The following article appeared on the “Best Boomer Town” website.  Appearing in the list of 2009 Top 20 Places to Thrive is Fort Collins!

“You are a Boomer if you were born between 1946 and 1964. You are stylish, active and resourceful. You are searching for less stress and more living, you may be an empty nester, you prefer less traffic, fewer taxes and more fresh air and exciting activities!

There are no rocking chairs in your future – you prefer pilates, hiking, biking, volunteering, wine club, book club, university classes, surfing the web, telecommuting, yoga, golf, tennis, walking your dog and plenty of social activities.

Grab your Blackberry or iPhone and schedule your week!

I think it’s important for you to have a face, name and credentials on the site. Fourteen months of Boomer research and development have been compiled in one site to meet your needs. The 20 U.S. towns have the following key criteria: excellent health care, university, airport access, fine dining, low crime, cultural activities, beautiful weather, active lifestyle, average cost of living and a range of home sizes and prices.

The team at Best Boomer Towns has gathered research from AARP, DEL WEBB, Money, CNN, Wall Street Journal and local Chambers of Commerce to bring you the relevant data you need for your decision. Spend some time on the site, look at the book section from Amazon.com, read blog entries and subscribe to the newsletter. The monthly newsletter will begin in January with upcoming events from each city.

Each city has been chosen for the on-the-go active boomer. Every blog has been written to meet your needs and each book selected for your fabulous future!

This is not your parent’s retirement. We wish you the best in your next – and most exciting chapter of life!”

Visit  http://bestboomertowns.com to see the complete list.

An economist for a large fund manager recently said, “It is hard to imagine any time in history when such rampant pessimism about the economy has existed with so little evidence of serious trouble.”  Sure, gas prices are through the roof and we have our share of foreclosure properties…..but employers in Northern Colorado are moving forward with plans for a very bright future.

At The Group, Inc.’s 2008 Real Estate Forecast, we conducted a “town hall” electronic survey with approximately 100 decision-makers of the region’s employers.  They were asked questions about their company’s hiring plans and revenue projections for the coming year.  Among the organizations who were invited to participate were Kodak Colorado, Poudre Valley Health System, Colorado State University, Kroll Factual Data, local governments, JBS Swift and Co. and Group Publishing.  Participants represented more than 40,000 of the region’s employees. 

56% said they plan to increase employment in 2008.  43% said they plan for litle or no change.  None of them planned to decrease their workforce.

65% expect revenues to increase in 2008, 7% expect a decrease, and 26% expect little or no change.  1% were unsure.

 The greatest ‘limiter’ to organization’s growth was economic conditions with 60% saying that would have the biggest effect on their growth.  20% cited taxes and government regulations.  12% are challenged by the availability of qualified workers and 8% said the cost of living and transportation and housing would hinder them.