Two local companies recognized for promoting corporate wellness

Colorado Springs Utilities, which provides all four utility services for local residents, and TRANE, which supplies commercial and residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and services, have been awarded the American Heart Association’s top wellness honor. Both local companies made the list of the nation’s 2008 Fit-Friendly Companies.
Employers on the annual list promote a fit-friendly workplace that encourages wellness by providing walking routes and promoting walking programs, supplying online newsletters and tracking tools to motivate employees, offering healthy food options in cafeterias or vending machines, and creating a work environment conducive to physical activity.
Employers that sign on to the Start! Fit-Friendly Companies Program will be recognized at the Start! Colorado Springs Heart Walk June 7 and on the program’s national Web site. Interested employers can call the local office at 635-7688.

Q1 Tourism economic impact report

Just got the first-quarter numbers from Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak (the convention and visitors bureau). I don't have the year-to-year comparison handy, so I'll just throw these numbers out there for now:

Total economic impact - $82,874,401

Lodging and rental tax - $423,630

Sports-related room nights - 16,136
Sports-related revenue - $7,213,660

Convention marketing room nights - 28,250
Convention marketing revenue - $13,889,260

Anthem employees participate in first national Community Service Day

More than 125 Colorado employees of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and their families and friends, volunteered for the parent company's first national Community Service Day, held April 26 to coincide with National Volunteeer Week.

Local employees volunteered at the Colorado Springs March of Dimes and Child Nursery Centers, said spokeswoman Sally Vogler. They helped staff the March of Dimes' "March for Babies," assisting with registration and the kids fun zone. At The Child Nursery Centers, the volunteers cleaned and beautified the grounds. Employees from Denver also worked on projects there.

Last year, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield associates in Colorado pledged more than $673,000 to help nonprofits throughout the state.

Air Force Academy film on hold

The Air Force Academy may be ready for a close-up, but Hollywood is holding off.
“Bring Me Men,” an independent film that was planned to begin shooting in May at the academy, will now be put off for a year, said Charles Morrison, the film’s producer.
“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “We were anxiously looking forward to working with the Air Force this summer.”
Morrison said the financing he had in place when he announced the $6 million project in November 2007, was no longer available. He tried to secure new financial backers, but couldn’t in time to meet the scheduled filming window that would capture graduation at the end of May and the start of basic training for new cadets in June. Instead, he asked the Air Force for an extension so the project could film next year.
Morrison said he’s still searching for funding.
“It’s just a difficult time this year to raise money,” he said.
“Bring Me Men” is a fictional retelling of the arrival of the first women cadets at the academy in 1976. The title refers to the famous motto at the academy’s Terrazzo entrance, which was removed in 2003 and replaced by the academy’s core values.
Academy spokesman Johnny Whitaker said the one-year delay was by mutual agreement.
Tom Como, the film’s co-producer, said the project would have meant 60 to 70 jobs for local crewmembers.
“To be honest with you, it’s one of the few feature films that was actually going to come here,” he said.
Como said he’s confident that “Bring Me Men” will be a go next year.
Colorado Springs film commissioner Kim Griffis said it will be better for the Springs that the producers wait until everything is in place to begin filming.
“Even though it’s a kink in the wheels, it’s still going to move forward,” she said.

Springs Business Expo coming May 22

The annual Colorado Springs Business Expo, sponsored by the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, will take place10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 22 at the Phil Long Expo Center, 1515 Auto Mall Loop on the city's north side. The event, which allows businesses to gain leads and network with new and existing clients, is billed by the chamber as one of the largest area business expos. More information or to participate : 635-1551 or awhittaker@cscc.org