Leading index signals second-half growth

An index forecasting economic condtions in the United States continues to increase, signaling growth in the second half of the year. The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index rose three-tenths of a percent to 128.3 in July. Separate measures of current and past economic performance also increased. “The U.S. LEI improved in July, suggesting […]

Lodging tax collections reflect increased business

A measure of hotel and motel stays in continues to reflect increasing business for the hospitality sector in Grand Junction. Lodging tax collections totaled $185,200 in July. That’s an increase of $6,133 and  3.4 percent over what was collected for the same month last year. July collections reflect hotel and motel stays in June. So […]

Grand Valley sales tax collections continue to rise

Phil Castle, The Business Times Tax collections continue to rise in the Grand Valley on increasing sales of automobiles, building materials and restaurant meals. The City of Grand Junction reported a 7.2 percent increase in sales tax collections in July over the same month last year. Mesa County reported an even larger proportional gain at […]

Colorado ranks first for ease of doing Internet business

Colorado is the easiest state in which to conduct Internet business, according to  the results of a new analysis by a trade association. Colorado ranks first overall in the Ease of Doing Internet Business Index compiled by the Internet Association. Modeled after the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index, the Internet Association analysis takes […]

Changes brewing: Kannah Creek returns to its roots

Changes brewing: Kannah Creek returns to its roots

Phil Castle, The Business Times It’s not so much the owners of Kannah Creek Brewing are headed back to the drawing board. Rather, they’re returning to their roots. Bernadette Jeffryes, a co-owner who works as business manager of the Grand Junction company, describes the changes yet another way. “We decided let’s kind of get local […]

Industry report: Rec big business in Colorado

Outdoor recreation generates $28 billion in consumer spending a year and supports 229,000 jobs in Colorado, according to an analysis by a trade association for the outdoor industry. Outdoor recreation also generates $9.7 million in wages and salaries as well as $2 billion in state and local tax revenue each year in Colorado, according to […]

Venture out to help businesses offer wellness programs

Phil Castle, The Business Times Rebecca Weitzel and Skip Hudson have seen the benefits of wellness programs in the workplace, chief among them healthier, happier and ultimately more engaged employees. While wellness programs typically have been implemented by large corporations and organizations, Weitzel and Hudson have launched a venture to offer those programs to small […]

Community Hospital earns bariatric designation

Community Hospital in Grand Junction has been designated as a bariatric center of excellence for meeting national standards for its surgical weight loss  program and other services for patients suffering from severe obesity. Dr. Andrew Morse, director of metabolic and bariatric surgery, said the bariatric surgery center at Community Hospital has been accredited under the […]

Grand Valley hospitals collaborate to offer transitional care

Phil Castle, The Business Times Two Grand Valley hospitals have joined in a collaborative effort to treat so-called transitional patients who no longer require intensive care, but still need rehabilitation and other services. Construction is under way on a $4.5 million expansion at Colorado Canyons Hospital and Medical Center in Fruita that will add nine […]