Harvard Business Review article postulated that lending technology could play a significant role in reviving America's small businesses. It's a captivating read. They pull out some fascinating numbers like these charts to show just how hard hit small businesses were and how long the road to recovery can be. As a founder of Epic River, I can relate. The cash flow concerns of small businesses can be crippling. When you put those concerns together with an economy struggling to hold it together, you see why HBR thinks technology aimed at improved access to loans for small businesses could really make an impact on the economy of the entire country.

The more I read about the mess that is healthcare and medical accounts receivables, the more I realize it is going to take a long time before it gets sorted out. That leaves millions of Americans and thousands of doctors offices and hospitals with a serious problem; the economy seems to be getting better, but people are requiring more and more medical care. So people have less disposable income and higher deductible medical insurance plans. Therefore, health savings accounts are becoming more prevalent as the population is getting older and in more need of medical care. This is a perfect storm for creating an unmanageable medical accounts receivables balance. Though the federal government is stepping in, the full impact of that will not be felt for years to come. That leaves a huge gap between the health care that people need right now and their ability to pay for it. Time magazine dedicated their March 12th issue to the problem of ever-increasing health care. The part that struck me was discussion around the size and scope of healthcare spending. The things that stood out the most to me were: $2.8 trillion in health care spending this year. TRILLION. In 2013. Just one year. 69% of those who claimed medical bankruptcy had insurance at the time. Having insurance no longer means you don't have enormous medical bills. Healthcare spending is nearly five times the gross domestic product.

Senior Partner and Co-Founder of Epic River, LLC, Jeff Grobaski, is scheduled to speak at the 2014 Bixpo Workforce Symposium hosted by BizWest Media and the Larimer County Workforce Center. The event offers Northern Colorado business leaders and community stakeholders an opportunity to discover innovative models, best practices and proactive strategies that address workforce challenges.

InnovatioNews.com Article by Steve PorterThe software developers at Epic River were nearly stacked on top of each other before they moved to Rocky Mountain Center for Innovation and Technology (RMCIT) last January. Today, they’re basking in a roomy, well-lit, high-tech space in Building D of the center, which occupies most of the former Agilent campus in southwest Loveland. And there’s tons of room to expand for the rapidly growing company, as it and one other company – DataTraks – remain the sole occupants of RMCIT so far. "It's removed one of the fears of growth," said Jeff Grobaski, Epic River co-founder and senior partner "We're probably going to have to expand again within the next 12 months, and it's not scary." Epic River has grown quickly in its nine years of existence, starting with just three staff in 2005. The custom software company now employs 25. In addition to Grobaski, the company is led by co-founder and senior partner Steve Wood and managing partner Scott Mead. Grobaski said many factors have contributed to the company’s growth and success and staying power, but one stands out. Check out the rest of InnovatioNews.com's article, Epic River takes Customized Software Development to a Higher Level at RMCIT in Loveland.

Accelerating the Process of Innovation

The Rocky Mountain Center for Innovation and Technology (RMCIT) has seen a lot of activity in its history prior to 2007. But once Agilent vacated the 810,000-square-foot campus in south Loveland seven years ago, little has happened to the property other than the transfer of ownership. However, all of that changed in the fall of 2013 when DataTracks made the move to the campus that is now owned by Cumberland and Western Resources. Epic River was close behind with a move to the RMCIT campus in January 2014. With the doubling of employee growth in just two years, Epic River was in need of additional office space. Not only did the idea of site expansion over time appeal to the company, but the endless opportunities made available simply by residing on the same campus as other technology companies was even more attractive. And with that, Epic River made the move and signed a five-year lease agreement with Cumberland and Western Resources in early 2014.

When Epic River's employee growth doubled within two years, a move to a larger facility became increasingly eminent. And the 810,000-square-foot complex known as the Rocky Mountain Center for Innovation and Technology (RMCIT) quickly became an obvious candidate. Not only did the location offer unlimited space availability to accommodate employee growth, but it also offered the company opportunities to network with other technology companies.

Not only has Colorado claimed 20% of the spots on the Entrepreneur.com list of top locations for technology startups, but the Fort Collins-Loveland area claimed the #2 spot. Freelance writer Brad Shannon took notice and quickly identified Epic River as one of the five digital startup leaders to watch. Read the full story.

I hate starting 2014 out like this, but it just has to be said, "This healthcare mess cannot continue!" There. That feels better. Except one little thing. It probably will continue. And get increasingly messy.

As preparations continue for the impending move to the Rocky Mountain Center for Innovation and Technology (RMCIT), Epic River approached the Loveland City Council with a mutually beneficial incentive deal to assist with the company's transition to the larger facility. During the December 17 meeting, Marci Erion, City of Loveland Business Specialist, presented the Incentive Agreement Request and indicated that Epic River had signed a Letter of Intent for a five-year lease with Cumberland and Western Resources, the owners of the former Hewlett-Packard/Agilent campus.