Longmont’s economic numbers heading into the new year are leaning positive side, according to final 2014 statistics released this week by the Longmont Area Economic Council, with the city gaining 325 primary jobs.
Wendi Nafziger, the Interim President of the LAEC, reported Monday that there are currently 221 primary employers in the Longmont area. Primary employers are defined as those that sell the majority of their goods and services outside the Boulder County region.
Nafziger’s year-end report listed 14 new companies: GE Lighting, Lightwave Logic Inc., AllSource Analysis Inc., Data Ductus, Pigler Automation, Sagescript Institute, Boulder Organic Foods, Delphix, Sparkfun Electronics, Two Moms in the Raw, Computer Terrain Mapping, Lucky’s Market, SK hynix Memory Solutions, and UASUSA, representing 437 new jobs in 2014.
She also reported that seven companies closed or relocated their operations out of Longmont in 2014, resulting in a loss of 102 positions. They are StarNet LLC, Metaltech Industries, Niwot Technologies, SYNAPSE Design, Creative Foam, Silicon Graphics and Emulex.
In addition, 60 existing companies added employees to their operation in 2014 resulting in 767 new jobs, while 67 existing companies cut back employment in 2014, resulting in a loss of 777 jobs.
This gave Longmont a net gain of 325 primary jobs in 2014.
Nafziger said that through the end of the fourth quarter 2014, Longmont’s commercial real estate vacancy was 14.6 percent, with 1.26 million square feet available. That compares to the end of the fourth quarter 2013, when Longmont real estate vacancy was 15.4 percent, with 1.32 million square feet available. Net space absorbed from primary employer activity through the fourth quarter 2014 is a positive 132,117 square feet. This compares to 11,698 square feet occupied for the same time period 2013.
During the fourth quarter of 2014, the Longmont Area Economic Council worked with 13 new prospects for a total of 52 in 2014. During the fourth quarter of 2013, the LAEC worked with 13 new prospects for a total of 48 in 2013.
Looking ahead
Meanwhile Kimberlee McKee, executive director of the Longmont Downtown Development Authority, reported that more blighted properties are being renovated in the area, and that food and beverage will get a close look this year.
“In 2015, the LDDA will be researching the feasibility of developing a craft food and beverage corridor to attract new businesses and build on the strength of the culinary art businesses we already have here” she said.
In other news from this week’s LAEC board meeting, Mayor Dennis Coombs said that interviews will be conducted soon for a new airport manager. Former manager Tim Barth recently took a job in Wyoming. The city is also searching for a replacement for Bobby King, former chief human resources officer for Longmont.
Vince Winkel: 303-684-5291, winkelv@times-call.com or twitter.com/vincewinkel
