Business Briefs

The Business Times SePtember 29-OctOber 12, 2022 n SBA DISTRICT OFFICE SEEKS NOMINATIONS

FOR ANNUAL SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS

Nominations will be accepted through Dec. 8 for annual awards presented by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The SBA presents national and state awards to the small business person and small business exporter of the year. A state wall of fame award also will be presented.

The awards will be presented as part of the National Small Business Week observance scheduled for April 20 to May 6, 2023.

“We welcome nominations from every corner of the state for these coveted SBA recognitions,” said Frances Padilla, director of the SBA Colorado District. “With more than 690,000 small businesses that call Colorado home, we’re looking forward to dynamic, successful companies spanning numerous industries to be represented.”

Nominations must be submitted electronically to the SBA Colorado District Office by 1 p.m. Dec. 8.

For nomination guidelines and additional information, send an email to the district office at ColoradoDO@sba.gov or visit the website at www.sba.gov/nsbw. n ANNUAL CRUISE SCHEDULED FOR OCT. 15

TO RAISE AWARENESS OF ROADSIDE SAFETY

Emergency responders, law enforcement agencies, tow companies and others are expected to join in an annual event promoting awareness of roadside safety.

The Slow Down Move Over Colorado Saturday Night Awareness Cruise is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15.

Vehicles will be staged at Grand Mesa Middle School starting at 5:30 and proceed down 31 1/2 Road, Patterson Road, 24 1/2 Road, First Street and the Interstate Highway 70 Business Loop.

Vehicles will gather at the Teller Arms Shopping Center. A truck lighting display is planned in remembrance of those killed or injured on the road.

Colorado law requires drivers to move one lane away from emergency, maintenance or tow vehicles. If they’re unable to move over, drivers must reduce their speed to 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit.

For information, call Kim Hobscheidt at (970) 589-1990 or Jennifer Laws at (702) 569-4280.

Opinion Business Briefs

Business PeopleSHARE YOUR NEWS The Business Times welcomes submissions for Almanac NOTEWORTHY free publication in Business Briefs. Email items to phil@thebusinesstimes.com or submit a news release online at www.thebusinesstimes.com. n GRAND JUNCTION CHAMBER HONORS

BUSINESSES FOR EXPANSIVE EFFORTS

The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce recognized 10 businesses for expansions resulting in a total capital investment of $8.3 million and 123 additional jobs. Wal-Mart was honored for a $4.7 million remodeling project and the addition of 15 jobs. ColCal Colorado was honored for investing $2 million in opening a Taco Bell restaurant and adding 45 jobs. Builders FirstSource was honored for a $1.8 million project and 25 jobs. The Kain & Burke law firm was honored for investing more than $1 million in a new location and adding one job. The Castle Creek Manor bed and breakfast was honored for a $245,000 expansion. Grand Junction REgeneration and Lowell Village Metropolitan District were honored for a total investment of $550,000 in a townhome development. JFS Inc., a financial and accounting firm, was honored for a $45,000 investment and six additional jobs. Bray & Co. Real Estate was recognized for 26 additional jobs, while RoseCap Financial Advisors was honored for five new jobs. n CHEVRON CONTRIBUTES $24,000 TO SUPPORT

WESTERN COLORADO CONSERVATION CORPS

Chevron contributed $24,000 to a Grand Junction-based program offering participants job and life skills training while working on land improvement projects. Chevron donated the money to support the Western Colorado Conservation Corps, a program of Mesa County Partners. WCCC crews build and maintain trails and fences, remove invasive plant species and restore habitats. For 2022, a total of more than 90 youth and young adults have been hired to work on public lands and remove invasive species along rivers. Participants earn AmeriCorps education awards to pay for college in addition to various certifications that can help them with employment. More than half of the youth and young adults hired for the program are within poverty guidelines. F Bray & Co. Real Estate based in Grand Junction was among the winners of an annual awards program recognizing Colorado companies. Bray & Co. was a Top Company in the real estate sector in the program conducted by ColoradoBiz magazine. Bray & Co. was one of two Western Slope firms among the winners of 14 categories. Growing Spaces, a garden building supplier based in Pagosa Springs, won in the manufacturing category. “We are deeply honored to receive this recognition,” said Michelle Urlacher, president of Bray & Co. Michelle Urlacher “Since our very beginning as a small, two-person company on the front porch of Sherman and Roxie Bray’s house through our growth today, we have adhered closely to our values. We are driven to meet the needs of our clients by providing an exceptional experience and very honored to be recognized for our amazing people here at Bray & Co.” ColoradoBiz magazine received hundreds of entries in the 35th Top Companies program. To be eligible, companies must be based in Colorado or show significant business presence in the state. The editorial board of the magazine and two representatives from the business community served as the judging The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce will accept applications through Sept. 30 for the next class at the Young Entrepreneur Academy in Grand Junction. The 30-week program guides middle and high school students through the process of coming up with ideas for new products and services, developing business plans, pitching their ventures to investors for startup funding and launching companies and social movements. In the process, students build relationships with mentors and learn about networking, organization and professionalism. “Encouraging entrepreneurship with our youth is a key panel. Entrants were judged on three criteria: outstanding achievement, financial performance and community involvement. Bray & Co. Real Estate operates residential and commercial offices as well as a property management office. For information, call 242-3647 or visit www.brayandco.com. element of work force development,” said Candace Carnahan,

Frances Padilla Applicants sought for Young Entrepreneurs Academy vice president of the chamber. “The skills established during the Young Entrepreneur Academy will positively impact these students for the rest of their lives while also creating a number of new businesses that contribute to the strength of our local business community.” The academy is open to students in sixth through 12th grades. Classes are scheduled for 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays from October through April at Western Colorado Community College. For additional information about the academy, contact Kirstin Maska at (970) 263-2916 or kirstin@gjchamber.org or log on to https://gjchamber.org/young-entrepreneurs-academy-yea. F