LONGMONT, CO (August 6, 2020) – It was announced last week that Jessica Erickson, president and CEO of Longmont Economic Development Partnership (Longmont EDP), has been named co-chair of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation’s Economic Development Professionals Group for 2020 and 2021.
Her co-chair is Ben Pratt, economic development director for the Town of Erie.
“I am honored to be a part of this amazing group of big thinkers and innovators, including my co-chair Ben Pratt,” Erickson said. “I look forward to the serving the region in this capacity, and to leveraging this opportunity to ensure that Longmont has a strong voice in regional economic development strategy, marketing, and policy.”
According to Rich Werner, CEO of Upstate Colorado and outgoing chair of the Metro Denver EDC’s ED Professionals Group, the nomination of two co-chairs aligns the group with Metro Denver EDC’s executive committee and board of governors structure and provides diverse perspectives in the leadership of its economic development partners across the region.
“This is an easy example of why two is better than one,” Werner said. “Many of us have known Jessica for years and our group will be well served by her talent and experience. This new model will allow us to have options going forward that represent a variety of perspectives and experiences.
“Our group cannot be in better hands,” he added.
Erickson has served as president and CEO of Longmont Economic Development Partnership since 2015 where she has overseen the complete re-design and re-branding of the organization around a collective impact strategy that champions growth, prosperity, and inclusion as the pillars of economic development. During that time, Longmont EDP has spearheaded projects that have helped attract or expand more than 150 businesses, brought more than $1 billion in new capital investment, and impacted the creation of more than 2,000 primary jobs. Erickson has also led the charge to more than triple private sector funding for Longmont EDP. Prior to joining Longmont Economic Development Partnership, she was the Senior Industry Development Manager for the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade focusing on retention, expansion and recruitment of businesses specializing in Advanced Manufacturing, Infrastructure Engineering, Electronics, Financial Services, and Technology & Information.
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ABOUT Longmont EDP: A 501(c)6 non-profit organization founded in 1981, Longmont EDP is funded with both public and private dollars. More than 120 private sector businesses join the City of Longmont, Boulder County, and Platte River Power Authority as our economic partners. Longmont Economic Development Partnership leads a comprehensive approach to building an economic ecosystem that not only supports but champions businesses and their owners. From world-famous brewers to smart manufacturing plants, specialized business catalysts to world-class research facilities, our businesses in Longmont build an economy that champions growth, prosperity, and inclusion. Longmont’s newly launched economic development strategy, Advance Longmont 2.0, focuses on quality job creation and business investment. We activate a powerful civic infrastructure that identifies problems, creates innovative solutions, and implements these programs across partner organizations. For us, Advance Longmont means doing it together. Learn more at www.longmont.org.
