Nebraska Cycling News

National Governing Body Secures Office Building on City’s North Side

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. - USA Cycling announced today that the national headquarters for competitive cycling in the United States will remain in Colorado Springs.

Thanks to the generous support of Nor’wood Development group and the El Pomar Foundation combined with the collective efforts of the City of Colorado Springs and several local organizations including the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation and the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, USA Cycling has secured new office space on the city’s north side.  The decision to remain in Colorado Springs comes despite considerable interest from several communities throughout the United States to attract USA Cycling’s headquarters.

The new headquarters for USA Cycling will occupy a 26,000-square-foot building on nearly two acres of land near I-25 on the northwest side of Colorado Springs. Plans include a conference center, education and training facilities, and office facilities for more than 60 employees.  The building and the land on which it sits were donated to USA Cycling by Nor’wood, while additional support from the El Pomar Foundation and the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation played a major role in keeping USA Cycling’s headquarters in Colorado Springs.

“Without the contributions of so many generous individuals and organizations from within the local community, it’s likely that USA Cycling would not have remained in Colorado,” commented Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling.  “The support of the Colorado Springs community has been incredible throughout the process, and Nor’wood’s donation, which served as the foundation for this project, is a remarkable gesture for which we are extremely grateful. The interest in USA Cycling shown by communities throughout the United States has been overwhelming, but in the end we are very pleased that we will continue to call Colorado Springs home for many years to come.  I would like to acknowledge and thank everyone involved for their tireless efforts that have made this decision possible.”

“We’re delighted that USA Cycling will continue to call Colorado Springs home,” commented Chris Jenkins, Vice President of Nor’wood. “Our culture, climate and natural environment provide an ideal venue for them to fulfill their mission, and they are a tremendous asset to have right here in our community.”

Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera was a major proponent for keeping USA Cycling in a city known around the country as a hotbed for amateur athletics.

“What a wonderful outcome, said Mayor Rivera. “We consider Colorado Springs the amateur sports capitol of our nation and USA Cycling plays a key role in bringing us that designation. USA Cycling had other choices and in the end Colorado Springs succeeded to win on this strategic decision. We are extremely proud to be the hometown of USA Cycling and all our National Governing Bodies.  I encourage everyone to remember to watch for cyclists around the city and county.  You may be sharing the road with our next Olympic contenders.”

The building that currently houses USA Cycling’s administrative headquarters on the U.S. Olympic Training Center complex in central Colorado Springs is tentatively scheduled to be razed within the next 12-18 months.  Because of the impending demolition of its office space and the significant growth competitive cycling has experienced throughout the last several years, the need for a new headquarters became imperative for the national governing body.  USA Cycling currently occupies a total of 13,000 square feet in two separate buildings on the Olympic Training Center campus.

 “We are very pleased that USA Cycling will continue to call Colorado Springs home,” said Mike Kazmierski, President and CEO of the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation.  “USA Cycling is a tremendous asset in the community’s sports portfolio and we are proud to have been involved in the partnership of the organizations responsible to secure this positive outcome.  We look forward to many great years with USA Cycling in Colorado Springs.”

“Amateur sports organizations contribute greatly to the identity and economic well-being of Colorado Springs,” explained William Hybl, Chairman and CEO of El Pomar Foundation. “El Pomar Foundation has a long history of supporting these organizations and we are pleased to assist USA Cycling in its decision to continue to call Colorado Springs home for many years to come. The recent agreement to keep the United States Olympic Committee was an important step for our city and we believe the continued presence of USA Cycling will bring yet another benefit to the entire community.”

USA Cycling is tentatively expected to move into its new building in late 2008.

About USA Cycling  
Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross.  As a membership-based organization and sanctioning body, USA Cycling consists of 64,000+ members, including 57,000 competitive cyclists, 1,500 coaches, 4,000 student-athletes, 2,200 officials, 350 professional cyclists, and 200 certified mechanics. USA Cycling also sanctions 2,500 competitive and non-competitive organized cycling events throughout the United States annually, as well as 1,800 clubs and teams. Associations of USA Cycling include the United States Cycling Federation (road, track & cyclo-cross), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), the BMX Association, the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the United States Professional Racing Organization.  USA Cycling is also responsible for the identification, development, support and promotion of American cyclists through various athletic initiatives and programs including the USA Cycling National Development Team, the USA Cycling Women’s National Team, the USA Cycling Junior Development Team, Talent Identification and Regional Development Camps, domestic and international race calendars, direct athlete funding and support programs, and educational camps and seminars. USA Cycling also fields and supports U.S. National Teams for various international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, Continental Championship and World Cups across all levels and disciplines of competitive cycling.  USA cycling further supports grass roots and locally-based initiatives through its 32 Local Associations and comprehensive network of licensed and certified coaches and officials. Additionally, USA Cycling conducts National Championship events for amateur and professional cyclists, awarding more than 600 national titles annually to men and women in junior, U23, masters, elite, professional and paralympic categories throughout the various disciplines of competitive cycling. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit http://www.usacycling.org/. For media-related or general inquiries, please contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867 or alee@usacycling.org.