and while they will be difficult to fix – they are fixable. Take Social Security and Medicare for example. These were entitlement programs crafted when people lived much shorter lives and without today’s medical technologies. Before we go bankrupt we must make tough choices, such as raising the retirement and entitlement age and we have certainly faced greater threats. These sacrifices are minimal compared to those of our predecessors who fought the Revolutionary, Civil, or any of the two World Wars.

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