Phil Castle, The Business Times The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County has retreated from a seasonal peak. But the shrinking labor force continues to raise concerns over local conditions. “Everything just feels so flat this year,” said Suzie Miller, business services manager at the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. There’s hope, though, […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times While the state economy has expanded at more than twice the pace of the national economy, an economist expects growth to slow to Colorado. The national outlook remains modest with slow growth, but continued gains in the labor and housing markets. Low oil prices and slowing growth in China have […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Doug May was nearly spot on in his forecast for continued economic growth in the United States through the first half of this year. Heading into the second half of the year, though, May said he’s worried stock markets that have climbed over the past six years have reached their […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Sales and use tax collections continue to rise in the Grand Valley, a reflection of what one official said she considers stabilizing conditions bolstered in part by the summer tourism business. The City of Grand Junction reported a 5.6 percent increase in sales and use tax collections in July compared […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times A new Grand Junction company takes on a profound subject, perhaps the most profound subject of all, in organizing a conference on dying and what happens after death. While the conference won’t necessarily provide all the answers, the discussions will be free of dogma and designed to help those affected […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Diane Schwenke has high hopes for an application for a federal grant that could help in convincing an airline to provide daily nonstop service between Grand Junction and the West Coast. Schwenke had initially hoped to raise a 25 percent match for the grant. But a total of almost $400,000 […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Just like the fashions she sells, Ivy Parnasius has watched her boutique change over the years: moving, growing and evolving along with the market. But some things never go out of style, among them plaids, polka dots, personalized service that turns customers into friends and the passion Parnasius brings […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Marc Terrien oversees a Grand Junction-based firm that offers Web site design, software development and digital marketing services. But Terrien has a different way of describing the operation that summarizes what he sees as the benefits of the various services. “We’re in the empowerment business.” Thin Air Web empowers clients […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Robert Bray anticipated increased real estate activity in Mesa County this year, but reality so far has exceeded his expectations. “This year has proven better than I would have thought,” said Bray, chief executive officer of Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction. Both the number of real estate transactions and […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Tyler Rogers has won two state truck driving championships and soon will vie again for national honors. But along with his titles, Rogers said he’s gained from the competition a new perspective about safety. “It just changes everything about the way you handle traffic and the way you look at […]