Space Foundation wants help setting up a new HQ

Less than two weeks after local officials came up with $53 million to keep the U.S. Olympic Committee here, the U.S. Space Foundation went public Thursday with a plea for help with a new and expanded headquarters.

Bill Tutt, chairman emeritus of the foundation's board, told 192 business and community leaders at the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corp. lunch that the group is being courted by other cities and is looking for help to find larger headquarters. Tutt made the comments during an introduction at the luncheon.

"We're not putting a gun to anyone's head, but unless we can find a new headquarters commensurate with our needs for growth, expansion and serving a global constituency, we will continue to be enticed by other communities," Tutt said after the luncheon.

The foundation hasn't determined how much additional space it needs, what it would cost or how much financial help it requires, Tutt said.

EDC President Mike Kazmierski said after the luncheon that the nonprofit business recruiting and retention group has been working with foundation officials for more than two years and will do "whatever we can" to help the foundation stay and expand in the Springs.

The foundation and Olympic Committee are among dozens of nonprofit organizations ranging from trade associations to religious groups based in the Springs.

The city and developer Landco Equity Partners agreed to spend $53 million to renovate and expand a downtown building for the Olympic Committee headquarters, convert a former Colorado Springs Utilities building for use by sports organizations and expand the Olympic Training Center.

The USOC employs 330 people locally and pumps about $341 million annually into the local economy, according to a study by local economist Dave Bamberger.

The Space Foundation, which employs about 40 people, acquired its current 8,800-square-foot headquarters building at 310 S. 14th St. in 2002 for $1.07 million from G.E. Construction Co. with help from the construction firm, El Pomar Foundation and other donors.

The 25-year-old nonprofit organization has been based in the Springs since its inception. It sponsors a variety of programs and initiatives to raise awareness about the importance and impact of the $251 billion space industry, including the recently concluded 24th National Space Symposium at The Broadmoor hotel.

Robert Walker, a former Republican congressman from Pennsylvania and an emeritus director of the foundation, said during a speech at the luncheon that the group had received "two major offers this week" to move its headquarters elsewhere, but didn't identify them.

Other cities also are courting the foundation to move the symposium, which attracts more than 7,500 participants from civil, commercial and military space organizations and generates an annual economic impact estimated at $25 million, Walker said.

"The Space Foundation has made Colorado Springs one of the most important cities in the world for space," Walker said. "There is no way to measure that value, but it is huge. We hope to keep Colorado Springs at the center of the space industry for years to come."

Both Tutt and Walker said the group had no interest in leaving the Springs, but board members have a responsibility to act in the foundation's best interests, which includes listening to other offers that could include help building a new headquarters.

"The next step is for us to analyze our needs and go back to the broader community so we can have a conversation about what we see the future of the foundation is and how we can work together to keep it in Colorado Springs and eliminate external threats," Tutt said.

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0234 or wayneh@gazette.com

COMING SUNDAY

How the deal was done. The $53 million deal between the city of Colorado Springs and the USOC involved months of work, hundreds of meetings and e-mails and an 11th-hour plane trip by the mayor.