INCENTIVES

a research and development facility in either Denver or Adams County. Project Portal would invest $4.4 million in a new facility and bring 152 net new jobs paying an average annual wage of $99,704 to the metro area.

Because the company, which is also considering locations in California and Texas, hasn’t specified a location, the commissioners couldn’t provide formal approval. To obtain money from the strategic fund, local governments must match what the state provides, and confirming a local match can’t be done until a site is selected.

“The company can’t make any public signals about their intentions,” said Dan Lane, global business manager with the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

Jeff Kraft, the state’s division director of business funding and incentives, also provided an update on the Regional Tourism Act pro- gram, which is facing a hearing before the Legislative Audit Committee on Monday.

Kraft noted that the Rockies Gaylord Hotel had a topping-off ceremony in late August and is on track to open late next year as Colorado’s largest hotel. Colorado Springs has three of four projects under its RTA request moving forward, but not a proposed sports stadium. Pueblo, after overcoming problems, broke ground on a convention center expansion and is moving forward.

Denver is in the early stages of its National Western complex projects, while projects proposed by northern Colorado communities are effectively stalled.