Phil Castle, The Business Times

Registration remains open for an event organizers expect to not only address some of the most  pressing issues businesses face, but also offer provide information about resources available to help them.

The Mesa County Workforce Summit is set for 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Colorado Mesa University Center ballroom in Grand Junction.

Lindsay Bullock, manager of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction, said the summit is one result of a strategic plan to reach out to local businesses and help them with their workforce needs.

The idea, Bullock said, is to “get everybody in the room” to discuss workforce issues as well as the resources available to address those issues. Most of those resources are free. But not every business owner and manager is aware of them.

Employers face challenges in filling the pipeline of qualified applicants as well as bridging skill gaps in the workplace, Bullock said. That’s not to mention the cost of workforce development.

Programs and services are available to help, she said. They include apprenticeships, internships and on-the-job training. CMU Tech offers a range of programs as well as customized training. The Mesa County Workforce Center provides financial assistance in covering the wages paid to interns and those receiving on-the-job training .

The response to the summit has been enthusiastic, she said. “We’ve had a lot of great feedback and excitement.”

Bullock also said she was grateful for the sponsors that will support the summit. Grand Junction Federal Credit Union serves as the title sponsor for the event, while CMU serves as the venue sponsor. Community Hospital is the keynote sponsor, the Colorado Workforce Development Council the breakfast sponsor and FCI Constructors the lunch sponsor.

CMU President John Marshall will deliver the opening keynote address.

A series of breakout sessions will cover such topics as apprenticeships, employee health care, legal issues, skills-based hiring and training. Another presentation will offer a information about workforce development programs and resources.

A networking session will precede lunch and a second keynote presentation.

Tom Slefinger, senior vice president and director of institutional fixed income  for Alloya Investment Services, will deliver the lunch address. Slefinger is expected to cover a range of topics, including the credit cycle, employment, housing, monetary policy and wage growth.

Individual tickets to the Mesa County Workforce Summit sell for $55. Table sponsorships, which include eight tickets, sell for $400. Admission includes breakfast and lunch. Tickets and more information are available at https://mcwfc.us/2024-workforce-summit or by contacting Lindsay Bullock at (970) 248-7562 or Lindsay.Bullock@mesacounty.us.