'You Can't Fall Off the Floor'

In 1985, Denver, Colorado's economy was in poor shape. The downtown vacancy rate soared to almost 30%, unemployment reached 8%, and for the first time in 20 years, more people were moving out than moving in. Paul Newland, sales manager for Hercules Industries, believes that the city is coming back, slowly. In adapting to troubled times, many Denver businesses learned to be more efficient. These trial-hardened companies are shifting from a survival mode to a growth phase. Overall, area employment, after dropping in 1986 and 1987, has slowly rebounded, growing 0.6% in 1988 and 1.7% in 1989. Airport traffic is up 4% after a 3-year decline. Denver's tourism industry is up 5% in the first 3 months of 1990, and agriculture is in its 4th year of recovery. The city now boasts the new $126-million Colorado Convention Center, and a new $2-billion airport is scheduled to open in late 1993.