If there’s a common denominator to recent business stories, its the growing realization it’s could take a more concerted effort to yank Western Colorado out of its economic doldrums. Years after the official end to the Great Recession, the region continues to lag behind other areas of the state and country in recovering. It’s not […]
The end of one year naturally prompts a look ahead to the next year. Unfortunately for some business owners and managers who’ve struggled through a slow economic recovery in the Grand Valley, it’s something like a welcome gasp of relief sucked through teeth clinched tight in terror. OK, we survived that. Now what? As usual, […]
To pose a question from the lyrics of a popular 1980s movie theme song: “Who you gonna call?” When it comes to enlisting assistance in keeping their operations running in Mesa County, small business owners and managers actually have a lot of choices among members of a coalition of organizations and entities promoting economic development. […]
There’s a not-so-subtle theme in many of the stories published in this issue of the Business Times. While the result was unintentional, it’s no less clear or surprising: For better or worse, the federal government exerts tremendous influence over business. Even as Western Slope officials and business leaders worry about the economic effects of proposed […]
There are any number of good reasons to vote against Amendment 66, the ballot initiative that would increase Colorado income taxes to generate additional revenue for public education. The fact the ballot measure would amend the Colorado Constitution rather than state statutes and therefore make it difficult to address unintended consequences constitutes by itself a […]
Oil shale development in Western Colorado has posed a challenging puzzle to say the least. Even after investing millions upon millions of dollars and decades of research into various methods of extracting kerogen from shale formations without having to simply mine and process the rock, the efforts have yet to result in commercial-shale production. Shell […]
Statistics continue to tell what could be called a tale of two cities in contrasting the differences between Denver and Grand Junction. It would be a stretch to say it’s the best of times or the worst of times. That’s certainly not the case. Nonetheless, there’s little doubt Grand Junction and Mesa County lag behind […]
There’s nothing better than an entrepreneurial success story. Such stories serve not only to affirm the realization of the American dream, but also offer inspiration and instruction to those who pursue their own accomplishments. Here in Western Colorado, one of the best entrepreneurial success stories of all recounts the exploits of four brothers who founded […]
There’s growing interest in Congress in decreasing the corporate tax rate to increase the competitiveness of U.S. businesses strapped with highest tax rate among developed countries. That’s a laudable effort well worth pursuing. At the same time, though, what can be even higher individual income tax rates for many small business owners hasn’t received similar […]
Of all the indicators that offer insights into the economy, few illicit as much interest as wages. Understandably so. Wages constitute the largest collective expense for most businesses. Moreover, people just naturally want to know how their own paychecks compare with what others take home elsewhere. So what do the latest numbers have to say […]