Kelly Sloan, The Business Times The legislative session under way in Denver brings with it a new majority in the State Senate as well as some new faces from Mesa County. But many of the priorities for local lawmakers remain the same in more jobs and an improved economy along with less government regulation. “We […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times What Jeff Franklin says he enjoys most about his job as a bank president is meeting the owners and managers of various businesses and finding ways the bank can help them improve their operations. “I really enjoy helping businesses out and seeing them grow,” Franklin says. Franklin expects to take […]
A small business advocacy group has sued Colorado over fees the group contends actually constitute a tax subject to state constitutional limits. The National Federation of Independent Business filed the lawsuit against former Secretary of State Scott Gessler in district court in Denver. “We’re simply asking the court to order the secretary of state not […]
A $3 million program has been launched in Colorado to help the long-term unemployed get back to work. “Getting Coloradans back to work, especially those sidelined for more than six months, is a priority for the state,” said Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. “As part of this new program, we are offering incentives to Colorado businesses […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Frank Whidden brings what he considers a well-rounded perspective to his new job as Mesa County administrator. Whidden worked in information technology and holds a master’s degree in computer information systems. But he also holds a doctoral degree in applied management and decision making and worked for more than 20 […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Community Banks of Colorado is moving to new and larger quarters as part of an effort to expand operations in Grand Junction. “We just feel like we want to make more of a commitment to the community,” said Kat Rhein, the new manager of the Grand Junction banking center. Community […]
United States payrolls increased more than 250,000 in December, a gain that helped make 2014 the best year for job growth in the United States since 1999. The national unemployment rate slipped another two-tenths of a point to 5.6 percent, the lowest level since 2008. According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates, nonfarm […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times A strong finish helped push year-end numbers for the Mesa County real estate market to higher levels in 2014. What’s been a four-year trend of slow growth is expected to continue in 2015. “I’m a little more optimistic about the next year than the last year,” said Robert Bray, chief […]
Colorado business leaders are more confident heading into the new year, according to the latest results of a quarterly survey tracking their outlooks. Moreover, survey results reflect more stability in that outlook, said Richard Wobbekind, executive director of the business research division at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado in Boulder. […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times While the monthly unemployment rate has seesawed back up in Mesa County, the long-term outlook for labor conditions remains mostly upbeat. At 4.5 percent, the latest jobless rate is almost half what it was at the start of 2014. “We certainly have to look at that as a positive sign,” […]