Erie to be Unveiled

Publication: Erie Review Date: 2002

Town of Erie economic development leaders will host a sort of show and tell trip this week when a representative of the British Consulate makes his way into the community.

John Maguire, Her Majesty’s Consul with the British Consulate in Colorado, will travel to Erie Friday, March 22.

Maguire, who works to promote trade and investment matters for British businesses looking to locate in Colorado, hopes to receive an eyeful when visiting Erie.

“We are trying to look broadly for areas that companies can locate to,” he said. Maguire’s visit was prompted by interactions with resident Jennifer McCallum, who works internationally as an intellectual property attorney.

Through her discussions of Erie with Maguire, and her husband, Greg’s, involvement with the town’s planning and zoning commission, the couple has worked to connect Maguire with local economic development officials. Maguire’s visit to the community is being planted by Town of Erie officials and the Erie Chamber of Commerce.

“I think his (Maguire’s) visit is a great first step – it’s probably not something that will bring immediate results to the town, but down the road could pay off,” Greg McCallum said recently.

Tom MacKenzie, president of the Erie Chamber of Commerce, also is excited about showing Maguire the economic opportunities in the community.

“It’s a chance for him to learn more about the Town of Erie and what we have to offer,” he said. “We are going to discuss with him what we are doing in terms of phasing because there is the possibility of him having companies interested in coming to the area.”

During Maguire’s visit, he will visit Erie Town Hall, the Erie Chamber of Commerce, businesses in Erie Village and Micro G Solutions Inc. Micro G is an Erie-based company that manufactures, services and supports the FG5, an absolute gravity meter used by NASA.

Maguire also will visit the Lorraine David Erie Children’s Library and make a presentation to the library’s board.

The dignitary’s trip to Erie follows recent actions by the Erie Board of Trustees in drafting economic development incentives that would allow for a new or expanding business in the community to apply for certain fee waivers.

Reprinted with permission. Colorado Hometown Newspapers 2005.