Phil Castle, The Business Times No bouquet of flowers or luxuriant plant leaves Country Elegance without the finishing touch that’s become something of a signature for the Grand Junction florist. A tiny ladybug perches somewhere on a steam or leaf. It’s not a real insect, of course, but rather an indication of the attention to […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Since she became only the second executive of HopeWest, Cassie Mitchell has persisted through nearly a year of changes. Not only in where she works and lives, but also labor shortages and regulatory changes. What hasn’t changed, Mitchell says, is the mission. “We’re here to meet the needs of the […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Seven candidates vying for election to the Grand Junction City Council emphasize the importance of everything from good infrastructure and streamlined regulation to public safety and especially affordable housing. The economic vitality of the city remains important as well to generate the funding needed to address problems. The candidates answered […]
I’m not at all ashamed to admit it. I’m something of a geek when it comes to economics and economic indicators. That’s a good thing for the editor of a business journal who spends a good portion of his time reporting on those topics. Imagine, then, my delight, at being invited to participate in virtual […]
Phil Castle, Business Times The monthly unemployment rate spiked again in Mesa County in January, but to a lower level that offers encouragement of improving labor conditions in the year ahead. More will be known when February numbers are released. There’s also a risk of recession that could affect the Mesa County market. “I think […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Real estate sales continue to decline in Mesa County as higher interest rates make financing on home purchases less affordable. Year-over-year decreases in transactions and dollar volume are all the more dramatic given what was a robust market in early 2022. While the trend could continue, industry observers hold out […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Nominations will be accepted through March 15 for new awards honoring the memory of a Colorado Mesa University alumnus. The CMU Alumni Association will present the Doug Sortor Maverick Spirit Award to an alumnus or alumna who supports CMU and Western Colorado Community College. The Honorary Maverick Alumni Award will […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Pressed to succinctly assess the efforts of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Curtis Englehart settles on two words: positive momentum. After scoring five of what he terms wins — business relocations or expansions — in the fourth quarter of 2022, the executive director of the economic development organization holds out […]
It’s time to once again reveal some of my dark secrets for writing newspaper columns. To pull back the curtain. Air the dirty laundry. And, my favorite, show how the sausage is made. Today’s lesson: How to make fun of things that really deserve to be made fun of because … well, because they’re easy […]
Imagine if small business owners were like teachers who could assign grades. Now imagine if business owners could assign grades to the federal government. What do you suppose those grades might be? As it turns out, no imagination is required. The Goldman Sachs investment banking company recently surveyed a total of more than 1,800 small […]