Early comments from Boeing officials indicate Denver may get other opportunities from the aircraft manufacturing company that is in the process of reinventing itself. "While Colorado will not be the site for the corporate headquarters, John Warner (Boeing senior vice president) made it clear to me... that Coloradowill continue to be a major part of Boeing's operations," says Gov. Bill Owens. Owens says he did not ask Warner what those opportunities might be.

"I didn't think it would be appropriate to press him," Owens says.

Owens says it's the states' policy not to try to "buy" companies and he would not want any additional economic development incentives to attract companies such as Boeing. He says the state offered Boeing $1.25 million in economic development assistance, although Bob Lee, the state's economic development/international trade director, says the amount was actually slightly less, $1.125 million.

Owens says he thought that Dallas was the frontrunner, so he was a bit surprised by Boeing's choice.

Mayor Wellington Webb says he also wishes Boeing had chosen Denver, but says he, as a Democrat, and Owens, as a Republican, put on a unified front and gave it their best shot. Webb adds Denver wouldn't have been considered competition for cities such as Dallas and Chicago in recent years. Today, he says, Denver can compete with any first-tier city, whether it is Chicago, Dallas or New York City.

"It would have been a gutsy move for Boeing to choose Denver," Webb tells Globest.com "Clearly, we were the underdog. If they had chosen Denver, it would have sent a message across the country that your choosing a city based on what is best for your company and offers the best qualify of life for your employees."

Ron Bernstein, economic development/international trade director for Denver, agrees. He says Denver's corporate profile has been raised tremendously by Boeing's interest.

"Boeing officials told me they found no negative attributes in Denver," Bernstein says. "I think they had a very positive experience here."

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