Phil Castle, The Business Times

Mesa County has evolved from a place that once lagged behind other areas of Colorado into one of the top locations in the state and nation for growth and economic development.

The collaboration of local stakeholders has played a key role in the transformation. But so has the assistance of state partners, said Eve Lieberman, executive director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. “We are committed to working with you.”

Delivering the keynote address at the Western Colorado Economic Summit in Grand Junction, Lieberman reviewed economic development efforts in Mesa County as well as the various resources available to support those efforts.

“There’s much to celebrate in Grand Junction and Mesa County,” she said.

The regional economy has diversified, she said, with growing health care, outdoor recreation and technology sectors. That’s not to mention the contributions of Colorado Mesa University.

The also area remains a popular tourism destination, she said, noting that Grand Junction made a list of 52 places to go in 2023 published in the New York Times.

Challenges persist, Lieberman said, among them affordable housing and workplace development.

But the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and other state agencies offer support, she said.

She cited as one example a total of $1.7 million in state and local incentives to support the expansion of West Star Aviation operations at the Grand Junction Regional Airport. The package included $1.45 million in Colorado job growth incentive tax credits that will be paid out over an eight-year period as West Star adds staffing related to the expansion.

She cited as another example the Rural Jump-Start Program offering tax incentives to companies creating additional jobs.

ProStar, a Grand Junction-based mapping software company, was the first to receive approval to participate in the program.

ProStar was the first company in the state to complete a four-year term under the Rural Jump-Start Program and subsequently received a four-year extension. ProStar also received grants promoting advanced industries in Colorado, Lieberman said.

ProStar provides precision mapping software to capture, record and display the precise locations of utilities, pipelines and other buried infrastructure. The firm is the first publicly traded company with headquarters in Western Colorado.

There are other success stories to tell, Lieberman said, including partnerships between CMU and St. Mary’s Medical Center and the efforts of the Business Incubator Center and Small Business Development Center.

Challenges persist in providing more affordable housing and ensuring the work force meets industry demands, she said.

But more opportunities await, she said, including the availability of federal funding to promote semiconductor manufacturing and other high-tech industries.

It’s important for economic development stakeholders to continue to work together, Lieberman said. “Your story demonstrates the power of collaboration.”

But resources are available from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and other state agencies to help, she said. “Your success is our success.”