Community & Economic Development

The City of Golden at DuskThe Community and Economic Development Department was organized in 2012 in order to enhance the coordination and integration of Golden’s forward looking efforts related to land use, community and neighborhood planning, economic development and vitality, and sustainability. The divisions in the department specialize in working with community interests to achieve our community goals as detailed in Golden Vision 2030, our primary guiding vision for Golden’s future.

Community & Economic Development Department Divisions

Downtown Development Authority

The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is a special district entity authorized and directed by state statute to benefit the economic and community vitality of the downtown area. The DDA administers a robust grant system and invests in many public infrastructure projects within the DDA boundaries. Visit the DDA webpage to learn more about the authority’s goals.

Economic Development

The Economic Development Division administers and implements small business assistance programs, and primary employment attraction and retention efforts. Golden’s Economic Development Commission provides direction for such efforts.

Golden Urban Renewal Authority

In 1989, the Golden City Council created the Golden Urban Renewal Authority (GURA) to support the economic health and remediate blight within Golden. Currently, GURA has three urban renewal areas including portions of west 8th Street, Central Neighborhoods, and the Colfax Avenue Corridor.

Planning

The Planning Division works with citizens and businesses to ensure that land use complies with the City of Golden zoning regulations. In addition, the division works with the Planning Commission to modify, update and utilize the City of Golden’s Comprehensive Plan. The plan defines the long range goals and intentions regarding the nature and direction of future development within the City of Golden. It contains elements on land use, transportation, community facilities, urban design, and housing.

The Planning Division encompasses many aspects of developing the city we live in, including business development, land use issues, historic sites preservation, and setting community values for long-range planning. The Division supports Planning Commission and the Historic Preservation Board.

Public Art Commission

The Public Art Commission (PAC) has the responsibility of promoting, selecting, acquiring and maintaining public art in the fulfillment of the City’s Art in Public Places program. The PAC also adopts policies regarding the Public Art in Golden.

Visit Golden

The Community Marketing Program, Visit Golden, is a cooperative marketing effort between the City of Golden and the local retail business community that works to promote tourism and commerce within Golden. This cooperative effort combines professional marketing strategies with innovative community vision that produces award-winning and effective campaigns and promotions. Visit Golden utilizes a merchant-based funding mechanism, i.e. the “Vendors’ Fee,” to directly benefit retail sales, restaurants, entertainment venues and cultural attractions through increased awareness, visitation and patronage.

The Visit Golden Stakeholder Committee meets the second Thursday of each month from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the City Planning & Public Works Building (1445 10th St.) Please email visitgolden@cityofgolden.net with questions.

COG Mesa

 Did You Know?
Golden was originally chosen as the territorial capital of Colorado in 1862.

Additional Resources

City of Golden, Colorado
COG Mesa
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