CREJ: FMC Technologies Expands Colo. Operations In Brighton

• March 4, 2014

An energy services company is expanding its Colorado operations to a 20-acre site in Brighton.

A group affiliated with FMC Technologies Inc. purchased the property at 1571 Weld County Road 27, just west of the Vestas plant, from a private owner, John Turner. It plans to demolish a 9,000-square-foot building on the site and develop a 50,000-sf sales and service facility to house its Completion Services, Fluid Control and Surface Wellhead businesses.

The $11.9 million project, including land, is projected for occupancy in October. FMC, which provides technology solutions for the energy industry globally, will join major employers Baker Hughes, Anadarko and Halliburton along what has become known as the energy corridor.

It initially will create 66 jobs with plans to expand operations and add more than 50 more jobs over the next five years. The average annual wage at the Brighton facility will be significantly higher than the average wage in the county, according to economic development officials.

Denver-based Central Development LLC will manage the development.

“FMC Technologies is pleased to be locating our latest Colorado facility in Brighton,” John Deiss, FMC property development manger, said in an announcement. “This location is ideally suited to help us meet the growing needs of our customers in the area. The new facility will provide us with a single location that allows three of our businesses to work together more closely to ensure customer success.”

Jeremy Ballenger of CBRE, who handled the land transaction with CBRE’s Tyler Carner, said the deal exemplifies the expansion of the energy industry being driven by the Niobrara Formation. “Like many of the energy companies coming into this market, they see a long-term opportunity here and, because there is little to no existing product available, they are building,” Ballenger said.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved $532,440 in performance- based job growth incentive tax credits over a 60-month period for the FMC Technologies project. FMC also is located in a Colorado enterprise zone. All new jobs must be maintained for at least a year to qualify for each incentive program.

“The expansion of FMC Technologies and the addition of new high-paying jobs is great news for Colorado and the Brighton community,” stated Gov. John Hickenlooper. “Companies like FMC continue to recognize the strong industry ecosystem in Colorado, and we’re delighted they chose to expand here to support even further growth.”