Free guidebook covers estate planning basics

A free guidebook offering revised information about estate planning and assisted living is available from a Grand Junction lawyer. The guidebook, prepared by the law office of Billie M. Castle, covers the basics of wills and trusts as well as advance directives, long-term care planning, Medicaid eligibility and probates. In addition, the guidebook includes an […]

Outdoor supplier donates $20,000 to Grand Valley groups

An outdoor equipment and sporting goods store has donated a total of $20,000 to four Grand Valley organizations as part of an annual nationwide grant program to preserve and maintain natural spaces through active volunteer programs. Recreation Equipment Inc. (REI) donated $5,000 grants to the Colorado Canyons Association, Colorado National Monument Association, Colorado Plateau Mountain […]

Mesa County hires new IT director

A man who managed information technology systems for colleges and universities around the country, soon will begin working as the new director of the Mesa County Information Technology Department. Frank Whidden is expected to begin his new position Aug. 22. Mesa County Administrator Chantal Unfug announced Whidden’s selection. “Frank has the expertise to guide our […]

Lawyer selected to oversee state economic development efforts

A Denver lawyer long involved in business transactions has been selected to oversee economic development efforts for the state of Colorado. Ken Lund is the new executive director of the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). Lund previously served as chief legal counsel for Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper. Lund will remain a member […]

Name change official: It’s Colorado Mesa University

It’s official: Mesa State College is now Colorado Mesa University. A state law authorizing the change took effect Aug. 10. Staff, faculty and students at the university joined community members in celebrating the change the day before at a grand opening ceremony at Houston Hall, where a project expanded and renovated the first building on […]

Labor and housing slumps continue in Grand Junction, while state recovery lags

Grand Junction has suffered some of the worst downturns in the labor and housing markets in a state that continues to lag behind the nation in economic recovery. A number of factors continue to hamper the Grand Junction economy, including lower educational attainment levels and household incomes, according to Scott Anderson and Ed Kashmarek, economists […]

Governor pitches blueprint for economic development

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper launched a statewide grassroots economic development initiative in the Grand Valley and returned here to promote the results of the effort. “Where better than to do it it here?” Hickenlooper said during a stop at Lewis Engineering, a precision machining, assembly and design firm in Grand Junction. Hickenlooper toured the facility […]

Brainstorming session focuses on business growth

A continued effort to interview Mesa County business owners to identify and help them overcome barriers to growth ranked among the most popular plans to come out of the latest in a series of economic development brainstorming sessions. “There were all kinds of ideas,” said Diane Schwenke, president and chief executive officer of the Grand […]

Real estate sales move higher, but dollar volume trends lower

While one measure of real estate activity in Mesa County movers higher, another measure continues to decline. According to figures compiled by Annette Miller, senior vice president of Heritage Title Co. in Grand Junction, 235 real estate transactions worth a combined $48.32 million were reported in Mesa County during July. The number of transactions was […]

Small business index slides for a fourth straight month

A monthly index tracking conditions for small businesses in Colorado continues to decline as weakening global and national economies affect the state. “It’s unfortunate that the inherent strength of the Colorado economy, like many of its neighbors, is held back by external political and economic developments,” said Jeff Thredgold, a corporate economist who calculates the […]