A monthly measure of confidence among small business owners has moved closer to its historical average on more upbeat expectations for an improving economy and increased sales. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index rose two points to 98.1 in November. That’s the highest reading since February 2007. The […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Bonnie Petersen expects to continue to advocate for Western Colorado interests, but also narrow her focus, as the new executive director of the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado. “I just think we can do some really good things for Western Colorado through AGNC,” Petersen said. Petersen plans to begin working […]
Hiring has accelerated in the United States with an estimated addition of 321,000 jobs in November, the biggest monthly gain in nearly three years. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.8 percent, the lowest level in more than six years. The November increase in nonfarm payrolls was the largest since January 2012 and exceeded […]
Housing prices have increased between 2.9 percent and 4.3 percent in Grand Junction over the past year, according to the latest results of monthly analysis by a California-based firm. CoreLogic reported that Grand Junction home prices rose 2.9 percent between October 2014 and October 2013. Including such so-called distressed sales as foreclosure auctions and short […]
An upcoming forum will examine the issues involved in the transfer of federal lands to states. Club 20 — a Grand Junction-based coalition of businesses, governments and individuals in the region — will host the forum. The event is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, 743 Horizon […]
A task force established in a compromise to strip energy development initiatives from the general election ballot is scheduled to meet in Rifle. The meeting is set for Dec. 10 and 11 at the Farm Fresh Event Center. While details of the Rifle meeting weren’t available at press time, it’s expected the task force will […]
Kelly Sloan, The Business Times More than six years after oil and natural gas drilling leases first were issued, production soon could begin on at least parts of the Roan Plateau in Western Colorado. A settlement between the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and a consortium of environmental groups was announced during a press conference […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Patrick Wall says he’s learned a lot from his business courses at Colorado Mesa University, but even more from the various entrepreneurial activities in which he’s been involved. Wall works at the Point, a student-run pub on the CMU campus in Grand Junction. He also participates in the Entrepreneurship Club […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Robert Bray has watched the real estate market slowly but steadily improve in Mesa County over the past three years — and 2014 has been no exception. Both the number of real estate transactions and dollar volume of those deals so far this year continue to outpace last year. While […]
Frank Ladd, former president and chief executive officer of the Rifle Area Chamber of Commerce, has been hired as executive director of the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce. Ladd is expected to begin working at the Fruita chamber Dec. 15. Ladd will be responsible for a range of duties, including membership outreach, event planning and […]