Douglas County is the rated the fastest growing county in the United States. It is located centrally in Colorado and is between Denver and Colorado Springs. It is a desirable place for both business and to settle down in. There is a labor force of a total of 121,000 in Douglas County. It is a dominant economic center in Colorado. Castle Rock, Parker and Highlands Ranch are situated within this county and in between Denver and Colorado Springs.
Castle Rock is a great place to live and raise a family. The schools in Douglas County are excellent. Employment is high with business markets in nearby major metro areas of Denver and Colorado Springs or if you are an entrepreneur-why not start a new business in Castle Rock with local and county incentives and a large labor pool to draw from? Castle Rock is a charming small town, with a population growth of 6% a year, nestled in the rolling hills, and with breathtaking views of the Rockies. Castle Rock is the county seat of Douglas County, which is the fastest growing county in the United States. Castle Rock has a strong and growing economy evidenced by 50 new businesses opening up in 2003 and 125 new businesses opening or expanding in 2004. These businesses included a range from large national retail and restaurant chain stores to unique boutiques and locally owned businesses. This diversification supports the strong economy.
Castle Rock would be an excellent place to start a new business. Sales tax is only 3.6 percent and the market is very affluent. Much of the labor force of Castle Rock commutes outside of town but 60 percent of those who do, would prefer to work in Castle Rock. The employee bank is well educated with 58% being college graduates, and with 18% being post-graduates. The work force is made up of 23% who are professional, another 23% are managerial, 14% are sales professional, 11% are technical, 10% are clerical and related, 8% are unskilled labor and 2% are operative/assembly. Major employers include a wide range of government offices and services, education and health care, large retail chains, and a broad spectrum of industries--manufacturing, recreation, utility, and telecommunications.
The city welcomes new and expanding businesses. Because Castle Rock is proud of its downtown central business district, the city gives incentives to businesses that will add to the city and its goals, one of which is to preserve the central business district. Other incentives and rebates are also available for businesses and you can find loan programs for small businesses and home business start up. Castle Rock has an Economic Development Council which is a non-profit organization to help you secure a space to re-locate your business or guide you through expansion of one. Through its services the Council helps to promote a diversification in the economy of Castle Rock.
The city’s IT Department has high-speed Internet connections link between public buildings and offers this high-speed connection to other businesses at a low cost. With an interest to attract Castle Rock residents back to working in the city, Castle Rock helps high tech companies and industries, software companies to locate business sites, and will shorten the permit process for office and technology parks.
Parker is located 20 miles southeast of Denver. Parker is a fast growing and prosperous community similar in that way to Castle Rock. It was incorporated in 1981 and has been annexing more subdivisions and acreage throughout the 80’s, growing from one square mile to 13 square miles from the 1980’s to the 1990’s. Now Parker has incorporated boundaries that encompass about 16 square miles and a population of about 39,000 people. It has a quickly growing economy. It is a master-planned community, which integrates open space acquisition with economic development and fosters recreational development and cultural activities for a high quality of life for its residents. Part of the business life of Parker includes ranching and agriculture.
Parker has its own Economic Development Council, like Castle Rock does. It is a non-profit public and private council that encourages a strong economic base for Parker, while creating new business opportunities and a full services for the community. It is for the protection of a developmentally balanced community. Parker is committed to maintaining a high quality life style. And while development is welcome and encouraged, parks, open space and the beauty of the environment are a high priority to preserve. Major employers in Parker include A&T Plumbing, retail businesses, the Douglas County Schools, hospitals, utility and labor. 85% of the workforce is white-collar workers with 64% in the professional, managerial or technical fields. 31 % work in high tech industries. 61% of the labor pool is college graduates and 19% are post-graduates. Parker has a large professional and well-educated workforce.
Highland’s Ranch has its workforce employed in major professional, scientific, management, administrative and waste management industries. Also employment is in the education, health and social care services and in finance, insurance and real estate.
Any of these areas in Douglas County is desirable with its fast growing population, strong economy, large and well-educated workforce, excellent schools and low crime rate.
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