Comments on: Office of International Affairs to close

By: Captain

Captain — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:02:42 +0000

Thanks Ellen for clarifying for the very uninformed. Playinthesnow and RJF should just bury their heads in the snow. Their types need to either get involved, get informed and knowlegable on issues or just go away. These are the type of people that cause pain to the community.

By: hgerhard

hgerhard — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:06:05 +0000

The Officer of International Affairs will be sorely missing. George was an absolute jewel in what he did. Now, if you want to have help in developing international business relationships, you’ll have to go to Denver. Oh well…people never realize just what they have until it’s gone. Sometimes not even then.

By: Ken G

Ken G — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:57:17 +0000

Yes, the EDC did recruit ACS to Colorado Springs – for nearly minimum wage jobs…more people on the government cheese roll…..Mike/Ellen where are the other 1900 jobs the EDC takes credit for in 2009? Once Gov Ritter banned the sale of land in/around Pinon Canyon the DOD (rightfully so) will find another willing state to help out with training land. By the way, did anyone know the Army was going to station a Brigade at Pinon Canyon – yes, 3000-5000 soliders LIVING in the economy…..would have generated more money than cattle and OH YEAH tax dollars. spendable tax dollars.

Did Mike take credit or issue shame for allowing HP to relocate several hundred jobs out of C/S to NM and AR? OR is he so focused on recruiting in that he forgot about our EXISTING employers….

One day C/S government and associated organizations will grow up and realize the pickle we’re in and unless we get proactive, our town will dwindle down a bit more into the bottom pit of recessionism….I’m very thankful that Hefley, Campell and others have worked so hard to keep our military in Colorado Springs. IF not for them, what industry would C/S have to build from?????

By: Ellen

Ellen — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:54:56 +0000

RJF and PlayInSnow: I don’t think you understand what the International Trade Office was all about. Their purpose was not to attract foreign businesses to move to Colorado Springs. Their goal was to effectively connect local companies to INTERNATIONAL companies. My employer does business nationally, but in Europe and Asia as well. Thanks to the International Affairs Office and George Boutin, my employer was able to make excellent NEW business contacts and, as a result, SELL/ EXPORT our products to Canada and the UK. I’m impressed with Mr. Kazmierski’s ability to remain calm and diplomatic, though faced with angry words from an apparently uninformed public.

By: PlayInSnow

PlayInSnow — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:57:23 +0000

International Trade! We don’t have a strong EDC in place to manage the recruiting of new businesses to Colorado Springs. We should recruit a strong candidate with years of experience with Economic Development to turn Colorado Springs around. Out with the old and in with the new.

By: Mike Kazmierski

Mike Kazmierski — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:59:59 +0000

RIF Not sure what you expect from EDC but would be glad to get with you and others to explain what we do – Which for many reasons is not international trade. Am writing this as I return from a prospect recruiting tip in LA. We annouinced 19 companies and over 2,500 new primary jobs over the past year – one of our best years since the 90′s. All this with a 25% staff reduction. Could use your help as we work very hard to attract, retain and grow jobs for our community. By the way, we get 3% of our funding from the City as a small non profit.

By: RJF

RJF — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:54:52 +0000

Another success for the EDC! Goodness gracious; we can’t even get National companies to locate here!