Fort Collins ranks #2 in high-tech start-up density

Fort Collins ranks #2 in a new Kaufman Foundation Report.

Fort Collins ranks #2 in a national study on high-tech start-up density. The high-tech sector is defined as "group of industries with very high shares of employees in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering, and math" -- great news for those attending Poudre's STEM schools. And this is one "top" list that comes with an economic punch -- these high-tech start-ups play an "outsized role in net job creation" within the U.S.

Metro areas that make it to the top have one of three characteristics, and some have a combination: they are well-known tech hubs or regions with highly skilled workforces; they have a strong defense or aerospace presence; they are smaller university cities. Regionally, Boulder (#1), Denver (#6) and Colorado Springs (#9) ranked top spots and some in the Front Range are preparing to become the new Silicon Valley.

Check out the full Kauffman Foundation report. A local story appears in this week's Coloradoan. For an interesting story about a Denver-based high-tech start-up, visit the Denver Post.

Water is selling fast, despite assurances of safe water supplies

Water shelves at Walmart in Timnath are stripped clean, although
a fresh pallet of generic water was just dropped at the front door.

Despite assurances about the safety of our water supply, Fort Collins residents are buying large quantities of bottled water. Bottled water shelves at Target, in Southeast Fort Collins, already appear bare. Shelves at Walmart in Timnath are stripped clean. At Sam's club, the shelves are currently stocked -- however, the clerk at the door reported customers are buying water by the cartload.

Sam's Club employees report selling cartloads of water to
Fort Collins customers.

Concerns and rumors about drinking water persist. Some neighbors have reported church email alerts suggesting that supplies could be in danger at some point. Meanwhile, both Fort Collins and Loveland continue to assure residents of water supply safety.

Additional details regarding our water supply may be found on a previous post.

Bottled water shelves are nearing empty,
as of 2:00 pm on Sunday.

Is our drinking water safe, after the flood?

A waste water treatment plant, not a drinking water treatment plant,
sits behind flooding near the east end of the Poudre Trail.

Drinking water concerns generated only one news story that we can find. The story comes from the Reporter Herald.

A quasi-municipal corporation called the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District (FCLWD) provides water to the southern portion of Fort Collins. In the absence of a press release from this organization, we must infer our drinking water status through press releases coming from nearby water suppliers. Both the City of Fort Collins and the City of Loveland are assuring the public that their water supplies are safe. Fort Collins states their current water source is Horsetooth Reservoir, and implies this is why their water supply is not affected by the floods. FCLWD also uses Horsetooth Reservoir as their primary water source. From the information that's available, it's logical to conclude that drinking water in the south of Fort Collins is safe.

UPDATE (For our friends in the northern sections of Fort Collins.):
According to this Larimer County Map, Fort Collins is served by two additional water districts including East Larimer County Water District (ELCWD) and West Fort Collins Water District (WFCWD). The ECLWD has not yet posted a press release related to drinking water but they share ownership with the FCLWD in the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant and use Horsetooth Reservoir as their primary water source. We're unable to locate specifics related to the WFCWD at this time.

ADDITIONAL UPDATE:
On Monday, September 16, we received a response to an inquiry with the FCLWD. The response states, "The District has not experienced any problems with its treatment facility, Soldier Canyon Filter Plant.  The drinking water is completely safe to drink."