An annual parade of sorts through the Grand Valley celebrates the contributions of the ag industry in Mesa County.
Students in the physician assistance program at Colorado Mesa University received national recognition.
Sales tax collections, a key indicator of retail activity, continue to increase, but have slipped for some wares.
Registration is under way for an annual economic development summit scheduled for Aug. 16 in Rifle.
The June jump and an increase in the monthly unemployment rate continued in Mesa County.
A law that goes into effect in August is intended to safeguard workers from discrimination in the workplace.
David Proctor, workforce development manager, and Candace Carnahan, president and CEO, are involved in efforts at the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce to meet the staffing needs of businesses. So is Lindsay Bullock, right, director of the Mesa County Workforce Center.
Candace Carnahan knows what worries business owners and managers. As president and chief executive officer of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, her responsibilities include identifying and addressing problems.
On the most pressing problems?
Finding and retaining talent, Carnahan says.
Lindsay Bullock, director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction, agrees. That’s why workforce development remains a priority for the chamber as well as the center.
The chamber has received two grants to promote work-based learning and help youth find their career paths. The center also offers a variety of assistance, including reimbursement for wages paid for on-the-job training and internships.
The Grand Valley enjoys still another advantage, Carnahan says, with its culture of collaboration among the organizations involved in workforce and economic development. “We are ahead of the curve.”
See WORKFORCE page 18
STORY
Phil Castle
The Business Times
Janie VanWinkle helps organize an annual parade of sorts through the Grand Valley that serves as a celebration of the contributions of farmers, ranchers and the agricultural industry.
“It’s really just about awareness and celebration,” said VanWinkle, who works with her husband, Howard, and family on a cow-calf operation based in Fruita that sells calves to feedlots as well as beef directly to consumers.
As it turns out, there are millions of reasons to celebrate. As in the $94 million of total market value of agricultural products produced in Mesa County, said Jenny Beiermann, an agriculture and business management specialist with the Colorado State University
The Trail of Trailers features trucks pulling so-called cattle pots and other trailers, but also other vehicles used in the agricultural industry. The latest caravan on July 22 began near Cameo and went through Palisade, Grand Junction and Fruita. The event continued with a community barbecue at Loma Livestock. See TRAIL page 18
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Applications will be accepted through Aug. 21 for grants from an opioid crisis recovery fund in Mesa County.
The Mesa County Regional Opioid Governance Council seeks proposals for settlement fund grants focused on recovery and treatment as well as education and prevention efforts. United Way of Mesa County will act as grant administrator for the funds.
“Mesa County has many existing strengths for addressing the opioid epidemic and substance use, but there are evidence-based interventions and supports that this funding will enable our county to access and implement,” said Dr. Ryan Jackman, medical director of the St. Mary’s Integrated Addiction Medicine Clinic. Jackman also serves as co-chairman of the Mesa County Regional Opioid Governance Board.
“It also allows our county the opportunity to innovate and pivot when needed to create local solutions to leverage our strengths and meet unique challenges,” Jackman said.
Grant proposals will be evaluated on the potential effects on regional goals and objectives as well as applicants’ plans to support diverse needs, feasibility and
outcomes and evaluation.
An opioid epidemic continues to affect individuals, families and communities throughout Colorado.
Nearly 6,000 deaths due to opioid overdoses were reported in the past 10 years in the state. Yet only a third of what’s believed to be the needed drug treatment capacity is in place to address the situation.
Mesa County Public Health reported 47 opioid-related deaths and 109 overdose deaths with any substance between 2019 and 2021.
More than 70 percent of overdose deaths involve an opioid, and many of the opioids involved in overdose deaths are prescription medications.
In 2022, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and the Colorado Department of Law announced a settlement with major drug manufacturers that resulted in $400 million in opioid settlement dollars for the state.
Mesa County received a portion of the opioid crisis recovery funds in late 2022 and released $710,000 from the Colorado opioid crisis recovery fund settlement to five local agencies during the first two-year grant cycle.
With another round of funding coming soon, Mesa County has opened its second grant application process for local organizations.
Applications for opioid crisis recovery funds in Mesa County are available at https://uwmesacountygrants.grantplatform.com. For more information, contact Keira Auld with United Way of Mesa County at (970) 243-5364 or impact@uwmesacounty.org.
Applications will be accepted through Aug. 18 for incentives for infill development in certain areas of Grand Junction.
“Since 2004, the city has continued to realize the important nature and critical need to invest in and support infill and redevelopment in and around the city’s central core,” said Tamra Allen, community development director for the City of Grand Junction.
“Specifically, the strategies in the 2020 comprehensive plan call for the city to partner in the development of housing strategies for the community, including options for housing incentives, and for the city to promote more opportunities for housing choices that meet the needs of people of all ages, abilities and incomes,” Allen said.
The program provides incentives for development projects in specific areas
of the city. To apply for incentives, an incentive reservation form is required. Applications for 2024 funding are due by 4 p.m. Aug. 18. Completed applications will be reviewed and referred to the Grand Junction City Council for decisions regarding funding.
In 2022, the city adopted Resolution 74-22, an incentive for certain qualifying developments located within the corridor infill boundary. Within this boundary, development projects could qualify for a full or partial reduction in various fees and sales and use tax rebates. The incentive uses a level approach that is relative to the value of the private investment made in improvements in such corridors.
The corridor infill boundary development map is available on the city website at https://gjcity.org.
Students in the physician assistance program at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction have earned national recognition for their efforts.
The PA student society at CMU received the American Academy of Physician Associates Outstanding Student Society Award. The award is based on how student societies engage in public education and advocacy; public service and outreach; professional involvement; and diversity, equity and inclusion practices.
A’lanne Conrad, director of clinical education and assistant clinical professor of physician assistant studies at CMU, said the recognition reflects the success of a program that’s only four years old. “While the students of the class of 2024 received the award, they stand on the backs of the CMU PA students that came before them. They are continuing and establishing a proud legacy for CMU and for all Colorado PAs.”
Physician assistants work as part of collaborative medical teams. They receive national certification when they graduate and can work in any state if they also obtain state licensure.
“PAs can work in any medical field. They graduate as a generalist and can be utilized to help reduce access to health care gaps in all areas of the country,” Conrad said. “We have 13 graduates who work in the Grand Valley, and four of our graduates serve our rural communities along the I-70 corridor and in Montrose.”
At CMU, students go through 15 months of medical didactic education and 12 months of clinical rotations. Students volunteer in the community as part of their capstone projects as well as through the PA student society.
At a Special Olympics event at CMU, PA students provided health screenings and health education presentations to hundreds of athletes with intellectual disabilities. Athletes received mental health screenings along with tools to help manage anxiety and depression, podiatrist evaluations for issues affecting their feet, vision screenings and vision prescription assistance, bone density scans and nutrition and sun protection education.
To help people in the community manage health issues through improved dietary choices, PA students joined with the Western Colorado Community College Culinary Arts Program to offer free cooking classes. Sessions were designed to offer participants the tools to prepare foods proven to help prevent such chronic conditions as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
PA students participating in a capstone project developed educational materials to help medical practitioners identify rashes on a wide variety of skin tones and ensure patients receive the right care regardless of their skin tones. The project grew out of the diversity and inclusion committee within the PA student society. The group designs presentations and interactive activities for classmates and faculty through a monthly newsletter and a series of events.
In yet another capstone project, PA students partnered with the Colorado Health Network to create the Harm Reduction Program. Students volunteered to lead needle pickup events and design and deliver presentations to local organizations and medical groups about harm reduction practices and resources. Harm reduction efforts are intended to reduce the rate of infection among patients struggling with substance use. In providing a safe space and safe materials for those patients, health care providers have an opportunity to discuss safe use and treatment options to decrease substance use and in turn overall health care costs.
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Sales tax collections, a key indicator of retail activity, continue to increase in Mesa County, but have slipped for some wares and industry categories.
The county reported collecting nearly $4.7 million in sales taxes in June, an increase of almost $26,000 and six-tenths of a percent over the same month in 2022.
For the first half of 2023, the county reported collecting nearly $23.9 million in sales taxes. That was almost $469,000 and 2 percent more than what was collected during the first half of 2022.
Mesa County also collected more than $9 million in sales taxes during the first half of 2023 allocated to five cities and towns in the county. Grand Junction received nearly $5.3 million, Fruita more than $1.6 million and Palisade almost $1.2 million.
The county assesses a 2 percent sales tax — 1 percent
for a capital fund, 0.45 percent for the general fund and a total of 0.55 percent for the five cities and towns.
The county reported collecting nearly $2.5 million in taxes on retail sales in June, a 2.9 percent decrease from the same month a year ago. Year-over-year losses in three categories more than offset gains in five other categories. Collections on general merchandise, the biggest category, rose 4.6 percent to more than $733,000. But collections on home improvements, the second largest category, dropped 18.2 percent to almost $520,000. Tax collections on auto sales fell 7.2 percent.
Sales tax collections rose 9.2 percent for other industries in June. Collections increased in the wholesale, hotel and restaurant and telecommunications categories, but fell in the manufacturing and professional categories.
For the first half of 2023, collections on retail sales
totaled nearly $14 million, a decrease of almost $289,000 and 2 percent from the first half of 2022. Collections climbed 4.1 percent for general merchandise and 10.1 percent food and beverages, but fell 17 percent for home improvements and 4.5 percent for autos.
Sales tax collections rose 8.3 percent for other industries during the first half of 2023 compared to the same span in 2022. Collections rose in the wholesale, hotel and restaurant and manufacturing categories, but fell for the telecommunications category.
Use taxes — most collected on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used inside the county — decreased 15.1 percent on a year-over-year basis to almost $350,000 in June. For the first half of 2023, use tax collected edged down a tenth of a percent to nearly $2.2 million.
Grand Valley Transit in Grand Junction will offer free rides from July 28 through Aug. 31 as part of a statewide effort to reduce air pollution.
The effort is made possible through the Zero Fare for Better Air initiative and a state grant program intended to increase the use of transit and decrease ground-level ozone during the summer months when air pollution reaches its highest levels.
Ann Rajewski, executive director of the Colorado Association of Transit Agencies, said the pilot program launched last year included participation from transit systems across the state.
“All agencies that participated increased ridership — ranging anywhere between 2 percent to 59 percent,” Rajewski said. “This year we are expanding the program for the entire summer and are expecting to increase the number of transit agencies participating.”
By one estimate, 85 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation come from day-to-day commutes. Using public transit creates 84 percent less carbon emissions than driving cars.
Transit offers benefits, including savings on gasoline and vehicle maintenance and repairs, reduced traffic and increased productivity for passengers who can read or review emails.
For more information about Grand Valley Transit — including routes, schedules and the Zero Fare for Better Air initiative — visit https://gvt.mesacounty.us.
Colorado Mesa University has announced plans to open a multipurpose space in downtown Grand Junction.
Located at the intersection of Fifth and Main streets, the space will serve as an extension of the Maverick Store on the main campus, but also offer a venue in which students, faculty and the community can meet for academic, artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors.
John Marshall Brandon Stam“CMU is excited to join a vibrant downtown and continue to add to an already flourishing Main Street,” said CMU President John Marshall. “Downtown Grand Junction has done an incredible job strengthening our historic downtown, and we look forward to being a part of it.”
Stam,Junction, said he was thrilled to have CMU on Main Street. “CMU is an integral part of our community, and we are looking forward to CMU’s expanded footprint downtown. The new location will be a welcoming spot to highlight our wonderful downtown and connect the community to our thriving university.”
Marshall said the decision to open a downtown location aligns with a mission to contribute to the economic growth and cultural vibrancy of the region. By immersing itself in the community, CMU intends to foster stronger connections between its students and faculty as well as surrounding businesses, organizations, residents and visitors.
Three events have been scheduled to offer information about the second phase of a dual stream recycling program in Grand Junction.
The events are set for 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 3 at the City Hall Auditorium at 250 N. Fifth St., Aug. 8 at Spring Valley Park II at 2899 Beachwood St. and Aug. 17 at Eagle Rim Park located at 2736 Cheyenne Drive. The city plans to begin the second phase on Sept. 11 in the downtown, Orchard Mesa and northeast areas.
The dual stream recycling program automates recycling pickup and offers residents recycling and trash pickup on the same day. Residents participating in the program also could be able to lower costs by reducing the amount of trash they dispose and increasing the amount of material they recycle.
Trash and recycling will be collected for one price depending on the size of the trash bin — $11.50 a month for a 48-gallon bin, $15.75 a month for a 64-gallon bin and $25 a month for a 96-gallon bin.
For those participating in the second phase of the dual stream recycling program, the city will provide two 64-gallon recycling bins — one for collecting No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 plastic containers as well as tin and aluminum cans, and another for paper, cardboard and fiberboard.
Glass will no longer be collected curbside due to the potential for breakage and the contamination of other recycling materials. Glass can be dropped off at the recycling center at 333 West Ave. as well as other locations throughout Grand Junction.
In addition to curbside recycling collection, residential customers participating in the new program will have the option of seasonal yard waste collection from April through October. Yard waste includes leaves, grass clippings and small branches.
In addition to the launch of phase 2 this fall, phase 1 dual stream recycling was made available earlier this year in the downtown, north and Redlands areas of the city.
For more information about city trash and recycling programs, visit the website at www.gjcity.org. Dual stream collection route maps are available on the website. Information also is available by calling the recycling division at (970) 256-4136 or emailing recycling@gjcity.org.
Registration is under way for an annual economic development summit in Western Colorado.
Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado has scheduled the summit for 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Grand River Hospital Conference Center at 501 Airport Road in Rifle.
Early bird tickets sell for $50 through July 31. Afterwards, ticket prices will increase to $75. Admission will include lunch. For tickets or additional information, visit https://agnc.org or call (970) 665-1095.
The agenda for the summit will include presentations on housing innovation, rural economic development, advancements in aviation, regional energy initiatives and the Colorado State University Regional Economic Development Institute.
A keynote panel will provide updates on legislation involving economic development.
Nathan Perry, an economics professor at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, will offer an economic update for northwest Colorado.
The Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado is an association of county and municipal governments that includes Mesa County as well as Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Garfield, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties are also member counties, while Delta, Grand and Montrose counties are associate members. The AGNC also serves as administrator of the Northwest Colorado Enterprise Zone and as an economic development district for the region. F
A coalition serving Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties is among the latest recipients of state grants to groups supporting recreation and conservation.
The Two Rivers Recreation and Conservation Roundtable received $75,000 through the Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative. The program supports coalitions that represent broad interests in promoting outdoor recreation while also conserving land, water and wildlife.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order creating the initiative and praised the effort.
“Colorado’s world-class outdoors is home to unique wildlife, natural resources and exciting recreation opportunities. Through the regional partnerships initiative, we are working across sectors and levels of government to expand and support conservation efforts to ensure our outdoors are preserved for the future,” Polis said.
The Two Rivers Recreation and Conservation Roundtable has been working to formalize its operations as well as a steering committee and decision-making guidelines. With the award, the group plans to identify priorities for balancing recreation and conservation through data, mapping and public comments.
Jeff Davis, director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said regional partnerships help build support for efforts balancing recreation and conservation. “When organizations and individuals work together on behalf of public and private lands and waters, it ensures communities are healthy, livable and prosperous for future generations.”
Polis launched the initiative in 2020 with support from Great Outdoors Colorado, which allocates proceeds from the Colorado Lottery for parks, recreation and open spaces.
The grant cycle doubles the amount of money invested in outdoor regional partnerships to $3 million, with another round of funding opening this fall.
The latest funding brings to 16 the number of regional partnerships across Colorado.
Jackie Miller, executive director of Great Outdoors Colorado, said protecting the outdoors requires the expertise of those in communities across the state. “GOCO is incredibly excited for the priorities and plans that will be elevated by the regional partnerships initiative, which will inform a responsive, regionally rooted statewide strategy for the years ahead,” Miller said.
The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced new steps to revise U.S. Bureau of Land Management oil and natural gas leasing regulations.
The proposed rules would revise fiscal terms of the onshore federal oil and gas leasing program, including those involving bonding requirements, royalty rates and minimum bids.
“The Interior Department has taken several steps over the last two years to ensure the federal oil and gas program provides a fair return to taxpayers, adequately accounts for environmental harms and discourages speculation by oil and gas companies,” said Laura Daniel-Davis, principal deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management at the Department of the Interior.
“The department is committed to creating a more transparent, inclusive and just approach to leasing and permitting that serves the public interest while protecting natural and cultural resources on our public lands,” Daniel-Davis said.
BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said the updates are intended to ensure fairness to taxpayers and balanced, responsible development in a transition to a clean energy economy.“It includes common sense and needed fiscal revisions to BLM’s program, many directed by Congress.”
Federal onshore oil and natural gas royalty rates are historically lower than on state-issued leases and federal offshore leases.
Prior to the Joe Biden administration, onshore royalty rates hadn’t been increased in more than 100 years. Bonding levels hadn’t been raised for 60 years while minimum bids and rents remained the same for more than 30 years.
The proposed rule would codify provisions made by Congress in the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as well as recommendations from a Department of the Interior report on the federal oil and gas leasing program issued in November 2021.
n Bonding requirements: The rule proposes to increase the minimum lease bond to $150,000 and the minimum statewide bond to $500,000 while eliminating nationwide and unit bonds. The lease bond amount of $10,000 established in 1960 no longer provides an adequate incentive for companies to meet reclamation obligations, nor does it cover the potential costs to reclaim a well if the obligation isn’t met. The current bond requirement increases the risk taxpayers will end up covering the cost of reclaiming wells in the event the operator refuses to do so or declares bankruptcy.
The U.S. Department of Interior has made available more $1 billion in the past two years from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells on federal, state and private lands.
n Protecting wildlife and cultural resources: The rule would steer oil and gas development away from important wildlife habitat or cultural sites and instead toward lands with existing infrastructure or high production potential.
n Royalty rates: Proposed changes to royalty rates reflect provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act. Royalty rates for leases issued for 10 years after the
effective date of the Inflation Reduction Act are 16.67 percent. After Aug. 16, 2032, the rate of 16.67 percent will become the minimum royalty rate.
n Minimum bids: The rule would codify a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act that increased the national minimum bid from $2 an acre to $10 an acre, or fraction thereof, and after 10 years regularly adjusts that amount for inflation. The minimum acceptable bid establishes the starting bid at U.S. Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease auctions.
n Base, or minimum, rental rate: Pursuant to the Inflation Reduction Act for leases issued in the 10 years after its enactment, the proposal includes a rental of $3 per acre, or fraction thereof, per year during the first two-year period beginning upon lease issuance, $5 per acre per year, or fraction thereof, for the following six years and then $15 per acre, or fraction thereof, per year thereafter. After Aug. 16, 2032, rental rates will become minimums subject to increases.
n Expressions of interest: The Inflation Reduction Act established a new fee for expressions of interest. The proposed rule includes that fee — $5 per acre or a fraction thereof.
Public comments will be accepted through Aug. 7 for a proposed electric vehicle readiness plan for the City of Grand Junction.
Online comments can made at the website at https://EngageGJ.org/EV.
The plan calls for an increase in electric vehicle charging to accommodate travelers and boost economic development in Grand Junction while also ensuring local drivers have locations in which to charge their vehicles.
“Located at the crossroads of two major regional travel corridors, Grand Junction is uniquely situated to benefit from the ongoing transition by many motorists to electric vehicles,“ said Tamra Allen, community development director for the City of Grand Junction.
“Nearly 10 percent of newly registered vehicles in Colorado in 2022 were EVs, making the state one of the top five national leaders in EV adoption. One million Colorado-registered EVs are expected to be on the road by 2030. By implementing infrastructure and policies that support EV drivers, the city will be well positioned to adapt to the changing needs of both regional and local drivers,” Allen said.
The Grand Junction City Council appointed a team to work with city staff, consultants and the community to develop short- and long-term strategies for an electric vehicle readiness plan
This effort also implements the city’s adopted 2020 One Grand Junction Comprehensive Plan, which called for the city to identify needs and expand electric vehicle charging stations as part of the city’s infrastructure and the regional electric vehicle charging network.
Over the past seven months, the city has been working with consultants from Partners in Energy, a free Xcel Energy consulting service, to create a plan that will help Grand Junction maximize the benefits of increased EV adoption while supporting fair access and realistic opportunities across the community. Focus areas of the plan include incentivizing public adoption of electrified mobility options, increasing public charging infrastructure and transitioning institutional fleets.
A federal agency has launched a business training program tailored to the spouses of those serving in the military. The U.S. Small Business Administration will operate the Military Spouse Pathway to Business Program.
“At the SBA, we are investing in our veterans and military families by creating pathways to entrepreneurial success to ensure they can be a part of the small business boom that has helped spur job creation and innovation across the nation,” said SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman.
“America’s military spouses have served our country, and the SBA is ready to support them with customized programs and layered support resources so they can pursue their dreams of business ownership,”Casillas Guzman said.
Military Spouse Pathway to Business classes will be offered nationwide both in-person and virtually throughout the year. Participants will learn key steps for evaluating business concepts and receive assistance in developing business plans.
SBA district offices and resource partners will offer the courses as well as provide counseling and training and access to capital, federal contracting and disaster assistance .
“The course is designed similarly to SBA’s Boots to Business and Boots to Business Reboot courses offered by the SBA, but takes into account the unique experience of military spouses,” said Timothy Green, acting associate administrator for the SBA Office of Veterans Business Development. “Military spouses have been and are still encouraged to attend those programs. However, the Military Spouse Pathway to Business program gives military spouses a dedicated curriculum, peer group and schedule that may be better suited for them.”
This course introduces military spouses to a range of business concepts, including economics, financing, legal considerations and market research. Each class will offer additional resources for accessing startup capital, receiving technical assistance, earning contracting opportunities and more.
Military spouses interested in taking the course should contact their SBA district offices or Veterans Business Outreach Center. More information about SBA programs and resources for military spouses also is available online by visiting www.sba.gov/milspouse.
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The Mesa County Farm Bureau and Mesa County Cattleman’s Association sponsored the Trail of Trailers.
VanWinkle said the event includes cattle trailers, but also other vehicles from agricultural operations in Mesa County and elsewhere on the Western Slope. “We try to reach out to all of agriculture.”
VanWinkle said the latest event included vehicles from her ranch as well as Jim Brach and J. Brach Trucking, Clark Orchards, Colorado Egg Co., Cunningham Trucking Co., Food Bank of the Rockies and Western Implement.
The Trail of Trailers acknowledges the roles of farmers, rancher and the agriculture industry in feeding people, but also contributing to the economy, VanWinkle said.
By one estimate, each cow ranchers raise in the county
equates to a $600 to $800 contribution a year to the local economy, she said.
Beiermann said an agricultural census conducted in 2017 — the latest numbers available — placed the total value of agricultural products in Mesa County at more than $94 million — about $48 million for livestock and $46 million for crops.
Cattle accounted for nearly $30 million, while fruits, tree nuts and berries accounted for a total of more than $22 million, she said. Hay accounted for another $9 million.
By one estimate, that money recirculates in the economy 2.4 times, more than doubling the contributions, Beiermann said.
According to the 2017 ag census, farms and ranches hired nearly 2,000 people. According to the CSU Regional Economic Development Institute, the average farm
employs 10 people, she said.
There are other benefits beyond the economic contributions of the ag industry, Beiermann said.
Crop yields per gallon of water are higher in desert regions, she said. Cattle and other livestock can use land unsuitable for crops.
“About 90 percent of what cattle eat can’t be digested by humans. Cattle turn these rocky, steep, arid or otherwise unusable land into nutrient-rich protein and other numerous byproducts.”
In addition to providing food, farmers and ranchers serve as stewards of the landscape and provide the green and open spaces that attract people to the Grand Valley, Beiermann said. “Ag makes Mesa County a really desirable place to live.”
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Workforce development is important, Carnahan says, because it affects nearly every business in every sector. The effects extend to other parts of the community when businesses can’t maintain enough staffing to provide services.
Workforce development also plays a role in economic development, she says, because new, relocating and expanding businesses all depend on employees.
It remains a challenge to find and retain talent, she says. “It’s the No. 1 thing that keeps our businesses up at night.”
Bullock says workforce development is important because individuals need jobs to earn wages and support themselves and their families. Businesses need employees to provide goods and services.
Businesses need employees with basic skills, but also employees who can learn additional skills and take on more responsibilities, she says. For the manufacturing, medical and other sectors, highly specialized skills could be required.
The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce has received two grants to help fund workforce development efforts.
The chamber was one of five intermediaries in Colorado — the only one west of Denver — selected to disperse $230,000 to employers for work-based learning programs.
David Proctor, workforce development manager at the chamber, said $100,000 already has been dispersed through the West Slope Works program.
The program offers three levels of reimbursement that correspond to varying work-based learning activities:
n Up to $2,500 for such learning about work efforts as career counseling, work site tours and job shadowing.
n Up to $6,500 for such learning through work efforts as internships, clinical experiences and industry sponsored projects.
n Up to $10,000 for such learning at work efforts as apprenticeships, on-the-job training and employee development.
Businesses submit applications and work with Proctor to develop budgets, calculate monthly reimbursements and list guidelines for the efforts.
Funds will be distributed on a first-
n For more information about resources available from the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, visit the website at https://gjchamber.org.
n For more information about services and resources available from the Mesa County Workforce Center, visit https://mcwfc.us.
come, first-served basis until they run out. But Carnahan expects additional funding will be available.
The chamber also received a nearly $50,000 grant through the Opportunity Now Colorado program. The chamber will use the funding to promote its Find Your Future program and efforts to connect students and young adults with jobs and work-based learning opportunities as well as help them explore career options.
Carnahan says it important to start that process as soon as possible — in middle school, rather than waiting until high school students near graduation.
The Mesa County Workforce Center offers a variety of services for people looking for jobs and businesses looking for employees, Bullock says.
That includes assistance with job searches, completing resumes and preparing for interviews.
For businesses looking for employees, Bullock says the center posts job openings and hosts hiring events. The center also can help write job descriptions and screen applicants. Financial assistance is available to businesses for internships and on-the-job training.
Carnahan and Bullock agree collaboration among local chambers of commerce, the workforce center, Colorado Mesa University, Mesa County School District 51 and other organizations promotes workforce development.
Carnahan was selected to participate in a national workforce development program and recently returned from a meeting in Washington. D.C. She says she discovered in talking with program participants that Mesa County is unique with a collaborative culture that’s put it ahead of other areas. “That work should be applauded,” she says. F
s New business filings in Colorado, 55,787 in the first quarter, up 27.6 percent from the first quarter of 2022.
s Consumer Confidence Index 117 for July, up 6.9.
t Leeds Business Confidence Index for Colorado, 44.1 for the third quarter, down 1.
s National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index 91 for June, up 1.6.
s Foreclosure filings in Mesa County, 18 in June, up from 17 in June 2022.
s Foreclosure sales in Mesa County, 4 in June, up from 1 in June 2022.
t Conference Board Employment Trends Index, 114.31 for June, down 1.22.
t Conference Board Leading Economic Index 106.1 for June, down 0.7%.
t Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, 46% for June, down 0.9%.
n Lodging
s Lodging tax collections in Grand Junction, $613,988 for the first quarter, up 6% from the first quarter of 2022.
t Real estate transactions in Mesa County, 430 in June, down 13.7% from June 2022.
t Dollar volume of real estate transactions in Mesa County, $195 million in June, down 7.6% from June 2022.
s Sales and use tax collections in Grand Junction, $43.3 million for the first half, up 2.3% from the first half of 2022.
t Sales and use tax collections in Mesa County, $4.7 million for June, down 0.6% from June 2022.
s Mesa County — 3.7% for June, up 0.8.
n Colorado — 2.8% for June, unchanged.
t United States — 3.6% for June down 0.1.
The June jump and what’s usually an increase in the monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County continues.
The seasonally unadjusted jobless rate rose eight-tenths of a point between May and June to 3.7 percent, according to the latest estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The increase pushed the latest rate even higher than the 3.4 percent rate posted at this time last year.
“It’s pretty predictable, this jump in June,” said Lindsay Bullock, director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.
Bullock attributed most of the gain to high school and college graduates who entered the work force, but didn’t immediately find jobs. Some layoffs also occurred.
She expects the unemployment rate to go back down through the summer and fall, although the decreases probably won’t be big ones.
Between May and June, Mesa County payrolls decreased 1,416 to 73,970. The number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work increased 544 to 2,824. The labor force, which includes the employed and unemployed, declined 872 to 76,794.
Over the past year, payrolls edged up 345. The ranks of the unemployed increased 200. The labor force grew 545.
Labor demand as measured by the number of job orders posted at the Mesa County Workforce Center has decreased over the past year. But Bullock said those numbers also reflect employers filling job openings.
For June, 786 job orders were posted. For the first half of
2023, 4,553 orders were posted. Those numbers are down from the 862 orders posted in June 2022 and the 4,968 orders posted during the first half of 2022.
Demand remains strong in some industry sectors, she said, including health care, education and leisure and hospitality.
Following the June jump, monthly unemployment rates typically trend downward through the summer and fall. Bullock said she doesn’t anticipate big swings in the second half of 2023.
Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates also increased in neighboring Western Colorado counties in June — nine-tenths of a point to 3.6 percent in Rio Blanco County, six-tenths of a point to 3.7 percent in Delta County, a half point to 3.3 percent in Montrose County and three-tenths of a point to 3 percent in Garfield County.
The statewide seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained unchanged at 2.8 percent. The rate has remained below 3 percent for 14 consecutive months.
Nonfarm payrolls increased 4,700 between May and June with the biggest gains in the leisure and hospitality, manufacturing and professional and business services sectors. Government payrolls increased 1,400.
Since June 2022, nonfarm payrolls increased 42,400 or 1.5 percent. Employment increased 25,000 in leisure and hospitality, 9,900 in professional and business services and 2,900 in educational and health services. Employment decreased 9,200 in financial activities, 3,500 in information and 1,500 in construction. Payrolls shrank 6,500 in the trade, transportation and utilities sector.
Over the past year, the average workweek for Colorado employees on private payrolls edged up a tenth of an hour to 33.3 hours. Average hourly increased $1.04 to $35.27.
A measure of consumer confidence has rebounded to its highest level in two years on more upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions.
“Headline confidence appears to have broken out of the sideways trend that prevailed for much of the last year,” said Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board.
The New York-based think tank reported its Consumer Confidence Index rose 6.9 points to 117 in July. That’s the highest level since July 2021.
Despite rising interest rates, consumers were more upbeat across all age groups and among those earning less than $50,000 a year and more than $100,000, Peterson said. That likely reflected lower inflation and a tight labor market.
Although consumers are less convinced of a recession, the Conference Board still forecasts one, likely before the end of the year.
Consumers responding to the survey upon which the July index was based said they expect to spend less on such discretionary services as travel and recreation, but more on such necessities as health care.
More optimistic assessments of current business and labor conditions pushed up the present situation component of the index 4.7 points between June and July to 160.
The portion of consumers who called business conditions
“good” fell 1.5 points to 21.9 percent. The share of consumers who called conditions “bad” edged down a tenth of a point to 15.2 percent.
The proportion of consumers who said jobs were “plentiful” rose 1.5 points to 46.9 percent. The share of those who said jobs were “hard to get” fell 2.9 points to 9.7 percent.
Improving outlooks pushed up the expectations component of the index 8.3 points to 88.3. With the exception of an uptick in December, the reading had remained below 80 since February 2022. That’s a level associated with the onset of a recession within a year.
The share of consumers who said they expect business conditions to improve over the next six months rose 2.5 points to 17.1 percent. The proportion of those anticipating worsening conditions fell 3.7 points to 14 percent.
The share of consumers who expect more jobs to become available in coming months increased a point to 16.4 percent. The proportion of those forecasting fewer jobs decreased 1.9 points to 14.8 percent.
While 16.3 percent of consumers said they expect their incomes to increase, down 2.3 points from June, 9.7 percent anticipated decreased incomes. That’s down 2.1 points from a month ago.
Asked to assess their family financial situations, 31.6 percent of consumers said their situations were “good,” up 2.8 points from June. Another 17.6 percent called their situations “bad,” down a point from last month.
A monthly index forecasting economic conditions in the United States continues to decline, signaling what could be a recession.
The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index decreased seven-tenths of a percent to 106.1 in June. Separate measures of current and past conditions remained unchanged.
The Leading Economic Index fell 4.2 percent over the past six months and has declined for 15 months. That’s the longest streak since 2007 and 2008 and a period leading up to the Great Recession.
Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, senior manager of business cycle indicators for the Conference Board, attributed the latest
reading to gloomier consumer expectations, fewer new orders for goods and slowing in housing construction.
“June’s data suggests economic activity will continue to decelerate in the months ahead,” Zabinska-La Monica said. “We forecast that the U.S. economy is likely to be in recession from Q3 2023 to Q1 2024. Elevated prices, tighter monetary policy, hard-to-get credit and reduced government spending are poised to dampen economic growth further.”
For June, six of 10 indicators of the Leading Economic Index retreated, including building permits, consumer expectations for business conditions, interest rate spread and leading credit and new orders indexes. An increase in claims for unemployment benefits also pulled down the index. New orders for consumer goods and stock prices increased. Average weekly manufacturing hours and new
orders for capital goods held steady.
The Coincident Economic Index held steady at 110. The index increased six-tenths of a percent over the past six months.
For June, three of four indicators of the index advanced — nonfarm payrolls, personal income and sales. Industrial production retreated.
The Lagging Economic Index remained unchanged at 118.4. The index held steady over the past three months.
For June, three of seven indicators of the index rose, including the average prime rate charged by banks and consumer credit. A decrease in the duration of unemployment also bolstered the index. Commercial and industrial financing and the cost of labor and services retreated. Inventories remained unchanged. F
n A variety of presentations are scheduled at the Business Incubator Center in Grand Junction.
The next small business startup workshop is set for 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 3 at the center, located at 2591 Legacy Way. The workshop will cover the business planning process, including financing, legal structures, licensing requirements and state registration. Admission is $55.
A maker meetup is planned for 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 7 at the GJmakerspace at the center. The free event will offer an opportunity to meet makers, discuss ideas and showcase projects. Refreshments will be served.
The Colorado Legislature recently enacted the Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights (POWR) Act aimed at safeguarding workers from discriminatory employment practices.
The law goes into effect in August and includes several key provisions intended to bolster anti-discrimination laws and protect the rights of employees. Here’s an overview of the POWR Act:
A presentation on preparing cash flow budgets for small business startups is set for noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 15. Participants will learn how to complete cash flow budgets using Microsoft Excel.
The next Leading Edge business planning and management course is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays Sept. 20 to Dec. 6. The 11-week course will teach participants how to start or grow a business based on a business plan. In addition to classroom instruction and written materials, the course will include three hours of individual consulting. Admission is $275, $100 for each additional participant from the same business.
To register for or obtain more information about events, programs and services offered at the Business Incubator Center, call 243-5242 or visit https://gjincubator.org.
n Registration is under way for the Western Slope Young Professionals Summit in Grand Junction.
The summit is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Colorado Mesa University Center south ballroom.
The event will empower young professionals by helping them discover new ways to grow professionally and personally, forge meaningful connections and uncover opportunities to expand their knowledge and engage with the community. The event also will include the presentation of the BestSlope NEXT Gen Award.
Admission is $75 per person, $350 for five. To register or obtain more information, visit https://gjchamber.org or call 242-3214.
n Inclusion of harassment as a basis of discrimination: The POWR Act directs the Colorado Civil Rights Division to include harassment as a basis or description of discrimination on any charge form or charge intake mechanism. This step protects workers who face harassment in the workplace based on various factors.
n Revised definition of harassment: The act introduces a new definition of harass or harassment after repealing the previous definition that required the creation of a hostile work environment. This update broadens the scope of what constitutes harassment and ensures a more comprehensive approach to addressing those behaviors in the workplace.
n Protection based on marital status: The POWR Act extends protections against discriminatory or unfair employment practices to individuals based on their marital status. This addition aims to prevent employers from making employment decisions based on an employee’s marital status, offering more inclusive rights to workers.
n Lower threshold for harassment claims: The POWR Act specifies the alleged conduct need not be severe or pervasive to be considered a discriminatory or unfair employment practice. This change provides workers with greater recourse when facing harassment regardless of the frequency or intensity of the incidents.
n Elimination of disability impact exception: The act eliminates the ability for employers to assert an exception to discriminatory practices based on an individual’s disability affecting the job. This change ensures employers can’t use an employee’s disability as a rationale for discriminatory employment practices.
n Obligation to investigate complaints: Under the act, it’s considered a discriminatory or unfair employment practice for an employer to fail to initiate an investigation of a complaint or neglect taking prompt, reasonable and remedial
action. The requirement encourages employers to address complaints promptly and effectively.
n Affirmative defense for harassment claims by supervisors: The act outlines specific requirements for an employer to assert an affirmative defense to an employee’s proven claim of unlawful harassment by a supervisor. This provision ensures employers can’t avoid accountability for harassment by asserting a defense without meeting stringent criteria.
n Regulation of nondisclosure provisions: The POWR Act sets forth specific conditions that must be satisfied for a nondisclosure provision in an agreement between an employer and employee or prospective employee to be enforceable. This regulation promotes transparency and fairness in such provisions.
n Record-keeping requirements: Employers must maintain personnel and employment records for at least five years. In cases of complaints of discriminatory or unfair employment practices, employers must store these records in a designated repository. This measure ensures crucial records are preserved for future reference or investigations. The POWR Act represents a significant step forward in protecting Colorado workers from discriminatory practices in the workplace. By introducing comprehensive provisions to address harassment, discrimination based on marital status and employer accountability, the state aims to create a more equitable work environment. With the enactment of this law, Colorado solidifies its commitment to upholding workers’ rights and promoting fair treatment in the workplace.
Jenny Kelly is human resources director at SummitWest Care in Grand Junction as well as director of public relations and marketing for the Western Colorado Human Resource Association. For more information about the organization, visit www.wchra.org.
By introducing comprehensive provisions to address harassment, discrimination based on marital status and employer accountability, the state aims to create a more equitable work environment.
If you’ve been in business for any length of time, you likely understand the detrimental effects a lack of trust and loyalty can have on your culture, the success of your company and overall happiness. You probably also realize the tremendous benefits trusting and loyal team members bring to your customers and operations.
Trust supports loyalty in team members. If you have my back, I’ll have yours. When trust between you and a team member is broken, any loyalty that existed is damaged. Once seriously damaged, it can be a lengthy process to rebuild trust. It might not be impossible.
When team members are mistreated, their trust for and loyalty to people and businesses are compromised. Some examples of this include not listening to team members, speaking in a derogatory or condescending manner, demeaning or humiliating team members in front of others, not paying them what you agreed or what they’re worth, failing to appreciate quality work and not recognizing solid efforts. If these actions go on repeatedly, trust and loyalty will be destroyed and replaced with resentment.
Breaking your promises and lying to team members constitutes another way to damage loyalty. Lying doesn’t foster trust. It demonstrates you can’t be trusted. If you string people along and make promises you don’t intend to keep to get more out of them and then never deliver on your word, they’ll develop a mindset against you and your company.
Taking advantage of and using people for personal gain is yet another way to damage and even destroy professional relationships. Repeatedly pressuring or
demanding a team member put in more and more time, perform additional tasks and go above and beyond without meaningful recognition, verbal appreciation or even financial rewards will foster mistrust and disloyalty. People don’t respond well to being used.
Reflect on the times you’ve been mistreated and remember how you felt, how it damaged the trust and loyalty you once had and how it altered your perspective of people and companies.
When you treat people with dignity and respect — as human beings and not merely cogs in the wheels of your business — you nurture trusty and loyalty. Just like you, your team members want to be treated fairly. When they are, in most cases they’ll return the favor.
As you value your team members, they will value you and your business to greater degrees. Most people who go to a safe and supported work environment are appreciative. They want to be there, give more of themselves and work to preserve what they enjoy. Creating a friendly and supportive work environment strengthens trust and loyalty. Impeccability of your word — saying what you mean and meaning what you say — goes a long way in building
trust and loyalty. Don’t lie. And when you make a promise, do everything in your power to keep it. If you can’t, make sure to let team members know why so they’ll understand and see you did your best.
Providing team members with opportunities to learn new skills, take on more important tasks and advance within your business instills trust and loyalty, too. This demonstrates you believe in them, recognize and appreciate their time and effort and, perhaps most important, confirms you care.
Trust and loyalty are a two-way street. Sometimes you can be the most integrity based, supportive, fair and opportunity giving business owner and team members will still take actions that damage or destroy your trust and loyalty in them. This is rarely the case when you hire effectively and foster these things in them first. But it’s wise to let those team members go who don’t lend themselves to trust and loyalty.
As the leader of your business, trust and loyalty begin with you. When your leadership fosters trust and loyalty in your people, your top performers will return the favor — usually to an even greater degree. This in turn creates better customer service, satisfaction and loyalty.
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.
When you treat people with dignity and respect — as human beings and not merely cogs in the wheels of your business — you nurture trust and loyalty. Your team members want to be treated fairly. When they are, in most cases they’ll return the favor.
Travel has returned with a vengeance. Airports, including Denver International Airport, have seen record numbers of passengers passing through checkpoints.
At the same time, though, there aren’t enough screeners or security lines, airports are remodeling and expanding, pilots and air traffic controllers are retiring in droves, flight attendants are over-worked and passengers are short-tempered Add the increasing number of business travelers who tend to cut things a bit too close and too many passengers with too much stuff. Commercial flights can quickly become a nightmare.
Still, you have places to go and people to see. How can you turn the nightmare into a dream — or at least a more pleasant experience?
First, keep in mind the oft-repeated mantra. Book the first flight of the day if at all possible. Getting up at 3 a.m. to catch a 5:30 flight might not be appealing, but it sure beats the cascading delays and cancellations that can affect flights as the day — and especially bad weather — progresses. Early flights buy you response time. It’s easier to rebook since there are still flight options left in the day and opportunities for routing workarounds. Weather is usually less of an issue at the start of the day. Consider leaving the afternoon before if you have a really important meeting.
Next, allow sufficient time for connections. Sure, airline websites will let you book a 20- or 30-minute connection. But is that even remotely feasible? If you land at one terminal and have to go to another or land at one end of a terminal and have to go to the other end, is that
doable? Will you make it to the gate at least 10 minutes before your domestic connection — 20 minutes or more for international? Nothing is more frustrating than racing to the gate only to see the boarding door closed.
Keep up with potential time traps at airports along your route of travel. At Denver International Airport, major renovations are under way in the Great Hall, changing security access points and increasing the number of gates. Navigating all these obstacles adds time to a trip.
Many international airports experience long times at immigration due to staff shortages. Plan for far longer connections than airline websites offer.
In October, I traveled from Denver to Brussels and then Barcelona. Given the huge lines that often occur at Denver, I allowed 2.5 hours from arrival at the airport to flight departure. Even with CLEAR and TSA Precheck, it took more than one hour to get through security. In Brussels, we had to clear European Union immigration. That took more than 90 minutes because of short-staffed control points.
We researched potential bottlenecks before leaving Grand Junction and planned accordingly. We had three hours to connect in Brussels, so we weren’t rushed. We even had time to visit the airline lounge.
Enroll in programs that speed your way through
security and immigration. Despite the previous example at Denver International Airport, CLEAR and TSA Precheck almost always make trips through security checkpoints smoother and faster. Apply for Global Entry if you travel more than once a year to international destinations.
Make sure your identification is current and meets Transportation Security Administration requirements.
It can take months to renew a passport, and you still need 90 days to 180 days of validity upon return from an international destination for another country to let you in. Consider identifying a window of 100 to 120 days when you won’t travel and start the renewal process. If you’re getting your first passport or it’s been more than five years since your passport expired, the process could take even longer. That’s especially true if you will have to appear in-person to process paperwork.
Join an airline frequent flyer program. Even the lowest membership level could get you more rapid help when problems arise. Keep the airline app on your phone. Sign up for mobile alerts so you know about problems before the rest of people on your delayed or cancelled flight.
Finally, many websites offer tips about getting the best support when things go wrong. Make sure you have a few of them among your browser favorites so you can check for ideas on how to resolve issues.
Finally, travel with a positive attitude. It really does help you and everyone else along the way.
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.
Getting up at 3 a.m. to catch a 5:30 flight might not be appealing, but it sure beats the cascading delays and cancellations that can affect flights as the day — and especially bad weather — progresses.
I recently read an article written by Jennifer Miller and posted on the New York Times website under the headline: Why Some Companies Are Saying “Diversity and Belonging” Instead of “Diversity and Inclusion.”
Notwithstanding the fact brother Bill pointed me toward this article with the promise, “Hey, I think you’ll like this one,” what intrigued me most was the way Miller covered topics I’ve pushed for several months. Miller is a freelance reporter who covers cultural divides in the United States.
By one estimate, 65 percent of employees are looking for new jobs. That means nearly seven in 10 of your employees look to move from your organization to something else.
while DEI programs can be beneficial, they can also end up stigmatizing the same employees they were meant to protect.
This is the gist behind Miller’s article. In many cases, the rollout of DEI has exacerbated divides even while addressing important issues.
We must get on top of this situation because our organizations are, simply put, a microcosm of the society in which they operate. Those organizations are a microcosm of the country in which they operate. Those organizations are a microcosm of this big blue marble we occupy.
Haggerty
Daughter Erin asked a few years back, “Has this country ever been as divided as it is now?” Erin referred to political schisms. But Miller brought the question even closer to home in examining diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Great. Just when we’re all trying to understand what it means to be red or blue, now comes DEI?
Well, Erin, I’m not certain we’ve ever been this divided. But, I also believe this to be the beginning of something cathartic — something we’ve long needed.
The main emphasis of my consultancy as well as my course materials on leadership involves what I see as the critical evolution from the command-and-control type of leadership with which we’re all too familiar to servant leadership.
What are they looking for? Most of them yearn to free themselves from either bad bosses or acrid work environments.
Employees no longer feel like they belong. They feel like they’re walking on eggshells so they don’t offend their bosses or co-workers. Why, they ask, can’t I just show up as myself?
As Miller pointed out, this “belonging obsession” is among the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our newfound flexibility to work wherever we want and the desire to freely speak politically and socially, we need organizations that tolerate as well as coach and mentor employees in having those conversations safely.
The problem: Organizational cultures allow people to maintain a zero-sum mindset. If I support you, I lose. Here’s where DEI programs go south.
What we’re starting to learn and appreciate is that
Without forcing the issues, how do we bring more people into the debate?
I’ll offer some answers in upcoming columns, but the essence is this: We must get more people to feel as if they can bring their whole selves to work.
Tim 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 vice president of the Grand Junction Kiwanis Club. Reach him at info@timothyhaggerty.com, (610) 737-0496 or www.timothyhaggerty.com
It’s natural to compare ourselves to others. We know we shouldn’t do it. But we do — almost every day in some form.
Comparison is a double-edged sword. While comparison can serve as a source of motivation, it also can be destructive. As Theodore Roosevelt said: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Many forms of comparison can harm self-esteem and lead to unhappiness. They include social comparison, body comparison and competition.
Social comparison refers to a behavior in which we compare certain aspects of ourselves to others. That can include everything from income, homes and job titles to Facebook likes, popularity and relationships. By participating in this type of comparison, we often reach the conclusion we’re “not as good as others.” This assessment is false and can lead to discontentment.
Body comparisons constitute a sure way to burst a positive body image. Making appearance-based comparisons
can influence the way we view our own bodies. It can lead to finding imperfections and disliking our bodies. This is especially true at a time when perfected body types and beauty standards are so apparent in the media. The alternative? Embrace you are uniquely you.
It’s normal to compare yourself to others when you’re working out. But that also can affect your mental health and enjoyment. For example, you’re participating in a yoga class and everyone seems more flexible. Or you’re walking on a treadmill and the person next to you is running on an incline. Or you’re lifting weights lighter than everyone else is lifting. Comparing flexibility, endurance or strength to others at the gym, or anywhere, doesn’t matter. Their fitness levels are irrelevant. Concentrate instead on you.
It might help to consider where they started. How much time did it take them to achieve those levels? How much effort did they put into achieving their goals? Is it your goal to match or beat them? It’s better to set your own goals and work toward them at your pace.
.Competition comparison refers to comparisons among athletes or athletic events. Knowing, not comparing, the abilities of your competitors is key. This comparison can be motivating.
Personal comparison is where you make comparisons about yourself. What you used to to do, perhaps when you were younger. The natural progression of aging reduces strength and stamina. A 70-year-old athlete comparing himself with his performance as a 25 year old can lead to feelings of inadequacy. Push yourself to be your best at your current age. Country singer Toby Keith put it best in his lyrics: “I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was.”
Learning and practicing some basic skills can help you stop comparing yourself to others. Begin by practicing gratitude for your life. Acknowledge your strengths, not your weaknesses. Remain content with who you are as a person. By turning your focus inward, it becomes about you and not others.
Start being better at what really matters — being you.
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. F
Employees no longer feel like they belong. They feel like they’re walking on eggshells so they don’t offend their bosses or co-workers.
Social capital exerts a powerful force that surpasses traditional economic indicators, permeating the fabric of societies and influencing their economic trajectories in ways that extend beyond mere monetary metrics.
At its core and depending on the field of study, social capital is defined as the cooperation, trust and network of relationships within a community that plays a role in driving economic development.
Communities where social capital thrives enjoy remarkable returns in transforming societies and enabling sustainable growth. When individuals feel supported and connected, that sense of belonging fosters positive effects on education, health and overall well-being and results in a more skilled and healthier work force and increased productivity that bolsters the economy.
Although intangible, communities rich in social capital yield invaluable assets emerging from the bonds among individuals and groups. These bonds are nurtured through cooperation, shared values and social interactions that foster a sense of community.
In this context, social capital encompasses such elements as social networks, social norms and social trust as well as civic engagement. Unlike physical or financial capital, the value of social capital lies in its ability to enhance economic activities and lead to more efficient resource allocation.
Nonetheless, social capital policies aren’t free of challenges. Digitalization, globalization and rapid urbanization created shifts in social structures and weakened some traditional forms of community. Therefore,
efforts to strengthen social capital at the community level play a pivotal role in promoting inclusive growth and reducing economic disparities.
Social capital influences economic development by spurring entrepreneurship and social innovation. The benefits of a tightly knit network of entrepreneurs, investors and professionals create a fertile ground for collaboration and mentorship, facilitating the rapid growth of startups and expansion of existing companies as well as a positive sense of community.
The United States serves as an excellent example of the effects social capital play on economic development. Our nation has thrived on a culture of civic engagement and community involvement. From grassroots organizations to faith-based initiatives, our social networks have played a fundamental role in driving change and addressing societal challenges.
Northern European countries are often praised for strong social networks and high levels of trust that contribute to economic success. Research on the effects of social capital has shown communities with higher levels of social capital tend to have lower transaction costs. Trust reduces the need for formal contracts and expensive monitoring mechanisms. This phenomenon improves business efficiency and encourages investment, further fueling economic growth.
Denmark offers a specific example on how social capital driven policies promote economic development. A labor market model dubbed flexicurity demonstrates how social capital bolsters economic development. A strong welfare system built on trust and cooperation among employers, employees and the government provides a safety net that enables workers to embrace economic transitions more easily. This flexibility and social support create an environment that encourages innovation and risk-taking, in turn driving overall prosperity.
Combining flexibility for employers to adapt their work forces with comprehensive social protections for workers emphasizes a flexible labor market with easy hiring and firing regulations while providing strong social safety nets, active labor market policies and opportunities for lifelong learning. The flexicurity approach promotes economic growth, job creation and worker security as well as a balanced and resilient labor market.
Social capital stands as a potent force in shaping economic development. In the U.S., civic engagement and vibrant networks fuel entrepreneurship and innovation. In Northern Europe, the power of trust and cooperation maintains a solid social welfare system and economic stability.
The takeaway for our urban-ish area is that understanding and nurturing social capital is crucial for building cohesive, prosperous and resilient societies. It can help us unlock the full potential of our resources, foster resilience in the face of challenges and ensure sustainable growth for future generations.
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. The Business Incubator Center hosts seven programs: The Grand Junction Small Business Development Center, Business Loan Fund of Mesa County, F-Works, Mesa County Enterprise Zone, GJ MakerSpace and two incubator programs. For additional information, call 243-5232 or visit https://gjincubator.org. Reach Bollig by email at dbollig@gjincubator.org.
The Rocky Mountain Health Foundation has awarded grants worth a total of $564,000 to organizations in Western Colorado. Grants from the workforce development fund are intended to help address a shortage of health care providers by supporting women, people of color and those with low incomes beginning or furthering careers in health care or behavioral health care.
The Rocky Mountain Health Foundation board of directors approved funding to a total of 19 organizations from eight Western Slope counties to help fund scholarships, paid internships and living-expense stipends for those pursuing health care- and behavioral health-related certifications and degrees as well as professional supervision for licensure.
The Rocky Mountain Health Foundation was established in 2017 when UnitedHealth Group purchased Rocky Mountain Health Plans and set aside $38 million to promote health and well-being in Western Slope counties. For more information, visit https://rmhealth.org.
A groundbreaking ceremony is planned for July 27 to celebrate the construction of a a community hall in De Beque.
Mesa County and the Town of De Beque have scheduled the event for 1 p.m. at 305 E. Fourth St.
The hall is expected to accommodate meetings as well as educational and recreational activities. The facility will include indoor and outdoor meeting areas, restrooms, a kitchen and playground. Construction is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2024.
Alpine Banks of Colorado has announced plans to pay quarterly cash dividends on July 31.
The bank plans to pay a dividend of 20 cents per class B nonvoting common share and $30 per class A voting common share. Those dividends are unchanged from the previous quarter. A $6.6 billion employee-owned organization headquartered in Glenwood Springs, Alpine Bank operates locations across Colorado. For additional information, visit www.alpinebank.com.
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.
Citizens for Clean Air has scheduled an event in Grand Junction to inform participants about the benefits of biochar to the soil and environment.
The biochar garden open house is set for 9 to 11 a.m. July 28 at the Colorado State University Western Colorado Research Center at 3170 B 1/2 Road.
Volunteers will be available to answer questions about biochar. The first 10 people to arrive will receive a biochar and compost sample to use in their own gardens.
Biochar is a carbon-rich material made through the low oxygen and high temperature conversion of wood, nutshells, hulls or manure. Potential benefits from biochar could include improved yields and water and nutrient efficiency.
For more information, visit www.citizensforcleanair.org.
Proposals will be accepted through Oct. 2 for artwork planned for installation at a new traffic roundabout at the intersection of 24 and G roads in Grand Junction.
Artists should submit letters of interest, resumes and six each annotated images of original representative works to Jonathan Wheatley, arts and culture supervisor for the City of Grand Junction. Submissions should be emailed to jonathanw@gjcity.org.
The Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture will select the artist to complete the work, which must be installed at the roundabout by Aug. 1, 2024.
The city allocates 1 percent of the city budget for certain capital improvements to acquire and display public artwork and fund efforts to expand opportunities for residents and visitors to experience art.
FThe latest version of an annual publication is now available to offer information about farmers’ markets, wineries and other agricultural attractions in Colorado.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture publishes the Colorado Farm Fresh Directory. The directory is available in English and Spanish.
“This directory gives Coloradans and visitors a guide to the state’s impressive farmer’s markets culture, agritourism and other fun food, beverage and agriculture events,” said Danielle Trotta, manager of the Colorado Proud Program.
“Farm stands and markets keep Coloradans directly connected to the agricultural industry; help shorten the supply chain; and
bring fresh, locally grown produce straight to our homes,” Trotta said.
The 2023 Colorado Farm Fresh Directory features a variety of businesses selling directly to the public, including more than 200 farms and ranches as well as community supported agriculture programs, farmers’ markets, roadside stands and u-pick operations. The directory also includes listings of wineries as well as restaurants using local ingredients. The director lists corn mazes, pumpkin patches and other seasonal activities. In addition, the free directory includes a crop calendar, tips for picking Colorado produce and other resources.
For more information, view a digital version of the 2023 Colorado Farm Fresh Directory or see a map of farmers’ market locations, visit www.ag.colorado.gov/markets.
Western Colorado Community College in Grand Junction has received a grant to build a mobile learning lab focused on welding and commercial driving.
The Colorado Community College System and Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade awarded the $1.1 million grant through the Skill Advance Colorado Mobile Learning Lab Assistance Program.
“Receiving this grant reinforces that continued focus on career and technical education is more important than ever when it comes to meeting our region’s workforce needs,” said Brigitte Sundermann, vice president of community college affairs at Colorado Mesa University, of which WCCC is a division.
“This grant enables us to deliver high-quality training, equip the current workforce with additional skills pertaining to their industry as well as help them advance in their careers,” Sundermann said.
The mobile learning lab will support welding and commercial driver license training programs at WCCC. Mobile learning labs offer on-site workforce education at business locations
The lab will be the second of its kind at WCCC. Thanks to a gift from the Sturm Family and ANB Bank in 2019, WCCC developed a mobile learning lab offering mechatronics courses to high school students, adult learners and employees enrolled in company training
Western Colorado Community College offers 30 certificate and associate degree programs, concurrent enrollment to high school students and noncredit professional and personal development courses. For more information, visit the website at www.coloradomesa.edu/wccc.
Anthony Heiden and Kathy Tomkins were honored as the top performing agents for June at Heiden Homes Realty in Grand Junction.
Heiden posted the highest dollar volume in sales for the month and tied with Tomkins for the most closings.
Heiden, managing broker for the firm, also serves as chairman of the Grand Junction Area Realtor Association Young Professionals Network and volunteers for multiple philanthropic organizations.
Tomkins also owns Mobile Homes Parts Center and is an unlimited general contractor.
Heiden Homes Realty operates offices at 735 Rood Ave. For more information, including properties for sale or rent, call 245-7777 or visit www.heidenhomes.com.
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Two Palisade High School students placed in the top 10 of competitions held as part of the Future Business Leaders of America national leadership conference in Atlanta.
Bailey Edwards took ninth in accounting 1, while Trevor Rudd finished 10th in help desk role play.
A total of 13 other students from Grand Valley high schools also participated in the event. They included Raeley Branson, Mallory Brownell, Noah Hirons, Mia Moore, Will Neese, Sofia Porras, Claire Elise Rasmussen and Layton Tobin from Palisade High School; Isenia Fergoso and Erica Young from Central High School; Jacob Cornelison and Britton Hovland from Fruita Monument High School; and Taytin Knoblich from Grand Junction High School.
Melissa Wright from Palisade High School and Suzanne Dunlap from Grand Junction High School accompanied the students as advisers.
The conference brought together middle and high school students for competitive events, workshops and career development opportunities. “They headed home with a renewed sense of accomplishment, a robust network of peers from across the country and connections to colleges and employers as they explore future career opportunities,” said Alexander Graham, president and chief executive officer of the FBLA.
The Business Times welcomes submissions for free publication in Business People and the Almanac calendar of events. Email submissions to phil@thebusinesstimes.com or submit a news release online at www.thebusinesstimes.com.
Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout has been elected to the Colorado Municipal League Executive Board.
Ken Kreie, a member of the Fruita City Council, was among the elected officials honored for reaching milestones in a leadership program.
Stout was among the officials elected to the executive board during the annual business meeting held as part of the CML conference in Aurora. She will serve a two-year term as a council mayor or president from a city with a large population.
Kreie was honored for completing 60 credit hours to reach the leadership level of the program.
The CML represents a total of 270 cities and towns across Colorado. For more information about the organization, visit www.cml.org.
Hilary Cooper, a former San Miguel County commissioner, has been named director of a state program supporting new housing initiatives in Colorado.
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade hired Cooper as director of innovative funding for housing programs. She oversees efforts to create jobs and increase housing.
As a San Miguel County commissioner, Cooper was involved in the development of workforce housing in the Telluride area.
Rebecca Mitchell will become Colorado’s first full-time member of the Upper Colorado River Commission.
Mitchell served six years as director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and four years in a dual role as Colorado River commissioner. She’s now Colorado’s first full-time, state-employed member of the Upper Colorado River Commission.
The commission is an interstate water administrative agency established by the 1948 Upper Colorado River Basin Compact.
“The Colorado River provides water for 40 million people and 30 tribes spread over seven states and two countries, so there’s a lot at stake,” Mitchell said.
July 27
n Welcome Thursday Friends networking group, noon to 1 p.m., Munchies, 550 Kokopelli Drive, Fruita. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
Aug. 1
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Veterans in Business monthly muster, 5:30 to 7 p.m., Axeology, 2487 Industrial Blvd, Grand Junction. Admission $20. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
Aug. 3
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business networking luncheon, noon to 1 p.m., Bank of the West, 141 N. Park Square, Fruita. Admission $15 for chamber members, $25 for others. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
n Small business startup workshop, 2 to 4 p.m., Business Incubator Center, 2591 Legacy Way, Grand Junction. Admission $55. 243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org
Aug. 7
n Maker meetup, 6 to 8 p.m., GJmakerspace at the Business Incubator Center. 243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org
Aug. 8
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce free business tool box presentation with Nina Anderson of Express Employment Professionals, noon to 1 p.m., FWorks conference room, 325 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
Aug. 9
n Young Professionals Network of Mesa County before hours event, 7 to 8:30 a.m., Coffee Trader, 2566 Patterson Road, Suite A, Grand Junction. www.wchra.org
n Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce networking at noon, noon to 1 p.m., Rib City Grill, 2830 North Ave. Admission $20 for chamber members, $25 for others. https://gjchamber.org or 242-3214
Upcoming
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5 to 7:30 p.m., Aug. 10, Colorado Flight Center, 800 Heritage Way, Grand Junction. Admission $5 for members, $10 for others. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
n Presentation on cash flow budgets for small business startups, noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 15, Business Incubator Center. 243-5242 or https://gjincubator.org
n Free Coffee Club networking meeting and presentation on employee health and billing interpretation, 9 to 10 a.m., FWorks conference room, 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
n Western Slope Young Professionals Summit, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 22, Colorado Mesa University Center, Grand Junction. Admission $75 per person, $350 for five. https://gjchamber.org or 243-5242
n Welcome Thursday Friends free networking group, noon to 1 p.m. Aug. 24, Camilla’s Kaffe, 206 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894
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