Introduction
Everyone knows about the majestic beauty of Northern Colorado and the abundant ski and sports areas. But did you know that this area also has a large amount of employment opportunities as well as opportunities for fun? With numerous larger companies that make this region home, there are some cities that stand out. Mentioned are a few of the companies that are located there as well as some facts about some of the cities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Fort Collins-Loveland area had a drop in the rate of unemployment from 3.1 percent in February of 2019 to 2.3 percent in July of 2019. The civilian labor force grew in that same period. The number of jobs that were non-farm grew from from 171,000 to 173,000. In 2017, Fort Collins had a median hourly wage of $18.48.
Here are some of the cities and towns that offer a number of job opportunities:
Fort Collins
With abundant large companies that call this city home, some major businesses are among them. Dominant employers here include:
- Anheuser Busch
- Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
- Banner Health
- Colorado State University
- Columbine Health Systems
- EKS&H
- Exodus Moving & Storage.
- First National Bank.
- Nexus Bioenergy
Tech giant Hewlett Packard has been located in Fort Collins since 1978. If beer is your love, there are a number of smaller (than Anheuser Busch) brewing companies that include Odell Brewing Company and New Belgium Brewing Company.
Loveland
Located in Larimer County, Loveland is a municipality that boasts abundant opportunities for employment. Some of the companies located there include:
- Hach
- Colorado State University
- Medical Center of the Rockies (MCR)
- Woodward
- Otterbox
- American Eagle Distributing
- Crop Production Services
- Loveland Water Department
Hach is a company that ensures water quality throughout the world and has a need of chemists and scientists as well as others. Located 13 miles south of Fort Collins, Loveland offers several art shows as well as job opportunities. Other top employers include Lutheran Health Network and LPR Construction. Corporate education is provided at Aims Community College.
Timnath
With a historic core, the town of Tinmath is growing. Easy access to I-25, Colorado State University, the Budweiser Events Center and the Centerra Mall in Loveland is one of its outstanding features. Some of the small businesses include:
- Emily Rose Floral Design
- Timnath Beerwerks
- Colorado Feed & Grain Public Market & Coffee House
The Colorado Feed & Grain Public Market is a gathering place for locals. With an agricultural background, the proximity of Timnath to Loveland and Fort Collins is considered favorable for its growth.
Windsor
With its several business parks, Windsor is a municipality and is home to:
- Carestream Health
- Hexcel Corporation
- Metal Container Corporation
- Tolmar, Inc.
- Vestas-Americas
- Intel
Intel is located between Fort Collins and Windsor although it is officially in Fort Collins. Windsor is located 59 miles north of Denver and is considered a fast-growing municipality.
Wellington
Located 10 miles north of Fort Collins, Wellington offers quick access to I-25 and has a small town feeling. Construction, manufacturing, retail trade and services are the largest employers here. Within the area, you’ll find:
- Anheuser Busch
- Hewlett Packard
- The Rawhide Power Plant
- Advance Tank
Northern Colorado Facts
- There are 33 microbreweries in Northern Colorado
- The world’s largest producers of meat and mozzarella call Northern Colorado home with the companies of JBS and Leprino Foods.
- It’s a fact that 35 percent of the population of Northern Colorado holds a bachelor’s degree or higher, giving the area a highly-educated workforce.
- There are nine federal research labs in the Norther Colorado area. Tech giants, such as Hewlett Packard, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) offer employment. Colorado State University Energy Institute is located here as well as Waterpik. The state leads the way in energy with production of 89 percent of Colorado’s oil and three wind farms.
- In 2015, Greeley was named the #2 small city for jobs by Forbes. In 2019, Greeley had an employment rate that grew by 2.8 percent over July of 2018. Fort Collins grew by 1.6 percent from July of 2018.
- High employment is the mark of Northern Colorado; it has an industry base that is diverse and growing. Not only is it a welcoming place to live, there are cultural events, festivals and sporting activities that make it a great place to call home. Working there is also accomplished easily with the number of jobs that are growing among the diversity of companies.
Conclusion
Agriculture as well as IT and bio-sciences make this region ideal for a number of jobs. The proximity of research facilities and collaboration between businesses and the universities, as well as the government, affords a bevy of job opportunities. Each town has a unique feeling, and the best way to learn about these great places for work is to visit these unique cities and towns. If you find yourself hunting for a property in Colorado, checkout how to plan for your move.