Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority Names New President & CEO

Aurora, CO, March 14, 2012 - Following an extensive national search, Fitzsimons Redevelopment Authority (FRA) has named Steve VanNurden as its new President and Chief Executive Officer, beginning in late May. The announcement is made by John M. Shaw, Chair of the FRA Board of Directors, who said: "Steve, a seasoned leader in the life science/bioscience space, comes to us from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota."

The appointment of Mr. VanNurden is further evidence of the FRA's continued commitment to support the development of life science companies in Colorado in partnership with the State’s research institutions. He will be working with universities, local economic development agencies, state and local governments, and the bioscience industry to promote the successful development of the 180 acre Colorado Science + Technology Park, which is adjacent to the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.

Steve Hogan, Mayor of the City of Aurora and FRA Board member stated, “Steve is the partner we need to fulfill the promise of the bioscience industry park. His working relationships span nationally and internationally, which will be a great advantage for us.”

Steve VanNurden is currently Chair of Mayo Clinic Ventures, the invention arm for Mayo Clinic. Under Mr. VanNurden’s direction, this division is responsible for patenting and commercializing Mayo’s discoveries, inventions and other intellectual property. Since 1986, Mayo Clinic Ventures has successfully commercialized over 2,000 technologies and has been granted more than 1,200 patents. Under the guidance of Mr. VanNurden, Mayo’s technology based ventures efforts have paid off, resulting in the formation of 45+ Mayo Clinic start-up companies.

Link to the PitchEngine Social Media Release

Link to the PR Newswire Release

'Fish farm near Albany [Indiana] becomes world leader' (via Muncie Free Press)

Quoting from an article by Rick Yencer in the Muncie Free Press:

"Delaware County Commissioners did their part for the growing enterprise that began in Redkey in 2005 with just a few thousand fish by approving a $16.6 million economic development revenue bond for infrastructure and wastewater work on Monday. That bond is no obligation on county government and is repaid by investors purchasing the issue. An EDC bond is a tool used by local government to promote development and jobs.

Commissioners President Todd Donati called the project more good news on the economic development front at a time the community had thousands out of work and few good paying jobs outside of higher education and health care...

Bell has an impressive list of food distributors like Cisco, Piazza and Indianapolis Fruit, adding many restaurants also use the trade mark Bell Perch that is a higher quality with a controlled water supply and no contamination with in house production. And its partners include the Indiana Soybean Alliance and The Conservation Fund.

The fish farms are driven by water wells and all wastewater is treated at the site, Much of the money will be spent on wastewater treatment and facilities and the entire project should be finished by 2016."

Link to the Muncie Free Press article

Pictured above is Bell's recently complete Row 3 expansion - to learn more details, read:

(from June 5, 2011): Bell Aquaculture Breaks Ground On $5 Million Expansion At Nation's Largest Yellow Perch Fish Farm In Indiana

(from January 25, 2012) Bell Aquaculture Teams with Indiana Soybean Alliance, Virginia Cobia Farms and The Conservation Fund's Freshwater Institute

Muncie Star Press: Delaware County Commissioners Approve Eco Devo Revenue Bonds For Bell Aquaculture

Quoting from the Muncie Star Press article by Keith Roysdon, business editor for the Gannett affiliate:

"Also Monday, the commissioners approved economic development revenue bonds for Bell Aquaculture, which has an Albany-area fish growing operation.

Terry Murphy of the Muncie-Delaware County Economic Development Alliance said Bell, which also has a facility in Redkey, will expand to increase its production of yellow perch for the food industry from 3 million to 6 million a year.

The $16.6 million in revenue bonds -- backed by a letter of credit -- carry no risk to the county, Murphy said."

Link to thestarpress.com article (see page 2 of posting)

Denver Post YourHub: 'Parker Girl Scout troop helps cat food bank' at Denver's Cat Care Society

Quoting from the Parker, CO, YourHub:

"A Parker Girl Scout Troop’s journey of discovering about animals led to the girls making toys and dropping off supplies for Cat Care Society’s Nibbles & Kibbles Cat Food Bank in [Lakewood].

The food bank serves food and cat litter to cats whose owners cannot provide food and litter because of a temporary financial setback. The 10 girls of Troop 624 made cat toys using socks and catnip and collected food and cat litter.

'We want the girls to understand that not all animals have it as nice as theirs do,' said Mary Tate, troop leader. 'There’s a lot of cats out there that don’t have that and the Cat Care Society really works with people who can’t afford to feed their animals.'"

Photo ID: "Caitlin Tate, in purple, and India Choudhury helped deliver cat supplies and food to Cat Care Society's Nibbles & Kibbles Cat Food Bank (courtesy Mary Tate)."

Link to the posting

UWM Research Report: 'Fish farming's future'

Quoting from the article in UWM's 2012 Research Report:

"When operators of Bell Aquaculture decided to add yellow perch, the Midwest’s fish-fry favorite, to the company’s product line, they initially came up empty-handed.

'We went looking for the fingerlings on the marketand we couldn’t find them,' says Bell President Norman McCowan. 'So we knew early on we would have to partner with someone.'

They chose wisely. In Fred Binkowski, they found an aquaculture specialist who offered perch-raising techniques available nowhere else in the world. Today, Bell Aquaculture runs the nation’s largest yellow perch farm and is in the middle of an expansion of its perch enterprise."

Link to the report website (the article is on page 37 of the magazine)

Needed at Cat Care Society: laundry detergent (plus more cat and kitten food for our hungry little guys!)

Cat Care Society's Adoption Manager Abbi Collins thanks everyone who has been bringing in canned cat and kitten food. She says..."we still need more for our kitties if possible," plus, she adds, "We also need laundry detergent as well, for those coming by the shelter." Hours today (Friday) are noon to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.; and we're closed Monday (Tuesday through Friday hours are noon to 5:30). "Thank you for all your generous donations of much needs supplies at the shelter!"

Link to the Wish List page of the Cat Care Society website

Handsome Jabberwocky: Today's 9News Petline9 Guest Cat..Awaiting His Forever Home at Cat Care Society in Lakewood

Jabberwocky appeared on Petline9 this afternoon with Meteorologist Kathy Sabine and Cat Care Society's Director of Development Suellen Scott.

He is named for the Lewis Carroll book but definitely not a dragon, has long hair white, is very affectionate, loves to pad and purr, sit on your lap and be brushed.

A neutered 8-year-old male, Jabberwocky is current on all shots, micro chipped, and a very healthy 16 ½ pounds. He likes to be up high observing from above, it makes him feel safe.

He's waiting for his "forever" home at Cat Care Society in Lakewood. Check out more photos:


http://youtu.be/pa2pMFGfmjw

Link to the Cat Care Society website