He says the two events are signs that Colorado's economy isrebounding, after two tough, back-to-back years. "Remember, justtwo years ago we were discussing how to control growth," Owenssays. He pointed to recent job growth statistics, which showed fortwo months that Colorado gained jobs as either No. 1 or No. 2 inthe US. And he notes its unemployment rate of 5.3% is below thenation's average. Indeed, that is lower than the averageunemployment rate from the 1960s to the 1970s, he says.

Paul Bergman, senior international trade specialist with the USDepartment of Commerce, says the road to recovery is being built insmall increments, such as the 150 high-paying jobs being created byOwens-Illinois in Windsor. He read a letter from Donald L. Evans,the Commerce Secretary, in which Evans notes that since August, 1.4million jobs have been created and "economic growth over the lastfour quarters has been the fastest in 20 years."

Evans couldn't attend the ceremony because of a schedulingconflict, Bergman says. Evans expects to visit the factory at alater date, though, Bergman adds. "Today, I'm the acting CommerceSecretary," Bergman tells GlobeSt.com.