Published: Nov. 22, 1999

The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ at Boulder Business Advancement Center received a prestigious national award for its economic development work in one of ColoradoÂ’s quickly growing industries.

The National Association of Management and Technical Assistance Centers (NAMTAC) identified The Business Advancement Center's project, "Colorado Sees the Light, Supporting the Photonics Industry," as one of nine winning projects in the Economic Development category.

The photonics industry, with approximately 150 organizations in Colorado, specializes in the intensity of light and includes products such as fiber optics, optical discs and laser printers. The $60 billion global industry is expected to grow 200 percent in the next 10 years.

The Business Advancement Center has conducted industry research and helped strengthen industry infrastructure by fostering partnerships between private industry, state agencies, and federal laboratories.

The project was led by Gary Horvath, a marketing analyst at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ at Boulder College of Business and Administration.

NAMTACÂ’s annual competition recognizes organizations that help clients become more competitive globally, more viable in their fields of expertise or more capable of delivering services to the public sector. The organization announced the winners of the 1999 Project of the Year Awards at the Annual Fall Conference in Seattle, Wash.

NAMTAC is a not-for-profit association that provides advocacy, information and a forum to enhance the performance of organizations providing business, economic development and technical assistance to businesses and communities.