Southern Colorado could see economic boost if Denver selected for RNC

Denver is one step closer to hosting the 2016 Republican National Convention, and if selected, southern Colorado could benefit.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus made the announcement Thursday.

Denver is joining Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Phoenix as finalists for the RNC.

The capital has already hosted the Democratic National Convention in 2008.

Denver made more than $200 million and more than 50,000 people attended the convention.

Christy Le Lait, executive director of the El Paso County Democrats, participated in the DNC; she said Colorado Springs was kept busy.

“We actually had overflow in Colorado Springs in terms of hotels and stuff like that,” she said.

Denver submitted a 700 page report, along with a video, to the RNC Selection Committee to show the capital is ready to host the convention.

Now that Denver is a finalist, representatives will travel to Washington, D.C., to show why Colorado’s capital is the best choice.

Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau Communication Director Chelsy Murphy said if Denver is selected, it will benefit southern Colorado this time around and in the long run.

“A lot of people we talked to in terms of people who move here, want to move here or who retire here often experience before in some capacity,” she said.

A host city will be picked in August.