At least one measure of economic performance indicates recovery could be gaining traction in Mesa County. According to its November report, sales and use tax collections for Mesa County were up 7.59 percent over the same report last year. That’s the largest year-over-year proportional gain since December 2007, when collections were up nearly 39 percent […]
Plans to change the operations of Xcel Energy power plants to reduce emissions has sparked a debate over the potential effects in Western Colorado. Depending on who’s talking, the changes could bolster natural gas production in the region, but at the expense of coal mining jobs. But Fred Eggleston, for one, believes the effects won’t […]
Mesa County commissioners have cut the 2011 budget by more than 9 percent to keep pace with projected revenue declines. The commissioners approved a net budget of nearly $130 million for 2011, a reduction of more than 9 percent compared to the adopted budget for 2010. Over the past three years, the commissioners have cut […]
City of Grand Junction reports fifth consecutive monthly increase in collections If sales tax collections are any indication of economic recovery in Mesa County, such a recovery seems to be getting stronger as the days run their course for 2010. The November sales tax report indicates Mesa County’s collections were up 7.59 percent over the […]
A measure of future economic activity in the United States has increased for a fifth straight month, a sign the recovery could be gaining traction. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index (LEI) climbed to 112.4 in November, up 1.1 percent. With a collective gain of 1 percent for October and September, the […]
The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County has bounced back to its highest level in eight months. According to the latest estimate from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the unadjusted jobless rate in the county spiked seven-tenths to 9.8 percent in November. That’s the highest level since hitting 10.3 percent in March. For […]
Dale Beede believes his Grand Junction real estate firm remains well-positioned to take advantage of what he expects will be improving commercial and residential markets in 2011. A number of changes will help, Beede said, including a new management structure. Olan Clark has become the adminstrative broker for Coldwell Banker Home Owners Realty as well […]
Installation soon should be complete on a solar energy system at the Wine Country Inn. The photovoltaic system is being installed on the main guest house of the hotel complex in Palisade and is expected to reduce electricity costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions. “The owners decided that it made good economic as well […]
The latest results of a quarterly survey of small business owners reflect improving expectations for cash flow, revenues and capital spending. Assessments of both present conditions and future expectations were more upbeat in the Wells Fargo and Gallup Small Business Index for the fourth quarter. “The improvement in optimism among small business owners appears to […]
A monthly index tracking conditions for small businesses in Colorado has climbed to its highest level in nearly five years as the slowing pace of job losses buoys prospects for recovery. The Vectra Bank Colorado Small Business Index (SBI) rose more than two points in November to 105.8. With gains in each of the last […]