The recent budgetary cutbacks and job layoffs by the new presidential administration have had and could have significant economic impacts on the surrounding business and residential communities throughout Lakewood.
While the state and federal data on the number of jobs and facilities affected has been continuously changing, this dashboard contains the city’s currently available information about their possible impacts. The city continues to monitor the situation and work with state, federal and congressional officials on this issue.
- 6,000 employees based at the Federal Center.
- More than 5,000 additional employees at facilities in other locations in Lakewood.
- The federal workforce accounts for about 8 percent of the jobs in Lakewood.
Federal facilities
- The Federal Center is the largest concentration of federal agencies outside Washington, D.C.
- 623-acre secure complex - 1 square mile campus(PDF, 966KB)
- More than 4 million square feet of office and research space
- 35 buildings housing approximately 35 federal customers
- The Department of Interior occupies nearly half of the space in support of managing the country’s public lands and federal dam system:
- The Bureau Reclamation oversees the federal dam system, particularly in the West, which controls the water source for the Western states.
- It has constructed dams, powerplants, and canals in 17 Western states.
- It is the largest wholesaler of water in the country, bringing water to more than 31 million people and providing one out of five Western farmers (140,000) with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland that produce 60 percent of the nation's vegetables and 25 percent of its fruits and nuts.
- Federal government leases more than 1.1 million square feet of office space in other locations than the Federal Center in Lakewood. These leases serve the following federal agencies:
- Federal Communications Commission
- Social Security Administration
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Department of Energy
- U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. Department of Interior
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Inventory of GSA Owned and Leased Properties Interactive Map
Two national companies that specialize in government leasing and commercial real estate have created interactive maps tracking government leases terminated and rescinded by the Department of Government Efficiency.
Arco Real Estate Solutions, national specialists in government leasing, including a former GSA real estate official, that represent landlords with government leases.
JLL, a national commercial real estate brokerage.
Business Community Impact
Job losses may lead to less consumer spending in the surrounding business districts through a decrease in the number of customers using local businesses, restaurants and hotels. This could affect the overall economic health of the business community, and these impacts could ripple into private industry, causing similar issues.
There could also be increased vacancies, especially in the office space, which in turn may lead to a decline in rental rates and property values. These impacts in the business community could lead to lower sales and use tax revenues for Lakewood to pay for city services. Lower property values could result in decreased property tax revenue as well.
Support local businesses:
Due to recent federal layoffs, some restaurants near the Federal Center have seen a decline in business. Below is a detailed list of nearby restaurants, should you want to consider them for any upcoming catering events, lunches, or other occasions. Your support would mean a lot to them!
Restaurants near Federal Center
There are also numerous fast(er) food options, including:
Sonic Drive-In
Dairy Queen
Noodles and Company
Jersey Mike’s Subs MAD Greens
Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard
Wendy’s
QDOBA
McDonald’s
Dutch Bros Coffee
If you'd like to be added to the above list of local restaurants, please reach out to ed@lakewood.org.
Residential Community Impact
Job losses could result in changes to neighborhoods through home sales, disruptions in school and community programs and distress to personal connections. Further, decreases in personal income could lead to a decrease in state income tax revenue for state and county governments.
Resources for Federal Workers
If you've been laid off, there are local and state resources available to help when it comes to next steps. These can include aid in obtaining unemployment benefits, reemployment support, online workshops and job fairs, career coach support, recording of the recent Town Halls, answers to frequently asked questions and more.
Jefferson County's Business & Workforce Center, Colorado's Department of Labor and Employment and Lakewood’s Office of Economic Development are leading the efforts in Lakewood. Please see below for additional information.
Jefferson County Business and Workforce Center
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
Are you looking to start a new business in Lakewood? Contact your Economic Development Office for help in navigating the process.