Phil Castle, The Business Times

Pressed to succinctly assess the efforts of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Curtis Englehart settles on two words: positive momentum. After scoring five of what he terms wins — business relocations or expansions — in the fourth quarter of 2022, the executive director of the economic development organization holds out even higher hopes for 2023. “We are poised for some really big wins.”

Englehart bases his great expectations on not only momentum, but also proactive recruitment and innovative marketing as well as the strength of relationships forged with local, state and federal partners. What’s more, he says Mesa County offers businesses a lot to like with an educated work force, available land and buildings and high quality of life.

Those tailwinds should blow stronger than what he anticipates as the headwinds of higher interest rates and the risk of recession. “Overall, we feel like there’s really strong activity.”

Seated in his office in downtown Grand Junction, the bright sunlight shining through the window belying the cold February afternoon just outside, Englehart reviews what he says has been a rewarding seven months.

He left a position as director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in August to take on a role with what he says are similar objectives in helping businesses and the community succeed. He says he wasn’t necessarily looking for a new job, but strives to run toward opportunities when they arise. “It’s just been a really great transition. It really has. It’s been a good fit for me.”

He credited the staff at GJEP and it’s board of directors for their support. “We have a solid team.”

While work force development and economic development go hand in hand and Englehart says he’s long worked with those involved in both, there was a lot to learn about various incentives for business relocations and expansions. That’s not to mention the process of vetting businesses interested in Mesa County to make sure a good fit will result in long-term success.

Englehart also had to complete the team at GJEP. Steve Jozefczyk transitioned from interim director back to deputy director. Matt Bell continued working as business development manager.

Englehart brought in Selena Sanchez as director of marketing and communications and Karen Mahoney as office manager. They were hired, Englehart says, not only because of their skills, but also their fit with the organization and alignment with its objectives.

The staff set a goal for the fourth quarter and exceeded that goal with a total of five business relocations and expansions, he says.

That brought the total for 2022 to seven wins and nine assists —  cases in which GJEP helped businesses in some way.

GJEP efforts for the year resulted in 83 actual jobs created paying an average annual salary of $56,244 — well above the annual average of $50,000 for Mesa County. There’s the potential for a total of an additional 333 jobs as businesses add to their staffs.

The efforts also resulted in total capital expenditures of more than $4 million.

The wins included EquipmentShare, a construction technology company that expanded into the Grand Junction area. EquipmentShare alone created 13 new jobs with an average annual salary of $50,000 and spent $3 million in purchasing a building. MotoMinded, a motorcycle lighting and accessories manufacturer, relocated from Colorado Springs. Spares in Motion, a global wind turbine parts and repair company, opened its first North American location.

Taking into account the jobs and capital expenditures, the economic effects of GJEP assistance with relocations and expansions totaled nearly $15.7 million in 2022. That means every $1 invested in GJEP returned $20.

The numbers are some of the highest for the organization in the last seven years, Englehart says.

The goals are even higher for 2023, however, he says. Not only 10 wins, but also wins involving bigger companies and 50 to 100 additional jobs.

The pipeline of prospects is full, including those that already have been approved to receive incentives. Additional prospects will be generated through more proactive recruiting efforts, innovative marketing efforts and strategic participation in trade shows, he says. That will include the Australian International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition.

At the same time, work will continue to strengthen relationships not only with prospects, but also the local, state and federal entities involved in economic development.

Englehart says he’s encouraged about the coming year. It comes down to two words: positive momentum.