Sales tax collections on the rise

Phil Castle, The Business Times Sales and use tax collections continue to increase in the Grand Valley, buoyed in part by increased automotive and home improvement sales as well as purchases by visitors to the area. The City of Grand Junction and Mesa County both reported year-over-year gains in sales and use tax collections in […]

Here comes the pitch: Teams develop ideas at startup competition

Phil Castle, The Business Times Three Western Colorado residents who’d never before met formed the winning team at an event that challenged participants to develop ideas for business startups. But all the participants were winners in the sense they learned about the startup process, met people and made connections that could lead to new businesses, […]

Startup Weekend promotes new ventures

Phil Castle, The Business Times Josh Hudnall knows from personal experience the value of participating in what’s billed as Startup Weekend. Hudnall joined in a Startup Weekend in Philadelphia and ended up competing on the team that won. In the process, he said he learned about developing and pitching ideas for business startups as well […]

Making a difference: Entrepreneurs tell world-changing stories

Making a difference: Entrepreneurs tell world-changing stories

Phil Castle, The Business Times Dave and Morgan Hansow launched an operation that sold products on an international scale and employed more than 100 people. But now that the Grand Junction couple oversees a far different venture in producing a television series, the Hansows face different challenges, among them finding ways to generate revenues to […]

Mesa County real estate activity “strong”

Phil Castle, The Business Times Bill Wagner assesses the Mesa County real estate market in terms of his own business — and his business has been better over the past six months, he says, than the past six years. Wagner, a broker who operates BW Fine Properties in Grand Junction and serves as chairman of […]

National forecast: Moderate growth expected to continue

Phil Castle, The Business Times Moderate growth is expected to continue in the United States even as labor conditions improve, according to a mostly upbeat presentation by an economist and executive with the Federal Reserve Bank. A comparatively strong U.S. dollar could curb exports and in turn manufacturing, though. And slower gains in productivity and […]

Grand Junction firm to offer trust services

Phil Castle, The Business Times Marsha Harbert and Staci Adleman expect to meet a need in providing a range of trust services in Western Colorado. That includes services not only for large trusts and foundations, but also the smaller trusts that banks and other companies can be reluctant to take on, they said. The response […]

Towering effort: Two more floors open at St. Mary’s

Towering effort: Two more floors open at St. Mary’s

Phil Castle, The Business Times      Eric Mello leads an impromptu tour through the new rehabilitation unit at St. Mary’s Medical Center, pointing out various features as he walks and talks. Small stations spaced along the hallways — one station for every two rooms — allow nurses and other staff to work closely to the […]

Jobless rate retreats, but layoffs could affect trend

Phil Castle, The Business Times The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County has retreated to its lowest level so far this year. But recent layoffs could affect the downward trend, said Suzie Miller, business services manager at the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. People who’ve recently lost their jobs should start looking now […]