Colorado’s Chief Executive touts investment opportunities in cleantech and bioscience

Reported by Staff

Gov.Ritter signed a pair of executive orders late last week designed to encourage venture capital investment in the state’s clean energy, bioscience, aerospace and information communication technology startups. He made the EO’s official at a Colorado BioScience Association gathering at the state Capitol.

“Over the past four years, Colorado has made huge strides in building a pro-business environment, especially in the areas of clean tech and bioscience,” Gov. Ritter said. “Our economic development strategy is focused on the industries that are leading in innovation – industries like new energy, bioscience, aerospace and technology. For Colorado to build on these strengths and continue our success, we have to find new and creative ways to increase access to capital for our businesses. That’s what these executive orders are all about.”

The first order creates the “Investment Opportunity Index” on the Colorado Office of Economic Development’s web site. This index will classify opportunities for capital investment in Colorado and serve as a clearinghouse for potential investors and partners

The second order calls for the formation and quarterly meeting of a Roundtable on Venture Capital. The group will serve at the direction of the Colorado Office of Economic Development as an advisory group supporting the state’s efforts to encourage investment in companies located in Colorado and to assist the state in engaging the venture capital and investment community.

The Colorado Advisory Committee on Venture Capital Investment will include three representatives each from the bioscience, renewable energy, information technology and aerospace industries; three venture capitalists and a pair of finance experts from outside the industries. Committee members will not be paid.

The strengthened partnership between the industries and government should yield new approaches to funding local companies amid a changing investment market, said Denise Brown, acting executive director of the bioscience association, in a press release.