Downtown Denver businesses are coming back to life starting May 10

Denver leaders, including Mayor Michael Hancock, are launching a new "Denver’s Ready" campaign today to repopulate office buildings and revive downtown after its pandemic-driven desolation.

Why it matters: Denver's recovery depends on a thriving city center and bustling sidewalks along the 16th Street Mall.

• Of the 145,000 workers who usually fill our office towers and sustain local food vendors and shops, only roughly 20% of them have been at work, Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, told John in March.

What to expect: Business leaders will be invited to take a pledge to begin transitioning back to their offices by May 10 and join the more than 135 companies that have already agreed to start reopening.

• Coalition membership offers resources from industry leaders, including downtown access to COVID-19 testing and vaccines as well as workplace health and safety tips.

What they’re saying: "Not only are we ready to continue to welcome employers and employees back to downtown, we’re ready to 'wow' them," Door said in a statement.