How do I love living in the Grand Valley? Let me count the ways, although they’re nearly innumerable.

Forced to pick just a few, I’d start with the scenic beauty. The Book Cliffs stretch across the north as far as the eye can see. The Grand Mesa amasses in the east to a top that appears from a distance as flat and level as a pool table. The canyons and slickrock splendor of the Colorado National Monument lie to the west and south. Better still, all that beauty awaits only a short distance away for adventures as varied as the landscape.

There’s also what I contend remains the Goldilocks size of the area — not too big and not too small. Big enough to offer all the amenities, yet small enough to engender a sense of community. Traffic seems as though it’s becoming a bit more congested. Doesn’t it? Try to keep in mind most commutes are still measured in minutes rather than hours.

Then there’s the extensive health care infrastructure in place in the Grand Valley. I’d prefer to never have to take advantage of it. But it’s assuring nonetheless to know it’s there.

As is so often the case with a set of attributes, one has everything to do with the others. Now I’m writing about the role of the local health care sector in promoting not only physical and mental well-being, but also economic well-being.

All this comes to mind with a report quantifying the economic contributions of Community Hospital in Grand Junction and five other independent hospitals in Western Colorado. According to the research division of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, Community Hospital contributed $971.4 million between 2019 and 2022 and $284.8 million in 2022 alone. Those numbers take into account direct, indirect and induced contributions. Every dollar Community Hospital spends produces an overall economic effect of $1.72.

A separate analysis conducted by Nathan Perry, an economics professor at Colorado Mesa University, determined St. Mary’s Regional Hospital contributes $443.4 million a year to the Mesa County economy.

Here’s yet another number to consider. The health care and social assistance sector accounts for 12.5 percent of the overall economy in Mesa County.

That proportion is so large in part because the workforce of the sector is so large. St. Mary’s, Community Hospital and the Veterans Affairs health care system rank among the largest employers in the county. For 2022, Mesa County reported a higher concentration of hospital employment compared to the nation. Hospitals also tend to pay slightly higher wages — an average annual wage of $78,453 in Colorado in 2022.

If, heaven forbid, you twist or break something while hiking or biking in an outdoors that really is great, quality health care awaits close by. It’s the same for other injuries and illnesses, including those more serious. But remember: An industry dedicated to promoting a healthy population also promotes a healthy economy.

What’s not to love about that?

Phil Castle is editor of the Business Times. Reach him at (970) 424-5133 or
phil@thebusinesstimes.com.