Phil Castle, The Business Times Even as rising interest rates on mortgages and seasonal slowing curtail real estate transactions in Mesa County, higher prices and big commercial deals push the collective dollar volume upward. While 2022 might not keep pace with a record-breaking 2021, the market remains strong overall, local industry observers say. “It’s still […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Government efforts under way in the Grand Valley will address everything from child care in Clifton and health care in Palisade to business development in Grand Junction and Fruita. But additional challenges remain, among them a shortage of affordable housing. Officials from Mesa County, the cities of Grand Junction and […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times As both a member of the board of trustees that oversees Colorado Mesa University and business owner, Tim Fry hails a new initiative reducing community college tuition. The initiative will not only make secondary education less costly and more accessible, but also bolster the work force and in turn economic […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Three state legislators from Western Colorado said measures enacted in the latest session will eliminate fees and reduce taxes, but only on a temporary basis. “A lot of things got waived,” said State Rep. Janice Rich. State Rep. Matt Soper said the measures are intended to make voters fell better […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times A $300,000 gift will help support a new program to address mental health issues in Mesa County. Intermountain Healthcare announced its gift to meet needs identified by the Mesa County Mental Health Collaborative. An intensive case management program expected to start this fall will help people with mental health issues […]
As my stories in this issue of the Business Times reflect, I spent a lot of time over the past two weeks covering meetings and news conferences. That included the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce state of the valley and legislative update meetings. That also included news conferences announcing an initiative to reduce tuition […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The unemployment rate continues to drop in Mesa County as employers enjoy more success in filling job openings. What’s typically a seasonal spike in the jobless rate in June could interrupt the trend. Overall, conditions improve, said Curtis Englehart, director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. “I […]
There’s a conception of entrepreneurs as rugged individuals who pull themselves and their ventures up by their bootstraps. They work for themselves, call their own shots and assume the risks of their pursuits. I’m not an entrepreneur myself, but I’ve reported on their activities long enough to know there’s a lot of truth to that […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Jeff Engell has been on an entrepreneurial journey. He launched a consulting firm that served businesses and governments around the world. Now he works to help other entrepreneurs along their journeys. While Engell hopes their first stop will be at the Small Business Development Center in Grand Junction, he says […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Real estate sales continue to slow on a year-over-year basis in Mesa County as higher prices and mortgage interest rates affect affordability. The local market remains strong overall, however, industry observers say. “There’s still plentiful buyer demand out there,” said Robert Bray, chief executive officer of Bray & Co. Real […]