Phil Castle, The Business Times The Business Incubator Center will soon open a satellite operation in Fruita to assist existing businesses as well as help launch new ventures. Jon Maraschin, executive director of the center, said the operation should open within weeks on the second floor of the Civic Center, located at 325 E. Aspen […]
A monthly index forecasting economic performance in the United States remains unchanged, but continues to signal growth. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index (LEI) held steady at 95.3 in June. Over the past six months, however, the index has increased 1.7 percent. Separate measures of current and past economic performances increased in […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times An energy research park in Houston and the collaboration between industry and academia there offer inspiration for what could be a similar operation in Mesa County, albeit on a much smaller scale. “There’s potential for at least some part of that here,” said Michael Burke, a lawyer who serves as […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The Colorado economy has performed better than expected with improving job growth and increased residential construction and tourism activity, according to a mid-year update prepared at the University of Colorado. While the update doesn’t include a breakdown for geographical areas, a number of the trends could portend improving conditions for […]
Small businesses across Western Colorado are eligible for low-interest federal disaster loans to help offset losses related to drought. Mesa County is among 14 Colorado counties included in a primary area declared an agricultural disaster area because of a drought conditions. Delta, Garfield, Montrose and Rio Blanco also are included in that area. Another 24 […]
Monthly lodging tax collections in Grand Junction have increased to their highest level so far this year, but continue to lag behind what was collected last year. According to the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau report for June, $140,185 in lodging taxes were collected, by far the highest monthly total this year. Compared to […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times A nearly year-long slide in sales tax collections in the Grand Valley is over — at least for a month. The City of Grand Junction and Mesa County both reported year-over-year gains in June, offering a measure of hope among government administrators a source of funding and indicator of retail […]
Kelly Sloan, The Business Times Several recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings have implications for businesses in limiting class-action and harassment lawsuits. The pro-business rulings contrast with legislation enacted earlier this year in Colorado, including a law that makes it easier to sue even the small firms. “In this case, we can see a sharp difference […]
Kelly Sloan, The Business Times Public comments will be accepted through July 31 on an environmental assessment of plans to drill more than 100 oil wells south of Palisade. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management recently completed its preliminary environmental assessment of a proposal submitted by Fram Operating to drill oil wells on 12 pads […]
Kelly Sloan, The Business Times County and municipal governments in Northwest Colorado demand the federal government not hold them liable if money paid for leases on the Roan Plateau and in part distributed to them and spent must be refunded because energy development on the plateau doesn’t occur. The Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado (AGNC) […]