Rebirth of America's dead factories

Intel's (INTC) 1,000-person plant in Colorado Springs shut down in 2007 after the company moved chip production overseas.

"When Intel shut the plant, it left a huge hole," said Tammy Fields, senior vice president with Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance.

IRG bought the eight-year-old plant in 2009. Lichter said they got a good deal for the 1 million square foot space, although he declined to disclose the price.

Today, the factory houses a plastics manufacturer, a small business development center and an administrative office for Everest University. The county has also purchased office space and a garage on the facility.

All together, these companies employ about 350 people -- with a capacity for 650 -- jobs that didn't exist before the site was redeveloped.