Urban Renewal Authorities 101 | Back to Basics
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URBAN RENEWAL 101 | Back to Basics
Economic Development Week 2026 kicked off with a question we hear all the time: what is an urban renewal authority, and how does tax increment financing actually work?
Downtown Colorado, Inc. partnered with the Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) to tackle those questions with a panel of practitioners who use these tools every day. Angela Hygh (Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck) breaks down the statutory framework and the “but-for” proposition at the heart of every urban renewal decision. Julian Jacquin (Town of Erie) walks through what it takes to stand up a plan area, negotiate with taxing entities, and keep seven active plan areas moving. Rick Harrmann (City of Canon City) tells the story of a community that built its commercial corridor strategy around urban renewal, including a catalyst hotel project that changed the trajectory of downtown. Troy Bernberg (Northland Public Finance) gets into the risk spectrum of TIF deployment, from pay-go budgets and reimbursement agreements to bond issuance. And Bill Shrum (DCI) ties it all together with resources and tools communities can put to work right now.
Whether you are new to urban renewal or have been in this work for years, this conversation has something for you, from financing structures and best practices to how communities across Colorado are putting TIF to work in new ways.
Watch the full webinar above, then visit our TIF Resources page and URA + Districts Resource Page to keep learning. Ready to go deeper? Check out upcoming DCI events for hands-on workshops, tours, and training throughout 2026. We love this stuff, and we’re glad you do too.
About Economic Development Week
Economic Development Week (May 4-8, 2026) is a statewide celebration organized by the Economic Development Council of Colorado (EDCC) and DCI to highlight the programs, partnerships, and people driving Colorado’s economy forward. It’s a great time to tell your community’s economic development story. EDCC has put together a Social Media Toolkit with everything you need to get started. Share what your community is doing, tag EDCC and DCI, and use #COEconDevWeek26 to join the conversation.