Lodging tax collections in Grand Junction have increased on a year-over-year basis for the first time in seven months, although year-to-date collections continue to lag behind 2012. According to the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau report for July, $140,567 in lodging taxes were collected. That total was not only the largest so far this […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Sales tax collections in the City of Grand Junction and Mesa County have increased for two straight months. But given what was previously a long downward trend, government administrators hope only that collections in 2013 match those in 2012 by the end of this year. “We’re hoping for flat,” said […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Doug Simons Jr. and Jim Simons grew up in the family candy business. As children, the brothers boxed products and waited on customers. And when they had the opportunity, they’d invite their friends to join in a sweet binge. But now that they’re older, the brothers have assumed far more […]
Doug Simons can do the math. While hundreds of thousands of people taste the almond toffee and other confections his Grand Junction company manufactures in a given year, that number remains a slim fraction of a potential market counted in the hundreds of millions. So it only makes sense to the president and co-owner of […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Jon Labrum recalls fond memories of time spent with friends roller skating and bowling — not only as a child, but also an adult. It’s the same kind of memories Labrum hopes to create at a new family entertainment center in Grand Junction with which he’s involved. In fact, Labrum […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times A monster month for real estate activity has improved prospects for continued recovery in the Mesa County market. Large year-over-year gains were reported in July for both transactions and dollar volume, pushing year-to-date numbers for 2013 well past those for 2012. What’s more, the latest numbers reflect declining property foreclosure […]
The pace of job growth in the United States has slowed even as the unemployment rate has edged down. According to Labor Department estimates, nonfarm payrolls grew 162,000 in July, the smallest gain in four months. Moreover, initial estimates for jobs gains in June and May were revised downward a total of 26,000. Counting the […]
Edward Jones, HopeWest and JG Management Systems rank among the best companies to work for in Colorado in the latest results of annual recognition program based on employee surveys. Edward Jones, a national financial services firm that operates offices in the Grand Valley, ranked first among large companies in the 2013 Best Companies to Work […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times With just a few swipes of a fingertip across the screen of his iPad, Bill Baird edits videos of his daughter competing in a swim meet and a thunderstorm raging over the Grand Valley. A slow-motion effect turns a quick flip turn in the pool into a detailed analysis of […]
A monthly index tracking business conditions in Colorado has slipped again, but continues to forecast growth during the second half of the year. The Business Conditions Index fell nearly four points in July, but at 54.8 remains well above growth-neutral 50. “Nondurable and durable goods producers, especially those linked to construction and vehicle manufacturing, are […]