When international companies explore expansion into the United States, success rarely depends on a single meeting, incentive package, or available building.

More often, it depends on collaboration and a network of partners helping companies navigate unfamiliar markets, build relationships, and understand where they can grow.

Supporting those efforts, Denver South works with a multinational consulting firm based in Frankfurt to connect with aerospace and aviation, information technology, life sciences, and engineering companies, with outreach across most of Europe including France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. 

For French aerospace company Sodern, that collaborative journey began thousands of miles away and ultimately led to calling Colorado home.

A Conversation That Started an International Expansion Journey

In late 2024, Denver South’s Senior Director of Economic Development, Christine Shapard, met representatives from Sodern at a Colorado Space Business Roundtable event.

At the same time, organizations including the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and Metro Denver EDC were also engaged in conversations with the company about potential opportunities in Colorado.

In early 2025, company leadership traveled to Colorado to meet with economic development partners and explore what the region had to offer.

“Every project follows a different path,” said Shapard. “Companies are trying to understand an entirely new market, build relationships, and determine whether a region can support their long-term growth.”

Those conversations culminated in a planned meeting at the 2025 Paris Air Show involving Sodern, Denver South, and Metro Denver EDC. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss Colorado’s aerospace strengths, long-term growth opportunities, and next steps for the company.

More Than Finding a Building

For many international companies, one of the biggest challenges isn’t identifying available real estate, it’s understanding how all the pieces fit together.

How do you establish a U.S. entity? Where can you find specialized workforce talent? Which universities support your industry employment? What local partners should you know? How do incentives work?

Economic development organizations serve as connectors, helping companies identify trusted partners and navigate unfamiliar systems.

“Many international companies don’t know where to begin,” said Shapard. “One of the most valuable things we can do is connect them to the right people, from brokers and workforce partners to universities, industry associations, and professional service providers.”

That same collaborative approach supported Sodern’s search.

Through Metro Denver EDC’s Request for Information (RFI) process, communities across the metro area were able to submit potential locations that matched Sodern’s needs. Denver South worked alongside partners to identify properties, coordinate local introductions, and provide information about the region’s aerospace assets.

The process ultimately brought together organizations including Metro Denver EDC, OEDIT, the City of Centennial, commercial brokers, and industry stakeholders; and later Douglas County EDC. 

Building Relationships at the Paris Air Show

For Denver South, international trade shows such as the Paris Air Show have become an important venue for building relationships with aerospace companies exploring opportunities in North America.

During the 2025 show, Denver South participated in 45 meetings with vetted European companies that expressed interest in Colorado and the broader region. Several of those conversations continue today.

For Sodern, the Paris Air Show represented another step in a broader process that included meetings in Colorado, site evaluations, introductions to local stakeholders, and discussions with regional partners.

Why Aerospace Companies Are Taking Notice

Colorado offers access to an established aerospace ecosystem. The Denver South region alone is home to more than 10,000 aerospace and aviation employees and over 200 aerospace-related companies. Nearly half of aerospace supply-chain purchases are sourced within the region, creating opportunities to connect with customers, suppliers, and industry partners. 

The region also benefits from proximity to major aerospace employers, research institutions, defense installations, and leading universities.

That ecosystem is strengthened through international partnerships that connect Colorado with aerospace organizations around the world. 

Denver South collaborates with organizations such as the Colorado Space Coalition and the Colorado Chamber Aerospace and Defense Alliance while building relationships with international partners, including the French Space Agency, the UK Space Agency, and Space West in the United Kingdom. Together, these connections help companies build partnerships, explore new markets, and grow in Colorado.

The Value of Regional Collaboration

That collaborative approach has helped attract companies from around the world, including other French aerospace firms such as Safran, which expanded into the Denver South region in recent years. Companies such as Japanese lunar exploration company ispace have also established a presence in the region.”

“Companies discover that they’re not navigating the process alone,” said Shapard. “Our region has built a strong network of partners that are committed to helping businesses make connections, find opportunities, and become part of Colorado’s innovation economy.”

Conclusion

For international companies considering expansion into the United States, Colorado offers more than a strategic location and a strong aerospace industry. It offers access to a network of organizations, industry leaders, universities, and communities working together to help businesses establish roots and grow.

Sodern’s journey illustrates how those partnerships can help turn an initial conversation into long-term expansion opportunity.

For more information, contact Christine Shapard at [email protected].