Business

The county and the Jeffco Economic Development Corp. are close to completing an agreement to develop a database of potential commercial property. 

As part of the agreement, the county will help create an inventory of commercial properties of more than 10 acres, along with land identified in community plans for potential commercial rezoning. The database would then be used by a real-estate advisory committee in the EDC to help pair businesses looking to expand with potential locations. 

The Jeffco Economic Development Corp. is about to have a $300,000 funding agreement with the county finalized this week. 

The contract was delayed while the county commissioners and the EDC clarified two new provisions requiring the economic development group to submit a work plan for approval and to present quarterly reports to the commissioners. 

Jeffco’s housing market continued its upward trend in 2013, as the county saw the largest year-to-year drop in foreclosures. 

The county had 1,303 foreclosures start in 2013, a 51 percent drop from the 2,650 foreclosures started in 2012. Jeffco’s 2013 foreclosure numbers were down by 2,724 since the height of the foreclosure crisis in 2009.

Jeffco Public Trustee Margaret Chapman said during a Jan. 28 briefing that while deferment programs across the country have been widely touted, they’ve had a limited impact in Jeffco. 

It’s fitting that 38 State Brewing, a soon-to-open microbrewery in south Littleton, found a home in an old automotive garage. 

The brewery has its origins in co-owners Mike and Kim Keating’s own garage a few years ago. 

“On the weekends, Brett (Blazek) and I would make beer as often as we could, and then we’d run out. Jason (Virzi) would come over and help us drink it all,” Mike Keating said. “We’d make beer until midnight. Brett’s wife would call and yell at us if we were going too late.”