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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
ANDRE PETTIGREW
Executive Director
Climate Prosperity Project, Inc.
Andre Pettigrew is the Executive Director of Climate Prosperity Project Inc a national non profit committed to supporting regional communities in transforming their economies through “green” innovation, energy efficiency, capital formation, business growth and job creation. Mr. Pettigrew is responsible for the overall strategic management, development and operations of the organization. He is also supporting the CPPI funded communities utilizing the regional “Climate Prosperity Framework” to develop and implement economic development strategies to generate business competitiveness, investment and job growth.
Pettigrew was formerly the Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development for the City and County of Denver under Mayor John Hickenlooper. The department has 4 Divisions including Business/Economic Development; Housing/Neighborhood Community Development; Workforce Employment Training and Small Business Advocacy and Support. The 2010 agency budget was over $80 million including ARRA funding. He led the City’s efforts at “Greening Denver’s Economy” with OED’s participation in the nationwide Climate Prosperity Project.
In 2009 OED launched the City’s “Greener Denver Business” program, an economic development strategy in support of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s “Greenprint Denver” climate action program. A focus of the program is to support small businesses in commercial districts to implement energy efficient practices to reduce costs, be more competitive and “brand” their companies as sustainable businesses. Under Pettigrew’s leadership OED also played a major role in supporting renewable energy companies interested in expanding to Denver. Last year, two world class German manufacturing companies SMA Solar and REpower opened major facilities in Denver.
During his tenure the City of Denver was very focused on sustainable communities and how to improve the living conditions of residents by providing good access to transit, more walkable neighborhoods, and energy efficient, affordable housing. OED successfully partnered with local non-profits to win a $2.25 million MacArthur Foundation grant to seed a $15 million fund for acquiring opportunity sites for affordable Transit Oriented Development (TOD) housing. OED also received a competitive ARRA Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grant in the amount of $19 million.
Pettigrew is a proven organizational leader and manager having extensive experience managing complex organizations and projects which have significant impact on public policy and economic development. Pettigrew previously served as the chief operating officer for Denver Public Schools, and the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Personnel/General Support Services.
He has had extensive experience in the entrepreneurial and small business sectors, and served as a member of the senior management team for iBelay Venture Capital Fund, a $100 million private equity fund targeted at investing in early-stage technology companies. He has managed technical assistance programs for the Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.
He has served on boards and/or committees of numerous business and non profit organizations including the US Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council, Colorado Energy Coalition’s Sustainability Subcommittee, Metro Denver Chamber, Downtown Denver Partnership, Denver Community Foundation, and University of Colorado at Boulder Deming Center for Entrepreneurship.
Pettigrew received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California at Los Angeles and graduated from the State and Local Government Senior Executive Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.