Sea to Summit, an outdoor gear manufacturer, quickly outgrew its first home in Boulder. But finding a new, larger space within the city quickly became a nightmare for co-owner Shelley Dunbar.
She wanted her employees to be able to walk, bike or bus to work and lunch, but the company needed a large warehouse space with a few offices.
The company finally found a space in 2009, but when that lease ends in about three years, Dunbar said she'll be forced to look outside of Boulder to find a larger space that will fit into her budget.
Portland, Ore., is at the top of her list.
"We know we're going to outgrow this space," she said. "We're growing. Does the city value having a thriving business here? Do they want to keep us? We will definitely look at our options and base it on both financial and lifestyle options. We'd love to stay here, but after all, we are running a business."
Some cities, states and even countries are attempting to unseat Boulder as the king of the outdoor business industry. These places are striving to become the "new Boulder," hubs for companies producing equipment and apparel for biking, running, climbing, skiing and more.
Cities such as Ogden, Utah, and Portland, Ore., have economic visions for their communities that include outdoor recreation and an active lifestyle. These visions are real -- they include lucrative incentives such as tax breaks and discounts to lure new startups to their community. Some have courted local Boulder businesses, offering them more space, cheaper cost of living and amenities that Boulder can't provide.
"There is a competition afoot," said Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the Boulder-based Outdoor Industry Association. "We in Boulder are the iconic, world-class location for outdoor recreation. We are at risk of losing that."
Hugelmeyer's main concern is that the city of Boulder doesn't have a distinctive vision like other communities because the outdoor industry has always flocked here anyway. The mountains, healthy lifestyle, trail system, open spaces, distance to Denver International Airport and a large pool of qualified workers have been enough to get businesses here, and keep them.
Now, it might not be enough.
"They're changing the dynamic that once was Boulder's to own," Hugelmeyer said. "You can't do that by resting on the past. It's time for Boulder to have its next big idea. It's Boulder's to lose."
Setting themselves up for success
Seven years ago, Ogden put a plan in motion to become the nucleus for outdoor recreation companies.
Since then, the community 30 miles north of Salt Lake City has attracted dozens of outdoor-focused businesses like Rossignol, Scott USA and Goode Ski Technologies. Mayor Matthew Godfrey personally attends outdoor trade shows to tell businesses what his city has to offer, according to Dave Hardman, CEO of the Ogden Chamber of Commerce.
Godfrey's plan is working, and has drawn national accolades to the city that's home to Weber State University and more than 80,000 people. Last year, Forbes ranked Ogden as the 11th-best place for business and careers, and the No. 2 most livable city in America.
The 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City showed the world Utah's possibilities, and Godfrey and other Ogden leaders ran with the momentum.
"We have a great product to sell," Hardman said. "You can do any imaginable sport and recreation in 30 minutes from here. People can build a prototype and go out and try it today. That kind of draw is great."
Hardman also cited a lower labor cost when compared to other cities, like Jackson Hole, Wyo. He added that the state of Utah offers corporate business incentive programs that take into account how many jobs the business will create, if those jobs are above the state's average wage, the amount of money the business will spend on equipment and other factors.
Ogden often compares itself to Denver, although it has much better access to ski resorts, Hardman added. Over time, the city hopes to double the number of outdoor businesses that call Ogden home, though leaders aren't specifically targeting Boulder-based businesses, according to Hardman.
"The outdoor recreation companies have given us a name and a draw," he said. "The reality is, we aren't targeting any particular area. We're providing an atmosphere where businesses can thrive."
Portland has a similar vision.
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