Kelly Sloan, The Business Times Comments will be accepted through March 17 for proposed ozone rules supporters say are needed to improve air quality, but opponents counter could needlessly cost the economy billions of dollars and thousands of jobs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced plans to tighten its national ambient air quality standards for […]
Kelly Sloan, The Business Times A proposed increase in federal capital gains taxes could dampen business investment if implemented, a Grand Junction accountant believes. “In effect, it would dampen the desire of entrepreneurs and business owners to invest their capital,” said Chris West, a tax accounting principal at Dalby, Wendland and Co. President Barack Obama proposed […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times A Western Slope telecommunications company has acquired a hotel and restaurant on the Grand Mesa that will be used in part to train military veterans to work in the industry. Teltech Communications has entered into a lease-to-own agreement for SlopeSide Hotel at Powderhorn Mountain Resort. The facility will continue to operate […]
Kelly Sloan, The Business Times Two Western Colorado groups have joined with local government officials in opposing a plan to use severance tax revenues to offset state refunds that could be required under constitutional limits. “It is a bad idea to take that money away from communities which need it to help with their own economies. […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times While the promise of commercial oil shale production has yet to be fully realized in Western Colorado, Brad McCloud believes there’s an upside to slow development. As technology to extract oil from shale improves, so do the prospects of doing so in economically and environmentally sustainable ways, […]
A monthly measure of consumer confidence has surged to its highest level in more than seven years on more upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions in the United States. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index jumped nearly 10 points to 102.9 in January. The latest reading is the highest since the […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The Mesa County unemployment rate has edged up for a second straight month as seasonal layoffs and slowing in the energy industry affect the local labor market. While the jobless rate remains far lower than this time last year and other indicators signal improvement, the outlook has turned more guarded, said […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Increased lodging tax collections and other indicators reflect recovery in Grand Valley tourism, officials say. “We really feel we’re turning the corner — finally,” said Barb Bowman, director of sales and division manager of the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau. While Grand Junction hotel and motel occupancy rates increased in […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times A strong finish helped push sales tax collections in the Grand Valley to higher levels in 2014. The upward trend is expected to continue in 2015, which bodes well for local retailers. “We’re happy. All the signs are going in the right direction now for sure,” said Mesa County Administrator Frank […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Norma Roberts enjoys the rewards, but also the challenges, of human resources management. Roberts relishes opportunities to make a difference in the lives of employees, to help them succeed professionally as well as personally. But she also likes the effort required to keep pace with changing regulations and technologies. The […]