Federally funded laboratories in Colorado, a group that includes LASP, contributed $1.5 billion to the state economy in fiscal year 2010 and accounted for more than 16,000 direct and indirect jobs, a new survey shows. The study, Impact of Federal Research Laboratories in Colorado, 2009-2010, was done at the behest of CO‐LABS, a consortium of federally funded scientific laboratories, universities, businesses, local governments, and community leaders.
The $1.5 billion impact is a 36 percent increase over the $1.1 billion impact for fiscal year 2007, when the Business Research Division of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business last conducted a survey and analysis.
There are 24 federal labs in Colorado, ranging from large institutions such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to smaller organizations such as the Bureau of Reclamation Technical Services Center and LASP.
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper said, “Colorado is home to some of the most advanced research labs in the world. Their work impacts every aspect of our lives—from the basic research that created the technology for cell phones to predicting the next tsunami. The labs are critical to our state’s economy, providing more than 16,000 jobs in partnership with Colorado universities and industry.”
To view the full report, visit CO‐LABS impact Study.
