Denver Urban Renewal Authority

Name

Denver Urban Renewal Authority

Legal name

Denver Urban Renewal Authority

Website

https://renewdenver.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) is a 1958 quasi-governmental authority that uses Tax Increment Financing to fund private redevelopment, alongside C-STAND grants and workforce programs for Denver small businesses, nonprofits, and residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Renewal and Redevelopment Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Land Subdivision (23721), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

National/Regional Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (FSABAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction & Development (C&D) Lending — Commercial/Multifamily (FSALADAH), Land Acquisition, Lot Development & Construction Financing (AD&C) (FSALAHAI), Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF), Affordable Rental & Multifamily Housing Finance Programs (LIHTC/Tax Credits/Subsidized Loans) (FSALAKAF)

Keywords

• Urban renewal financing
• Tax increment financing
• Redevelopment services
• Community development grants
• Municipal redevelopment authority

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Bonds: DURA manages Tax Increment Financing bonds to finance urban renewal projects. The incremental new tax revenues generated by redevelopment projects are used to fill the gap between private financing and total project costs.
2. Developer Reimbursements: DURA provides TIF developer reimbursements where developers borrow or invest equity to pay eligible project costs and use pledged TIF revenues as collateral and source of repayment.
3. Community Investment Grants: DURA administers grant programs including C-STAND (Community STAND) and Construction Employment Opportunities (CEO) that provide direct funding to community-serving organizations.

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) deploys Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and manages a $273 million TIF bond portfolio to finance redevelopment of blighted and underutilized areas within the City and County of Denver. DURA also administers the Community STAND (C-STAND) grant program providing $10,000–$50,000 stabilization grants to small businesses, nonprofits, and Business Improvement Districts, plus the Construction Employment Opportunities (CEO) workforce development program. TIF revenue is used to fund infrastructure, environmental remediation, historic preservation, affordable and workforce housing, and public amenities in partnership with private developers.

Product overview

Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) is a government redevelopment agency offering community investment programs and redevelopment financing services. The organization operates two main programmatic departments: Community Investment and Redevelopment. The Community Investment division manages grant programs (Community STAND), workforce development (Construction Employment Opportunities), and supports community-serving organizations. The Redevelopment division oversees Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance for urban renewal projects throughout Denver's urban renewal areas. DURA does not offer a technology product but provides public-sector financing and grant programs for urban redevelopment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community STAND (C-STAND): Stabilization grants for small businesses, nonprofits and Business Improvement Districts located in or near Urban Renewal Areas.
• Construction Employment Opportunities (CEO)

Products and services

• Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Primary public financing tool that uses incremental new sales and property tax revenues generated by redevelopment projects to fill the gap between private financing and total project costs. When an urban renewal plan is adopted, a base tax level is established and existing taxing agencies continue receiving that base; incremental taxes above the base are reinvested in the redevelopment through infrastructure, environmental remediation, or other public amenities. Available only to qualified urban renewal authorities.
• Community STAND (C-STAND) Grant Program Stabilization grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 for small businesses (≤$2M gross revenue), 501(c)(3) nonprofits and religious organizations (≤$5M gross revenue), Registered Neighborhood Organizations, and Business Improvement Districts located in or near Urban Renewal Areas. Funding supports physical improvements, equipment purchases, facade improvements, real estate purchase, cultural markers, and public art installations.
• Construction Employment Opportunities (CEO) Program Workforce development program under which 1% of TIF project costs is contributed to construction training and employment programs that build skills for new workers, upskill existing professionals, and strengthen construction-related businesses. Coordinated with Denver Housing Authority as First Source Program Coordinator.
• Redevelopment Projects Portfolio Portfolio of 54 urban renewal and redevelopment projects across Denver covering historic preservation, adaptive reuse, mixed-use developments, and affordable housing initiatives. Notable projects include The Source (adaptive reuse of historic Ironworks Foundry), Lowry Hangar 2 (former military training hangar), the historic Denver Tramway Powerhouse (REI flagship), Denver Pavilions, and the Colorado National Bank building conversion to a luxury hotel.
• Housing Rehabilitation Programs (Transitioned) Previously offered Emergency Home Repair (EHR), Single Family Rehabilitation (SFR), and Renter/Homeowner Access Modification Program (RHAMP). As of January 1, 2026, RHAMP inquiries and services transitioned to Colorado Housing Connects (844-926-6632); DURA continues to service existing loans/grants from 2025 and earlier but does not accept new applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• DURA's investments have leveraged an estimated $8 billion in private capital in previously blighted and underutilized areas of Denver
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Denver Public Schools (DPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDPS is represented on DURA's Board of Commissioners with one elected board member. DPS works with DURA to manage the impact of TIF projects on school services and benefits from increased tax revenues once TIF obligations are repaid.
• Special Districts (Property Tax Levying)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne board member from a special district that levies a property tax within Denver serves on DURA's 13-member Board of Commissioners. Special districts continue to receive base tax revenues during TIF periods.
• Denver Housing Authority (DHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHA serves as the First Source Program Coordinator for DURA, recruiting candidates for DURA project jobs through job seeker databases, Connecting Colorado website, and community-based organizations.
• Colorado Housing ConnectsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColorado Housing Connects now handles Renter/Homeowner Access Modification Program (RHAMP) inquiries and services as of January 1, 2026, after DURA transitioned housing rehabilitation programs.
• City and County of DenvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDURA was created by the City and County of Denver in 1958. DURA redevelopment plans and use of TIF must be approved by Denver City Council. The Mayor appoints 11 of 13 commissioners.
• Community Planning and Development AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity agency that collaborates with DURA on redevelopment projects and reviews projects for compliance with the city's Comprehensive Plan.
• Office of Economic DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity office that works with DURA to support economic redevelopment efforts and urban renewal activities throughout Denver.
• Colorado Housing and Finance AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency that provides financing resources for housing and community development projects that align with DURA's redevelopment objectives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Atlanta Urban Development Authority: Quasi-governmental authority using TIF and similar tools to redevelop blighted urban areas in Atlanta. Directly comparable as a municipal urban renewal authority with overlapping redevelopment financing mandate.
• Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority: Municipal authority administering TIF and redevelopment financing across Pittsburgh's urban renewal areas. Closely matches DURA's structure, tools, and mandate.
• Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority: City-created redevelopment authority using public financing tools to assemble and redevelop blighted urban parcels. Comparable in toolset (tax-increment, land disposition) and urban-renewal mandate.
• Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency: Regional CRA managing TIF-style financing and redevelopment projects in Memphis/Shelby County. Notably, DURA's Director of Community Investment (April Simmons) previously served as Director there, evidencing direct institutional comparability.
• Detroit Economic Growth Corporation: Nonprofit economic development corporation partnering with the City of Detroit to finance and execute redevelopment projects using public-private tools. Comparable as a public-mission redevelopment financing intermediary.
• Cook County Land Bank Authority: Public authority acquiring, holding, and redeploying vacant, blighted, and tax-delinquent properties in Cook County. Comparable in mandate to take blighted parcels and return them to productive use through partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• New York City Economic Development Corporation: Municipal economic development corporation driving large-scale redevelopment, real estate, and infrastructure projects across NYC. A broader incumbent with overlapping mandate but vastly greater scale and scope.
• Boston Planning & Development Agency: Municipal planning and development agency combining urban planning with redevelopment execution. Broader in scope than DURA but operates similar urban renewal / community development tools.

Others

• Colorado Housing and Finance Authority: State-level housing and community development finance authority, currently a DURA partner for housing resources. Comparable as a public development finance institution, though with a state-level housing focus rather than municipal TIF redevelopment.
• Denver Housing Authority: Public housing authority serving as DURA's First Source hiring partner and operating affordable housing in Denver. Adjacent public authority with overlapping community development mission but a different primary toolset.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/durahousingrehabilitation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/renewdenver

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Denver Urban Renewal Authority