School District 51 board mulls TABOR waiver ballot measure

  As the Mesa County School District 51 Board of Education mulls over a budget proposal that calls for cutting the equivalent of more than 180 full-time jobs by August, the board also is weighing the pros and cons of asking county voters to allow the district to retain tax revenues above state constitutional limits. […]

On the wagon or not? Buy local campaign has supporters and detractors

On the wagon or not? Buy local campaign has supporters and detractors

The Blue Band Wagon campaign in Mesa County celebrated its first anniversary with public fanfare and support from businesses and local media. Similar to campaigns across the country that encourage people to buy products in the communities in which they live, the effort launched by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce seeks to circulate […]

Aging Colorado losing demographic “dividend”

Aging Colorado losing demographic “dividend”

When it comes to creating a strong business climate and increasing the output of goods and services, communities envy the 35- to 65-year-old age group. Colorado has an advantage over many states in that it’s attracted young people in the 20- to 40-year-old range over the past few decades, feeding into the group that generally […]

State to bill businesses to pay back jobless benefits loan

Business owners in Colorado who’ve had at least one claim for unemployment insurance benefits filed against them face an unexpected bill in July. The bill from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) purportedly will help the state make interest payments on funds the state borrowed from the federal government last year to pay […]

Downtown Partnership Director to leave

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 […]

Colorado to lose demographic dividend, says state demographer

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 […]

Grand Junction Manager reports increased sales tax revenues for first quarter of year; sees leaner times over the next 18 months

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 […]

School District 51 considers TABOR waiver for November ballot

As Mesa County School District 51 mulls over a budget proposal that calls for cutting more than 180 full-time equivalent jobs by August, the district is also weighing the pros and cons of asking county voters to allow the district to retain revenues above the limits set by the state’s Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights—or TABOR—law. […]

Web-based system helps employers stay on schedule

Web-based system helps employers stay on schedule

Business owners and managers can burn a lot of hours juggling work schedules for their employees: setting and revising hours, adjusting for sick days and vacations and accommodating for turnover. While it’s not possible to abandon scheduling, a new tool offers help in setting schedules and notifying employees. A Web-based program called ReadySetWork enables employers […]