Small business optimism index soars to record height

A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners has soared to record heights on more upbeat plans for everything from hiring to expansions to inventories. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index rose nine-tenths of a point in August to 108.8. That’s the highest reading in the 45-year history […]

Pace of U.S. hiring accelerates

The pace of hiring in the United States picked up in August with the addition of more than 200,000 jobs. Nonfarm payrolls increased 201,000 and the national unemployment rate held steady at 3.9 percent, according to the latest Labor Department estimates. Job gains for August topped those for July and June. What was initially estimated […]

Real estate activity picks up

Phil Castle, The Business Times Real estate activity picked up in Mesa County in August with double-digit proportional increases in the number of transactions and dollar volume. The pace could slow as inventories of existing homes shrink and prices and interest rates rise. But the latest numbers still reflect what industry observers consider a healthy […]

4-H programs praised for building business skills

4-H programs praised for building business skills

Phil Castle, The Business Times Mickie Fisher-Rogers believes everything she really needs to know about running a business she learned raising livestock in 4-H programs. That includes accounting, marketing and, especially, the value of hard work. “All those things made a big difference in my life,” said Fisher-Rogers, owner and mortgage broker of Grand Valley […]

Foundation: $7.4 million given to CMU in fiscal year

Giving to Colorado Mesa University based in Grand Junction reached a three-year high of $7.4 million during the 2017 and 2018 fiscal year, officials announced. “The financial resources given by the community are significant investments in our students. The money not only improves the lives of students, but is critical when it comes to planning […]

Grand Valley sales tax collections on the rise

Sales tax collections continue to rise in the Grand Valley, a reflection of increased retail activity. The City of Grand Junction reported a 9.4 percent increase in sales and use tax collections for July compared to the same month last year. Mesa County reported an 8.7 percent year-over-year increase. Meanwhile, city lodging tax collections rose […]

Grand Junction-based IT firm ranks among fastest-growing companies

A Grand Junction-based information technology firm ranks among the fastest-growing companies in the United States, according to the latest results of an annual list compiled by a national magazine. Networks Unlimited ranks 475th in the 2018 Inc. magazine list of the 5,000 fastest-growing privately held companies. Inc. compiles the list based on proportional revenue growth […]