Coloardo Springs Business Journal News Briefs: June 20, 2008

Colorado Springs Business Journal, Jun 20, 2008

Cheyenne Mountain Resort selected as a top workplace

Cheyenne Mountain Resort has been chosen as one of the "Best Companies to Work for in Colorado" for 2008.

The resort was the only hotel among the 15 companies recognized in the Large Companies category (more than 250 employees).

"Best Companies" is a collaborative effort among the Society for Human Resources Management, Colorado State Council, Jobing.com, Colorado Biz Magazine and the Best Companies Group.

AARP ElderWatch wins national award

Colorado's AARP ElderWatch program has received an ACE Award for its "Fight Identity Theft by Securing Your Signature" program.

The program helps older adults learn how to protect themselves from check washing and mail fraud.

ElderWatch is conducted in conjunction with the Colorado Attorney General's Office and the AARP Foundation.

Online tax savings resource center

The Small Business Administration has created an online tax savings resource center to help small businesses understand how they can benefit from the 2008 economic stimulus package.

The package includes the following tax incentives for businesses: a 50 percent depreciation allowance on equipment purchased and placed in service during 2008 and an almost 100 percent increase in the amount (from $128,000 to $250,000) that a business can expense for equipment purchased and placed in the business tax year beginning during 2008.

The center, which includes a fact sheet, deprecation calculator and online seminar, is available at www.sba.gov/stimulus.> Trucking subcommittee vacancies

The City of Colorado Springs' Citizens' Transportation Advisory Board is seeking applicants for one at-large position and one member representing the trucking industry on the Trucking Issues Subcommittee.

The subcommittee meets from 3 to 5 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in the City Administration Building, 30 S. Nevada Ave.

The deadline to apply is June 27.

For more information, contact Gay Smith at 385-5542 or gsmith@springsgov.com.

Innovation institute

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs will establish the El Pomar Institute for Innovation and Commercialization to encourage university and community partnership in brining new ideas to the region.

The C.U. Board of Regents approved a UCCS plan to revamp the former Colorado Institute for Technology Transfer and Implementation. In addition to the name change, the reorganized unit will focus on the early development of new ideas and products and helping individuals in taking ideas to market.

Terrance Boult, El Pomar Chair for Innovation and Security, and Michael Larson, El Pomar Chair for Engineering and Innovation, will work half-time for the institute. A third professor position, El Pomar Chair for Entrepreneurial Finance, will be filled during the coming academic year.

Apartment Association officers

The Apartment Association of Southern Colorado has selected its executive council for 2008-09.

Amy Moore, senior manager of Holland Residential will serve as president.

Carmen Azzopardi, district manager of Griffis/Blessing Inc., is president-elect and Elizabeth Murtha, vice president of Riverstone Residential, is past president.

Vic Sulzer, an attorney at Hopkins, Tschetter, Sulzer P.C., will serve as first vice president.

Dana Lowry of Grand West Properties is treasurer and Shelly Kueker, owner of Abuzz Property Management, is secretary.

Community Servant Leader Awards seeking nominations

The Resource Exchange is seeking nominations for its third annual Community Servant Leader Awards.

One large employer (more than 100 people) and one small employer (less than 100 people) will be honored during Building the Dream: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Acacia Park.

Nominations are due by July 1.

For more information, contact Debbie Swanson at 785-6428 or dswanson@tre.org.

Agriculture grants available

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is accepting grant applications from companies that research and develop new uses and markets for food and agricultural products that are grown, raised or processed in Colorado.

Projects eligible for funding include feasibility studies and technical projects such as assessing the potential of establishing an agricultural value-added business project, and marketing and promotion projects such as first-time participation in trade shows, new product launches and promotions supporting the development of new sales channels.

About $100,000 is available, and the maximum award per project is $20,000.

A matching contribution of cash and in-kind resources equal to at least 50 percent of the total project budget is required. Applications may be submitted any time and there is no deadline to apply.

For more information, call (303) 239-4116 or visit www.coloradoagriculture.com