Small business optimism index rebounds to one-year high

A monthly measure of confidence among small business owners has rebounded to its highest level in a year, but not yet enough to reflect strong growth for the sector. “Small business confidence rising is always a good thing. But it’s tough to be excited about meager growth in an otherwise tepid economy,” said Bill Dunkelberg, […]

U.S. payrolls and jobless rate up

U.S. payrolls grew again in May. But the unemployment rate edged up as more people searched for worked. The Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls rose an estimated 175,000 with gains spread across several industry sectors. The jobless rate inched up a tenth of a point to 7.6 percent, an increase attributed to more unemployed […]

Emergency preparedness group plans West Slope meeting

An organization that promotes collaborative efforts between the private sector and government in responding to disasters has scheduled its first official meeting in Western Colorado. The Colorado Emergency Preparedness Partnership (CEPP) will host the meeting at 9 a.m. June 13 at the Colorado Mesa University Center, located near 12th and Elm streets in Grand Junction. […]

CMU students place second in national marketing competition

A team of five Colorado Mesa University students placed second in a national marketing competition. Sara McGuire, William Owen, Jackie Ramsey, Jeff Loveland and Sylvester Thabit competed in the first AT&T Campus Marketing Challenge. Teams from six universities created marketing and sales agencies for a semester. The students received $3,000 and mobile telephones to implement […]

U.S. Bank announces management changes

Randall Cupp, a banker with almost 30 years of experience, has been named market president for U.S. Bank in Grand Junction. Steve Gunderson, regional president for the bank in Western Colorado, has announced his retirement from a nearly 50-year career in the industry. Cupp will continue to work out of the U.S. Bank branch in […]

Consumer Confidence Index climbs to five-year high

A monthly measure of consumer confidence has climbed to its highest level in five years on more upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index jumped more than seven points in May to 76.2. That’s the highest reading since the CCI stood at 76.4 in February 2008. […]

Broker associate joins real estate firm

Ron Chappell has joined Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction as a broker associate. Chappell brings to his new duties experience as a rancher, volunteer firefighter and a “ditch rider” allocating irrigation water to properties along ditches and canals. He also worked in the oil and natural gas industry in the Middle East. “I think […]

Real estate business honors top agents

Cynthia Castaneda, Meighan Marquis and Mary Kruse were honored as the top-performing agents for April at Heiden Homes Realty and Associates in Grand Junction. Castaneda posted the most closed transactions in April, while Marquis had the highest dollar volume in sales. Marquis and Kruse tied for the most new listings during the month. Reach Castaneda […]