Xcel grant to fund small business development efforts

Xcel Energy has awarded another $25,000 to a fund that offers financing to small businesses in Colorado. Xcel presented the grant to the Colorado Enterprise Fund to support lending outreach and entrepreneurial development efforts. “We are honored to receive this generous grant award from Xcel Energy Colorado,” said Ceyl Prinster, president and chief executive officer […]

Index: Small business optimism slips

A monthly measure of confidence among small business owners has slipped on less upbeat expectations for the economy as well as sales and hiring. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index fell nine-tenths of a point to 103.6 in June. “The index remains at a historically high level, but […]

Study: Self-imposed fees promote water conservation

Self-imposed well pumping fees can play a role in encouraging groundwater conversation, according to the results a study led by researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder. The fees constitute an incentive that encourages farmers to grow less thirsty crops, irrigate more efficiently and reduce overall water use. “When we talk about groundwater crises […]

CenturyLink expanding broadband services

CenturyLink has expanded its high-speed internet services to a total of more than 28,000 businesses and households in about 150 Colorado Communities. CenturyLink announced that about  14,000 of those businesses and households are located in areas designated by the Federal Communications Commission as high-cost and eligible for support under the Connect America Fund. The company […]

Legislation takes aim at work force gap in tech sector

Proposed legislation would allow state technology associations and other industry intermediaries to receive federal grants to develop apprenticeship programs as part of an effort to fill a work force gap in the sector. U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner, a Republican from Colorado, and Martin Heinrick, a Democrat from New Mexico, introduced the Championing Apprenticeships for New […]

$250,000 in investments add to support for psychiatric hospital expansion

An effort to expand a psychiatric hospital in Grand Junction has gained additional financial support. The Northwest and High Country Regional Councils, programs of the El Pomar Foundation, and the foundation in Colorado Springs have invested a total of $250,000 in the Building Sanctuary, Rebuilding Lives campaign to expand West Springs Hospital. “The care that […]

U.S. job growth accelerates

The pace of job growth in the United States has picked back up with a bigger increase in hiring in June. According to Labor Department estimates, nonfarm payrolls increased 222,000. The unemployment rate edged up a tenth of a point to 4.4 percent as more people looked for employment. What’s more, initial estimates for payroll […]