Centennial, CO

A Centennial-based battery tech company raised $67 million last month.

The July raise brings Iontra’s total funding to $80 million, according to CEO and President Jeff Granato. Energy investors Volta Energy Technologies and Riverstone led this round.

Granato said the raise will further fund Iontra’s development of a chip that increases charging speed and battery life.

“We’re starting to prepare for a global footprint, so building all functions with that in mind, being able to scale and serve customers well,” Granato said.

Jeff Granato

The company, which Daniel Konopka and Jason Seedig founded in 2013, has doubled in size every year for three years, according to Granato. It’s headquartered at 7025 S. Fulton St. in Centennial, and has two other Denver facilities at 5925 E. Evans Ave. in Virginia Village and 1830 S. Bannock St. in Overland.

Granato said Iontra hopes to eventually consolidate its Denver presence to one large facility. The company also has a facility in Dallas and a chip design center in Bangalore, India, which opened in May.

With $80 million secured, Granato said Iontra is raising more funds through grants and loans before starting a Series C raise next year.

“You’re never out of fundraising mode,” he said.

The company makes charging chips that it says extend battery life while charging faster and safer. Granato said standard batteries have a charging chip that’s plated with lithium, which deteriorates the anode, the part of the battery responsible for electrical flow.

“We’re really in the middle of the largest energy transition in history – electricity and batteries are right in the middle of it all,” Granato said. “We have technology that can revolutionize the performance and life of batteries and do it safely.”

An Iontra chip can be used on any kind of battery, such as smartphones, medical devices and electric scooters. Right now, the company is working with customers to test its product before fully introducing it to the market in 2025. It anticipates technology for electric vehicles will hit the market in 2027.

“Our current set of customers are large product owners who are selling in the tens or hundreds of millions of units a year, so the production ramp up for the chip will go very rapidly,” Granato said.

Before joining Iontra in 2016, Granato co-founded the energy company Proterra, which designed the first electric transit bus and helped change the energy industry.

“We’re embarking on a similar journey in Iontra where our commitment is to help the whole industry change to our technology to get better performance for all commercial batteries,” Granato said.

CENTENNIAL, Colo., Aug. 11, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Centennial, Colorado welcomes a new business that will cater to the growing demand for tattoo removal services. The Erasure, a laser tattoo removal business, is celebrating its grand opening, promising to offer state-of-the-art equipment that can remove even the most stubborn tattoos with minimal discomfort and no scarring.

The Erasure business concept has been in development for months, and its team of experienced professionals has been working tirelessly to bring the latest in laser technology to Centennial, Denver, and surrounding areas. With the Asclepion PicoStar^®, backed by Astanza, clients receive the safest and most effective treatments. This medical-grade laser produces 1064 and 532 nm wavelengths, to ensure the best results in the fewest number of treatments possible. With picosecond laser technology, The Erasure can also perform pigmented lesion removal, vascular lesion removal, and other advanced body services, on any skin type.

“The Erasure is not just another tattoo removal business. We are passionate about helping people achieve the results they want. Our staff is trained to handle picosecond technology and committed to ensuring each client receives the best possible care,” says Keith Edmonds, owner of The Erasure. “We take the time to listen to our clients' needs and concerns, and work with them every step of the way to achieve the best possible outcome.”

With their commitment to quality and expertise in tattoo removal, The Erasure is sure to become a trusted resource for those seeking tattoo removal, pigmented lesion removal, vascular lesion removal, and other advanced body services. The opening of this business is a much-needed addition to the Centennial community and is expected to be a great success.

If you're considering laser tattoo removal, The Erasure invites you to visit their location and learn more about their services. They are committed to making the process as easy and comfortable as possible for their clients. With their state-of-the-art technology and experienced staff, you can trust The Erasure to help you get the results you’ve been looking for.

Call The Erasure today at (720) 507-6342 or visit their website at . Follow them on and to stay up to date on the latest news and promotions. The Erasure is located at 7009 S. Potomac St. Suite 124, Centennial, Colorado 80112.

Astanza is the leader in lasers for tattoo removal, hair removal, and additional aesthetic procedures. In addition to delivering cutting-edge medical laser devices such as the Duality, Trinity, MeDioStar, PicoStar, and DermaBlate systems, Astanza offers an unbeatable experience through , which consists of the Business Builder System, 3-Business Day Service Guarantee, and Lifetime Training and Support. Together, these components give Astanza clients a complete range of training, marketing, and business consulting services to achieve success in this growing field. Astanza is an award-winning company that has received several accolades from leading industry organizations, including MyFaceMyBody and Aesthetic Everything. They are also certified as a and ranked #49 on Fortune’s 2023 Best Places to Work in Texas™ and #49 on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Health Care™.

Astanza Laser is headquartered in Dallas, TX, with clients throughout North America and Europe. For product, investor, or press information, call (800) 364-9010, or visit. Connect with Astanza on , , , , and .

The New Jersey-based sub chain said it is expanding to the Western U.S.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. — A New Jersey-based sandwich chain is continuing its expansion into Colorado.

PrimoHoagies announced it will hold the grand opening of its second Colorado location on Thursday.

PrimoHoagies said a ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m. Thursday with doors opening at 10 a.m. at 8170 S. Holly St. in Centennial.

Co-owned by Denver resident and Philadelphia native Bob Tunstall and Philadelphia local Aaron Borstein, the Centennial restaurant will offer the first 100 customers in line on July 27 a free Primo Size Hoagie. For the rest of the day, customers in the rewards program can get a Primo Size Hoagies for $6.99.

"The taste of PrimoHoagies is unlike any other sandwich. Always made fresh to order, with delicious meats and cheeses on an award-winning roll - you can’t get any better than that," Tunstall said. "We can’t wait to introduce the Centennial community to our gourmet Italian specialty sandwiches - or as we call them in Philly, hoagies!"

Originally founded in South Philadelphia in 1992, PrimoHoagies opened its first location in Colorado in May at 6200 Leetsdale Dr.

The company began to franchise in 1999 and now has franchise locations open across Pennsylvania, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Colorado.

PrimoHoagies said a store in Westminster is in the works.

Credit: PrimoHoagies

The casual chain said it is known for its "gourmet hoagies with high-quality meats and cheeses piled high on freshly baked rolls."

PrimoHoagies told 9NEWS in 2021 that it has signed new franchise agreements to open five locations in Denver, part of a 18-restaurant expansion that also includes Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

The chain said this is the first time it has expanded west of the Mississippi. PrimoHoagies currently has more than 100 locations nationally.

"We are incredibly excited and honored to open the first-ever PrimoHoagies in Colorado," said Denver franchisee Chris Maes. "When George and I saw the opportunity to expand this growing brand to the west, we knew it was a great fit for Denver. With ingredients so fresh and high-quality, you can’t get a better hoagie than this - I know our Denver neighbors are excited to get a first taste!"

Related Articles

> Top stories curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.

SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Colorado Guide

Subscribe to our daily 9NEWSLETTER

Download the 9NEWS APPiTunes: http://on9news.tv/itunesGoogle Play: http://on9news.tv/1lWnC5n

ROKU: add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KUSA.

For both Apple TV and Fire TV, search for "9news" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.

Robert Thompson’s Angevin & Co. is riding high atop the U.S. pickleball wave. In addition to an announced project in the Globeville Fox Park development, Camp Pickle is slated to open in Centennial “just off Arapahoe Road,” about 200 yards from Topgolf in 2024, according to PR sources.

Thompson is getting back to his roots in developing an “eatertainment concept,” which he first founded in 2012 with Punch Bowl Social, offering a unique combination of play and dining that grew into 20 national locations before the restaurateur sold out of his ownership stake (per What Now Denver).

This version of games n’ fun will be housed in a “1940s-era camp culture” setting with the ubiquitous paddle game as its centerpiece. This means 14 total pickleball courts with 11 indoors for all-season access. In addition to pickleball courts and leagues, Camp Pickle will feature duckpin bowling lanes, three karaoke rooms, and 10 dart lanes inside and an sprawling outdoor area featuring cornhole and horseshoes.

This competition, of course, will be supplemented by drinks and dishes. And the food won’t just be typical bar fare, either. James Beard Award Semifinalist Chef Manny Barella will serve as culinary director of Camp Pickle (as well as for another Thompson “smaller footprint” eatertainment project, Jaguar Bolera). Fittingly, the Monterrey, Mexico-born chef will be charged with combining wood-fired cooking techniques with Mexican-influenced eats.

“I’ve even had the awesome opportunity to stage at Loro, an Asian smokehouse meets Texas barbecue spot in Austin, where James Beard Award winners, Chef Tyson Cole of Uchi and Aaron Franklin of Franklin Barbecue balance both cuisines in very well executed dishes, despite the seemingly tremendous difference,” Barella told What Now Denver.

Currently in the “brainstorming phase” of menu creation, Barella said that people should “be ready for smoked proteins and crave worthy items.” Barella joins Camp Pickle after several national posts at luminary restaurants including at the celebrated Frasca Food & Wine in Boulder. Fortunately for Coloradans, Barella has been enjoying the state ever since. Now, he will have to sharpen his pickleball skills as well as his knives.

“I’m a competitor, so I’ll definitely be practicing,” Barella said.

Colorado is renowned for many things including its mountains, ski resorts, and abundant wildlife. Yet, none of those things contributed to the state’s nickname. Instead, Colorado earned its nickname in another way. Learn why Colorado is called the Centennial State, and see what other symbols the state has adopted throughout its time.

Why Is Colorado Called the Centennial State

Colorado is called the Centennial State because it gained statehood in 1876, 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Thus, the state was organized during the country’s centennial. Colorado was officially organized into a state on August 1, 1876, about 100 years and four weeks after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Originally, parts of what would become the Colorado territory were contained in the Territory of Jefferson. This territory lasted from 1859 until 1861 when the area took on the name, Colorado Territory. The name was chosen because it means “colored red” in Spanish. That may refer to the red sandstone soil in the area or possibly the region surrounding the Colorado River.

Members of the Colorado Territory tried to obtain statehood in the years following the territory’s organization. However, President Andrew Johnson vetoed the bid for statehood in January 1867. The president provided several reasons for his veto including the area’s low population and the need for a census to ascertain which citizens wanted to join as a state.

Interestingly, the president may have had incorrect information about the number of people living in the area at the time. Some sources claimed that 30,000 people or fewer were in the state, but others claimed over 100,000 people live in the state.

In the late 1860s, the Denver Pacific Railway and Telegraph Company was formed. The company developed railways that would eventually make Denver a hub, bolstering support for Colorado’s statehood.

When Did Colorado Adopt the Nickname “The Centennial State?”

No official origin or adoption of the official nickname “The Centennial State” exists. Yet, some records seem to suggest that the name was introduced soon after Colorado joined the United States. If the nickname was furnished soon after the development of the state, we may never know who coined the phrase.

Although President Grant proclaimed Colorado’s statehood, the term “centennial state” was not included in it.

Nevertheless, the nickname remains, representing the hard work and resolve of the Colorado Territory officials that endeavored to get the territory admitted into the country.

What’s the Motto of Colorado?

Colorado’s official motto is a Latin phrase, “Nil Sine Numine.” This motto means “Nothing without the Divine Will.” Some alternative translations of the motto exist including “Nothing without Providence” or “Nothing Without the Deity.”

The state motto may have come from the Colorado Territory’s governor, William Gilpin, or Lewis Ledyard Weld, the territorial secretary. At least one source claims that the governor came up with the motto. One thing is certain: the motto appeared on the original seal for the territory.

This motto is on Colorado’s state seal. Interestingly, the Great Seal of the State of Colorado is the same as the territorial seal that was put forth in 1861. The only difference is that the seal features the words “State of Colorado” rather than “Territory of Colorado.” Also, the year on the bottom of the seal is 1876 instead of 1861. The seal was formally adopted and accepted in 1877.

The Great Seal of the State of Colorado has a lot of other symbolism included in its design as well. For example, the seal has miners’ tools, a pick, and a hammer, symbolizing the mining tradition in the state. A battle axe wrapped in a bundle of rods symbolizes strength, unity, and authority.

The words “Union and Constitution” run on red, white, and blue bands, demonstrating the state’s dedication to remaining faithful to the state’s virtues.

The Official State Animals of Colorado

Colorado has a wide variety of different animals and fossils that serve as symbols in the state. Each of them has some kind of symbolic importance to the state. For example, the state animal is the rocky mountain bighorn sheep, and they were as such in 1961. Wildlife experts once thought the species was extirpated in the state. Fortunately, the sheep made a great recovery starting in 1979 when herds were introduced to the area.

Meanwhile, the state bird is the lark bunting, a migratory bird that lives in the state. These birds were made the state bird of Colorado in 1931, also making them the first animal symbol in Colorado.

Other symbols in the state are less common. For example, Colorado has a state dinosaur, the Stegosaurus. The Stegosaurus was named the state dinosaur in 1982.

Colorado also has a state insect, the hairstreak butterfly, as well as state pets, rescue dogs, and rescue cats. Making rescue dogs and rescue cats the state pets was seen as a controversial move, but it passed in 2013. These animals each symbolize something special about the state, including animals discovered in the area to those held dear by its citizens.

Learning why Colorado is called “The Centennial State” may not be as exciting as the nicknames of other states. Simply put, the state was formed 100 years after the Declaration of Independence. That was during the United States of America’s centennial year. Unfortunately, no sources mention the origin of the nickname. Yet, a great deal of the state’s history is still readily available for viewing, including the push to make Colorado a state.

Share this post on:

About the Author

I've been a freelance writer since 2013, and I've written in a variety of niches such as managed service providers, animals, and retail distribution. I graduated from Rowan University in 2014. When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, reading, and writing for fun.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.