Clearer rules for classifying independent contractors and regulatory reform tops the list of lobbying priorities in Colorado for a small business advocacy group. The National Federation of Independent Business also expects to oppose efforts to move hospital provider fees from the state general fund to an enterprise fund as a means to avoid constitutional tax […]
The Grand Junction Lions Club has awarded a total of $110,000 in grants to 16 recipients in the latest distribution of money raised in an annual carnival and raffle. Mesa County School District 51 provided a total of nearly $14,000 to match six grants. At $50,000, the largest single grant goes to the development of […]
An upcoming forum in Colorado will focus on the next generation of agricultural producers and the range of challenges they face. The Governor’s Forum on Colorado Agriculture is set for Feb. 18 at the Renaissance Denver Hotel. The event is open to the public. To register or obtain more information, visit the Web site at […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Year-over-year gains in sales, use and lodging tax collections in December added to higher numbers in the Grand Valley during 2015. Mesa County reported a 5.1 percent increase in sales and use tax collections for 2015 over 2014. The City of Grand Junction reported a 2.6 percent increase. Lodging tax […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Crossroads Fitness kicks off the new year with a challenge designed to not only promote health and fitness, but also help participants stick to their resolutions. “We’re just getting people to engage in healthy activities, to create consistency in their workouts,” said Paula Reece, who operates the Grand Junction health […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Jennifer Stoll believes there’s more than just fun to games. In fact, sports events can constitute an important source of revenue for the local economy. The people who come to the area to participate in and watch sports fill hotel rooms, buy restaurant meals and shop at stores. Moreover, sports […]
U.S. payrolls swelled nearly 300,000 in December, bringing job growth during 2015 to almost 2.7 million. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged for a third straight month at 5 percent, the lowest level in more than seven years. According to the latest Labor Department estimates, nonfarm payrolls increased 292,000 in December. Moreover, initial estimates for […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times It’s a chicken-and-egg dilemma: Young adults need experience to compete for jobs, but encounter difficulty landing jobs to gain experience. Meanwhile, employers lament their own difficulties in finding qualified applicants with the required skills and work ethic. A new program under way in Mesa County is expected to address both […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Increases in the number and dollar volume of real estate sales in December added to what industry observers characterized as a good year for the Mesa County market. “If you can have what you call a happy year, it was 2015,” said Annette Miller, senior vice president of Heritage Title […]
Colorado business leaders are a bit more confident heading into the new year, according to the latest results of a quarterly index tracking their outlooks. “Business sentiment increased ahead of the first quarter, indicating a general level of confidence among Colorado leaders,” said Richard Wobbekind, executive director of the research division of the Leeds School […]