Tile Meister expands operation

Tile Meister in Grand Junction has expanded its operation with a larger marble shop and new equipment. “Tile Meister is always striving to be abreast of current trends to better serve our customers,” said owner Randy DiDonato. “Expanding our marble shop is our latest phase.” Tile Meister offers three products: cultured marble, Polystone and TruStone. […]

NFIB: Colorado members oppose ColoradCare plan

Members of a small business advocacy group responding to a survey were nearly unanimous in their opposition to a ballot measure that would implement a single-payer health care system in Colorado. “Our members are fed up with the mess state and federal governments have made with health care, and they see Amendment 69 as potentially […]

Community Hospital joins in training program

Community Hospital in Grand Junction has joined in a training effort to implement processes that improve health care. “For me, it is the shared learning that makes this so exciting,” said Debbie Riggle, vice president of operations at Community Hospital and one of two leaders guiding hospital staff  through the process. “No one hospital has […]

Business groups back proposed Xcel rate changes

An economic development and business group in Grand Junction support a plan officials from the groups say will offer more choices to utility customers in Colorado. “Our area’s businesses are as diverse as our landscape, so a one-size-fits-all strategy no longer suits our energy conscious community,” said Kristi Pollard, executive director of the Grand Junction […]

Tourism outlook upbeat

Phil Castle, The Business Times Barb Bowman holds great expectations for tourism in the Grand Valley not only the busy summer season, but also the increasingly prominent role the sector plays in the local economy. “It’s good news. I mean, it really is,” said Bowman, division manager of the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau. […]

Mesa County jobless rate takes a dip

Phil Castle, The Business Times The unemployment rate has retreated in Mesa County as hiring picks up for the summer. Moreover, the overall labor force in the county has increased even as claims for unemployment insurance has decreased. “I think this is encouraging,” said Celina Kirnberger, business services supervisor at the Mesa County Workforce Center […]

Piceance natural gas estimate increases 40 fold

A federal agency has increased by more than 40-fold its estimate of natural gas that could be extracted from the Piceance Basin in Western Colorado. In fact, the Mancos Shale formation in the basin contains the second-largest assessment of natural gas ever conducted by the U.S. Geological Society. The USGS estimated Mancos Shale in the […]

Lodging tax collections increase

Lodging tax collections continue to increase in Grand Junction, a reflection of more business for hotels and motels. The Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau reported collecting nearly $108,199 in lodging taxes in May. That’s an increase of $6,993 and 6.9 percent over the same month last year and the most collections for a May […]

Officials: Tax collections more encouraging

Phil Castle, The Business Times After watching sales and use tax collections decline for months, local officials say they’re a bit more heartened by the latest numbers. “There are some encouraging signs here,” said Eleanor Thomas, budget manager for Mesa County. Jodi Romero, financial operations director for the City of Grand Junction, said an increase […]