Phil Castle, The Business Times Real estate activity has rebounded in Mesa County to surpass sales and dollar volume levels from a year ago. Activity might have been even more brisk if low inventories hadn’t hampered residential transactions. “These numbers are definitely tempered by that,” said Annette Miller, senior vice president at Heritage Title Co. […]
A measure of consumer confidence has slipped on less upbeat expectations for business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index fell four-tenths of a point to 100.9 in October. A component of the index tracking current conditions increased. But a component tracking the short-term outlook decreased. Lynn Franco, senior director of […]
A monthly index forecasting economic conditions in the United States continues to increase, but at a pace that signals slowing. The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose seven-tenths of a percent to 107.2 in September. The gain was the fifth in as many months. Ataman Ozyildirim, senior director of economic research at […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Lynnsey Munroe sports a decidedly green thumb, one developed through a lifelong passion for caring for plants. But she caters to customers with brown or even black thumbs. “I want people to come in and buy something that succeeds,” Munroe said. While Munroe sells rare houseplants and those that might […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Bryan Wachs went looking for a good bicycle rack. He founded what he expects will be a good bicycle rack business. Wachs joined J.T. Westcott in starting QuikRStuff. The Grand Junction company manufactures bicycle racks based on the designs of Cal Phillips, an inventor and entrepreneur who created the popular […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Ron Davis watched as a sign was unveiled designating the Davis School of Business at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. But only moments before in a ceremony celebrating the event, Davis designated a distinction. “It’s not about the name on the building,” he said. What’s important, he said, is […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The monthly unemployment rate continued to retreat in Mesa County in September even as the labor force grew to its highest level in nearly eight years. Those diverging trends reflect improving labor conditions in a county that’s generally fared better than others in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, said […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times While business activity has stabilized in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the economic outlooks for the state, region and nation remain uncertain, according to an economist and executive with the Federal Reserve. The outlooks will vary depending on the effects of the pandemic and could include declines in consumption […]
Small businesses in Colorado could face higher taxes next year under provisions of a state constitutional amendment, a small business advocacy group warns. But the so-called Gallagher Amendment, including a provision resetting its formula in 2021, could be repealed under Amendment B, a measure on the November election ballot. “What has been sold to the […]
A new program will offer training to teachers and students on geographic information systems and other topics. Heidi Ragsdale — a science, engineering, technology and math educator and advocate — will establish the GeoMaker Institute at the GJmakerspace at the Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction. A grant from the National Geographic Society will establish […]