Who is moving to and from Colorado? | How J.J. Ament's changing Denver Metro Chamber | Joan Jett's Boulder investment

Welcome to the first edition of Denver Business Journal's weekly LinkedIn newsletter. I'm Managing Editor Alicia Cohn, rounding up Denver business news to keep you in the know when time is short.

Whether you grew up in Colorado or are a transplant, there’s no denying that the Covid-19 pandemic helped spur many moves to and from Colorado.

In total, the Centennial State netted roughly $2.3 billion in income reported by new tax filers residing within its borders in the 2019 and 2020 filing years, according to a Business Journals analysis of federal tax and population data.

Learn about how the seven counties that make up the Denver metro fared during the mass migration seen in recent years.

Read more

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Real estate deals of the week

Hotel-apartment hybrid in the works for prime 7-acre Denver development site

Historic Baptist church plans apartments on its Capitol Hill parking lot

'Bold' renovations complete on Uptown office building

Turin Bicycles site and neighboring parcels sell for $10.8 million

Vail Resorts HQ and neighboring building sell for $102.5 million

Note from Alicia: Vail Resorts made a lot of news this month, also suing the town of Vail over the company's planned affordable housing project.

See more of DBJ's comprehensive real estate coverage in Crane Watch

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'Changemaker in chief'

Denver Metro Chamber CEO J. J. Ament just celebrated one year in the role.

The 155-year-old organization has undergone significant change in the past year and a half — including getting a new CEO and 75% turnover. But it's also reporting a 23% growth in members and recruiting 17 major companies to come to Denver.

The staff exodus, which began even before 13-year president/CEO Kelly Brough left the organization last September and has occurred during a time of mass resignations at companies across the region, has given its new leader a chance to rethink many of the group’s functions and bring in what he called the most diverse leadership team in Denver Chamber history.

The changes come as chamber leaders have worked to rebuild member ranks following the coronavirus-spurred recession, ramped up efforts to attract companies to the Front Range and fought for a host of policies before state and city governments.?

Read more

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Denver news bites

The most expensive colleges in the country include one in Denver

Here's where Southwest is flying from Denver in spring 2023

Rolls Royce ends work with Boom: What next for supersonic passenger flight?

Colorado utility wants out of partnership with Xcel on Comanche 3

How a Colorado market for psychedelic mushrooms could work

From Alicia: Should I try pickleball? Robert Thompson, the founder of Denver's popular Punch Bowl Social chain, is launching a new "eatertainment" concept called Camp Pickle,?comparing it to TopGolf for a newer sport. The first two locations will be in Colorado and Alabama. Thompson predicts 40 million people (!) could be playing pickleball nationally by 2030, so I wonder if I'm missing out.

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Fundraise of the week

Joan Jett, Sia join investors in Boulder's meatless pet food startup

Read more news about Denver's technology and innovation scene by subscribing to Colorado Inno's The Beat newsletter

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Plus, there's this

• DBJ's Ed Sealover speaks to 9News about VF Corp layoffs

• And DBJ's Greg Avery was on City Cast Denver talking about Orion...which is expected to try again to launch in a few weeks.

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This weekly round-up of Denver business news was compiled by DBJ's managing editor. Alicia is also reading up on electric vehicles this week: Top five EVs in the Denver area and how to take a leaf-peeping road trip in one.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Send them to [email protected]