AC-REP Gamechangers Awards

Economic vitality

A Gamechanger in Economic Vitality demonstrates the following criteria:

• Economic Transformation: They introduce substantial changes to the economic landscape, driving the region towards new and lucrative industries, diversifying the local economy, and creating jobs.
• Industry Leadership: Projects or individuals position the region as a leader or hub in a particular sector, attracting businesses, talent, and investments from across the globe, resulting in a vibrant ecosystem that fosters innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.
• Job Creation: Projects or individuals stimulate job growth by generating employment opportunities across various skill levels. It can lead to the creation of both direct jobs within the industry and indirect jobs in supporting sectors.

• Increased Investment: Projects or individuals that attract significant investments from local and international sources. This influx of capital can be used to expand infrastructure, support startups, improve education and workforce development, and enhance the overall business environment.

• Quality of Life Enhancement: Gamechangers have a positive effect on the region and their community, such as improved infrastructure, enhanced amenities, increased cultural offerings, and a higher overall quality of life for residents.

Economic Vitality Winner:

Fitzsimons Innovation Community

Fitzsimons Innovation Community is where discoveries meet momentum. To them, this means providing their Community members with the space, opportunity, and inspiration to develop their best ideas and turn them into healthcare products and technologies of the future. They nurture their Community members and their discoveries so that once they gain momentum, they can bring their innovations to the future of health and care without any obstacles.

Highlights from 2021 and 2022 include:
- $55M in capital raised and $87M raised to date in 2023.
- 18+ new innovations introduced into the market.
- 9 new patents received.
- 32 strategic partnerships formed to advance innovation, including research, multinational clinical trials, expansion opportunities, joint ventures, product development, and distribution partners.

It is said that momentum has both magnitude and direction. That’s a pretty apt explanation for what happens when Community members begin to research, develop, and mold their discoveries and projects. Fitzsimons Innovation Community is proud to be the venue where momentum takes place, where work gets done, and where discoveries gather steam and change the landscape of health and care.

Inclusivity 

A Gamechanger in this category acknowledges a dedication to creating an environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, location, or circumstances. The recipient is chosen based on the following principles:

• Integration of Inclusivity: They seamlessly incorporate inclusive practices into all facets of their operations rather than treating it as a distinct initiative.
• Community-Centered Engagement: They actively involve community members most affected by existing systems, using their insights to inform practical solutions for better outcomes.
• Collaborative Approach: They prioritize collaboration with community members, involving them in the planning and execution of necessary changes.
• Innovative Strategies: They showcase innovative approaches and strategies that advance economic and social advancement for all.

Inclusivity winner:

Maiker Housing Partners

Maiker Housing Partners has an unwavering commitment to creating an environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of their background or circumstances. Inclusivity is integrated into all aspects of their operations, making it an essential part of their culture rather than a separate initiative. They prioritize partnerships with community members, involving them in planning and execution to effect necessary changes.

One of MHP's notable features is its collaborative approach, which was evident in its efforts at Claude Court. MHP, in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Partnership, invited a diverse group of community members, including K-12 schools, community-based organizations, elected officials, and others, to share design ideas for Maiker's newest housing community, Claude Court. This inclusive design session allowed participants to discuss property layout, amenities, and on-site services that would support a thriving community. These community-driven insights are now guiding the development and construction of Claude Court.

MHP focuses on community-centered engagement. Unlike organizations that may superficially engage communities, MHP takes a grassroots approach. It actively involves community members most affected by existing systems, valuing their insights and experiences as instrumental in shaping practical solutions. In this approach, MHP doesn't just seek community input; it genuinely listens and respects the voices of community members, ensuring their perspectives are woven into the fabric of the organization's decision-making processes. This approach ensures that the programs and services offered by Maiker Housing are not imposed from above but are co-created with the community, resulting in solutions that are not only more relevant but also more effective.

Innovation

A Gamechanger in Innovation includes several of the following criteria:

• Originality and uniqueness: They demonstrate a significant departure from existing solutions or approaches by introducing new ideas, concepts, or methods that have the potential to disrupt and transform the economic landscape.
• Impact and scalability: They exhibit the potential for substantial economic impact, both in generating economic growth and creating employment opportunities to be replicated in different contexts or sectors.
• Market potential and competitiveness: They show commercial viability and market potential to address a real market need through competitive advantage, creating new marketings, or significantly improving existing ones.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and leadership: They are driven by visionary leadership and an entrepreneurial spirit and should reflect qualities such as risk-taking, perseverance, creativity, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Measurable outcomes and evidence of success: They display tangible outcomes, results, or prototypes that showcase their effectiveness through data, metrics, or qualitative evidence substantiating their achievements.

Innovation winner:

2023 Winner - Pretred

Pretred is a company with a clear purpose and values, aimed at contributing to the circular economy by recycling waste tires and repurposing them into sustainable industrial barriers.

The innovative and state-of-the-art technology used by the Aurora-based company allows for the production of industrial barriers that consist of over 95% recycled materials. Tire waste is a global environmental challenge, with more than one billion tires being sent to landfills or burned every year. Pretred's technology recycles approximately 65,000 tires per mile of barriers, which equates to around 880 barriers. These barriers are a sustainable alternative to concrete ones, reducing 98% of equivalent CO2 emissions, and can be used in construction, roads, parks, and other areas.

The company officially launched in July 2022 and has already undertaken several pilot projects around Colorado. Pretred aims to be a complementary solution for construction companies seeking to meet specific sustainability requirements when obtaining contracts.

Sustainability

A Gamechanger in Sustainability demonstrates the following criteria:

• Environmental Impact: They consider factors such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, use of renewable resources, and preservation of local ecosystems.
• Innovation and Technology: They promote innovative projects that leverage cutting-edge technology to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enhance the overall sustainability of the community.
• Collaboration and Partnerships: They recognize projects that leverage partnerships to achieve shared sustainability goals and maximize positive impacts.
• Education and Awareness: They raise awareness and educate the community about sustainability issues and practices.
• Measurable Impact: Projects produce tangible and measurable outcomes to create sustainable solutions. They consider metrics such as energy or resource savings, waste reduction, carbon footprint reduction, increased employment opportunities, or improved quality of life.
• Scalability and Replicability: They demonstrate the potential for the project to be scaled up or replicated in other communities or regions. The project offers transferable lessons, best practices, or innovative models that can inspire similar sustainability initiatives.
• Long-term Planning and Vision: Projects align with long-term sustainability goals for the community or region with a clear vision for the future, well-defined objectives, strategies, and plans for ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation.
• Leadership and Commitment: They demonstrate strong leadership and commitment to go above and beyond to achieve sustainability objectives.

Sustainability winner:

Vartega

Vartega is a company that aims to make carbon fiber more accessible to everyone. They do this by solving some of the world's toughest advanced materials recycling challenges, which allows them to create circular supply chains, decarbonize transportation, and enable a sustainable future.

Through its patented recycling process, Vartega has developed a low-cost grade of carbon fiber with mechanical properties that are similar to virgin material. This grade of recycled fibers can be used in a wide range of applications, such as nonwoven fabrics, thermoplastic pellets, and 3D printing filaments.

Earlier this year, Vartega expanded its production capacity by 10x, moving to a new, world-class manufacturing facility and headquarters in Adams County. This facility allows the team to operate safely and efficiently and deliver a reliable source of high-quality recycled carbon fiber.

The new facility will meet the growing demand for recycled carbon fiber and Vartega's EasyFeed carbon fiber bundles, which are used as a low-cost alternative to virgin material for automotive and other industrial applications. By using the Vartega process, thousands of tons of waste will be diverted yearly from landfills, which will have a significant economic impact by reducing waste disposal fees. The most significant economic benefit of using low-cost recycled carbon fiber is reduced fuel consumption due to vehicle lightweighting.

With a planned capacity of 2,000 metric tons per year, Vartega will continue to serve its growing customer base in North America and address new opportunities in Europe and Asia.