The Business Times Greg Lopez acknowledges that even a federal agency as large as the U.S. Small Business Administration can’t assure profitability for small business owners. “We don’t have the magic wand to make people successful.” But owners who work with the agency and avail themselves of its numerous programs are more likely to make […]
Kelly Sloan, The Business Times A proposed ballot measure that would enable local government jurisdictions to ban economic activities deemed to threaten health, safety or welfare has raised concerns over potentially far-reaching effects on Colorado businesses. “This issue is a job killer,” said Diane Schwenke, president and chief executive officer of the Grand Junction Area Chamber […]
Rob Griffin has been a builder most of his life. Through various jobs and his own ventures, Griffin has been involved with everything from apartment complexes to custom homes and even massive aquarium displays. The Grand Junction businessman takes on a far different task, though, as chairman of the Colorado Association of Home Builders executive […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Stacy Swift believes franchises offer opportunities for a growing number of older Americans going into business for themselves. With a proven concept and system, franchises usually pose less risk than independent startups, Swift said. Moreover, franchises provide operational and managerial support to the owners who run them. “You’re in business for […]
A monthly index tracking optimism among small business owners continues to edge up on improving expectations for sales and hiring. A separate quarterly index tracking small business optimism has climbed to its highest level in five years. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index edged up two-tenths of a […]
A measure of local hotel and motel stays has increased for a third consecutive month. According to a report from the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau for January, $61,014 in lodging taxes were collected. That’s a nearly 11 percent increase over the same month last year. Because lodging tax reports lag a month behind, […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Bolstered in part by holiday business, sales tax collections continue to increase in Grand Junction and Mesa County. The City of Grand Junction reported a 4.1 percent increase in January collections compared to the same month last year. Mesa County reported a 1.9 percent increase in year-over-year collections. The January numbers […]
The pace of job growth in the United States remained well below average for a second straight month even as the unemployment rate edged down to its lowest level in five years. According to the latest Labor Department estimates, nonfarm payrolls increased 113,000 in January. That gain followed an increase of 75,000 in December. Both […]
Economic growth that brought bigger payrolls and more homes sales to Colorado in 2013 is expected to continue through 2014 and beyond. But even as economists remain mostly upbeat in their forecasts, they also remain wary of potential risks that could change the trend. Moreover, the more frugal spending habits of a younger generation strapped […]
Construction continues at Colorado Mesa University with two projects to expand and renovate a recreation center as well as erect a new residence hall. The CMU Board of Trustees approved nearly $33 million worth of new work on the Grand Junction campus. A $19.6 million project will expand and renovate the Maverick Center and include […]