André N. Pettigrew

City of Denver Office of Economic Development

Director

Since joining the City & County of Denver as Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development (OED) in August 2007, André Pettigrew has overseen the reorganization of the department to allow for better focus on increasing the City’s effectiveness in growing the Denver economy.

Currently, Pettigrew is leading the City’s efforts at “Greening Denver’s Economy” with his participation in the nationwide Climate Prosperity Project, which strives to demonstrate that innovation, efficiency and conservation in the use and reuse of all resources is the best way to increase jobs, incomes, productivity and competitiveness. Pettigrew’s agency is also a co-sponsor of the Annual Sustainable Opportunities Summit which showcases the development of Denver and the Rocky Mountain West as an emerging center of the New Energy Economy.

In 2009 OED launched the City’s “Greener Denver Business” program, an economic development strategy in support of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s “Greenprint Denver” climate action program. OED plays a major role in supporting renewable energy companies interested in expanding to Denver. Last year, SMA Solar and REpower announced the opening of major facilities in Denver after months of effort and negotiations by the Denver Office of Economic Development and the State Office of Economic Development.

The City of Denver is very focused on sustainable communities and how it can improve the living conditions of residents by providing good access to transit, more walkable neighborhoods, and energy efficient, affordable housing. Under Pettigrew’s leadership, OED successfully partnered with local non-profits to win a $2.25 million MacArthur Foundation grant to seed a $15 million fund for acquiring opportunity sites for affordable housing near transit. OED also received a competitive Neighborhood Stabilization Program II American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant in the amount of $19 million. The funding enables Denver to return abandoned or foreclosed properties back to productive use to create affordable housing.

Addressing the many facets of the Economic Stimulus package is also of vital importance to Pettigrew and his agency. As a member of Governor Ritter’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, he has a statewide view of the issues and is working to develop programs that ensure Denver’s and Colorado’s economies receive the full benefits of their stimulus dollars.

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