Elevate Quantum, the Denver-based nonprofit supporting the growing Mountain West quantum industry, has launched a new program to train technical workers.

The organization announced Friday it will partner with Front Range Community College and the University of Colorado Denver to create a Vacuum and Cryogenic Technician Training Program hosted at the new Quantum Commons campus in Arvada, designed to give experience to workers in maintaining and operating complex quantum systems that typically operate in very low temperatures.

The program, beginning with its first cohort in August, is set to address one of the largest barriers in growing the quantum industry, Elevate Quantum CEO Jessi Olsen said in a news release.

Industry leaders and local colleges have been expanding quantum workforce programs to grow a base of skilled workers with more quantum technical skills than theoretical, pushing toward boosting training for people who don’t have masters or doctorate degrees.

“We built this program because we’ve seen the need firsthand here in the Mountain West, where even highly educated candidates often can’t get the hands-on time they need to be ready for open roles,” he said. “Thanks to Front Range Community College and CU Denver, we’re fixing that.”

Students will gain hands-on lab experience working with vacuum systems, understanding temperature monitoring for cryostat operations, basic refrigerator operations and helium leak detections.

It’s open to community college, four-year or graduate-level students, as well as those transitioning careers.

“The Vacuum and Cryogenic Technician Training Program gives industry a direct hand in setting training standards, and gives funders and policymakers a model worth scaling — one grounded in demonstrated need, industry-grade infrastructure, and a partnership that is intentionally blurring the line between a four-year institution and a community college to deliver the workforce-aligned training solutions this sector requires,” stated FRCC President Colleen Simpson in the release.

Robotic parking system company moves HQ to Denver

Robotic parking company Volley Automation has moved to Denver.

The company that specializes in helping parking garages maximize their spaces with robotic automation announced Monday it moved its headquarters from San Francisco to Denver, with plans to open a 35,000-square-foot robotics research and demo facility.

The facility is set to open in fall of 2026.

The company said Colorado is more central to its projects spanning from California, to Florida, New York, Massachusetts and Nashville.

Volley said its AI-enabled robots are designed to help architects and developers save costs in a tightening real estate market and maximize space in dense urban settings.

“Colorado checks every box for where Volley needs to be right now,” said Sam Richardson, Volley Automation’s CEO, in a news release. “Denver gives us access to a deep engineering talent pool with experience in robotics, AI, software and operations disciplines. At the same time, the affordability of commercial real estate made it possible for Volley to secure and build-out our new state-of-the-art facility, which will serve as a hub of R&D, robotic parking demonstrations, and our corporate offices. Colorado also provides us with easy and direct access to our customers in urban centers nationwide, from Florida to Seattle.”

Volley has eight workers based in Colorado and the company said it plans to hire five more this year to support its new office at 5675 N. Pecos St.

“Our technology is maturing at exactly the right moment, and our new headquarters gives us the platform to scale as fast as the market demands,” Richardson said.

Orchard Town Center in Westminster adds new businesses

The Orchard Town Center in Westminster is bringing in several new businesses this summer.

The shopping center announced it will add three new food and beverage businesses, including Texas de Brazil, CHICHA San Chen and MilkShake Factory.

Texas de Brazil is an authentic Brazilian steakhouse set to open in the third quarter of 2026. CHICHA San Chen is a Taiwanese tea shop, specializing in bubble teas and beverages with fun, bold flavors, set to open in Q2 and MilkShake Factory, which makes handspun milkshakes with ice cream made in-house, is also set to open in Q2.

“The Orchard is designed to be a place where visitors can shop, relax and discover something new each time they come,” Taylor Alvey, vice president of leasing at Vestar, said in a news release. “Every new addition helps create a dynamic environment that blends retail, wellness and lifestyle experiences for the community.”

The shopping center also introduced several wellness and retail chains earlier this year, including goGLOW, Facial Aesthetics, Perspire Sauna Studio and Macy’s Backstage.

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