Economy will improve come hell or high water

Come hell or high water. It’s an expression that dates back more than a century to vividly describe an outcome that’s likely to occur regardless of the destructive obstacles in the way. The phrase remains just as relevant today in portraying what’s happened in Colorado. Gov. John Hickenlooper didn’t chose those particular words for his […]

Small business index: economy “crawling forward”

A monthly index tracking optimism among small business owners has increased on reports of increased capital spending and hiring, but remains well below its pre-recession average. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.4 points to 93.9 in December. Although the index has advanced for two months, it remains below the average reading […]

Rising labor index forecasts job growth

An index tracking labor trends has increased for a fifth time in six months as it continues to forecast job growth. The Conference Board reported that its Employment Trends Index edged up four-hundredths of a point to 115.76 in December. The index has gained 5.2 percent over the past year. “Despite the disappointing job numbers for […]

U.S. job growth slows

Job growth in the United States slowed in December with the smallest monthly gain in payrolls in three years. The unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in more than five years. But the drop was attributed in part to fewer people working or looking for jobs. According to the latest Labor Department estimates, nonfarm […]

Lodging tax collections rise

By one measure, lodging tax collections have increased in Grand Junction for two straight months. By another measure, though, collections still lag slightly behind last year. According to the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau report for December, $65,981 in lodging taxes were collected. That’s 2.4 percent more than what was reported for the same […]

Survey: CEOs more confident

A measure of confidence among business executives has rebounded on more upbeat assessments of current conditions as well as more optimistic expectations for the first half of the new year. The Conference Board reported that its Measure of CEO Confidence jumped six points to 60 for the fourth quarter of 2013. The gain nearly offset […]

Businessman honored as Kiwanian of the Year

Lee Kreidler has been honored by the Kiwanis Club of Grand Junction as its 2013 Kiwanian of the Year. Kreidler operates Kreidler and Associates, a Grand Junction pest control company. He also serves as president of the Colorado Pest Control Association. While Kreidler is a relative newcomer to the Kiwanis Club, he logged more community […]

Real estate agent earns diversity certification

Davienne Jacobson, an agent with Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction, has earned the At Home With Diversity certification from the National Association of Realtors. Jacobson received the certification after completing a course  covering such topics as diversity, fair housing and cultural differences. “America is becoming an increasingly multicultural society. The At Home With Diversity […]

Alpine bank names regional president

Mike Brown has been promoted to regional president of Alpine Bank operations in the Vail Valley and Steamboat Springs. Brown will oversee bank locations in Avon, Eagle, Edwards, Gypsum, Steamboat Springs and Vail. He succeeds Glenn Davis, who has taken on a larger organizational role with the bank. Brown started his banking career with Alpine […]