Tax collections decline for third straight month

Phil Castle, The Business Times Combined sales and use tax collections have declined for a third straight month in the Grand Valley. Mesa County reported a 1.8 percent decline in sales and use tax collections for  March compared to the same month last year. The City of Grand Junction reported a 2.6 percent decline. “This […]

Mesa County real estate activity picks up

Phil Castle, The Business Times Buoyed in part by commercial transactions, real estate activity continues to trend upward in Mesa County. After year-over-year increases in transactions and dollar volume during the first quarter, the outlook remains mostly upbeat for what are typically busier second and third quarters, said Annette Miller, senior vice president of Heritage […]

Summit speaker to share innovative ideas

Phil Castle, The Business Times Tamara Kleinberg had made it her business to promote innovation — founding an enterprise that tests new products while also speaking and writing about the subject. Innovative businesses are better at differentiating their operations and adapting to changing market conditions, she said. Moreover, customers who increasingly demand innovation in products […]

Chamber opposes single-payer proposal

Phil Castle, The Business Times The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce opposes a ballot measure that would implement a single-payer health insurance system in Colorado as a costly and risky plan that could hurt businesses and affect medical care. The chamber hosted a meeting to outline its position on Amendment 69 and invited a […]

Manufacturing summit to promote innovation

Phil Castle, The Business Times An upcoming manufacturing summit in Western Colorado will promote innovation not only in various manufacturing processes, but also work force development and business strategies. The event also will explore the benefits of collaboration and promote networking. A trade show will feature manufacturers as well as suppliers and vendors. “The content […]

Business mogul to deliver E-Day address

Phil Castle, The Business Times A Colorado business mogul who’s bought and sold over the course of his career such varied ventures as professional sports franchises, meat processing companies and ski resorts will share his experiences during an upcoming event celebrating entrepreneurship. George Gillett Jr., the chairman and chief executive officer of Booth Creek Management,  […]

Manufacturing group bringing center to Grand Junction

Phil Castle, The Business Times A facility planned for Grand Junction is expected to offer a variety of resources to regional manufacturers — among them high-tech connections with other manufacturers as well as customers across Colorado. “I think there’s tremendous potential,” said Tim Heaton, president of the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance, a trade association that […]

Mesa County jobless rate retreats

Phil Castle, The Business Times The unemployment rate in Mesa County has begun to retreat as seasonal hiring increases along with spring temperatures. But the outlook is tempered by a downturn in energy development that also affects support services. Curtis Englehart, manager of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction, offered a mix of […]