Business Briefs

The Business Times November 10-23, 2022 n WEST SLOPE STAFFING SERVICE CONDUCTS

PAY IT FORWARD HOLIDAY HIRING DRIVE

A holiday hiring drive is scheduled to continue through Nov. 14 at a staffing service with offices in Grand Junction and Montrose. Express Employment Professionals conducts the Pay It Forward Hiring Drive. “Pay it forward to us means working with local businesses to help find jobs for unemployed workers in our community so they can earn a paycheck and help support their families this season,” said Nina Anderson, owner and chief executive officer of the Express Employment Professionals offices in Grand Junction and Montrose.

Besides helping people provide for their families, the hiring drive will help businesses find additional staffing they need for what can be a busy season, Anderson said.

In addition, Express Employment Professionals will make a financial donation to the Food Bank of the Rockies for every employee placed through Nov. 14.

Businesses can help, she said, by hiring Express employees, providing reference letters those employees can use to obtain other jobs and share information about the hiring drive.

Express Employment Professionals fills short-and long-term assignments for a variety of office, professional, skilled and light industrial positions, she said. The firm evaluates and screens associates before placements.

For more information, call 242-4500 or send an email to jobs.grandjunctionco@expresspros.com. n FREDDY’S JOINS IN NOVEMBER FUND-RAISER

FOR FOLDS OF HONOR SCHOLARSHIPS

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers will join with Folds of Honor to collect donations for scholarships of spouses and children of fallen and disabled military service members and first responders.

Through Nov. 30, customers will have an option to round up their purchases in restaurants to the nearest dollar or contribute $1, $3, $5 or $10 when ordering online or with an application.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers operates a total of more than 440 locations in 36 states, including 737 Horizon Drive and 2489 U.S. Highway 6 & 50 in Grand Junction and 332 Intestate 70 Business Loop in Clifton. For more information, visit the website at www.freddys.com.

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 NOMINATIONS DUE DEC. 8 FOR ANNUAL AWARDS

PRESENTED BY SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

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 HILLTOP’S HEALTH ACCESS OFFERS HELP

IN ENROLLING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE

Hilltop’s Health Access based in Grand Junction offers public assistance enrolling for health insurance. A certified assistance site for Connect for Health, Hilltop’s Health Access offers assistance in navigating the online process, comparing coverage options and completing enrollment. Tax credits are available to qualified Colorado residents to help reduce the cost of their health plans. For additional information, call 244-0850 or visit the website at www.hilltophealthaccess.org. F Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County is among the nonprofit organizations across Colorado participating in a new program helping injured workers return to the workforce. Pinnacol Assurance, a workers’ compensation insurer in Colorado, launched the return to work program to offer injured

Nina Anderson workers light duty options while supporting local causes. “Even as injured workers ease back into volunteering only a few hours a week, they see Frances Padilla benefits such as opportunities to interact Nevine Laughllin with others in a professional environment, the chance to test their bodies and provide feedback to their physicians and a return to the structure regular works provides,” said Nevine Laughlin, return to work director at Pinnacol Assurance. Pinnacol consultants work with injured workers to find light- or modified-duty options and pair them with nonprofits if that constitutes a good option. Workers take on a variety of tasks, including answering telephones, assembling boxes of food, delivering donations, greeting customers and sorting donated clothing. Consultants track the progress of injured workers and work with their employers to plan their return to work when they’re medically cleared to do so. Nonprofit organizations A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled to celebrate the opening of the Kooler Garage Doors location in Grand Junction. The ceremony is set for 4:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at 554 25 Road, Unit 6. “Kooler Garage Doors has been rooted on the Western Slope, and we’re pumped to bring an elevated home service experience with our certified professional technician team into Grand Junction,” said Matt Kuehlhorn, founder and owner. “We love the Grand Junction throughout Colorado participate in the program, including ARC and Goodwill Industries. The Sharing Ministries Food Bank in Montrose also participates. Pinnacol Assurance provides workers’ compensation insurance coverage to nearly 1 million workers in Colorado. For more information, visit the website at www.pinnacol.com. community and look forward to engaging even more.”

Ribbon cutting planned for Kooler Garage Doors The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce will help with the ribbon cutting ceremony. The event will include food, a shop tour and Skee-Ball competition. Candace Carnahan, president and chief executive officer of the chamber, said she’s pleased Kooler Garage Doors joined the organization. “We are grateful for businesses like this that keep our community moving forward and our economy strong.” Kooler Garage Doors began in 2015 in Gunnison and opened the Grand Junction location in October. For more information about Matt Kuehlhorn Kooler Garage Doors, visit www.KoolerGarageDoors.com or call (970) 660-3456. F