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.

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.

The Park People couldn't be more thankful to Noble Energy for their recent grant to help us secure the KaBoom playground in Westwood. Understanding that we were on a tight schedule to secure the needed funding match for the project, their Noble Action Committee fast-tracked our project for funding and graciously provided the second half of the match required.

The Park People is excited to announce that Mountain High Tree, Lawn & Landscape Company will be the sponsor for the Community Forester Program this year. Mountain High, founded in 1974, began as a family-owned, full-service company dedicated to nurturing and preserving Colorado's urban forests and landscapes. Thirty-seven years later, their vision of caring for Denver's urban forest through environmentally responsible programs has been realized. Mountain High recycles 100% of its tree debris, uses local products and works to educate customers to be eco-friendly in their tree and landscape care.  The Park People could not have dreamed up a company whose mission has more synergy with the objectives of the Community Forester program.