Even after nearly 25 years in the business of writing about business, I’m amazed anew by the resources and opportunities available in the Grand Valley.

My latest realizations occurred as I interviewed the new director of the Small Business Development Center in Grand Junction and attended a news conference at Colorado Mesa University announcing an effort to essentially offer free higher education to qualifying low-income students in Western Colorado. Although the two events aren’t connected, they’re still pieces of a proverbial puzzle. Assembled, that puzzle provides a picture of an enticing place in which to do business.

Tracy Baker brings a decade of varied experiences to her latest role as director of the SBDC. But while she previously toiled nearly single-handedly to help businesses across a far-flung region of southeast Montana, she joins in Grand Junction an operation with a larger facility and the staffing to deliver a range of services. Her assessment less than a week into her new job? “This is the most awesome place I’ve ever worked.”

The network of SBDCs across the United States and Colorado provides free and lost-cost counseling and training on all aspects of starting and growing businesses. In Grand Junction, the SBDC is housed in the Business Incubator Center, part of a facility that offers such additional resources as low-cost space, a commercial kitchen and revolving loan fund. Consider it a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs and business owners starting and growing their ventures.

Meanwhile, what’s billed as the CMU Promise will fully cover tuition for Western Colorado students from lower- to middle-income households who attend CMU or CMU Tech. That covers students from 22 Western Slope counties from households that earn $65,000 or less a year. Starting this fall, CMU and CMU Tech will help qualified students through a combination of assistance that will include federal and state grants, various scholarships and government and private contributions.

In other words, CMU and CMU Tech just demolished the financial barriers preventing students from pursuing higher education.

Quality education addresses a number of problems, among them meeting demand for qualified employees. CMU already plays an essential role in that process. Consider then, the ramifications of efforts to make higher education even more accessible in Western Colorado. It’s a boon for business.

I could go on and on about still other resources provided by the Mesa County Workforce Center, Grand Junction Economic Partnership, Mesa County Libraries, local chambers of commerce and other organizations.

Savvy business leaders take full advantage of every opportunity afforded them to improve their operations — to provide better products and services faster and at lower costs. They seek out ways to make their jobs easier.

Fortunately, there’s no excuse in the Grand Valley not to. Take my word for it. The resources and opportunities are amazing.

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