The Division of Business and Housing Services (formerly Housing & Neighborhood Development Services) is one of the central legs of the City and County of Denver's Office of Economic Development. In 2008, DBHS launched the Neighborhood Marketplace Initiative which focuses on five Denver neighborhoods in different stages of development. Several of these focus neighborhoods are also among the 21 target neighborhoods of the Denver Digs Trees program, affording us a unique opportunity to include trees as part of broader neighborhood revitalization efforts.

Esurance, providers of personal auto insurance, has provided both program and project funding for Denver Digs Trees. Esurance is recognized as an industry leader in doing business the green way and has won numerous awards including two Silver Halo awards for the Best Environmental Campaign. In 2008, Esurance became a member of the EPA's Green Power Leadership. By supporting efforts like Denver Digs, Esurance has helped to plant more than 85,000 trees in American cities.

As an energy company, Encana has a strong commitment to conservation. Through their partnership with The Park People, Encana is helping Denver residents save on their energy bills too. In 2009 alone, Encana contributed over one million dollars to environmental initiatives and nearly $2.7 million overall in the state of Colorado.

The Xcel Energy Foundation supports nonprofit projects that focus on the connection between environment and energy. Xcel has been one of the Denver Digs Trees programs most ardent supporters. In 2008, Xcel provided support both for the program work of Denver Digs Trees as well as for our big spring planting project, where we put down more than 400 trees at an affordable housing site in northwest Denver.