Work continues to inventory and replace lead water lines

Staff with the City of Grand Junction expects to soon complete a plan to replace lead water service lines. Under rules implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce lead in drinking water, water providers must develop an initial lead service line inventory and a lead service line replacement plan. City staff plan to […]

Small Business Optimism Index retreats

A measure of optimism among small business owners has retreated on less upbeat expectations for economic conditions and persistent concerns about labor shortages and inflation. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index fell six-tenths of a point to 91.3 in August. The index has remained below its 48-year average of […]

U.S labor update: Payrolls, jobless rate both up

U.S. employers continue to hire, but the unemployment rate moved up as more people looked for jobs. Nonfarm payrolls increased 187,000 and the jobless rate increased three-tenths of a point to 3.8 percent in August, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The jobless rate climbed to its highest level […]

Survey results show consumers less confident

A measure of consumer confidence has retreated on less upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index dropped 7.9 points to 106.1 in August. Measures of current conditions and short-term expectations both fell. “August’s disappointing headline number reflected dips in both the current conditions and expectations indexes. Write-in […]

Colorado outlook updated to reflect mixed signals

The Colorado economy is sending mixed signals with continued growth in production and high levels of labor force participation, but flagging employment growth. “Businesses continue to indicate a desire and need to hire more workers. But the slow net migration to Colorado has contributed to the sustained worker shortage in the state in 2023,” said […]

Grand Junction tech company growing

A Grand Junction-based company offering technology to help manage streaming video on mobile devices continues to grow thanks in part to incentives, grants and private investments. “It is truly amazing to build a new tech venture in the state of Colorado and even more so to do it in Grand Junction. Once we moved Sky […]

Vintage effort: New director selected to oversee wine board

A man who’s worked 13 years as marketing coordinator of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board has been appointed as executive director of the  organization. Kyle Schlachter succeeds Doug Caskey, who retired after serving 23 years as director. “Stepping into the leading role at the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board will allow me to continue […]

Colorado official joins in opposition to Kroger deal

The Colorado secretary of state has joined in an effort opposing a proposed acquisition that would further consolidate the retail food industry. Jena Griswold and six other secretaries of state submitted a letter to the chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission opposing Kroger Co.’s  planned $24.8 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. Secretaries of state from […]