Sixty years. The BIG SIX-OH. As in, oh my God, that’s old. Depending on when you read this, I’ve either nearly reached that milestone or just whizzed past. And I use the word milestone in the general sense of a marker and not in the specific sense of a significant event. I harbor no illusions. […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Stephen Smith has demonstrated for more than 30 years that while oil and water don’t mix, oil and wine definitely do. Even as Smith managed his energy development business, he grew his vineyards and winery into one of the largest operations in Colorado. Sitting in a second-floor office at Grande […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Jonathan Kamins looks around the vacant space inside a Grand Junction building and sees desks. He sees conference rooms and comfortable furnishings for people to relax and talk. More than anything, Kamins said he sees the potential for a coworking space to accommodate entrepreneurs and startups. “We have a great opportunity.” […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser believes his office can play a role in helping businesses, promoting economic development and addressing problems. “I’m a big believer in what we can do in Colorado,” Weiser said during a wide-ranging discussion with local government officials and business leaders at the offices of the […]
I’m perfectly content, honored even, with my title as editor of the Business Times. Although editor of a one-man news staff isn’t nearly as impressive as it sounds and necessarily requires a lot more than editing. Like reporting, writing and hauling out the trash. But I’ll admit it. I’ve long aspired to something my beloved […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The June jobless rate jumped again in Mesa County — a seasonal increase that reflects in part the high school and college graduates who’ve joined the labor force, but haven’t yet landed jobs. But even as the monthly unemployment rate increased, so did the overall labor force in topping 78,000 […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Diane Schwenke and Robin Brown welcome the 27 jobs coming to the Grand Valley as part of a reorganization of the Bureau of Land Management. What’s even more important in terms of the long-term implications, Schwenke and Brown said, is what’s coming with them, and that’s the headquarters of the […]
At the risk of losing both my newspaper columnist certificate suitable for framing and secret decoder ring, it’s time to divulge yet another trick of the trade. Alert readers might recall my helpful column about dealing with writer’s block. When columnists believe they’re suffering from writer’s block and can’t think of anything to write about, […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Low housing inventories continue to slow real estate transactions in Mesa County, but nothing yet portends a significant market downturn. “I’m definitely not running scared here,” said Lynn Thompson, president of Bray Real Estate in Grand Junction. Annette Miller, the senior vice president of Heritage Title Co. in Grand Junction, […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County has slipped below 3 percent for only the second time in more than 12 years. The lower jobless rate and growing labor force constitute two encouraging trends, said Curtis Englehart, director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. “Those are two […]