Sales tax collections, a key measure of retail activity, continue to trend up in Mesa County.. The county reported collecting more than $4.1 million in sales taxes in November, a 1.7 percent increase over the same month a year ago. November collections reflect October sales. Through 11 months of 2023, the county collected more than […]
Two livestock associations expressed disappointment over a court decision to allow efforts to proceed to reintroduce gray wolves in Colorado. Regina Rodriguez, a judge with the U.S. District Court in Colorado, declined to issue a temporary restraining order that would have prohibited the reintroduction. While declining to comment on litigation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife announced […]
Two grants worth a total of $83,550 were awarded to support restoration projects in Mesa County. The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) board awarded a $22,200 grant for restoration efforts in Riverbend Park in Palisade and a $61,350 grant for restoration on Pinyon Mesa south of Grand Junction. The Town of Palisade and Desert Rivers Collective […]
The City of Grand Junction City Council has approved a 2024 budget of $322.5 million that includes spending for operational costs, infrastructure and new projects. The 2024 budget includes $172.2 million in operations costs and $8.8 million in debt service. The majority of the operations costs are within the five largest departments of the city […]
Mesa County commissioners approved a $261.1 million budget for 2024 they say prioritizes financial sustainability while also investing in infrastructure and staff. “Mesa County’s 2024 budget is rooted in what we believe the taxpayers would prioritize,” said Janet Rowland, chairwoman of the board of county commissioners. “It’s a responsible approach that balances investment in better […]
A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners continues to retreat even as concerns mount over labor shortages and inflation. The National Federation of Independent Businesses reported its Small Business Confidence Index edged down a tenth of a point to 90.6 in November. The index has remained below its 50-year average of 98 for […]
Payrolls grew and the unemployment rate edged down in the United in November. Nonfarm payrolls increased 199,000 and the jobless rate decreased two-tenths of a point to 3.7 percent, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The initial estimate for job gains in September was revised downward 35,000 to 262,000. […]
Brittany Morris Saunders has been selected to lead an organization advocating for the technology industry in Colorado. Morris Saunders will serve as the next president and chief executive officer of the Colorado Technology Association. “I am honored and excited to join the Colorado Technology Association at this critical juncture in the industry’s evolution,” Morris Saunders […]
While holiday spending is expected to reach record levels, one survey of consumers also reflects what was described as a somewhat cautious mood. The National Retail Federation forecast holiday spending in November and December to grow to between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion. If realized, that range would constitute a 3 percent to 4 percent […]
Outdoor recreation contributed nearly $13.9 billion to the Colorado economy and employed almost 130,000 people in 2022, according to the latest results of an annual reported compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. “We are grateful to the BEA for gathering this data showing clearly that the outdoor industry is a critical economic driver […]