Commercial real estate brokers are hired to handle a variety of responsibilities. And some brokers are willing to offer more after-transaction services for owners and landlords as sales and leasing activities lead to property management, tax protesting, speculative construction ideas and other non-transactional needs. One responsibility I haven’t seen any broker take on, though, is […]
Workforce centers in Colorado — including the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction — offer a range of free services to employers and employees. Here’s an overview courtesy of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Among other things, centers provide: Job listings, generally for a local county and surrounding areas. Computer and internet […]
In my column in a June issue of the Business Times, I reviewed the basics of Colorado’s new Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (EPEW). EPEW is split into two parts. The first part prohibits employers from paying different wages on the basis of sex or sex plus another protected status to employees who perform […]
A measure of optimism among small business owners has retreated on less upbeat expectations for the economy, sales and earnings as well as concerns about labor availability. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index fell 2.8 points to 99.7 in July. The decrease nearly erased a 2.9-point increase in June, […]
Tax collections, a measure of sales activity, continue to increase in Mesa County. Mesa County reported collecting more than $4 million in sales tax in July, a 20.4 percent increase over the same month last year. The county also collected nearly $401,000 in use taxes — almost all of it on automobiles purchased outside the […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Real estate sales slowed in Mesa County in July, but overall activity so far this year remains well ahead of last year. Robert Bray, chief executive officer of Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction, remains optimistic. “I still think it’s going to be a very good year.” Annette Miller, administrator […]
U.S. payrolls swelled and the unemployment rate retreated in July with hiring in the leisure and hospitality and education sectors accounting for more than half the job gains. Nonfarm payrolls increased 943,000 and the jobless rate declined a half point to 5.4 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Estimated payroll gains for June […]
New business filings continue to increase on a year-over-year basis in Colorado, a trend that portends economic recovery in the aftermath of a pandemic. “Colorado is on the road to recovery despite historic economic challenges,” said Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold. According to the latest report based on statistics from the Colorado Secretary of […]
A search is expected to soon begin for a new leader of a Grand Junction-based economic development organization. The Grand Junction Economic Partnership announced Robin Brown resigned as executive director to take a position with Colorado Mesa University. “We are confident in our ability to find a strong successor and to continue the great work […]
It’s been a year like no other. Even as they navigate through the usual human resources maze, Grand Valley employers face labor and supply shortages as well as other obstacles. As they reboot following the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses must devote attention and resources to meet new employment regulations. They include the Healthy Families and Workplaces […]