THE LISTS SUBMIT BUSINESS INFORMATION FOR FUTURE BIZWEST LISTS AT [email protected] RIVER DISTRICT New historic design guidelines on tap, 3 AGRIBUSINESS Pilgrim’s Pride to keep shopping despite failed Hillshire bid, 5 HEALTH CARE Federal partnership helps hospitals cut costs, 9 THE BUSINESS JOURNAL OF THE BOULDER VALLEY AND NORTHERN COLORADO VOLUME 33 | ISSUE 11 | JUNE 13-26, 2014 Employers shifting health-care costs to employees BY MOLLY ARMBRISTER in an attempt to combat ever-increas- rose by 5.4 percent. The employer pays $13,250 of that [email protected] ing premiums. At the same time, it costs more cost, and the employee, through pay- A new study called the Milliman than twice as much to insure a family roll deductions, co-pays and deduct- Health-insurance costs rose for Medical Index, produced by Seattle- in 2014 as it did in 2004, according to ibles, pays $9,695, an increase of both employers and their employees based health-care analytics company the study. Then, it cost an average of $1,185 from 2013. in 2014, according to a new analysis, Milliman Inc., shows that employees’ $11,192 to insure one employee and “Even if we are bending the cost but costs rose faster for employees as health insurance costs rose by 6 per- his or her dependents, compared with curve, there are few other household employers shifted more of the burden cent in 2014, while employers’ costs $23,215 in 2014. ➤ See Rate, 24 Loveland vote pits frack attackers vs. backers BY STEVE LYNN [email protected] LOVELAND – Sharon Carlisle is deep in campaign mode in a garage in downtown Loveland, which she hopes will become the latest Front Range city to approve a ban on the oil and natural-gas drilling technique known as fracking. Literature contending that hydrau- lic fracturing, or fracking, poses risks JONATHAN CASTNER/FOR BIZWEST to health is stacked on a card table Collective shines on, using community approach to solar. ➤ See Energy & Utilities, 11 in the back of the garage. Large signs CLEAN ENERGY leaning against the wall tout a mora- torium. Carlisle, an artist who has lived CU technology spinoffs survive at higher rates in Loveland for more than 20 years, founded anti-fracking activist group BY JOSHUA LINDENSTEIN All but 27 of the 132 companies Impressive as the numbers are on Protect Our Loveland last year to [email protected] formed around CU technology since their face, a closer look shows that – of campaign for a moratorium on oil the school’s 1994 fi scal year are still the 83 companies old enough – 68 and gas development in the city. BOULDER – Startups spun out operating or have been acquired by survived at least fi ve years. That 82 per- Carlisle said around 200 people have of University of Colorado technology companies still operating. That’s not cent fi ve-year survival rate holds true volunteered to campaign for the have enjoyed a much higher survival counting nine more that have been for companies formed from fi scal year moratorium, which voters will con- rate than the average small business formed in fiscal year 2014, which 1996 to 2006, the period analyzed by sider in a municipal election June 24. nationally or statewide, according runs through June 30. The latest CU the Colorado Innovation Network for Ballots were mailed to households to fi gures released recently by CU’s fi gures cover only companies formed its 2013 Innovation Report. That study earlier this month. technology transfer offi ce. through fi scal year 2013. ➤ See Tech, 7 ➤ See Loveland, 2 CONTENTS Health Care Briefcase .............................20 Small companies continue to shun Business News Digest ........10 insurance exchange ............................................................6 Editorial ...............................34 Sales Smarts For the Record ....................23 By Bob Bolak ......................................................................14 Nonprofi t Network...............21 Newsmaker Q&A .................17 Small Business Adviser On the Job ..........................19 By Carl Dierschow ..............................................................17 The Eye .................................3 Time Out .............................22 BizWest is an independent, locally owned business journal. 2 | June 13-26, 2014 BizWest | www.bcbr.com | www.ncbr.com LOVELAND from 1 Question 1, as the ballot measure on doors to promote their cause. is known, represents the latest chal- “The truth is Loveland is Fort Col- lenge to the oil and gas industry along lins’ front line more than any other the Front Range, where voters in community in Colorado,” Giddens Fort Collins, Longmont, Lafayette, said. “There is so much support … for Broomfield and Boulder have passed the two-year moratorium.” bans on fracking. The drilling tech- Activists have had just two months nique involves pumping millions of to prepare for the election. The Love- gallons of water, sand and chemicals land City Council scheduled the elec- deep underground to retrieve oil and tion for the same day as the Larimer gas from tight shale formations. County primary. Council members “There’s a reason these things are agreed to the date in exchange for Love- winning,” Carlisle said. “It’s because land resident Larry Sarner dropping his people are concerned.” court challenge of the measure. The election also comes as Gov. The election is expected to cause John Hickenlooper has been meeting confusion because voters will not be with industry officials to negotiate a able to decide on the fracking mora- deal that would give additional regu- torium at county polls. Votes on the latory control to local governments JONATHAN CASTNER/FOR BIZWEST separate primary and fracking mora- on oil and gas operations. The state A recent rally in Loveland by pro-fracking forces is one of a slew of activities occur- torium ballots won’t be counted if previously has sought to maintain ring in advance of a June 24 vote on whether to allow Loveland to impose a two- they are mailed by voters in the same control over oil and gas drilling, with year moratorium on oil and gas development within its boundaries. envelope. Voters can only pick up few exemptions for cities to develop replacements for their mail-in ballots their own rules. Nikkel said 52 oil and gas compa- The fray has drawn national atten- at the Loveland City Clerk’s Office, Loveland’s moratorium would put nies provide 500 jobs in Loveland. tion, with a representative of the U.S. which must receive the ballots by a two-year stop to oil and gas drill- “They come and use our restau- Chamber Commerce visiting the city Election Day. ing in the city while studies on how rants, they shop in our stores and last month to coach local business Despite the challenges, Carlisle the industrial activity affects human malls,” Nikkel said. “They spend leaders on how to defend against said most of the people she has talked health are conducted. money.” attacks on oil and gas development. to tell her they will vote for the mora- Loveland also has a contingent of Loveland Energy Action Project Protect Our Loveland also has torium in Loveland. oil and gas supporters, led by for- reported almost $379,000 in con- received outside help from Citizens “We want two years to find out mer Loveland state Rep. B.J. Nik- tributions, $375,000 of which came for a Healthy Fort Collins. Kelly Gid- more about it,” Carlisle said about kel, founder of the Loveland Energy from the Colorado Oil & Gas Asso- dens, who founded the group, spear- fracking. Action Project. ciation, between Dec. 4 and June 2. headed a successful effort in Fort “I think we’re going to have a good Protect Our Loveland raised $10,700 Collins to pass a five-year fracking ban Steve Lynn can be reached at 970- show of support,” she said. “We’ve in the past year, according to campaign in November 2012. 232-3147, 303-630-1968 or slynn@ got a lot of individuals and businesses finance reports the groups filed with Members of the group have worked bizwestmedia.com. Follow him on Twit- behind us.” the city of Loveland. with Protect Our Loveland to knock ter at @SteveLynnBW. Clinton Baker, Partner, Adam Sweetman, Kennedy and Coe Sweetman Investments GET THE BUSINESS OUT OF THE OFFICE. At Kennedy and Coe, we have the courage to do something GL΍HUHQWWRJHWWRQHZSODFHV Even if it means rolling up our sleeves, and our trousers. www.kcoe.com | 800.303.3241 Consultants BizWest | www.bcbr.com | www.ncbr.com June 13-26, 2014 | 3 Private exchanges offer new health option nology to save time and money, and currently involved, but users can Estes Park School District’s exchange, Non-government give employees more choice. answer a set of questions that allow which went live on May 13. More The exchange operates similarly the program to recommend plans for than 100 employees at the district programs growing to the state’s public health-insurance them. were eligible to sign up for coverage, in popularity exchange, Connect for Health Colo- Private exchanges allow employers said Randy Rush, client executive and rado. Employees of Estes Park School to provide coverage to their employ- vice president at HUB. BY MOLLY ARMBRISTER District can go online and choose the ees with less administrative legwork, Nearly every eligible employee [email protected] plan that’s right for them. and sometimes for less cost than signed up using Bright Choices, Rush The Estes Park district used the through traditional means. Those said. Bright Choices, produced by ESTES PARK – The Estes Park Denver-based insurance brokerage business owners who choose not to New York-based Liazon, is an online School District is among the first HUB International to set up its pro- participate in the government-run software portal that allows employees organizations in the region to make gram.