Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today kicked-off his two-day Front Range #COinnovation tour with visits to two firms at the center of Northern Colorado’s innovation economy: Wolf Robotics and Tolmar, Inc.
The tour comes a week after a report by the Kauffman Foundation ranked Fort Collins 2nd nationally for high-tech startup density.
In addition to highlighting Colorado’s growing high-tech industry, the tour is allowing Bennet to hear from innovation-based businesses about the need to simplify the tax code to help these companies grow and thrive.
As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Bennet will use the feedback he receives to bring Colorado ideas to the upcoming debate on tax reform.
“It’s no secret that Colorado is a hotbed for innovation,” Bennet said. “We need to continue cultivating the business environment that allows these firms to grow. That means simplifying our tax code in a responsible way. Supporting businesses like Wolf Robotics and Tolmar, Inc. will help Colorado continue to thrive in the 21st-century economy.”
The visits are part of a two-day business tour of high-tech companies throughout the state. On Friday, Bennet will visit firms in Englewood and Colorado Springs.
Last week, the Kauffman Foundation and research firm Engine released a report naming four Colorado cities in the top 10 nationally for high-tech startup density. Boulder took the top spot, followed by Fort Collins-Loveland (#2), Denver (#6), and Colorado Springs (#9).
Wolf Robotics makes robotic welding cells for clients ranging from Caterpillar to Harley-Davidson. In the past ten years, it has more than quadrupled its workforce, growing from 20 employees to 110.
Tolmar, Inc. is a pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing company that was named Colorado Bioscience Association’s Company of the Year for 2012. It recently announced plans to expand to Windsor, which will create an estimated 50-75 jobs.