Although I’m relatively new to the U.S. Small Business Administration, I’m not new to the issues facing small businesses. I operated a family owned office furniture store in Fargo, N.D., for more than 30 years. While the business survived the recession, it continues to face many challenges, including access to capital. The recent economic downturn […]
When President Barack Obama signed the Small Business Jobs Act last year, several changes were made to U.S. Small Business Administration export loan programs. A temporary alternative size standard will allow several thousand additional small firms to qualify for SBA programs. Now, instead of only using North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and the […]
Most of us have heard how important it is for young people to gain a measure of financial literacy as they approach their adult lives. Many online and classroom resources are dedicated to making this type of education available. But what about financial literacy for prospective small business owners? What should entrepreneurs be aware of […]
The 2nd annual “Pink Ribbon Rally Golf Tournament” will take place on June 28th at Bookcliff Country Club. The tournament, whose proceeds go to support breast disease prevention, begins with a 12:00 shotgun start. The format is a 4-lady best ball, with one player playing a pink ball that must always count as one score. […]
Business owners in Colorado who’ve paid at least one unemployment claim face an unexpected bill in July. The bill, from the State of Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, is purportedly to help the state make the first interest payment on the $346 million the state borrowed from the federal government last year. A letter […]
Heidi Ham is leaving her position as executive director of the Downtown Partnership. Ham is leaving July 21 to move with her family to Arkansas, where her husband has taken a new job, according to a monthly e-mail newsletter sent to downtown businesses and media. Ham oversaw reconstruction of Main Street over the past 2 […]
The Mesa County labor market appears to have stabilized with a slight increase in the unemployment rate, but also a slight increase in hiring. “It’s just been pretty steady, which is good to see,” said Gilbert Lujan, supervisor of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. After dropping for three straight months, the seasonally […]
Real Estate West has added six real estate agents and a mortgage company to the business’s Grand Junction location. Managing broker Tina Harbin announced the company has welcomed agents Jonilyn Berry, Rob Burnett, Lori Dearth, Heidi Jo Elder, Esther Piper and Terry Ruckman. The company has also added Universal Mortgage to the location at 1001 […]
When it comes to a strong business climate, communities envy the 35-65 year age group as those communities seek to increase output of goods and services. Colorado has an advantage over many states in that it’s attracted young people in the 20-40 year old range over the past few decades, feeding into the group that […]
In the midst of local indicators that the economy is rebounding from the depths of the Great Recession, the city manager for Grand Junction cautions that recent increases in sales tax collections will not be the norm over the next 18 months. In fact, manager Laurie Kadrich reminds local people that the city’s forecast remains […]