Real estate activity slowed in Mesa County during February with a decline not only in the number of sales, but also the dollar volume of those transactions. Nonetheless, some real estate agents report increases in listings, showings and even closings — what they consider hopeful signs conditions could be improving. Still, a substantial recovery depends […]
A monthly measure of labor trends keeps rising, forecasting continued job growth, albeit at a modest pace. The Conference Board reported that its Employment Trends Index (ETI) rose 1.6 points in February to 101.7. With gains in each of the last five months, the ETI has advanced more than 8 percent in the last year. […]
The U.S. unemployment rate continues to fall even as payrolls increase. According to the latest Labor Department estimates, the national jobless rate fell to 8.9 percent in February, the lowest level since April 2009. At the same time, nonfarm payrolls increased 192,000, the largest monthly gain since June 2010. With declines in each of the […]
Aspiring entrepreneurs might have the good ideas and work ethic it takes to succeed, but don’t know quite how to get started. Bill Tiefenback wants to help. “If they don’t know how to do it, we can help them do it,” said Tiefenback, a serial entrepreneur who’s operated six businesses over the course of a […]
Federal policy must encourage the development of conventional as well as renewable energy sources to counter the growing risk the United States won’t keep pace with increasing demand. “America is headed toward a level of energy security risk not seen in decades,” said Christopher Guith, vice president for policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce […]
Coal constitutes a “workhorse” fuel that’s expected to continue to account for more than 40 percent of electrical generation in the United States over the next two decades. But a flurry of proposed regulations could hobble that horse — along with the ability of the country to keep pace with growing energy demand, said Jason […]
Tony Dammer expects his company to soon begin extracting oil from oil shale formations in Utah, a small part of what he deems a “tremendous resource” that offers the potential to wean the United States off imported supplies. With an estimated 1.5 trillion barrels of oil locked in shale deposits in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming […]
United Way of Mesa County fell short of its latest fund-raising goal, but still collected more than $1 million and involved more employees in workplace campaigns in the process. United Way announced at its 2010-2011 campaign celebration on Feb. 24 that it had raised $1,081,035. That total is about 90 percent of the $1.2 million […]
Jeff Franklin soon will become president of two Bank of Colorado branches in Grand Junction, suceeding Chris Launer, who’s retiring. Launer expects to retire effective March 31. His retirement will end a 38-year career in banking, 18 of that with Bank of Colorado. In addition to his role with the bank, Launer has served with […]
A research project is under way to quantify the economic effects of a business district along Horizon Drive in Grand Junction. “We want to understand both the composition and effects the Horizon Drive District has on the regional economy,” said Lynne Sorlye, general manager of the Clarion Inn and a director of the district board. […]