StemCell Therapy

Dick Monfort. (Karl Gehring | The Denver Post)

Over the next few months, nine men will decide which projects get funding under a state law created in 2009 to bring new visitors to Colorado.

They are the members of the Colorado Economic Development Commission, which approves loans and grants from the state's economic-development fund to help businesses expand and to attract new companies to Colorado.

Now they are responsible for determining which two projects, if any, are eligible to receive up to a combined $50 million a year in state sales-tax rebates.

Five commission members are appointed by the governor, two by the president of the Senate and two by the speaker of the House. They come from across the state and represent a variety of industries, including banking, real estate and law.

"The commission has good representation statewide," said member Dwayne Romero. "It's not just a Denver-centric composition. That's going to give a broader perspective and will help to enliven the conversation and discussion that will occur leading up to the recommendations."

The applicants for the incentives include Aurora, for a proposed 1,500-room hotel and conference center; Douglas County, for a prehistoric-archaeology museum and sports complex; Glendale, for an outdoor riverwalk entertainment complex; Pueblo, for a downtown riverwalk area that would include a bull-riding training center and an expanded convention center; Estes Park, to redevelop and renovate Elkhorn Lodge and build a 50-acre, year-round adventure park; and Montrose County, which is proposing 141 tourism and commercial projects.

Here's who will decide which projects, if any, receive the Regional Tourism Act incentives:

Dick Monfort - Chairman

Since Monfort took control of the Colorado Rockies in 2005, the ballclub's attendance has increased 50 percent and revenue has risen every year. Before taking over the Rockies, the Greeley businessman spent 25 years in the cattle business.

Monfort also owns the Hyatt Grand Champions Hotel in Palm Springs, Calif., and Hilltop Steak House in Boston. He helped launch the Montera Cattle Co. in 1996 and, a year later, the first Brett Favre Steak House in Milwaukee.

Don Elliman

Colorado's former economic-development chief is now executive director of the Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology. Now, he'll also serve as interim chancellor of the University of Colorado Denver and Anschutz Medical Campus.

Elliman's career has covered a broad spectrum. He was publisher of Sports Illustrated and People, president of Kroenke Sports Enterprises and chairman of the board of Children's Hospital Colorado.

Howard Gelt

As an attorney with Polsinelli Shugart specializing in commercial real estate, Gelt represents landlords and tenants in lease transactions, property management, listing agreements and tenant-improvement contracts.

Gelt serves on the boards of the Metropolitan Denver Economic Development Corp., the North Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, Coloradans for Smart Transit and the Morgan's Subdivision Historic District Association.

Dick Robinson

Robinson and his brother Eddie formed Robinson Dairy in 1975, when they bought the assets of Roberts Dairy. They sold the company to Dean Foods in 1999 but still serve as co-chief executives.

A fourth-generation Denver native, Dick Robinson was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and served on active duty in the field artillery for two years. He serves on the boards of the Denver Art Museum, HCA-HealthONE and Regis University.

Wellington Webb

Webb served three terms as Denver's mayor from 1991 to 2003.

During his tenure, Denver International Airport opened; people began moving back to downtown Denver; and the Central Platte Valley was redeveloped, with Coors Field, the Pepsi Center, Elitch Gardens and a new Broncos stadium. He also persuaded voters to approve a $300 million expansion to the Colorado Convention Center, which opened in December 2004, and led tough, successful negotiations for a nearby hotel.

He founded Webb Group International in October 2003 .

Dwayne Romero

Romero, a Snowmass real estate developer, served a brief stint as executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade.

He is president of Related Snowmass, a division of New York development and investment firm Related Cos., and manages a portfolio of commercial and lodging properties in Snowmass Village.

He is on the boards of the Aspen Historical Society and the Aspen Rotary Club.

Bill Sisson

A Grand Junction resident, Sisson retired at the end of 2009 from his position as senior regional president at American National Bank and director of Sturm Financial Group.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Sisson graduated with a finance degree from the University of Denver. Sisson is former chairman of the state Economic Development Commission and a member of the Government Affairs Committee of the Colorado Bankers Association.

Darius Allen

Allen was appointed to the Economic Development Commission last year, the first person from southern Colorado to serve on the panel since 2003. Allen has served four terms as a county commissioner, ranches and owns an insurance company.

J.J. Ament

Investment banker Ament gave up his post at Citigroup in 2009 for an unsuccessful run at the Republican nomination for state treasurer.

Born and raised on his family's ranch in Logan County, one of Ament's first jobs was representing farmers as executive director of the Colorado Association of Wheat Growers.

The Littleton resident currently is director of public finance at RBC Capital Markets.

Margaret Jackson: 303-954-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com

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Colorado panel tasked with weighing eco-devo projects, doling out incentives

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