Latest labor estimates reflect only small changes in market

The latest national labor estimates reflect little change in the United States with payrolls down and unemployment up, but only by slight amounts. The Labor Department estimated that nonfarm payrolls shrank 54,000 in August as temporary jobs ended for more census workers and declines in government and manufacturing employment offset gains in other industry sectors. […]

Mesa State unveils sign of support for nursing programs

Phil Castle Business Times One of the busiest lecture halls for nursing students at Mesa State College now bears the name of a Grand Junction-based organization that long has supported the college and its nursing programs. A new plaque designates the large classroom in the Maverick Center as the Rocky Mountain Health Plans Lecture Hall. […]

Jobless rate holds steady in Mesa County

The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County held steady in July with only slight changes in the overall work force and the number of those counted as unsuccessfully looking for jobs. According to the latest estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the unadjusted jobless rate remained unchanged at 9.5 percent. That […]

Colorado ag exports increase during first half

Exports of agricultural products from Colorado continue to grow with increased shipments of beef leading the way. The value of agricultural exports from the state totaled $508.9 million through the first half of 2010, a 27 percent increase over the same span last year, according to statistics reported by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. For […]

Colorado wine industry matures

Naomi Shepherd-Smith recalls a time when the fledgling Colorado wine industry was something of a novelty and some tourists were more interested in taking home a bottle with a Colorado label than drinking what was inside. But like the fine wines its produces, the industry since has matured, says Shepherd-Smith, manager and co-owner of Grande […]

Grand Valley bike parks among finalists for $250,000 grant

A Western Colorado mountain bike organization is among the finalists for a $250,000 grant to help fund the construction of three bike parks. Online voting to determine the winner in the Pepsi Refresh America campaign will continue through Aug. 31 at the Web site located at www.refresheverything.com/bikeparks. It’s also possible to vote by cell phone by […]

Agritourism workshop planned for Grand Junction

A workshop on agritourism is scheduled for Sept. 11 in Grand Junction. The full-day workshop is planned for the Mesa County Fairgrounds. The registration fee is $25 per person, which includes lunch and resource materials. The registration deadline is Sept. 7. The workshop will feature sessions on liability, identifying markets, managing risk, community and regulatory […]

Construction under way on addition to VA medical center

Construction is under way on an addition to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Grand Junction. The 31,000 square-foot surgical facility will be built on top of an existing two-story clinic and tie into the third floor of the seven-floor inpatient tower at the center. The $11 million project is scheduled for completion in July. […]

Midstream investments portend growth in natural gas activity

It’s no secret energy companies have a big effect on the Western Colorado economy. An energy boom in the Piceance Basin that extended through the fourth quarter of 2008 helped delay the effects of the Great Recession that hit the nation in 2007. And when the number of natural gas drill rigs dropped by 70 […]