n More impressed
Interim city manager Andrea Phillips says she’s more impressed the more she learns about Grand Junction.
n Crafty struggle
A Grand Valley entrepreneur hasn’t yet given up on her idea of establishing an online marketplace for arts and crafts.
2 2 5
Four Grand Junction firms are among the finalists for the Colorado Companies to Watch awards program for 2024.
n Retreating rate
The monthly jobless rate fell for a second straight month in Mesa County as seasonal hiring heated up.
n Taxing matters
Sales tax collections, a measure of retail activity, continue to trend upward on a year-over-year basis.
n Pooling efforts
Platforms like LinkedIn offer benefits in recruiting for specialized roles in areas with shallow talent pools.
“more impressed” in the midst of her crash course
Andrea Phillips is enrolled in something of a crash course on the operations of the City of Grand Junction and the various partners with which the city works.
Since she started working as interim city manager on April 8, Phillips said she’s met with city staff, community leaders and residents. She’s asked a lot of questions and focused on the answers.
“I’m really trying to listen,” she said during a sit-down interview with the Business Times at Grand Junction City Hall.
Phillips said she was attracted to Grand Junction in part because of the programs, projects and other efforts under way to address various issues.“Grand Junction seems to be on the cutting edge of a lot of things.”
Less than two months into her new job, she said the city has lived up to that billing and then some. “I’m actually more impressed every day.”
Phillips succeeds Greg Caton, who resigned earlier this year after working eight years as Grand Junction city manager. Caton was selected as assistant city manager for the City of Scottsdale, Ariz.
A search will be conducted for a permanent city manager in Grand Junction. Phillips said she won’t be involved in that process, but likely will apply for the position.
Phillips brings to her role as interim manager experience as manager of the Town of Pagosa Springs for six years and manager of the Town of Mancos for four years. Before moving to southwest Colorado, she worked in positions in the finance department for the City of Columbus in Ohio.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Colorado and master’s degree in public See MANAGER page 10
Krystyn Hartman wore a jester’s hat crafted by a friend in Fruita when Hartman testified to a committee of the Colorado Legislature. She said the hat represented part of a global handicrafts market worth more than $800 billion.
(Photo courtesy Krystyn Hartman)
Olivia Larson
the
livia Larson draws inspiration from a variety of sources. Memories of her childhood growing up in India. Imagining what it might be like to visit Monet’s garden in France or walk through a rain forest in Australia.
Larson combines the many natural ingredients of those experiences — the spices, flowers and other plants — into the fragrances she creates at La Fleur by Livvy, the artisan perfumery she operates in Grand Junction.
She makes it her business, in fact, to create and sell perfumes, soaps and candles online and from her downtown shop. She’s gained recognition for her efforts in the process — most recently the New Luxury Award bestowed by the International Perfume Foundation.
Larson says her fragrances have won awards before, but the New Luxury Award is the most prestigious. La Fleur by Livvy was one of only two perfumeies to win the award in that category and the only perfumery in the United States to do so.
“It was an incredible honor,” she says.
The award should help promote her fragrances, she says. “In my mind it’s pretty valuable. I think it’s a huge thing.”
See SCENTS page 14
Establishing online marketplace struggle for crafty entrepreneur
Krystyn Hartman isn’t yet willing to give up on her idea of establishing an online marketplace to sell fine arts and crafts.
But the former Grand Junction magazine publisher said she’s frustrated by state legislation she said thwarted her efforts — and by state officials she accused of spreading disinformation to enact the measure.
While artists and crafters might individually operate small businesses, the industry is collectively big business, Hartman said. By one estimate, the global handicrafts market is worth more than $800 billion.
A Grand Valley marketplace could keep more dollars local and serve as a model that could be replicated
elsewhere to support economic development, she said. Moreover, there’s the potential for those kinds of efforts to bring communities together not only to sell and buy goods, but also share news and discuss issues, she said. “One little online marketplace has the ability to build communities.”
Hartman said the idea for an online marketplace originated with her desire to find a place in which to sell her notebook covers, tote bags and other crafts. She said she realized she also could help other artists and at-home crafters sell their wares without the expense and hassle associated with big platforms. But shortly before launching what Hartman branded as Handmade in the Grand Valley, she said she ran into the provisions of state legislation purportedly enacted to curtail organized retail theft, See STRUGGLE page 12
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A panel comprised of officials with Mesa County, the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita and the Town of Palisade discussed a range of issues during the latest State of the Valley presentation organized by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. (Business Times photo by Phil Castle)
Local governments support businesses and a business-friendly environment in a variety of ways, officials say.
But challenges persist that affect businesses, including access to behavioral health services, rising housing costs and issues related to the homeless.
Representatives from Mesa County, the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita and the Town of Grand Junction discussed a range of topics during the latest State of the Valley presentation organized by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.
The speakers included Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis, Mesa County Administrator Pete Baier; Grand Junction Mayor Abe Herman, Grand Junction Interim City Manager Andrea Phillips, Fruita Mayor Matthew Breman, Fruita City Manager Mike Bennet, Palisade Mayor Greg Mikolai and Palisade Town Manager Janet Hawkinson.
Asked to discuss how local governments support business, Breman cited a new building department and streamlined rules in Fruita designed to support development and promote more housing options.
Mikolai cited the introduction of fiber internet services in Palisade.
Herman said the construction of a new community recreation center in Grand Junction will help businesses recruit and retain employees.
Herman also said the City of Grand Junction allocates funding for such economic development partners as the Grand Junction Economic Partnership and Business Incubator Center and also provides financial support for Colorado Mesa University.
Asked to discuss access to behavioral health services, Herman said the city allocated $500,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funds to help graduates of the
Colorado Mesa University masters of social work program repay student loans. Rocky Mountain Health Plans matched that funding to support mental health services. Herman said he expected the effort to attract and retain more behavioral health providers in the Grand Valley.
As for rising housing costs, officials said a variety of efforts are under way to address that issue.
Bennet said a total of more than 1,200 single- and multi-family homes are in the works for Fruita. In addition, 50 town homes will be available as part of a workforce housing development. “Those are significant numbers.”
Herman said the City of Grand Junction is considering a number of efforts, including a down payment assistance program.
Hawkinson said she expects a new land use code under development in Palisade will help keep a variety of housing available.
Davis said lower fees and less red tape help, but the issue is complicated. “There are no perfection solutions. There are just tradeoffs.”
Breman said community involvement is essential in helping governments deal with housing affordability and other issues. “It’s critical to what we do.”
Dealing with the effects of homelessness in practical, but also compassionate, ways poses another challenge, the officials said. “There’s no easy way forward,” Davis said.
Mesa County has tried a proactive approach in connecting people with the services they need, Davis said.
Herman said he hopes a resource center in downtown Grand Junction will help as will additional options for interim housing. Looking ahead to economic development priorities for the next two years, Davis said he was excited about progress on a 29 Road interchange with Intestate Highway 70. “I think that is just huge.”
Four Grand Junction companies are among the latest finalists for annual awards recognizing fast-growing Colorado firms.
In8Sync, JFS, SG Aerospace & Gas and Skyhook Solar are among 75 finalists in the 2024 Colorado Companies to Watch program. The winners will be announced at a gala awards dinner scheduled for June 21.
The Grand Junction Economic Partnership collaborates with Colorado Companies to Watch to highlight the efforts of businesses. Curtis Englehart, executive director of GJEP, praised the local firms for those efforts.
“Each of these companies plays an integral role in our local economy, and we grateful to Colorado Companies to Watch for recognizing their growth and dedication,” Englehart said. “The presence of this year’s finalists in our community highlights the greater Grand Junction area as a region where businesses can truly grow and thrive.”
Matt Frary, chairman of the Colorado Companies to Watch board of directors, praised all the 2024 finalists. “We are thrilled that so many outstanding businesses from across the state are being named finalists for their contributions to local economies through job creation, capital investment and innovation with their industries.”
The program honors so-called second-stage companies for innovative products, unique processes and performance in the marketplace as well as their philanthropic efforts.
To participate, firms must be privately held, headquartered in Colorado, employ the equivalent of six to 99 full-time employees and generate $750,000 to $50 million in annual sales or working capital. Participants also must demonstrate the intent and capacity to grow.
In8Sync provides administration, automation, consulting, customization and integration services for companies using NetSuite software.
JFS provides accounting and consulting services to small businesses as well as hospitals and other health care providers. Kelly Johnston founded the firm in 2016 and subsequently expanded the scope, staff and geographic service area of the operation.
SG Aerospace & Gas manufactures components for the aerospace, oil and natural gas and industrial markets. The company was awarded contracts to supply components for the Orion spacecraft under development for manned missions to deep space, including Mars.
GJEP recently awarded SG Aerospace & Gas its Spirit of Economic Development Award. The award honors businesses that demonstrate a strong sense of community awareness and involvement while seeking opportunities to improve the economic vitality of Mesa County.
Skyhook Solar relocated to Grand Junction last year. The company manufactures solar stations that charge electric vehicles and bicycles as well as serve other purposes.
A newly enacted law clears the way to reintroduce wolverines to Colorado.
Gov. Jared Polis signed the measure into law during a May 20 event atop Loveland Pass. The law gives Colorado Parks and Wildlife authority to reintroduce North American wolverines.
“I am thrilled to welcome wolverines back to Colorado,” Polis said. “A diverse and healthy environment strengthens Colorado’s booming eco-tourism and outdoor recreation sectors. Today, we begin to add wolverines to the list of animals reintroduced to Colorado, ensuring Colorado remains the best state in the nation for ecodiversity and outdoor enthusiasts.”
The law includes a provision that wolverines in Colorado are designated as a nonessential experimental population before reintroduction begins. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in November.
The law also requires Colorado Parks and Wildlife to adopt rules providing for the payment to owners of livestock for any losses caused by wolverines.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to work with federal land management agencies to determine where wolverines will be released.
“Colorado’s high elevation habitats are expected to resist the effects of climate change as well or better than other parts of wolverine range, and play a critical role in the wolverine conservation story,” said Jeff Davis, director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “I want to thank the CPW staff and partners that set the groundwork for these efforts. CPW will continue to work together with partners across the state on wolverine restoration.”
Dan Gibbs, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, also praised the effort. “This legislation represents a significant commitment to restoring a native species back to Colorado’s landscape,” Gibbs said. “Colorado has some of the best remaining unoccupied habitat for wolverines, and we have the opportunity to bolster the population significantly with a sciencebased restoration.”
The largest terrestrial member of the weasel family, wolverines are a native species to Colorado. Their range once spanned down the Sierra Nevada in California and the Rocky Mountains to Colorado. Wolverines were extirpated in Colorado in the early 1900s due to unregulated harvest and poisoning.
A monthly index tracking the economy in rural areas of Colorado and nine other states remained in negative territory for a ninth straight month.
The overall reading for the Rural Main Street Index fell 1.6 points in May. At 44.2, the latest reading remained below growth-neutral 50.
The overall reading for Colorado dropped 12.7 points. But at 61.5 was the highest among the 10 states.
Ernie Goss — an economics professor at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., who compiles the Rural Main Street Index— attributed the May decline to a combination of higher interest rates, weaker agriculture commodity
prices and higher grain storage costs. The index is based on the results of monthly surveys of bank executives in rural areas of the 10-state region.
In Colorado, several components of the index retreated in May. The new hiring index fell three points to 62.5. The farmland and ranchland price index fell 5.2 points to 58.2.
According to separate information from the International Trade Association, year-to-date exports of agricultural goods and livestock from Colorado in 2024 were up 190.4 percent from the same span in 2023.
Across the region, a component of the index tracking confidence fell 8.7 points to 28.8, the lowest level since November 2023. “Weak agriculture commodity prices and farm exports combined with downturns in farm equipment sales over the past several months continued to constraint banker confidence,” Goss said.
A new hiring component decreased 6.8 points to 50 as only 7.7 percent of bankers reported increases in hiring from the previous month.
The home sales component dropped increased 11.2 points, but at 46 remained below growth-neutral as higher interest rates on mortgages and low residential inventories hampered real estate activity.
The loan volume component retreated to 82, down 3.4 point from what was a record high 85.4 in April. Readings for checking accounts and certificates of deposit both fell.
The component for farming and ranching land prices fell 8.6 points to 47.9, slipping below growth-neutral 50 for the first time in more than four years.
The component for farm equipment sales dropped 13.7 points to 34.
The Governor’s Summer Job Hunt, an annual effort to connect high school and college-age students with Colorado employers, is under way.
“We’re looking forward to another successful season for the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt. This long-standing initiative is a critical early step in building an engaged and resilient workforce for Colorado,” said Joe Barela, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “Together with more than 50 state- and county run workforce centers and the state youth development council, we’re ready to work with another generation of young job seekers this summer.”
Workforce centers already have hosted more than 130 job readiness workshops, career events and job fairs this year.
Steve Wright, director of the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt program, said the imitative is more than a brokerage for summer jobs. Efforts teach young people the skills they’ll need to be successful in the workforce, how to establish a work ethic and develop future careers.
“Our teams have provided more than 60 workshops covering such topics as resume writing, interviewing skills and job search strategies to help young people gain a competitive edge in their job hunts and prepare them for the summer season,” Wright said. “And with schools letting out, workforce centers across the state have already staged more than 70 career exploration events, industry tours and field trips.”
More information about the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt program is available at https://cdle.colorado.gov/jobs-training/ youth/gsjh. Information and resources also are available through workforce centers, including the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.
Continued from page 2 policy and management from Ohio State University. She also holds designation as a certified public manager from the International City/County Management Association, an organization of local government professionals.
Working in Mancos and then Pagosa Springs, Phillips said she was familiar with Grand Junction as a regional hub as well as a place in which projects and initiatives promote economic development and address issues.
She said she also was aware of the reputation of the City of Grand Junction to collaborate with a variety of partners on various efforts. She said she considers a herself a collaborative person who understands the importance of partnerships and building relationships.
As interim city manager, Phillips said she reports to the Grand Junction City Council. Phillips said she’s responsible for the day-to-day operations of a municipal government with an annual budget of nearly $400 million and the equivalent of 860 full-time employees. She also said she works with city directors who oversee various functions. “I have a really great leadership team.”
While Grand Junction constitutes a larger community than Pagosa Springs or Mancos. Phillips said many of the basic functions of city government are the same in operating fire and police departments, maintaining infrastructure and providing parks and recreation.
Similar issues present similar challenges, she said, including the cost and availability of housing. That’s an issue that affects businesses and their ability to recruit and retain employees.
Phillips said there’s an important relationship between city government and businesses. The city maintains infrastructure and provides services to create a safe and attractive environment, while businesses activities generate tax revenues. “We certainly need each other.”
And what’s something of a crash course on the operations of the City of Grand Junction continues for Phillips. “I’m really enjoying it so far and learning a lot.”
A monthly event will offer the public an opportunity to meet and talk with Andrea Phillips, interim Grand Junction city manager.
The Coffee with the City Manager event is set for 7:30 a.m. May 30 at the Food Bank of the Rockies, 698 Long Acre Drive. The event also will feature Ken Sherbenou, director of the city parks and recreation department.
The public is invited for free coffee and an opportunity to talk with Phillips and Sherbenou.
Continued from page 2 but which made it too costly and onerous for her to go through with her endeavors.
Provisions of the law require companies that operate online marketplace platforms to identify online sellers, verify their information and provide seller disclosures to consumers. They must also include an easily identifiable reporting mechanism giving consumers a tool to flag and report suspicious activity.
Hartman said the quotes she received from law firms to draft the legal language she’d need to launch the online marketplace and comply with the law would have accounted for a third for the total costs for the first year of operation.
Hartman also said she wanted no part of provisions she said would have required her to share the sales information of high-volume sellers to the state or disclose to the public the physical addresses of artists and crafters, many of whom work out of their homes.
Hartman said the legislation was touted as a way to curtail an increase in retail theft and subsequent sale of stolen merchandise online.
But according to a report from the Council on
Criminal Justice based on police reports in 24 cities in the United States, average monthly shoplifting rates actually decreased in 17 of those cities in the first half of 2023 compared to the first half of 2019, she said.
Hartman said she was further frustrated by another measure introduced in the latest legislative session that requires the Colorado attorney general to coordinate with the Colorado Department of Education in an effort to prevent the proliferation of factually inaccurate data by sharing resources to encourage respectful discourse.
The measure passed the Legislature and was sent to Gov. Jared Polis to sign.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser was among the state officials who called for passage of the online marketplace legislation based on an increase in retail theft, she said.
Although she didn’t go through with the launch, Hartman said she still believes the Handmade Grand Valley online marketplace would work in offering a venue for artists and crafters to tell their wares.
Rather than charge the fees that range from 12 percent to 20 percent of gross sales, including shopping costs, assessed by major online platforms, Hartman said she
planned to charge sellers a flat $25 monthly fee
In addition to operating Grand Valley Magazine, Hartman said she’s long been a top-rated online seller of handmade clothing and accessories for Barbie dolls.
Online marketplaces are at their core like shoppable magazines with images and copy that resonate with shoppers, she said. Marketplaces and sellers that understand that can build communities around their brands.
An online marketplace like Handmade Grand Valley could be replicated elsewhere to support economic development, she said.
Moreover, those types of platforms could build communities in other ways, she said. By sharing local news or offering a venue in which to address issues, for example.
Hartman said she’d like to meet with a group of entrepreneurs, business and communities leaders and others for a single presentation about launching Handmade Grand Valley. “I would love the opportunity to present it.”
She said she doesn’t want to own the marketplace herself, but would be willing to show others how to run it. Moreover, she’d insist on a collaborative and community based effort. “It has to be community based.”
Breeze Airways will offer discounted fares as part of a celebration of the third anniversary of its first day of ticket sales.
“We set out on this journey three years ago with one goal in mind, to make air travel seriously nice for everyone. Today, we are proud of the incredible progress we have made in such a short period of time, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone,” said David Neeleman, founder and chief executive officer of Breeze Airway.
The promotion is scheduled to run through 12:59 a.m. May 25 and applies to all routes.
Travelers will receive a 33 percent discount on round trip base fares for travel May 29 through Oct. 1. Travelers must apply the code THREE at checkout on the website at www.flybreeze.com or using the Breeze app.
Breeze Airways recently launched a new route between Grand Junction and Orange County-Santa Ana in southern California with additional flights between Grand Junction and Provo, Utah. Breeze Airways also offers seasonal service between Grand Junction and San Francisco. Starting with 16 cities in May 2021, Breeze Airways offers 170 nonstop routes from 56 cities across 29 states.
Recognized by Travel + Leisure as one of the top five United States airlines, Breeze Airways offers bundled and a la carte options so travelers can customize their experiences. The airline doesn’t charge chance or cancellation fees for up to 15 minutes prior to department.
Continued from page 2
New Luxury Awards were presented as part of the Barcelona Perfumery Congress in Spain. Larson says she attended the two-day event in November to not only accept the award and meet the other finalists, but also participate in a variety of workshops and display her products.
La Fleur by Livvy received the New Luxury Award for Jadon, a fragrance Larson says she created using raw ingredients from India. The Hindi word for roots, Jadon is made with basil, benzoin, cardamom, clove, frankincense, lemon, nutmeg, pink peppercorns, saffron, sandalwood, tonka bean and white lotus.
The award recognizes the efforts of perfumeries that focus on high-quality natural ingredients and make products in ethical and sustainable ways, she says.
La Fleur by Livvy, an artisan perfumery in Grand Junction, won a New Luxury Award presented by the International Perfume Council at the Barcelona Perfumery Congress in Spain in November. (Business Times photo by Phil Castle)
Jadon is one of 23 fragrances Larson has created and grouped into collections that reflect India and other destinations around the world, pay homage to French artists and offer different fragrances for different times of day.
Larson also has created bespoke fragrances for customers, including a custom fragrance for the Molly Brown House Museum in Denver.
In addition to fragrances, Larson creates and sells soaps made with olive oil and candles made with beeswax. Larson sells most of her products through her website, but also operates a shop on Main Street in downtown Grand Junction.
Larson launched La Fleur by Livvy in 2013 in Basalt. She says she used to live in the Roaring Fork Valley and
worked as a bookkeeper and office manager.
She subsequently moved to Grand Junction and relocated her perfumery. She operated for a while out of the Historic Lowell School on Seventh Street before relocating to the Main Street location. “I’m happy to be in Grand Junction and bring this to Grand Junction.”
Larson grew up in what’s now Kolkata in India and remembers the smells of her childhood growing up there.
La Fleur by Livvy is located at 300 Main St., Suite 101, in downtown Grand Junction. For more information, call (800) 825-8772 or log on to www.lafleurbylivvy.com.
Fresh mint leaves, ginger and lemon were crushed into juice at vendor’s stalls. Various flowers bloomed at night. And a plumeria grew outside her grandmother’s bedroom window in the family home.
She says she’s always loved flowers and began experimenting with essential oils, flowers and other natural ingredients to create fragrances.
While she started out as a self-taught perfumer, she recently became certified by the International Perfume Foundation.
The process of creating fragrances starts with a concept and then trying different combinations of ingredients to provide what she says are top, mid and base notes — citrus, floral and wood scents, for example.
Larson says she’s used 30 ingredients or more to create a single fragrance. “It can get pretty complex.”
La Fleur by Livvy competes in what Larson says is a competitive marketplace. But her firm enjoys some advantages in using high-quality, natural ingredients combined in small batches. Artisan perfumeries offer products unlike those made by lager manufacturers, she says.
Looking ahead, Larson says she hopes to build on the success her products and her operations have enjoyed while also creating more bespoke fragrances. She also hopes to stage more events to attract customers — a workshop featuring teas to both drink and use in fragrances, for example. And she’ll continue, she says, to draw inspiration from a variety of sources. F
t New business filings in Colorado, 40,987 in the fourth quarter, down 16 percent from the fourth quarter of 2022.
t Consumer Confidence Index 97 in April, down 6.1.
s Leeds Business Confidence Index for Colorado, 53.7 for the second quarter, up 8.4.
s National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index 89.7 for April, up 1.2.
n Foreclosures
t Foreclosure filings in Mesa County, 16 in April, down from 23 in March 2023.
t Foreclosure sales in Mesa County, 3 in April, down from 6 in April 2023.
t Conference Board Employment Trends Index, 111.25 for April, down 0.91.
t Conference Board Leading Economic Index 101.8 for April, down 0.6%.
t Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, 49.2% for April, down 1.1%.
t Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for services, 49.4% for April, down 2%.
s Real estate transactions in Mesa County, 373 in April, up 16.6 percent from April 2023.
s Dollar volume of real estate transactions in Mesa County, $170 million in April, up 19.3% from April 2023.
s Sales and use tax collections in Mesa County, $4.6 million for April, up 0.8% from April 2023.
n Unemployment
t Mesa County — 3.6% for April, down 0.7.
n Colorado — 3.7 % for April, unchanged.
s United States — 3.9% for April, up 0.1.
The monthly unemployment rate dropped for a second straight month in Mesa County as seasonal hiring heated up along with spring weather.
April March
t Delta County 3.5 4.6
t Garfield County 2.8 3.4
t Mesa County 3.6 4.3
t Montrose County 3.3 4.1
“Aseasonal increase in hiring and lower unemployment rate is typical for this time of year,” said Tabi Britt, employment services supervisor at the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.
t Rio Blanco County 3.5 4.1
Britt attributed more than half of the latest drop in unemployment to people getting jobs.
The seasonally unadjusted jobless rate in Mesa County fell seven-tenths of a point to 3.6 percent in April, according to estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. With declines in each of the last two months, the jobless rate has retreated more than a point from 4.7 percent in February. The rate was even lower at this time last year, though, at 2.9 percent.
Between March and April 2024, Mesa County payrolls increased 356 to 73,291. The number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work decreased 550 to 2,718. The labor force, which includes the employed and unemployed, edged down 194 to 76,009.
Over the past year, payrolls decreased 563. The ranks of the unemployed increased 487. The labor force slipped 76.
Britt said minimal changes in the labor force could be attributed to what’s likely a combination of causes — retirements, relocations and temporary exits from the workforce — rather than any significant event or trend.
Moreover, labor demand as measure by the number of job orders posted at the Mesa County Workforce Center, remains strong, she said.
The 928 job orders posted in April constituted a 24.7 percent increase over the same month last year. A total of 3,689 orders were posted during the first four months of 2024, up 26 percent from the same span in 2023.
“Much of the cumulative difference can be attributed to a slow start in 2023, with a smaller number of jobs posted in January and February compared to trends in both 2022 and 2024,” Britt said.
Looking ahead, Britt said she expects the typical labor trends to continue in Mesa County with increased hiring in spring and summer and lower unemployment rates. “I anticipate continued stability in the near future.”
Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates also declined in neighboring western Colorado counties in March — 1.1 points to 3.5 percent in Delta County, eight-tenths of a point to 3.3 percent in Montrose County, and six-tenths of a percent to 2.8 percent in Garfield County and 3.5 percent in Rio Blanco County.
The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent.
According to the latest results of household surveys, the number of employed people in Colorado decreased 400 between March and April even as the number of unemployed people increased 1,900.
The labor participation rate — the proportion of the population working or looking for work — held steady at 68 percent. That outpaced the national rate of 62.7 percent.
According to the results of separate business surveys, nonfarm payrolls increased 300. A gain of 900 government jobs more than offset a loss of 600 private sector jobs. While employment increased 4,600 in educational and health services in April, employment decreased 3,100 in professional and business services ant 1,700 in construction.
Over the past year, nonfarm payrolls increased 51,800 in Colorado — a growth rate of 1.8 percent. Employment increased 19,400 in educational and health services, 7,600 in leisure and hospitality and 5,800 in professional and business services. Government payrolls rose 24,600. Employment decreased 6,000 in the trade, transportation and utilities sector; 4,300 in construction; and 2,500 in information.
The average workweek for Colorado employees on private, nonfarm payrolls lengthened a tenth of an hour over the last year to 33.6 hours. Average hourly earnings increased $2.28 to $38.
Sales tax collections, one measure of retail activity, continue to increase on a year-over-year basis in Mesa County.
The county collected nearly $4.2 million in sales taxes in April, an increase of almost $85,000 and 2.1 percent over the same month a year ago. April collections reflect March sales.
Mesa County collected more than $2.4 million in taxes on retail sales in April 2024, a 2.5 percent gain over the same month in 2023. Gains in tax collections on automobiles, clothing and general merchandise more than offset losses in health and personal care wares and sporting goods.
The county collected nearly $1.8 million in sales taxes in other industry categories in April, up 1.5 percent from a year ago. Gains in the hotel and restaurant, rental and telecommunications categories more than offset losses in the construction, oil and natural gas and wholesale categories.
Through the first four months of 2024, Mesa County collected almost $16 million in sales taxes, a 2.8 percent increase over the same span in 2023.
Mesa County collected another $6 million in sales taxes it distributed back to cities and towns in the county, including more than $3.5 million to Grand Junction, nearly $1.1 million to Fruita, almost $770,000 to Palisade and $330,000 each to Collbran and DeBeque.
Tax collections on retail sales rose 2.7 percent to $9.4 million with year-over-year gains in five of eight categories — the biggest in general merchandise, home improvements and clothing.
Sales tax collections for other industries rose 3.1 percent to more than $6.5 million. The biggest year-over-year gains occurred in the hotel and restaurant, rentals and wholesale categories. Use tax collections — nearly all of them on automobiles purchased outside Mesa County but used in the county — topped $367,000 in April. That’s an 11.2 percent decline from the same month a year ago.
Through the first four months of 2024, the county collected more than $1.5 million in use taxes. That’s an increase of 10 percent over the same span in 2023.
A measure of optimism among small business owners increased, but continued to reflect pessimism produced in part by inflation.
The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index rose 1.2 points between March and April. But at 89.7, the latest reading remains below the 50-year average of 98 for the index.
Dunkelberg
“Cost pressures remain the top issue for small business owners, including historical high levels of owners raising compensation to keep and attract employees,” said Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist of the NFIB. “Overall, small business owners remain historically very pessimistic as they continue to navigate these challenges.”
The NFIB bases the index on the results of monthly surveys of members of the small business advocacy group, most of them small business owners. For April, seven of 10 components of the index advanced, two retreated and one remained unchanged.
The share of NFIB members who responded to the survey upon which the April index was based who expected the economy
to improve fell a point between March and April. At a net negative 37 percent, more members anticipated worsening conditions ahead.
A net 22 percent reported plans for capital outlays, up two points. A net 4 percent said they considered now a good time to expand, unchanged from a month ago.
The proportion of owners who said they expected increased sales rose six points. But at net negative 12 percent, more owners expected decreased sales.
The share of owners who said they expected increased earnings rose two points, but only to a net negative 27 percent. Among owners reporting lower profits, 33 percent blamed weaker sales and 14 percent cited higher materials costs.
A net negative 6 percent of owners reported plans to increase inventories, up a point.
A net 12 percent of owners reported plans to increase staffing, up a point. A net 40 percent reported hard-to-fill job openings, up three points. A net 21 percent of owners reported plans to increase compensation in the next three months.
Asked to identify their single most important business problem, 22 percent of owners cited inflation and 19 percent cited the quality of labor.
A monthly index forecasting economic conditions in the United States continues to decline, signaling slowing ahead.
The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index (LEI) decreased six-tenths of a percent to 101.8 in April. Separate measures of current and past conditions both increased.
“Another decline in the U.S. LEI confirms that softer economic conditions lay ahead,” said Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, the senior manager of business cycle indicators at the Conference Board.
The LEI declined 1.9 percent over the past six months, a smaller retreat than the 3.5 percent decline over the six months before that.
“While the LEI’s six-month and annual growth rates no longer signal a forthcoming recession, they still point to serious headwinds to growth ahead,” she said. “Indeed, elevated inflation, high interest rates, rising household debt and depleted pandemic savings are all expected to continue weighing on the U.S. economy in 2024.”
The Conference Board projected growth in gross domestic product, the broad measure of goods and services produced in the U.S., to slow to less than 1 percent during the second and third quarters. GDP grew at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the first quarter of 2024 and 3.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023.
For April, five of 10 indicators of the Leading Economic Index retreated, including building permits, consumer expectations for business conditions, interest rate spread, a new orders index and stock prices. Four indicators advanced, including new orders for capital and consumer goods and a leading credit index. A decrease in weekly average claims for unemployment insurance also bolstered the index. Average weekly manufacturing hours held steady.
The Coincident Economic Index rose two-tenths of a percent to 112.3. The index rose nine-tenths of a percent over the past six months. For April, all four components advanced — industrial production, nonfarm payrolls, personal income and sales.
The Lagging Economic Index gained four-tenths of a percent to climb to 119.5. The index increased six-tenths of a percent over the past three months. For April, commercial and industrial financing and consumer credit bolstered the index, as did a decrease in the average duration of unemployment. Labor costs pulled down the index. The average prime interest rate charged by banks, cost of services and inventories all remained unchanged.
n The Mesa County Women’s Network has scheduled a workshop on the power of emotions for 6 p.m. June 11 in the board room of Abstract & Title Co., located at 2464 Patterson Road in Grand Junction. Mary Beth Luedtke, a therapist with BEing There Counseling, will help participants understand and harness their emotional experiences. To register or obtain more information, log on to the website at www.mcwn.us.
n The Western Colorado Human Resource Association has scheduled its next member program for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 12 at the Mesa County Workforce Center, 512 29 1/2 Road in Grand Junction. The luncheon event will include a presentation on bridging the racial divide. To register or obtain additional information, visit https://wchra.org.
n The Palisade Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a lunch and learn presentation for noon to 1 p.m. June 12 at the Milky Way, 330 Main St. The event will feature Cassidee Shull, executive director of the Colorado Association of Viticulture and Enology. To register or obtain more information, call (970) 464-7458 or visit https://palisadecoc.com.
n The next Coffee Club networking meeting is set for 9 to 10 a.m. June 21 at the FWorks meeting room, 325 E. Aspen Ave. in Fruita. The free meeting will include a presentation by Tony Lee, Mesa County veterans service officer. To register or obtain more information, visit https//gjincubator.org or https://fruitachamber.org.
Recruiting for highly specialized roles in areas where talent pools run shallow presents challenges. While traditional job boards like Indeed can be helpful, they might not always offer the most effective or efficient solutions.
LinkedIn can be a game changer, though. Its advanced search features allow recruiters to narrow down their searches to professionals with specific skills and experiences, increasing the likelihood of finding the right candidates. In addition, LinkedIn groups and communities offer valuable resources for connecting with professionals in niche industries. LinkedIn, along with word of mouth and other resources, can provide significant advantages in the recruiting process.
Often referred to as the professional networking site, LinkedIn has evolved into a powerful tool for recruiters. It’s essential to understand how to use LinkedIn for the best results.
A few reasons to consider LinkedIn include targeted professional networks, passive candidate pools, enhanced company branding, referral networks and data and analytics. LinkedIn allows recruiters to target professionals based on such specific criteria as experience, industry, location and skills. This targeted approach can yield higherquality candidates more likely to constitute a good fit for the role and company. A large number of professionals on LinkedIn are passive candidates — meaning they’re not actively looking for jobs, but remain open to new opportunities. This can significantly expand the talent pool, particularly in smaller cities where active job seekers might be limited.
LinkedIn offers companies the opportunity to showcase their culture, values and employee testimonials, which can help attract top talent. In a smaller city like Grand Junction, where competition for talent can be fierce, strong branding makes a company stand out. LinkedIn makes it easy for employees to share job openings with their networks, increasing the likelihood of reaching qualified candidates through word of mouth. LinkedIn provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of job postings and recruiting efforts, allowing recruiters to refine their strategies based on data.
LinkedIn offers a range of features that can enhance your recruiting efforts and broaden your reach. Posting frequently on LinkedIn keeps your company visible and engaged with your network. It’s not just about job postings. Sharing industry insights, company updates and employee spotlights showcases your company culture and values and attracts potential candidates. Building a robust network of connections and followers on LinkedIn can significantly expand your reach.
Connections are like first-degree contacts, while followers see posts and updates, but aren’t directly connected. Having a large network can increase the visibility of your job postings and other content. Using such visual elements as photos and videos in your posts can make them more engaging, potentially increasing the number of views and impressions. Visual content tends to perform better on social media, so incorporating it into your LinkedIn strategy can help you stand out and attract more attention to your job opportunities.
Corporate coach Ryan Sullivan encourages businesses to extend their reach on LinkedIn by optimizing their profiles. Choose a clear, professional profile picture that’s easily visible up close. The background image should showcase the business and offer visual appeal. Add a pronunciation aid for names and include designations, pronouns, job titles and key roles to provide a comprehensive overview. In the about section, use first-person language and keep paragraphs short and easy to skim. Incorporate personal interests to humanize the team. Use the featured section to include links that direct visitors to your website. Finally, regularly post team offsite content to increase engagement and visibility. While LinkedIn offers many benefits, it’s important to complement it with other recruiting strategies, especially in smaller cities. Word of mouth remains a powerful tool in recruiting, particularly in close-knit communities like Grand Junction. Employee referrals, networking events and community engagement all play a significant role in finding the right candidates. In smaller cities, creativity in recruiting strategies is key. Reach out to local organizations, colleges and community groups. Host job fairs or virtual events to raise awareness about job opportunities. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, smaller cities like Grand Junction often have lower unemployment rates than larger metropolitan areas. While this can be positive for the economy, fewer active job seekers make recruiting more challenging. This underscores the importance of using multiple recruiting channels, including LinkedIn, to reach active and passive candidates. While traditional job boards have their place in the recruiting process, platforms like LinkedIn offer distinct advantages. By leveraging LinkedIn’s targeted approach, enhancing company branding and combining it with word of mouth and other creative strategies, recruiters and small business owners can overcome the challenges of recruiting and attract top talent to their organizations.
Jenny Yeager, a certified human resource professional, is administrative liaison with Insight Financial Solutions in Grand Junction and a board member of the Western Colorado Human Resource Association. For more information, visit https://wchra.org. F
There are two ways to view marketplace competition. You can focus on others in your sector and take yourself and your company away from the success and happiness you desire. Or you can turn your attention toward your own company and your path to being the best you can be.
Marcus Straub
The second choice offers a self-disciplined approach that will position you to make changes, improve operations and enjoy the fruits of your intentional efforts.
Devoting valuable time and energy on what other companies may or may not be doing and resenting their successes will ultimately limit yours. This mindset will also decrease the amount of happiness and fulfillment you experience in operating your business. This must be replaced with a more effective way of thinking.
Over the course of my career as a business coach and consultant, I’ve met business owners who’ve lost their way in the face of “competition” with other companies. This occurred because of their negative attitudes toward these businesses and their owners — especially when a business outperformed them or came to town and “took” market share they once dominated.
In some of these situations, I’ve even seen business owners become angry with their former customers and clients for exercising their power of choice in favor of what they perceived as the better value provided by the competition. Having a negative mindset isn’t necessary or helpful and will lead to the loss of more customers, market share, team members and possibly even the business itself.
All businesses in a given market sector vie for the loyalty and patronage of a limited number of customers.
Rather than become embittered by others doing business in the same sector, choose to become empowered. Control what you can — how you, your team and your company operate on a daily basis — and let the rest go.
Rather than become embittered by others doing business in the same sector, choose to become empowered. Control what you can — how you, your team and your company operate on a daily basis — and let the rest go. The wise choice is to be better than you were the day before, to consistently reach for excellence in your operations.
Being aware of what the competition is doing is wise. But focus on your business and study how it operates. Evaluate the effectiveness of your leadership, consider the performance of your managers and the entire team, look at the quality of the products or services you offer and discover where you can improve. By taking this constructive approach, you’ll fuel your progress to the next level. Your attention will be riveted to how you can stand out in the marketplace through becoming the very best company possible.
This self-focused approach to business is more important than ever. As the economy cools and money tightens, customers pay more and more attention to the products and customer service they receive. They’re looking for value. Now is not the time to let them down.
This could afford one of your greatest opportunities to shine in your customers’ eyes and gain market share.
Consider working with a qualified professional business coach and consultant to help you discover where you can make improvements and take action to become an exceptional company.
Once it’s been discovered where you can improve, it’s vital you and your team work together to implement the corrective steps that have been agreed upon. If you want to lead the way in customer satisfaction and loyalty — if you want to stand out in your sector and grow — necessary changes must be made and followed through to completion.
The business owners I’ve worked work with have found this self-focused and self-accountable approach to be not only effective, but also liberating. They discovered the freedom, empowerment, success and happiness that can only be possible through attention to their operations and creating a great company.
As you focus on your business, you’ll quickly notice how much more you’ll accomplish with the additional resources previously spent on worrying about the competition. And once you’ve implemented the changes that will improve your products and services, you’ll enjoy the increased happiness and success that comes with customers finding more value with you.
Marcus Straub owns Life is Great Coaching in Grand Junction. His personalized coaching and consulting services help individuals, business owners, executives and companies build teams, organizations and lives filled with happiness and success. Straub is winner of the International Coach of the Year Award and author of “Is It Fun Being You?” He’s available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings. Reach Straub at (970) 208-3150, marcus@ligcoaching.com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com.
The U.S. Small Business Administration guarantees several types of business loans, including 504 loans providing long-term, fixed rate financing of up to $5.5 million for major fixed assets.
Before going into the basics of SBA 504 loans, it’s important to understand the SBA rarely issues loans. Instead, the federal agency provides guarantees based on the loan amount and type to lenders to reduce the risk of lending to small businesses.
According to the SBA website, the 504 loan program provides guarantees for long-term, fixed rate financing for major fixed assets that promote business growth and job creation. These loans are available through certified development companies (CDCs), community based partners who regulate nonprofits and promote economic development. CDCs are certified and regulated by SBA.
A 504 loan may be used for the purchase or construction of existing buildings or land; new facilities or machinery and equipment with a useful remaining life of a minimum of 10 years, including project-related artificial intelligence-supported equipment or machinery for manufacturing products.
A 504 loan also may also be used for improvements or modernization of land, streets, utilities, parking lots and landscaping as well as existing facilities.
A 504 loan may not be used for working capital or inventory; consolidating, repaying or refinancing debt; speculation or investment in rental real estate or financing of AI-related working capital, intellectual property or consulting services soft costs.
Your company must meet the following criteria to apply for a 504 loan:
n A for-profit company operating in the United States or its possessions.
n Have a tangible net worth of less than $15 million.
n Have an average net income of less than $5 million after federal income taxes for the two years preceding your application.
n Fall within the SBA size guidelines based on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) guidelines NAICS codes can be found at www.naics.com/six-digit-naics.
n Have qualified management and business expertise.
n Have a current, viable business plan.
n Demonstrate the ability to repay the loan.
If you’re registered with the System for Award Management (SAM), you already chose your NAICS codes. SBA size standards define whether a business entity is small and therefore eligible for government programs and preferences reserved for small business concerns.
Only SBA-approved CDCs can make 504 loans. Here is a link to approved CDCs: www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/504loans/list-certified-development-companies.
The maximum loan amount for a 504 loan is $5.5 million. For certain energy projects, the borrower may apply for a 504 loan of up to $5.5 million per project for up to three projects.
You can make payments through a central servicing agent, usually by monthly draws. Payments can also be made by wire or check. Loan terms vary, but generally have 10-, 20- and 25-year maturity terms. The interest rate is pegged to an increment above the current market rate for 10-year U.S. Treasury issues and totals about 3 percent of debt. This 3 percent may be financed with the loan.
Note: The lending market is in constant flux, particularly in the current high interest rate market. Approach several lenders to determine the best fit for your business.
Janet Arrowood is founder and managing director of the Write Source, a Grand Junction firm offering a range of services, including grant and proposal writing, instruction and technical writing. Reach her at janet.arrowood@thewritesourceinc.com. For more information, log on to www.TheWriteSourceInc.com.
Integrating rural innovation within global economic strategies offers transformational power to foster robust growth. Economic development, geopolitics and rural ingenuity all play a role.
Geopolitical strategies and economic development are deeply intertwined, each shaping the landscape of the other. Geopolitics, the art of navigating power and geography, intersects significantly with economic development and the process of enhancing regional economic wealth. The relationship of these fields is crucial for enhancing national resilience and community prosperity.
Often overlooked, rural areas are of strategic importance in this geopoliticaleconomic matrix. Their unique positioning and natural wealth make them critical for national strategies focusing on resource management, security and sustainability. These regions are not only resource hubs, but also gateways to sustainable practices that pioneer global economic stability.
Rural regions frequently grapple with challenges, including the inadequate infrastructure and limited investment that stifle entrepreneurial ventures and economic vitality and lead to higher unemployment and societal disparities. Yet, rural regions hold latent potential through such resources as lands, minerals, timber and water. Properly harnessed, these resource can catalyze significant economic transformation.
Central to this rural revitalization are entrepreneurship and business incubators that nurture a variety of ventures. These platforms provide such critical support as investment, mentoring and strategic guidance that enables businesses to innovate, scale and thrive. Such nurturing environments are crucial for sparking economic dynamism and technological advancement in rural sectors.
Economic theories like the neoclassical, which emphasizes
market efficiency, and the structuralist, which supports targeted government intervention, highlight varied pathways to economic development. Each theory offers valuable insights into how rural areas can be integrated into broader economic strategies.
Internationally, several initiatives exemplify the successful blending of rural potential with geopolitical strategies. The European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy has significantly propelled rural areas by promoting sustainable practices. Denmark’s Samsø Island offers a leading model of community driven achievement in sustainability and renewable energy.
In the United States, the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund promotes eco-friendly agriculture and renewable energy industries, preserving that state’s idyllic essence while steering economic progress and environmental stewardship.
Rural areas aren’t merely backdrops to global economic activity, but active, pivotal landscapes where innovative economic strategies are realized. By fostering entrepreneurship and supporting business incubators, these regions can be transformed into vibrant centers of innovation and growth. The interconnection of rural innovation with global economic policies not only strengthens geopolitical ties, but also enhances the collective economic fabric.
Fostering partnerships that bridge rural innovation and global economic strategies ensure rural regions are recognized as key players in the international arena.
Dalida Sassoon Bollig, chief executive officer of the Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction, is an experienced strategist with demonstrated work in international affairs. She brings to her duties experience in economic development, entrepreneurship, leadership, partnerships, public policy and trade. For additional information about programs and services offered at the center, call 243-5232 or visit https://gjincubator.org. Reach Bollig by email at dbollig@gjincubator.org.
While I’ve written extensively about the numerous benefits of servant leadership, I’m compelled to also share some of the challenges leaders face after they move away from command and control and toward servant leadership.
On the one hand, to become a true servant leader, one must have the ability, experience, patience and willingness to actively listen, empathize and empower.
On the other hand, a servant leader can’t be seen as namby-pamby
Namby-pamby refers to something that lacks character or substance, often appearing insipid or weak.
The origin of this whimsical term dates back to the 18th century, when poets Alexander Pope and Henry Carey mocked Ambrose Philips. Philips’ sentimental verses were deemed childish and simple, leading Carey to coin the rhyming nickname namby-pamby. Later, the term was applied more broadly to anything insipidly precious or anyone considered weak or indecisive.
After giving hundreds of talks favoring servant leadership, I’m amazed there are still some who deem this type of leadership style namby-pamby. Nothing could be further from the truth. At the core of leadership lies the sacred trust, duty and responsibility to exercise authority,
make decisions and — yes — hold people accountable.
In response to those namby-bamby naysayers, think of servant leadership in terms of a respected elder you’ve had in your life. A family member, teacher or coach.
I like to use my dad as my model. To this day, I can’t walk into a room wearing a hat out of respect for my dad. I open doors for people. When I notice, I try to help the downtrodden. I learned many long-lasting and, dare I say, endearing behaviors from my dad.
But disobey him? No way. I knew my boundaries. My brothers and sister knew his boundaries.
Given the current unrest on college campuses across the country today, let me set a stark and abject example of how this really hits home.
My brothers and I were snot-nosed teen-agers during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Tent cities sprouted across the country as part of war protests. I can still hear my own voice yelling, “Hell no, we won’t go.”
During one hot summer evening in 1970, my brothers and I thought we were doing right by joining the protests. My dad had just returned from a tour in Vietnam and, as a member of the Colorado National Guard, his unit was called on by the governor to monitor the situation at the University of Denver.
The last thing I remembered before high-tailing it home with my brothers was this steel-gray-eyed master sargeant cutting through us. I’ll never forget that look.
I’ll never forget the fact we never needed to speak of it again. He never raised his voice. He never outwardly showed his distain. But we knew we crossed a line. My old man wasn’t namby-pamby. He wasn’t a screamer. He was, in my humble opinion, the quintessential servant leader. He went, did his job, came home, lived a good life and set one heck of an example. The only thing he ever really shared with us about his war years — he also fought in World War II — was that his duty was to God first, family second, friends third and the rest he’d help as he could. He served God, family and friends. If you encounter something you believe lacks substance or seems overly sentimental, you might call it namby-pamby. I call it servant leadership.
Timothy Haggerty and his wife, Bernadette, operate a consulting firm based in Grand Junction that helps clients transition from command and control to servant leadership and change the view of wages and benefits from expenses to investments. Haggerty brings to the venture more than 40 years of experience in operations management and a record of decreasing costs while increasing productivity and revenue. He also serves as president-elect of the Grand Junction Kiwanis Club. Reach him at info@timothyhaggerty.com, (610) 737-0496 or www.timothyhaggerty.com
Vacations, long car trips and busy schedules can disrupt fitness routines. Whether traveling by car or plane, staying in hotels or with family, you can keep fitness a part of each day. Here are a few tips to make your vacation fitness friendly.
Sitting in a car for a few hours or many hours a day traveling to that great vacation destination can make you feel tired and stiff. Car trips also are notorious for eating the wrong foods with little physical activity. Try packing a small cooler with nutritious snacks. Pull off at rest stops and stretch by reaching for the sky. Take deep breaths. Spend a few moments walking around and seeing the sights. Stretching every few hours will make you feel less worn. Here’s a game to play when traveling with your family. At each stop, a different person names the activity. It might be jumping jacks or running around the car. It could be as simple as racing to the facilities.
Airline travel can have you calling the airport your new home. Why not pack gym shoes in your carry-on?
You’ve all seen the moving walkways. Don’t use them if time allows. There are many places to walk and stairs to take in most airports. When it comes to snack or meals, remember that many food vendors offer nutritious choices. Consuming fewer calories while being less active constitutes an important part of not gaining extra vacation pounds. Pack some healthy treats in your purse or backpack. Dried fruit, nuts and water offer good choices.
Many hotels and resorts offer fitness centers. Although your choices might be limited, any movement is better than nothing. Combine cardiovascular exercise — a treadmill or elliptical trainer — with strength training.
If your accommodations don’t offer a fitness area, exercise in your hotel room. Pack some resistance bands. They can be purchased at health clubs, a local retailer or online. Resistance bands are a great idea for strength training. You can wrap them around a bed post or door knob. Resistance bands come in different colors and widths. These differences affect the amount of stretch they allow for more or less resistance. Try them out to see which ones work for you. You can also use resistance bands by using your foot to step on the middle of the band — for an arm workout, for example.
You can’t pack weights in your suitcase, so fill
disposable water bottles with water for a light weight workout. Be creative.
Many exercises can be performed on the floor with nothing but your own body weight for resistance. Pushups offer a great upper body strength exercise and don’t require anything but you to perform. Sit-ups, leg-lifts and arm circles are just a few exercises that can be performed without any equipment.
Cardiovascular exercise is important when traveling. Many vacations involve sightseeing. Don’t under estimate the power of walking. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, bring water and wear sunscreen. You can get more hearthealthy exercise by taking the stairs whenever possible. By thinking ahead before your trip or vacation, you will be more prepared to keep your workout routine on schedule. No matter the plan or destination, you can exercise and eat right with just a little planning.
Paula and Dale Reece own Crossroads Fitness Centers in Grand Junction with a downtown location at 225 N. Fifth St. and north location at 2768 Compass Drive. For more information, call 242-8746 or visit the website located at www.crossroadsfitness.com.
This time of year always brings to mind an unusual fantasy of mine. No, not that kind of fantasy. I want to be a commencement speaker. Each graduation season renews my yearning to shower graduates with my wit and wisdom. I can almost hear the raucous laughter that follows a deftly delivered punch line. I can almost see the tears wiped from eyes moistened by a poignant anecdote. I can almost feel the thunderous ovation of a crowd caught up in the emotion of the moment. Yeah, right.
A new year almost always brings an opportunity for a fresh start and renewed ambition to do things better.
I’ve started columns many times in the past by writing, “I don’t know what to write about.” This time I know what to write about, I just don’t want to. But I have to. And Mesa County Republicans made me do it.
In business, that usually boils down to providing customers better products and services faster and at lower cost than competitors. Part of the process must include listening to customers to determine what they actually need and then meeting that need. After all, it does little good to offer the latest and greatest if nobody actually wants what you’re selling.
Just like the businesses that belong to the group, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce invariably starts out the new year with a reassessment of the services and resources it provides and how well they match with members needs. Jeff Franklin, the new chairman of the chamber board of directors, personifies this approach in describing what he considers his role for the coming year: listen to members, determine their needs and then meet those needs. It’s a role with which Franklin is familiar as market president of Bank of Colorado.
I’m neither famous — nor infamous — enough to be a commencement speaker. More problematic still, I’m not even sure what I’d say or how I’d say it. I’d want to say so much, of course, to articulate in clear and compelling fashion that which I hold dear and believe to be true. But in attempting to deliver something akin to the Gettysburg Address, I’m afraid I’d offer something more like shampoo instructions. What advice could I share? What enduring message could I dare impart? At the least, I could offer some observations from my vantage point as editor of a business journal — not so much in recounting my experiences, but sharing the collective wisdom of the entrepreneurs it’s been my privilege to interview over the past 25 years.
Here then, graduates, are four points I’d contend are worth consideration. And if business owners and managers draw either inspiration or affirmation as well, then so much the better.
The process will take on a more structured approach in what the chamber plans as the resumption of a program aptly called Listening to Business. Under the program, business owners participate in in-depth interviews to identify barriers to growth and other problems they encounter.
n Pursue your dreams. What drives entrepreneurs is their steadfast belief they can not only provide better products and services, but also do so faster and cheaper than competitors. Moreover, they’re willing to work harder and sacrifice more. Think long about what you want to accomplish. Think longer about what you’re willing to do achieve your goals.
The new year offers a good time to join the proverbial club.
As an advertiser or reader, what do you need from the Business Times?
While business journals traditionally gather and report the relevant news to readers, communication isn’t necessarily a one-way street. That’s especially true as Web sites and e-mail make the dialogue more convenient than ever.
Good publications don’t exist in a vacuum. They respond to the needs of advertisers and readers. They provide what’s needed.
n Learn from your mistakes. Most entrepreneurs describe their most instructive experiences as those involving not successes, but failures. Here’s the thing about failure: You’ll learn something that will ensure success if not the next time, then the time after that or, more likely still, at some distant moment when you least expect the revelation.
So what do you need?
Is there additional news coverage that would help keep you informed about local business developments? Are there features that would be interesting or useful? Is there advice that would make your jobs a little easier?
It’s equally important to ask what you don’t need. With limited time to produce content and limited space in which to publish it, would time and space be better devoted to something else?
What’s good? What isn’t? What’s needed? What isn’t?
n Treat others the way you want to be treated. Entrepreneurs cite the golden rule as the basis for everything from delivering quality customer services to engendering employee loyalty to developing productive networking connections. It’s an idealistic, but also practical, principle in fostering good relationships of all sorts. Moreover, it promotes personal satisfaction. Treat the people you meet with respect and kindness. It’s a small world. You never know when you might encounter those people again or under what circumstances.
n Give back. Nearly without exception, entrepreneurs who do well also do good. Think of all the businesses here in the Grand Valley that support philanthropic causes. Share your time, skills and money.
Let us know. Send us an e-mail. Comment online on the Business Times Web site at www.thebusinesstimes.com. You could even write an old-fashioned letter to the editor if you’d like. Your feedback, both positive and negative, is valued and will be carefully considered.
Maybe I would know what to say if I ever fulfill my fantasy to become a commencement speaker. What are the not-so-secret elements of success apply not only to business, but also life.
Good publications are the result of not only the efforts of their staffs, but also collaborative efforts involving advertisers and readers.
Like any other good business, we want to listen to our customers, find out what they need and then meet those needs.
It’s a new year. Please help us to do so. ✦
Phil Castle is editor of the Business Times. Reach him at (970) 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F
609 North Ave., Suite 2, Grand Junction, CO 81501 TEL (970) 424-5133 • FAX (970) 424-5134
Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall Editor: Phil CastleReach advertising at: publisher@thebusinesstimes.com
Reach the editor at: phil@thebusinesstimes.com.
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The Grand Valley Business Times, a subsidiary of Hall Media Group LLC, is published twice monthly and distributed throughout Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Advertising rates and deadlines are available upon request. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor, staff or advertisers. Copyright © 2015 — All rights reserved.
It’s that time of year when resolutions and prognostications abound. My favorite saying applied to New Year’s resolutions is in saying they’re basically a bunch of promises to break the first week of January. And while I won’t predict a whole lot, I can pretty much accurately nail a few things that without question will make the news. You will see these are pretty, well, predictable:
First up, let me explain to Mesa County Republicans — and JJ Fletcher, one candidate for Mesa County commissioner — how a newspaper works. Newspapers have three distinct divisions: content, opinion and advertising. And when a newspaper is run properly — just like the Ghostbusters — you never cross the streams. This means that ads don’t buy you stories or favorable opinion columns. It also means we don’t ask about political or personal opinions when doing stories. And it means we don’t pressure you for ads because we’re doing a story about your business.
Craig Hall
■ Prediction one: There will be some sort of weather event, natural disaster or heinous occurrence where someone will be interviewed and say the following: “I’ve never seen anything like that in my lifetime.” It’s as if this person is a required attendee at every news reporting event. While I understand most people’s perspective can indeed be limited by, or contained within, their own personal experiences, it is too much to ask to consult some historical perspective before saying such a thing? Yes, this response can apply to some events. But when it comes to weather and natural disasters, I’m pretty sure this is simply history repeating itself. Same as it has for millions and millions of years. More important, the planet made it! What didn’t were certain species. How’s that for perspective?
Craig HallEditor Phil Castle and I have done things this way for nearly a quarter of a century together. Yet, it’s becoming apparent local Republicans somehow missed all of that. And that conclusion, of course, comes as a result of an opinion column I wrote. Apparently, my opinion is the only one local Republicans fight back against, even though they also know all the local media will be fully against them and crossing streams the second the coming primary comes to a close. Ask any of your candidates or elected officials, local Republicans, especially the women.
■ Prediction two: When it comes to a crime or something that occurs between humans, the other required attendee at all news reporting events is the person who says this: “They we’re just the nicest people, and in no way did I see something like this coming.” Exactly. No one does most of the time when it comes to neighbors and acquaintances. People should be surprised at what goes on from time to time in their neighborhoods, towns and with people they know because people are good. And for the times that they shouldn’t be shocked — like with politicians, repeat offenders and terrorists — where’s the interview that says, “This doesn’t surprise me in the least.”
So, this next lesson should come as a shock to both JJ and the local Republican chairwoman — who I knew nothing about or even realized the party had a new chair — until her phone call. Opinion columns don’t warrant retractions. No matter how much JJ tries and wishes and demands an event HE scheduled and promoted via two of the area’s biggest progressives “didn’t happen,” what is actually not happening is any retraction from the fact the event was scheduled. I wrote my opinion on it and JJ then canceled — probably due to the column I wrote since Republican leadership was too feeble to tell JJ to do the right thing.
here it is
you it’s time to apply for another job?
long run always hurt consumers. Another fact is that unemployment reaches a certain level based on the economy. And while the government might brag the number is low, it’s more than likely the government did something to cause that number being low — and not in a good way. Conversely, when business picks up, it’s because the people who need to buy widgets who were not buying widgets because the economy was contracting due to natural (or unnatural, government caused) reasons, decided we better buy some widgets. The government had nothing to do with this.
Perhaps those establishment folks you keep getting quoted as saying Janet Rowland obviously has the support of? The ones the current Republican chair also had to make a special phone call to me about.
That’s right folks. In addition to the emails and phone calls I received about my column, the new Republican chairwoman decided to vent her feelings towards me regarding what I can only perceive to be a pretty dead-on column in terms of what’s going on in the party. But it was the comment the party chair was thinking of primarying County Commissioner Janet Rowland that fueled the local chair’s fire. But the current chair should know it couldn’t have been directed at her, because 1., she knows she didn’t do it and 2., I had no idea we had a new chair or who she is. But if one has those rational realizations, how can one make it all about them?
Well, here’s how in this case, it’s using the phrase “broad brush” I painted the party chair with — used in an email to me from a “friend” of the chair and then in the chair’s phone call. First, it’s your brush, not mine. Second, since I had no idea who you are, you simply can’t then claim I did it intentionally in an attempt to harm you personally. That’s a very broad brush, indeed.
Last, in all the back and forth on my call with the chair, I was snidely accused of “knowing everything going on in the party.” I don’t, and don’t want to. But more important: Why doesn’t the chair at the very least know what I know? She claimed she didn’t know about JJ’s meet and greet at Claudette Kanola’s house until my column. Say what? She then explained it away by saying the party can’t tell a candidate, or anyone, who to talk to or what to say. Unless the party is demanding it from a local columnist, apparently.
■ Prediction three: Something good will happen economically, and the government will take credit for it. The most recent example is gas prices, where people ask me why I won’t credit the president for low gas prices. My answer is simple: Government never makes the price of something go down and simply takes credit for good news. Gas pricing is subject to many global factors. Now there are government answers to addressing some of them to keep prices stable for Americans, but our government has none of them in place. The only things it has in place in the
As for the “Tina Peters support” JJ denies and demands I tell readers the “truth” about because he voted for the current county clerk this last election, let’s just ask the obvious question. Who’d you vote for the time before? On top of that, why do you keep bringing up the Dominion machines when and where it’s politically expedient? I realize it’s the same reason you bring up the “popular” former health director, but I also understand you backed the county commission on both those issues until perhaps someone told
Then again, this is the same party which, according to a very active member, asked Lauren Boebert to run in Ken Buck-you-and-the-horse-you-rode-in-on’s congressional district to “save” the seat. You know, the safest Republican district in the state which Buck (with his antics) won with more than 60 percent of the vote last time? So, the Republicans think it’s a smart move to replace Buck with the one candidate whose antics are so bad, she has almost guaranteed a Democrat win this election in what many consider the second safest Republican district in the state?
Yet, somehow that one publisher, he’s the problem. But back to my retraction. My affiliation with your party is retracted. Effective immediately.
■ Prediction four: In keeping with things the government does, I predict the government will manipulate the numbers to make the claim the economy is getting better because of how hard it is working to help all of us “working Americans.” Now you might say, “Craig, you always say this about President Obama because you don’t like him.” You’re right in a sense. I don’t know the man, but what I know of him and his thinking, I don’t like it or him one iota. Before you go off, however, I didn’t like President Bush and his bailouts, stimulus and his abandoning the free market to save the free market. And I don’t know him either. What the government does, and the only thing it can do, is hurt the economy. Unless it does nothing or put criminals in jail instead of partnering with them, nothing the government does will help. Always look at it this way, whatever the government says it is doing, whatever the name of the law it is passing, or whatever the name or goal of the bureaucracy it is presenting to the people, expect the polar opposite to occur. I guess what I’m saying is that perhaps it’s time to get out of our own perspective. There’s plenty of history books and historical research out there to begin to understand that all of this has happened before. And it will again, whether the topic is people or government. The best recommendation is to find some books or try that whole Google thing. There’s a lot of information on the Great Depression. The truth is it wasn’t even a good one until the government got involved. There’s also plenty of research on the medieval warm period when the planet was much warmer than today with a whole lot less people (and warmer well before man was here at all). And yep, people have been killing other surprised people since history was first written. Maybe some research will help stop all of these trends. Otherwise, we’ll be saying we’ve never seen anything like it in our lives. And not in a good way.
Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.
Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at (970) 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.
A raffle is scheduled for June 24 at Humphrey RV in Grand Junction to award a new recreational vehicle.
The raffle is part of a fund-raiser for the Growing in Light Academy in Grand Junction. Tickets sell for $100 each. Only 300 tickets will be sold.
“We are hosting this fund-raising raffle to benefit our wonderful academy that educates children in kindergarten through fifth grade,” said Megan Powell, chairwoman of the Growing in Light Academy. “We are a non-profit, and fund-raisers like this are critical for us to be able to serve our children and families and continue our mission.”
Tickets are sold at Humphrey RV at 2749 U.S. Highway 50. Only cash or checks will be accepted for purchase.
The winner of the raffle will get a 2024 Keystone Hideout 178RB valued at $18,900. The winner will liable for federal, state and local taxes.
“We are so thankful for Humphrey RV’s support. This raffle is truly a win-win,” Powell said. “It’s helping our amazing school. And one lucky person is going to be able to camp in style just in time for the summer season.”
For more information about the raffle, call (970) 242-2355.
n CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS AND TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PANCAKE FUND-RAISER
Corporate sponsorships and tickets are available for the upcoming Grand Junction Kiwanis Club Pancake Day and Funfest.
The fund-raiser is set for 8 to 11 a.m. June 8 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds, 2785 U.S. Highway 50. The event will include an all-you-can-eat breakfast of pancakes, eggs, coffee and juice as well as games for children, live entertainment and a silent auction.
Admission is $10. Children under 12 may attend at no charge. Tickets are available at Express Employment at 725 Pitkin Ave. in Grand Junction and at the event.
For more information about sponsorships, which include advertising and tickets, call Stacey Mascarenas at (970) 250-7525 or Timothy Haggerty at (610) 737-0496.
Proceeds from the event are donated to nonprofit organizations that help children. Past recipients have included Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Special Olympics and the Western Slope Center for Children.
The Business Times welcomes submissions for free publication in Business Briefs. Email items to phil@thebusinesstimes.com or submit a news release online at www.thebusinesstimes.com.
Listings will be accepted through June 30 for the latest edition of an annual publication connecting hay producers and buyers in Colorado.
The 2024 Colorado Hay Directory will be available in August through Colorado State University Extension offices and various livestock associations as well as at agricultural events.
“If you’re selling hay, the hay directory has a strong record of helping buyers find locally grown animal feed for their needs,” said Danielle Trotta, senior marketing specialist with the Colorado Department of Agriculture. “The hay directory is a great resource for livestock owners in Colorado and beyond.”
Listings cost $25. Forms are available at online from the website at ag.colorado.gov/markets. Advertising opportunities are available for $50 for a half page and $90 for a full page. For additional information or to obtain a directory listing form, call (303) 869-9175 or send an email to Loretta.Lopez@state.co.us.
Craig Gallery raised $425 in a week-long benefit sale for victims of an explosion and fire that destroyed a Palisade apartment building in April.
“As a member of the Palisade community, we wanted to do all we could to help,” said Kay Crane, director of Craig Gallery. Located at 128 E. Third St, Craig Gallery offers a variety of pieces, including ceramics, jewelry, paintings, photographs and sculptures.
For additional information, call (970) 361-1045 or visit the website located at https://craiggallerypalisade.com.
A program connecting injured workers with nonprofit organizations to help them ease back to work while supporting local causes has passed 50,000 in volunteer hours.
Pinnacol Assurance, a workers’ compensation insurer in Colorado, launched the program to offer injured workers light duty options while supporting local causes. Since Pinnacol launched the program three years ago, more than 170 injured workers have provided a total of 50,000 hours at 40 locations.
“This program highlights the power of Pinnacol’s partnerships
and civic engagement in Colorado and enables our policyholders to also support their communities by encouraging their employees to volunteer while they heal and paying them wages,” said Nevine Laughlin, director of the Pinnacol return-to-work program.
Pinnacol partners with nonprofits that offer injured workers modified-duty assignments approved by medical providers. Workers take on a variety of tasks, including answering telephones, assembling boxes of food and sorting donations. Workers are paid wages.
Pinnacol provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage to nearly 1 million workers in Colorado. For more information, visit the website at www.pinnacol.com.
An upcoming conference in Fruita is expected to bring together professionals, community leaders and elected officials to explore ways to strengthen nonprofit organizations.
The Community Resource Center and a steering committee have organized the Western Slope Rural Philanthropy Days conference set for June 5 to 7.
The conference will be conducted at Fruita Monument High School with evening receptions at the Dinosaur Journey Museum and Absolute Prestige. An optional half day of self-care and wellness also is planned and will feature a keynote presentation, animal therapy, meditation and mountain biking.
The conference only comes every four years to a Western Slope Region that includes Mesa County as well as Delta, Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties.
“Western Slope RPD is an incredible opportunity for skill building, collaboration and networking for our local nonprofits and funders,” said Erin Evie, co-chair of the event. “This conference will have a huge impact on our rural communities.”
The conference is expected to include a regional town hall, a panel discussion highlighting changes and networking receptions. Additional sessions will address such topics as building effective coalitions, the economic effects of nonprofits and intersectionality in the nonprofit sector. A tour of housing solutions also is planned.
At a Western Slope nonprofit community fair set for June 5, regional nonprofits and local governments will host tables and offer information about their work.
For more information about the Western Slope Rural Philanthropy Days conference, including registration, log on to https://crcamerica.org/ programs/rural-engagement/ regional-websites/westernslope.
Sydney Garvey, a flower farmer who also owns Flowers by Garvey’s Gardens in downtown Grand Junction, was among 20 floral designers selected to arrange flowers for the First Lady’s Luncheon.
Certified American Grown, a national trade association representing flower and foliage farmers, selected the designers to participate in the event. Garvey and the others spent three days in Washington, D.C., processing 20,000 stems of donated flowers from Certified American Grown Farms to create designs and set up installations for the luncheon.
Garvey and other floral farmers also visited Capitol Hill to lobby on behalf of Certified American Grown, promoting American-grown flowers and the farms that grow them.
“American-grown flowers are fresher, are healthier due to fewer toxins, support the American economy and have less of an environmental footprint than imported flowers,” Garvey said. “All of these reasons and more are why Garvey’s Gardens LLC only sells American-grown flowers and flowers from our own flower farm during the growing season.”
Garvey previously worked as a teacher, but changed directions with a renewed interest in gardening. She operates a flower farm in the Grand Valley and early in 2023 opened Flowers by Garvey’s Gardens at 137 N. Fifth St. in downtown Grand Junction. The floral shop offers fresh flowers and floral arrangements for weddings and other events as well as to sell individual customers. For more information, call (970) 730-8644 or visit www.flowersbygarveysgardens.com.
Tyler Harris has brought a Realty One Group franchise to the Western Slope. Harris, broker and owner of Realty One Group Western Slope, joined with Cynthea Hurst and Landon Law to offer services to clients interested in buying, selling or investing in residential or commercial properties. The firm offers agents unique compensation plans as well as cutting-edge technology and onsite support, Harris said.
“With a team of experienced and dedicated real estate professionals, Realty One Group Western Slope is committed to helping clients navigate the complexities of the real estate market and achieve their goals,” Harris said. “At Realty One Group Western Slope, we understand that buying or selling a property can be a significant decision, and we are here to guide you every step of the way. From conducting market research to negotiating offers, our team will work tirelessly to ensure a smooth and successful transaction.”
Realty One Group Western Slope operates offices at 441 Colorado Ave. in downtown Grand Junction. For additional information, telephone (970) 314-3884.
May 23
The Business Times welcomes submissions for free publication in Business People and the Almanac calendar of events. Submissions may be emailed to phil@thebusinesstimes.com or submitted online at the website at www.thebusinesstimes.com.
n AUDIOLOGIST PROMOTES AWARENESS OF DISORDERS
Jennifer Bebee, a doctor of audiology who operates Western Colorado Hearing & Balance in Grand Junction, promotes awareness about communication disorders as part of National Speech-Langague Hearing Month in May.
By one estimate, 38 million people in the United State experience difficulties hearing.
“Early identification and intervention for hearing loss are important,” Bebee said. “The earlier we can diagnose an issue, the quicker we can start treatment and help return an individual’s quality of life.”
Bebee said it’s also important to protect ears from hearing loss caused by noise by avoiding loud places, use protective ear plugs or noise-cancelling headphones and keep the volume low when using earbuds. “You only get one set of ears. Make sure to protect them.”
For more information about Western Colorado Hearing & Balance, visit www.wchearingclinic.com or call (970) 549-4660.
n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce legislative wrapup, noon to 2 p.m., Colorado Mesa University. Admission $25 for chamber members, $30 for others. https://gjchamber.org or 242-3214
n Welcome Thursday Friends networking luncheon, noon to 1 p.m., Base Camp Provisions, 155 N. Mulberry St., Fruita. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
May 30
n Young Professionals Network of Mesa County business after hours, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Copper Club, 153 N. Mulberry Street, Fruita. www.ypnmc.org
June 4
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Veterans in Business monthly muster, noon to 1 p.m., location to be announced. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894
Upcoming
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business networking lunch, noon to 1 p.m. June 6, Lowell School, 310 N. Seventh St., Grand Junction. Members attend at no charge other than lunch. Others pay $10 plus the cost of lunch. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
n Mesa County Women’s Network workshop on the power of emotions, 6 p.m. June 11, Abstract & Title Co. board room, 2464 Patterson Road, Grand Junction. www.mcwn.us
n Western Colorado Human Resource Association monthly luncheon meeting and presentation on bridging the racial divide, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 12, Mesa County Workforce Center, 512 29 1/2 Road, Grand Junction. https://wchra.org
n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce Networking at Noon, noon June 12, Ocotillo Restaurant and Bar at Redlands Mesa, 2325 W. Ridges Blvd. Admission $20 for members, $25 for others. https://gjchamber.org or 242-3214
n Palisade Chamber of Commerce lunch and learn presentation by Cassidee Shull, executive director of the Colorado Association for Viticulture and Enology, noon to 1 p.m. June 12, The Milky Way 330 Main St. Members attend at no charge. Others pay $5. www.palisadecoc.com or 464-7458
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5:30 to 7 p.m. June 13, Suds Brothers Brewery. 127 E. Aspen Ave. Admission $5 for chamber members, $15 for others.858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business event at Jet Boat Colorado, 4 to 6:30 p.m. June 20, 2237 Roan Creek Road, DeBeque. Admission $30 for members, $50 for others. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
n Coffee Club free networking meeting and presentation by Tony Lee, Mesa County veterans service officer, 9 to 10 a.m. June 21, FWorks meeting room, 325 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
