A monthly index forecasting economic performance in the United States continues to increase, forecasting growth into the new year. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index rose four-tenths of a percent to 124.6 in November. With the latest gain, the LEI has advanced 1.5 percent over the past six months, slower than the […]
With a month left to count, 2015 already has been a better year for the hospitality industry in Grand Junction than 2014, according to one measure of hotel and motel stays. Lodging tax collections continue to increase, with year-to-date collections for 2015 topping the year-end number for 2014. Nearly $120,000 in lodging taxes were collected […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times It’s too early to tell if a year-over-year decline in sales and use tax collections in November constitutes a one-month anomaly or the beginning of a trend. “I’m hoping it was just a blip and not a trend,” said Eleanor Thomas, budget manager for Mesa County. Jodi Romero, financial operations director […]
There’s no business like snow business, a new study of the economic affects of the skiing and snowboarding industry in Colorado confirms. The industry contributes $4.8 billion annually to the state economy and supports the equivalent of more than 46,000 year-round jobs. “This report confirms the importance of the ski industry to Colorado, both as […]
Nick Iellamo of BuyerWise Property Inspection in Grand Junction has been honored for 15 years of membership in the American Society of Home Inspectors. Iellamo has been an ASHI-certified inspector since November 2000. To earn certification, home inspectors must complete two exams, meet professional and technical requirements and perform at least 250 fee-paid home inspections. […]
When it comes to commercial real estate leases, there’s no such thing as a typical lease. In fact, the Colorado Real Estate Commission hasn’t even attempted to define such a beast. So what are entrepreneurs to do in negotiating leases for their new businesses? For starters, I’d suggest finding a good broker to represent their […]
The Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau joined with Powderhorn Mountain Resort to earn a grant that will help fund spring tourism marketing. The VCB and Powderhorn each will provide $3,500 for the effort, funding that will be matched by a $7,000 marketing grant from the Colorado Tourism Office. “We narrowed our focus to market […]
Mesa County continues to drop in an annual ranking of how well small metropolitan areas create and sustain jobs and economic growth. Mesa County fell nine spots from 162nd to 171st in the Milken Institute’s Best-Performing Cities index for 2015. Illustrating the contrast between conditions in Mesa County and the Front Range of Colorado, four […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Dave Hall has great expectations for 2016 as his Grand Junction company builds on its success as a growing supplier of products that help customers get organized. “We think this year is going to be a breakout year for us. We are just set up to go,” said Hall, who […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Mark Swain has wanted for some time to hire additional employees to keep pace with growing demand for the information technology services provided by Networks Unlimited. But space at the Grand Junction firm was very much limited, and Swain didn’t have any place left for additional staff to work. That’s […]