A Grand Junction-based company that’s developed sensors for a range of applications has been approved to participate in a tax inventive program.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved Hayden Data Systems to participate in the Rural Jump-Start Program. The Grand Junction Economic Partnership assisted with the process.

“We are very pleased with the local support from GJEP and the approval of our Jump-Start application. This encouraging support will help Hayden Data to grow our presence in Grand Junction and to contribute our share to the economic development of the region,” said Steve Whitehurst, chief executive officer of Hayden Data Systems.

The company has developed sensors to monitor power poles for structural failures, fires and other problems. The sensors also can be used for a variety of other purposes, from monitoring oil and natural gas wells to collecting weather information.

Whitehurst traced the origin of the company and its sensors to Australia and Ian Puddy, who serves as chief technology officer. Puddy saw the need for a way to monitor power poles after wildfires in 2009 burned more than 1,700 square miles, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and killed 173 people. Utilities were found culpable of starting 11 of the 15 fires. Puddy subsequently developed a device to monitor power poles and detect problems before they failed and caused fires. Power pole sensor prototypes were built and tested in Australia.

Whitehurst, who’s long worked as a computer programmer and manager, said he became interested in the effort and traveled to Australia to meet with Puddy and the utilities with which he was working. Whitehurst said he was convinced of the potential for the devices and entered into a business partnership.

Hayden Data was incorporated in 2020 and headquartered in Chattanooga, Tenn., to work with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Tennessee Valley Authority to develop production models of the device and standards for using the devices to monitor utility poles.

The company maintains its main U.S. operation in Grand Junction, however, including administration, assembly and research and development. The company operates additional testing facilities in Mesa and Delta counties.

Hayden Data Systems has partnered with Acom Unlimited, a Grand Junction manufacturer, to produce the boxes that house the sensors. Acom Unlimited was approved for the Jump-Start program earlier this year.

Together, Hayden Data Systems and Acom Unlimited expect to create about 60 jobs and contribute about $19 million to the local economy over their first two years.

Hayden Data Systems is the 20th company to be approved for the Jump-Start program in Mesa County and the third this year. Of those, 15 remain in operation.  

“Jump-Start has been a huge success in Mesa County,” said Steve Jozefczyk, deputy director of GJEP.  “Considering almost all of these businesses are startups and nine out of 10 startups fail, a 75 percent success rate is phenomenal. The program has had a significant impact on the diversification of our economy and the growth of high-income, innovative industry sectors.”  

Through the program, companies receive a 100 percent credit on income and sales taxes for four years with an opportunity to extend that for an additional four years. Participants are also eligible for special cash grants. Businesses must add a minimum of three net new jobs in high-paying, highly skilled fields. In Mesa County, businesses also form a partnership with Colorado Mesa University through mentorship and internship opportunities as well as community involvement.