The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office chose Denver as one of the cities where it will expand its satellite office, creating hundreds of patent examiner jobs.

Local officials said the expansion will also create hundreds of jobs in associated businesses and have an anticipated economic impact of $440 million in the first five years of operation.

"There's no doubt that this is an amazing development for our culture of innovation," commented Tom Clark, CEO of the Metro Denver EDC. "Since Colorado ranks among the top five states for entrepreneurial activity, the new satellite patent office in our region will make it very efficient for our inventors and technology companies to get their intellectual property done here in Colorado."

As the regional economic development organization coordinating site selection services in the nine-county Metro Denver region, the Metro Denver EDC will now work with the U.S. General Services Administration on potential sites for the office. "We know that efficient access to Denver International Airport as well as close proximity to light rail will be top criteria on their list," said Pam Reichert, vice president of the Metro Denver EDC.

Local economic development officials commented the USPTO chose Denver because the region has one of the highest per capita rates of people with science and technology degrees, and is a desirable location in which to recruit and retain the most talented workers.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said; "As a hub for technology, savvy entrepreneurs, highly educated workers, and an array of top-tier research universities, Colorado is the strategic choice for a new satellite patent office," he said. "Colorado will put the USPTO at the center of one of the country's most vibrant clusters of innovation, technological development, and economic growth."

Patent and Trademark satellite offices will also be expanded to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and San Jose, Calif.