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City Manager Approves Business Incentive for Sea to Summit and VisionLink

June 8, 2009

Boulder, Colorado -- June 5, 2009 - As part of the city of Boulder's business incentive program, City Manager Jane S. Brautigam has approved the Sea to Summit and VisionLink rebate applications as the first approvals of the city's 2009 Flexible Rebate Program. The approvals authorized up to $10,820 to Sea to Summit and $10,230 to VisionLink in rebates for sales and use taxes and permit-related fees.

The flexible rebate program is one of the city's business incentives, first approved by City Council in September 2006. This incentive covers a wide range of fees and taxes charged by the city including permit and development review fees and equipment and construction use taxes. Once companies are approved for the program and pay fees to the city, those fees can be rebated up to the amount approved by the city manager.

The 2009 flexible rebate program uses new and revised community sustainability guidelines, which were expanded for this year's program. Companies may choose the social, community, and environmental sustainability guidelines that best fit their company, but they must meet minimum requirements in order to receive the rebate. Both Sea to Summit and VisionLink demonstrated compliance with the guidelines.
Sea to Summit, a wholesale distributor of camping, backpacking, travel and paddling gear, moved its U.S. headquarters to Boulder in 2005. The company has experienced strong growth and is currently remodeling space at 3550 Frontier Avenue for an expanded facility. A member of the Outdoor Industry Association, Sea to Summit is one of many "active living" companies in Boulder. It is a zero waste company, a purchaser of 100 percent wind power and has a "bicycle commuting reimbursement" program for its employees.

"For an outdoor industry company, Boulder is the ideal home. The proximity to outdoor recreation and a population of well-educated, active individuals is the reason we originally moved Sea to Summit's North American operations here," said Sea to Summit Co-owner Shelley Dunbar. "We are so pleased that the city of Boulder values retaining companies like ours through the flexible rebate program. Our thanks to the city for helping our business continue to grow and expand here in Boulder."

VisionLink provides Web-based software nationwide to organizations such as the American Red Cross and the United Way of Denver. The company's software is used extensively as part of disaster relief services. Based in Boulder, VisionLink provides Eco Passes to its employees and commits to purchasing 25 percent of its goods and services from city of Boulder businesses.

"VisionLink is a Boulder company with a nationwide impact, changing the face of day to day community services and disaster relief in America through Web-based software and partnership-building services," said Dr. W. Douglas Zimmerman, president and CEO of VisionLink. "We are honored to have been selected. We find Boulder, Colorado to offer a tremendous synthesis of workforce productivity, quality of life and concern for community-based social services."

"The city is very pleased that Sea to Summit and VisionLink call Boulder their home and are continuing to grow here," said City Manager Jane S. Brautigam. "These companies have demonstrated that they are sustainable businesses, bringing positive economic impacts to Boulder while fostering community sustainability in their company policies and practices."

The approved 2009 city budget for the Economic Vitality Program includes $400,000 for business incentive programs, with up to $350,000 for flexible rebate incentives.

Last month, the city and the Boulder Economic Council announced the start of a new Microloan Fund, a consortium of public and private partners, including local banks. The city has contributed $50,000 to this fund to address the shortage of capital available to small businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Microloan Fund will extend loans of up to $50,000 to businesses and nonprofit organizations with annual gross revenues of less than $2 million per year.

Another incentive offered by the city is the Parks and Recreation employee discount. Since October 2006, the city has issued over 2,000 multi-use and annual Parks and Recreation passes at discounted Boulder resident pricing to employees of Boulder businesses. For more information about the city's economic vitality program, go to www.bouldercolorado.gov, click on "Business," or call Liz Hanson at 303-441-3287.

Contact(s):
Shelley Dunbar, Sea to Summit, 303-440-8977
Ray Thompson, VisionLink, 303-402-0170 x127 or cell 303-648-1449
Liz Hanson, City Business Liaison, 303-441-3287
www.bouldercolorado.gov

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