An organization that in 2022 alone helped launch 26 new businesses and create 421 full-time jobs has received additional acclaim for its efforts.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert returned to the Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction for a congressional recognition event.

“The work you do for the Western Slope is indispensable,” said Boebert, a Republican whose 3rd District covers the region. “You have changed the lives of people for the better, and I cannot thank you enough for what you do.”

Dalida Sassoon Bollig, chief executive officer of the Business Incubator Center, thanked Boebert on behalf of the staff and board of directors.

“We are honored and humbled to receive this award. It is a testament to the passion and dedication with which we serve our community and support entrepreneurs and small businesses,” Bollig said. “Our commitment to economic development runs deep, and we take immense pride in guiding and empowering our local talents every step of the way. Together, we will continue fostering innovation and creating a brighter future for all.”

Bollig also cited support the center receives from Mesa County, the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita and town of Palisade.

The Business Incubator Center offers a range of services and programs in a single location. The Small Business Development Center offers free and low-cost counseling and classes. The incubator program and commercial kitchen offers low-cost space and shared services for businesses. The GJmakerspace at the center offers space, equipment and resources to entrepreneurs, inventors and others for product development, prototyping and manufacturing.

The center also operates FWorks, a coworking space located on the second floor of the Fruita Civic Center.

In addition, the center manages a revolving loan fund offering access to capital to small businesses as well as a program offering tax credits for capital projects.

Since it opened in 1987, the Business Incubator Center has helped more than 600 businesses start, in turn creating more than 10,000 jobs.

Clients come from a variety of industry sectors, including agriculture, construction, education, food and beverages, manufacturing and services.

Valkyrie Recovery Systems was among the clients at the center cited as part of congressional recognition. The company manufactures parachutes and other fabric recovery systems for the space and aerospace industries.

According to an annual report for 2020, the Business Incubator Center served a total of 369 clients through various programs. That included 26 business startups. The center assisted in creating 421 jobs. While Mesa County accounts for about 2 percent of the population of Colorado, the county accounts for 11 percent of business starts in the state.

A total of 71 businesses operated on the center campus in 2022. Another 15 businesses graduated from programs there and continued operations in the community.

The Business Loan fund of Mesa County issued 22 small business loans worth a total of $1.84 million in 2022. Those loans helped leverage an additional $1.4 million in funding.

The Mesa County Enterprise Zone program issued more than $2.1 million in state tax credits to private businesses and nearly $1.4 million to nonprofit organizations. The program is part of a statewide effort encouraging business development in areas of economic distress by offering state tax credits for everything from creating new jobs and buying equipment to rehabilitating vacant buildings. Tax credits also are available to donors who contribute to approved projects.

Bollig said the congressional recognition validates efforts at the center and inspires continued work. “Thank you for this recognition, which only fuels our determination to make a lasting impact.”

The Business Incubator Center is located at 2591 Legacy Way in Grand Junction. For more information about programs and services offered there, visit https://gjincubator.org or call 243-5242.