For an economic development organization, a new website was a critical first step in putting Denver, Colorado at the forefront of cities considered by businesses for relocation or expansion.

The Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation (Metro Denver EDC) is a non-profit organization that provides services to assist companies with location, expansion, and market decisions within the Denver region.  The Metro Denver EDC is comprised of more than 58 cities, counties, and economic development agencies, and depends on funds raised through local corporate investors to operate.

In late 2002, a survey determined that investor satisfaction was at an all-time low.  A startling 33% satisfaction rate with return on investment prompted the Metro Denver EDC to make significant changes to their economic development efforts.  The organization embarked upon a major restructuring effort and launched a five-year economic development program.  The first initiative of that program was a new website. 

Previously, the Metro Denver EDC had limited Internet presence.  A very basic website consisted only of a few outdated pages of text that nobody knew how to update.  However, market research concluded that corporations conduct heavy preliminary research on the Internet prior to establishing contact with the cities they evaluate, making it critical that the Metro Denver EDC establish a compelling, strategic Internet presence.

The organization envisioned a website that would provide all the necessary resources to allow companies and “site selectors” to conduct a complete search of the metro Denver region, all online, from anywhere in the world.   Thus, the vision to create “the best economic development website in the nation” was born, and Integro and design partner, ccIntellect were selected for the task at hand.

Solution

Due to the Metro Denver EDC’s small staff and a massive amount of information to communicate, Integro’s web content management system, ICM, was selected as the website foundation.  The organization needed the system to offer easy uploading and effective storage of hundreds of data and multimedia files, such as Excel spreadsheets, maps, and photos.  It also needed to offer site visitors an easy and quick way to download those files.  ICM’s browser-based administration and sophisticated data delivery system were the answer. 

Integro customized the ICM system to meet the organization’s specific needs, integrating numerous existing databases, and providing a tool for easy editing of those databases.  Integro also hosts the site for the organization.

Results

www.metrodenveredc.org now contains about 400 pages of content, and includes hundreds of data documents to aid companies researching the Denver area.  Return on Investment for this project has been incredibly high:

• The new site was launched the same day the Metro Denver EDC announced a $12 million fundraising campaign.  Seeing the site was the “deal closer” for numerous investors, raising immediate funds and giving the campaign significant momentum. 
• The website has directly impacted economic development efforts.  In fact, one company recently “short-listed” Denver based on their Internet research alone using the Metro Denver EDC website.
• Of the site’s 600 daily visitors, more than half download a data file.  The thoroughness and availability of research data on the site has resulted in a 25% reduction in general calls and information requests. 
• Most importantly, the site helped regain the confidence of the organization’s investors, who according to a recent satisfaction survey, have gone from 33% to 94% satisfied with their return on investment.

“ICM allows us to be nimble.  When you’re dealing with data and business news it has got to be out there quickly.  With ICM, we can post data for access by those who need it immediately.  We can upload a spreadsheet or a news release in a matter of minutes. We are just that much more efficient and effective.”
      - Janet Fritz, Director of Marketing and Technology