The Colorado Wine Industry Development Board and Nebraska Winery and Grape Growers Association have announced plans to participate in a wine quality assurance research study. “Wine tasting is an ancient art form and this study hopes to modernize that process,” said Doug Caskey, executive director of the wine board. The board promotes and helps market […]
A business “concierge” and acceleration program are among the top ideas for supporting the growth of Mesa County businesses, according to the latest results of an online survey. Those results and others will be used at an upcoming community brainstorming session as work continues on an economic development plan for the county. The Grand Junction […]
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has unveiled the results of a lengthy grassroots effort to develop plans to attract new businesses to the state as well as promote the growth of existing businesses. “Colorado has turned the typical economic development efforts on its head and created a plan with real benchmarks, measurable goals and concrete solutions […]
The installation of a security fence around Grand Junction Regional Airport has some businesses concerned about access to their operations. The project also has members of the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority Board at odds over whether or not work should move forward as planned. At least one board member has raised concerns that fencing […]
Ernie Goss offers something of a mixed message in his second-half forecast for the Colorado economy. “Our numbers say it’s going to be good, but not as good as we’d like.” Goss, director of the Denver-based economic research institute that bears his name, tracks the Colorado economy for a monthly business index. And like other […]
While the construction industry in Mesa County has been an up-and-down proposition over the past five years, an island bordered by Orchard and North avenues and 12th and 7th streets in Grand Junction has been the scene of nearly non-stop activity. From new dormitories to a new college center and from an expanded fieldhouse to […]
A new school year already is underway at Caprock Academy, a Grand Junction charter school that instructs students from kindergarten through 11th grade. With the planned addition of 12th grade in 2012, Caprock soon will provide the only K-12 campus in the Grand Valley. Students showed up July 25 for the first day of classes, […]
Mesa State College made a big splash when it announced a name change designed to better reflect the location of the largest college in Western Colorado. Starting Aug. 10, Mesa State College officially will become Colorado Mesa University. While not all signs and logos will be in place by that time, the college had already […]
Business and educational leaders worked for more than a year on plans to help Mesa County School District 51 offer what they touted could become a world- class education. The effort spurred an initiative to recruit 500 volunteers to help tutor elementary school students an hour a week. At the same time, School District 51 […]
While there are indications the Mesa County economy is improving, some local business leaders worry the more optimistic outlook could offer a false hope that leaves businesses unprepared for a potential slide. “Retail sales of tires and automotive services are flat with 2010,” says Kevin Brooks, chief executive officer of Big O Tires in Western […]