Contributors Opinion Boldroads predictions for 2015 The less traveled are A new year Business affords Briefs Encouraging words the questions never asked more like not-so-bold repeats a opportunity fornew the year ahead Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he B BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES
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The question for Mesa County business owners and managers isn’t only whether the upcoming holidays will be merry and bright. That’s important, especially for retailers. But what about 2022? Fortunately, are some encouraging words in the A new year almost always bringsthere an opportunity for a fresh start and business and economic forecast for Colorado. While renewed ambition tolatest do things better. COVID-19 pandemic sidetracked business and products economic In business, thatthe usually boils down to providing customers better growth in Mesa the area is Part recovering. Moreover, and services faster and at lower costCounty, than competitors. of the process mustthe outlook is mostly upbeat. include listening to customers to determine what they actually need and then the summary the section of the meeting that need. After Here’s all, it does little goodfrom to offer the latest andforecast greatest if about Mesa County: “While the pandemic has had an impact nobody actually wants what you’re selling. on all aspects of theto community, is recovering Just like the businesses that belong the group, the the county Grand Junction Area and outperforming otherout counties andyear the with state.aThe community Chamber of Commerce invariably starts the new reassessment of in the Grand Valley is resilient and will continue to forge ahead the services and resources it provides and how well they match with members face of adversity.” needs. Jeff Franklin,inthethenew chairman of the chamber board of directors, Phil Castle Wobbekind, senior economist thefor Leeds School personifies this approachRich in describing what he considers hisatrole the coming of Business at the Colorado at Boulder, year: listen to members, determine theirUniversity needs andofthen meet those needs. said It’s aa number factors bode well for Mesa includingofhigher gas and role withofwhich Franklin is familiar as County, market president Banknatural of Colorado. commodity prices. While pricesstructured have appreciated, less The process will take home on a more approachhousing in what remains the chamber expensive Mesa Contyofthan many other the state.to Business. Under the plans as theinresumption a program aptly areas calledofListening The business division atin thein-depth Leeds School of Business compiles program, businessresearch owners participate interviews to identify barriersthe to annual economic for Colorado with sections for various growth business and otherand problems theyforecast encounter. industry and geographic Business, industryclub. and government The sectors new year offers a good regions. time to join the proverbial officials contribute to the report. As an advertiser or reader, what do you need from the Business Times? Wobbekind is expected detail the 2022 forecast for Mesa Countynews as well While business journals to traditionally gather and report the relevant to as the state communication and nation in a presentation hosted by the Grand Area Chamber readers, isn’t necessarily a one-way street. Junction That’s especially true as of Commerce scheduled fordialogue Dec. 13.more The convenient economic outlook luncheon ranks Web sites and and e-mail make the than ever. among the hottest-attended events of the year for the local business Good publications don’t exist in a vacuum. They respond to the community. needs of Iadvertisers suspect this year will be no different. and readers. They provide what’s needed. Of So course, what dothe youcover need?story in this very issue of the Business Times affords an opportunity read all about it. Is there to additional news coverage that would help keep you informed about are some of the hightlights to features keep in mind: localHere business developments? Are there that would be interesting or n The unemployment rate in Mesa has dropped to 4.7 percent. useful? Is there advice that would make County your jobs a little easier? n Tax collections, a measure of sales, in 2021 bytime double-digit It’s equally important to ask what youhave don’tincreased need. With limited to proportions over and 2020limited and moved higher the pre-pandemic in 2019. produce content spaceeven in which tothan publish it, would timelevels and space be Hotel occupancy rateselse? have increased along with lodging tax collections. betterndevoted to something n Real good? estate What activity has What’s continued to trend upward, What’s isn’t? needed? What isn’t? with year-to-date dollar volume for 2021 surpassing the $2 billion milestone en to a record level.Web Let us know. Send us an e-mail. Comment online onroute the Business Times n www.thebusinesstimes.com. Businesses are still interested in could relocating the Grand Valley, even in to site at You evento write an old-fashioned letter the midst a pandemic. If anything, pandemic and the editor of if you’d like. Your feedback,the both positive has andprompted negative, companies is valued and individuals with the ability to work anywhere to move to a place like the Grand will be carefully considered. Valley thatpublications offers high quality life of andnot ample recreation. Good are the of result only outdoor the efforts of their staffs, but also Plenty of challenges persist and could, God forbid, get worse. But there are collaborative efforts involving advertisers and readers. also Like wordsany that offergood encouragement. other business, we want to listen to our customers, find out what they need and then meet those needs. Phil It’s Castle is editor of the Business a new year. Please help us toTimes. do so. Reach him at 424-5133 or phil@thebusinesstimes.com. ✦ F
THE BUSINESS TIMES
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Publisher/Owner: Craig R. Hall
Editor: Phil Castle
Reach advertising at: publisher@thebusinesstimes.com Reach the editor at: phil@thebusinesstimes.com.
Subscribe or submit press releases online at www.thebusinesstimes.com The Grand Valley Business Times, a subsidiary of Hall Media Group LLC, is published twice monthly and distributed throughout Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade. Advertising rates and deadlines are available upon request. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, editor, staff or advertisers. Copyright © 2015 — AllCopyright rights reserved. © 2021 — All rights reserved.
And with each passing day related to COVID-19, have of more and more questions. It’s thatItime year when Perhaps it’s time start asking themabound. directly resolutions and to prognostications in way, saying shape orapplied form. After all, Year’s I’ve Mysome favorite to New spent 20 years Michael Corleone of a resolutions is as in the saying they’re basically the media mob. You know, a member the bunch of promises to break the firstofweek family, but aAnd citizen. So conversations with of January. while I won’t predict a me havelot, always offmuch the record. whole I canbeen pretty accurately nail aThis fewdoesn’t things that without question mean I’m going to You will see these are will make the news. go out well, there predictable: looking pretty, for bad news, villains ■ Prediction one: or the leftist There will bemadesome up-of-whole-cloth sort of weather event, conspiracy theories. natural disaster or Rather, be looking heinous I’d occurrence for the someone truth whether where will it’s about COVID-19, be interviewed and say Anthony Fauci,“I’ve the following: Craig Hall Donald Trump, never seen anything Lauren like thatBoebert, in my Tina Peters, Janet lifetime.” It’s Rowland, as if this Mesa County Craig Hall Public Jared Polis, Joe Biden or person Health, is a required any of the cast of characters or events attendee at every news acting or happening in Iour world. most reporting event. While understand Experience tellscan me indeed one thing: Most people’s perspective be limited of won’t like the questions. by,them or contained within, their ownHere’s personal an example from a recent story. experiences, it is too muchlocal to ask to I read a report in a local media source consult some historical perspective before about monoclonal antibody clinic can sayingthe such a thing? Yes, this response opening Fruita. Now,But Craig Hall’s first apply to in some events. when it comes take as a cub reporter this is a great story. to weather and naturalisdisasters, I’m pretty Let’s giveisthe people a who,repeating what, where, sure this simply history itself. when, why andfor how of the facts from the of Same as it has millions and millions press And on thethe basics, newsit! years.release. More important, planetthemade release did a were decent job ofspecies. explaining What didn’t certain How’s what monoclonal antibodies are, how they that for perspective? work,■who the players are andto a Prediction two: involved When it comes who be inquiring about them given crimeshould or something that occurs between their health COVID-19 humans, theor other requiredcontact attendeestatus at all— along with a quote from news reporting events is the Mesa personCounty who Public Health director. says this: “They we’re just the nicest Frankly, readI like a space people, and inthe nostory way did see something filler to me. And inExactly. truth, itNo wasone basically like this coming.” does a word-for-word of the most of the timeregurgitation when it comes to health department news release basedPeople on what neighbors and acquaintances. should the media source feltgoes important — time because be surprised at what on from to there were few important facts leftand out. time in theira neighborhoods, towns Let ask you you know anypeople of these withme people theyifknow because are additional I’ve not that seenthey reported since good. And facts for the times shouldn’t this story hit—a few ago. be shocked like days with politicians, repeat Did you monoclonal antibodies offenders andknow terrorists — where’s the are meantthat to be taken within the first 10 interview says, “This doesn’t surprise days me inofthehaving least.”COVID-19 symptoms? I did,■but I know that Prediction three:information Something from good doing my own research from will happen economically, and media the sources outside alsomost government will our takecommunity. credit for it. IThe know have more where than a few recent there example is been gas prices, people studies showing their effectiveness on for ask me why I won’t credit the president recovery from My COVID-19. low gas prices. answer is simple: How about while the obese or of Government never makes the price overweight aredown indeed mentioned in credit something go and simply takes the story, news. it doesGas not pricing includeisthe healthto for good subject department’s statement including children many global factors. Now there are aged 12 to 17answers with a body mass index in the government to addressing some of 85th or higher age and thempercentile to keep prices stablefor fortheir Americans, gender on Centers for Disease but our based government has none of themControl in and Prevention don’t know place. The only guidelines? things it hasI in place in the
ecember 9-22, 2015 2021 JDANUARY 15-28,
what those guidelines are or how to figure out that age might longwhat run percentile always hurta child consumers. Another be might come in handyawith at factin,isbut thatthat unemployment reaches certain least mention . economy. And while the level abased on the How about thisbrag one?the The clinic is low, government might number no you can go or without it’s cost moreand than likely thewith government dida physician’s referral. I don’t knowbeing aboutlow you, something to cause that number but that’s a bigway. piece of information — and notkind in aofgood Conversely, when which seems be it’s missing. I am business pickstoup, because thecompletely people baffled as to this was who left out of not the who need to why buy widgets were story, it raises seriousthe questions above buyingand widgets because economy was and beyond due the ones I had.(or Areunnatural, we trying to contracting to natural limit appointments a run ondecided the clinic? government caused)orreasons, we the story indicated the clinic betterFinally, buy some widgets. The government can aboutto50dotreatments had do nothing with this. per day and possibly expand tofour: 100 In perkeeping day “depending ■ Prediction with on the the availability of injections.” I don’t things government does, I predict the really need towill give the followthe upnumbers here, butto government manipulate Imake will. the Why would basic procedure claim theaeconomy is gettingfor something readily available the to better because of how hard itacross is working planet physician referral help allwhich of us requires “workingno Americans.” Now all the sudden have ayou shortage? youofmight say, “Craig, always say this permit me a few because follow-upyou questions. aboutSoPresident Obama don’t Why does You’re this medical like him.” right procedure in a sense.have I don’t clearance referral? Further, know the with man,no butphysician what I know of him and why do other Imedical therapeutics his thinking, don’t like it or him proven one iota. to workyou — like hydroxychloroquine Before go off, however, I didn’tand like Ivermectin — which alsobailouts, have studies President Bush and his stimulus shown be effectivethe if taken at the to save and histoabandoning free market onset of COVID-19 require the free market. Andsymptoms I don’t know hima prescription? Thatgovernment is, if a patient canand findthe a either. What the does, pharmacy to fill said prescription, only thingwilling it can do, is hurt the economy. especially considering two proven, in safe Unless it does nothingthese or put criminals medications arepartnering actually sold thenothing counter jail instead of withover them, in countries? Given success of look themany government does will the help. Always monoclonal known for at it this way,antibodies whateverhas thebeen government says some time now, what the tookname so long for Mesa it is doing, whatever of the law it County Public Health tothe get name them available is passing, or whatever or goal ofto county residents?itFinally, if this treatment the bureaucracy is presenting to the is at no cost, who’sthe paying bill? to occur. people, expect polarthe opposite Perhaps you think is these I guess some what of I’m saying that questions harsh, sarcastic little over the perhaps it’s time to get or outa of our own top. That’s probably never get perspective. There’sbecause plentythey of history asked anyhistorical level to theresearch folks andout departments booksatand there to in charge the news releases. me, that’s begin to of understand that all To of this has exactly whybefore. they should asked and why happened And be it will again, our healththe departments, local governments and whether topic is people or government. healthThe carebest providers should expectisthem. I’ve recommendation to find seen read or plenty published, someand books try from that whole Google well-respected, experts answering thing. There’s health a lot of information onthem the — evenDepression. when using Google. Great The truth is it wasn’t answers are out Answersgot to evenThe a good one until thethere. government getting beyond COVID-19, specific health involved. There’s also plenty of research care concerns related toperiod COVID-19 on the medieval warm whenand the why orwas whymuch not your government and with local planet warmer than today leadership are(and giving you all a whole lotand lessmedia people warmer well the factsman thatwas are your toAnd know. The before here right at all). yep, problem when it comes COVID-19 is all people have been killingtoother surprised too many, from the top down, most of people since history was firstthink written. whatMaybe they know don’t need know. someyou research will to help stop one in the mediawe’ll seemsbeto all ofWorse, these no trends. Otherwise, care more about getting knowledge saying we’ve never seenyou anything like it in instead of And getting to the power. our lives. nottheir in aaccess good way. Craig Craig Hall Hall is is owner owner and and publisher publisher of of the the Business Times. Reach Reach him him at at 424-5133 424-5133 Business Times. or or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦
