Phil Castle, The Business Times: The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County remains at its lowest level in nearly two years, a sign the labor market could be stabilizing. “I do think it’s encouraging to see we’re remaining steady,” said Suzie Miller, an employment specialist with the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. According […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Officials will continue to look for ways to cut the budget for Mesa County School District 51 following the defeat of a ballot measure that would have temporarily increased property tax revenues. While it’s still too early to know for sure, another $4 million to $5 million in cuts could be […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Craig Hakkio expects the United States economy to continue to grow rather dip back into recession. But recovery likely will remain slow. And it could take a long time to regain what was lost in the aftermath of a housing bust and financial crisis, said Hakkio, a special advisor on economic […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: While necessity might be the mother of invention, Cinde Waller knows from personal experience the powerful motivation of pain. Desperate for relief following jaw surgery, Waller tied a satin ribbon around her head to hold her jaw in place. To keep the ribbon from slipping off, she tied another piece […]
Heidi Ihrke has watched her solar energy business grow from two employees to 20 over the past six years, a reflection in part of the kind of growth that has made Colorado a top state for employment in the industry. “Colorado promotes a good environment for solar to flourish,” says Ihrke, co-founder and co-owner of […]
Mark Snead’s outlook for the Colorado economy has changed over the past two years. An economist and lead officer of the Denver branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Snead presented a forecast in Grand Junction in 2009 in which he predicted an economic rebound in Colorado would lag behind the rest of […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: Annette Miller believes the Mesa County real estate market is still moving through a proverbial valley, and a wide one at that. But if recent trends continue, the market slowly will move out of that valley. Real estate sales remain on pace to top last year and reverse a four-year downward […]
What attributes best characterize Mesa County? Is it the small-town atmosphere combined with big city amenities, the variety of outdoor recreational activities readily available or the caring nature of the residents? Those were among the ideas suggested during a brainstorming session for conveying a community image that promotes economic development. “They’re all very positive and, […]
A Colorado-based chain of grocery stores that’s quickly expanded by selling natural and organic products at competitive prices has announced plans to open an outlet in Grand Junction. Sunflower Farmers Market expects to open a 28,000 square-foot store in the Rimrock Crossing Shopping Center next fall. Sage Horner, vice president of merchandising and marketing for […]
Kelly Flenniken brings a new title and a new role to a new approach to economic development. As executive director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Flenniken will oversee efforts to leverage local business connections in proactively developing leads for new and expanding companies. “We’re going to be more aggressive going forward,” she says. Flenniken […]