Kelly Sloan, The Business Times Although Western Colorado officials are still reviewing a new statewide water plan, they’ve already raised concerns about transmountain diversions and called for a broader approach to development. Moreover, any legislative action on the plan during the upcoming session could be premature. “We need a chance for legislators to digest this,” […]
The Colorado economy is expected to continue to expand in 2016, although at a pace slowed in part by the effects of low commodity prices on the energy and mining sectors. “Colorado will remain one of the top growth states nationally in 2016. We benefit from being a very desirable state where people want to […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Kristi Pollard believes the business and economic outlook for Mesa County is “trending positive” heading into 2016. Pollard, executive director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, bases her outlook on a number of factors, among them increased interest from companies in relocating or expanding operations, a […]
Job growth continues in the United States with the addition of more than 200,000 new positions to payrolls. The monthly unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent, the lowest level in more than seven years. Nonfarm payrolls increased 211,000 in November, according to the latest Labor Department estimates. Moreover, initial estimates for job gains in […]
Colorado ranks 18th among the 50 states in the latest results of an annual analysis of how taxes affect businesses. Colorado moved up two spots in the State Business Tax Climate Index for 2016 on the strength of comparatively low corporate and individual income tax rates. The Tax Foundation — a nonprofit, nonpartisan tax research […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The real estate market has performed even better this year than Robert Bray initially had expected. The chief executive officer of Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction couldn’t be happier to have been proven wrong. “I’m OK on that.” With a month left to go, the number of real estate […]
A monthly measure of consumer confidence in the United States has retreated for a second straight month on less upbeat expectations for the labor market. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index dropped nearly nine points to 90.4 for November. The index has retreated almost 13 points over the past two months. “The […]
The Downtown Development Authority in Grand Junction will resume the search for a director after a contract with a newly hired executive was terminated after less than two months on the job. The DDA board of directors announced in a news release it ended a contract with John Schneiger effective Dec. 4. Schneiger was hired […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The monthly unemployment rate continues to slip in Mesa County as more people find seasonal work for the holidays. The local labor force continues to shrink nonetheless with slowing in the energy sector that’s followed slumping prices. Initial claims for unemployment insurance are up even as overall labor demand has […]
A monthly index forecasting economic performance in the United States has increased, signaling continued growth into next year. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index rose six-tenths of a percent to 124.1 in October. Separate measures of current and past economic performance also increased. “Despite lackluster third quarter growth, the economic outlook now […]