Operation 6035 backers plan to hire executive as part of job creation efforts

A community-wide economic development study designed to lay the groundwork for more jobs in the Pikes Peak region already has resulted in at least one new position.

Supporters of the Operation 6035 study announced Tuesday they will hire a paid executive to enhance collaboration and communication among community groups — molding them into a so-called leadership alliance that will help determine how to carry out economic development strategies suggested in the report.

The executive’s job is expected to last about 18 months, and is being funded primarily by a grant from the Springs-based El Pomar Foundation, Pam Shockley-Zalabak, Operation 6035’s co-chair and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs chancellor, told about 325 people during a Cheyenne Mountain Resort luncheon. Two other undisclosed groups also are contributing money.

Dave Palenchar, an El Pomar trustee, said the foundation is contributing $100,000.

The need for local governments, business organizations, education institutions and other community groups to work in a more coordinated fashion on economic development was cited as the first goal in Operation 6035, a study that business and civic leaders launched in January.

So named to reflect Colorado Springs’ elevation, a final Operation 6035 report was released in September and set forth goals and strategies on retaining, creating and adding jobs in the Pikes Peak region, while also targeting various community problems, such as the need to retain young workers. The report was authored by AngelouEconomics, an Austin, Texas, consulting firm.

Other goals include expanding resources for entrepreneurs; strengthening ties to higher education institutions and their economic development resources; enhancing marketing efforts; and promoting the Pikes Peak region to global businesses and investors. 

The new executive will be hired by the first quarter of 2010, Shockley-Zalabak said.

 “This leader is going to have to spend 40, 50 hours a week pulling together various constituencies who want to be involved in creating this stronger vision” of economic development, she said.

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