A federal agency backed more than $24 million in small business loans in Mesa County in the 2022 fiscal year.
Economic indicators point to improving conditions in Mesa County, according to a CU forecast for 2023.
An aviation consulting firm headquartered in Grand Junction has been acquired by a transportation company.
Nearly $400,000 worth of Great Outdoors Colorado grants will fund conservation efforts in Mesa County.
A federal agency backed more than $24 million in small business lending in Mesa County during the 2022 fiscal year.
The latest numbers were lower in Mesa County and statewide in 2022 than in a record-setting 2021. But they still constitute what Frances Padilla, Colorado director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, called a pleasant surprise that reflected continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since nearly all businesses in Colorado are considered small businesses and collectively employ almost half the private workforce, access to financing remains an important economic driver, Padilla said.
“Colorado’s economy continues to rebound from the impact of the pandemic, and the SBA’s small business lending programs remain a critical economic development driver for job creation statewide,” she said.
According to the Colorado District Office of the SBA, 28 loans worth a total of nearly $24.4 million were issued in Mesa County during the 2022 fiscal year ending Sept. 30.
Nineteen loans worth a total of almost $19.8 million were issued under the SBA 7(a) general guarantee program offering financing for equipment, land and working capital. Another nine loans worth a total of more than $4.6 million were issued under the 504 program for acquiring buildings, land, equipment and other fixed assets.
The SBA doesn’t make direct loans through its 7(a) and 504 programs. By guaranteeing repayment of a portion of the loans, however, the agency enables lenders
Andrew Golike believes there’s no time quite like the present to serve as chairman of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
It’s a pivotal moment, Golike says, with a new chamber president and renewed opportunity to assess operations and services. It’s also a good time, he says, to listen — really listen — to what business owners and managers as well as others in the community say they need and want.
“I can’t believe I get to lead this organization right now.”
What won’t change, Golike says, is a commitment to advocacy and representing business interests on local, state and national levels.
He sees a mostly thriving business environment in the Grand Valley that in turn fosters a thriving community. But challenges persist, among them shortages of labor, affordable housing and child care.
Golike starts his year-long term in January. He’ll succeed
Ivan Geer, an engineer and owner of River City Consultants. Golike works as plant manager for CoorsTek, overseeing a growing ceramics manufacturing operation and staff of 350. What started as a temporary job for Golike was anything but in launching a career with CoorsTek that’s evolved through a series of positions and extended over two stints to a total of more than 25 years.
A life-long resident of the Grand Valley, Golike earned a bachelor’s of business administration degree from what’s now Colorado Mesa University after serving four years in the Marine Corps.
He’s long belonged to the Grand Junction chamber. He graduated from a chamber leadership class in 1995 and has twice served on the board of directors. He also served on the search committee that found a new chamber president and chief executive officer in Candace Carnahan.
Phil Castle The Business Times
Even as the risk of recession hangs over the United States, the outlook for Mesa County appears brighter with several economic indicators pointing to improving conditions.
A more diversified economy with corresponding shifts in employment also bodes well, said Rich Wobbekind, senior economist at the Leeds School of Business at the University
of Colorado at Boulder. “You clearly have spread out a couple of the big sectors.”
Wobbekind offered an overview of the 2023 Colorado Business Economic Outlook during a luncheon presentation hosted by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce.
The business research division of the Leeds School of Business prepared the annual forecast based on the contributions of a total of 130 business, industry and government officials. In Mesa County, the contributors included Steve Jozefczyk, deputy
director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, and Nathan Perry, an economics professor at Colorado Mesa University.
In addition to Mesa County and Colorado, Wobbekind also discussed the outlook for the United States and the question of whether or not a recession can be avoided.
While some industry sectors could already be in recession, the overall outlook for 2023 is one of slow growth, he said.
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A Grand Junction-based consulting firm that provides a range of services to airports expects to expand operations following its acquisition by a transportation planning and engineering company.
H.W. Lochner announced its acquisition of Armstrong Consultants.
“The culture and strategic fit between our two companies was apparent from the start as well as the growth vision of expanding beyond our respective regional practices to a combined national practice serving commercial, general aviation and military clients,” said Dennis Corsi, president of Armstrong Consultants.
Tyler Ruhl, board chairman and chief executive officer of Lochner, agreed. “The combination of our two firms will provide airport clients with an even deeper talent pool for delivering differentiated services and solutions and, importantly, offer enhanced opportunities for professionals at all levels of our aviation practice.”
Bceoming a part of Lochner will promote geographic, market, service area and technical growth while also leveraging the client reach, operational efficiencies and talent of the combined companies, Corsi said.
Founded in 1973, Armstrong Consultants provides planning, engineering and construction administration services. The firm has worked on a total of more than 3,000 projects at more than 130 airports across the Western United States. In addition to Grand Junction, the firm operates offices in Denver and Phoenix as well as Albuquerque, N.M.; Casper, Wyo.; Reno, Nev.; and Santa Rosa, Calif.
Founded in 1944 and based in Chicago, Lochner provides construction engineering and inspection, design, environmental and planning services to the transportation industry. The company ranks 125th in the Engineering News-Record list of the top 500 design firms.
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Nearly $400,000 in grants will help fund natural resource stewardship, conservation and restoration efforts in Mesa County.
The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Board of Directors awarded three grants worth a total of $387,900 for the projects.
A $300,000 grant to Mesa County Public Health, part of the GOCO stewardship impact program, will support a four-member Grand Valley Stewardship Crew for three years.
The crew will in turn support partner projects, such as the Colorado West Land Trust Monument Connector Trail restoration, riparian habitat improvements with Rivers Edge West and other government and nonprofit efforts. The crew also will help land management agencies maintain campgrounds and facilities during shoulder seasons.
“We are grateful for the GOCO funding that directly supports this crew and hope the next iteration of their work will more broadly support our community partners in a variety of natural resource management realms,” said Ross Mittelman, Mesa County Public Health trails coordinator.
GVSC crews are trained to work with chainsaws, trail building tools and herbicides on stewardship projects in Mesa County. Since its inception in 2020, crews
have worked about 10 months a year. In 2021, the crew maintained 273 drainages, installed 310 drainages and 82 water bars, closed 5,074 feet of social trails and revegetated 4,304 square feet of land.
A $50,000 grant to the Colorado West Land Trust, part of the Keep It Colorado program, will help fund the cost of establishing a conservation easement for 1,754 acres of the Flying Triangle Ranch in the Plateau Valley area of Mesa County.
Surrounded by U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands and other ranches, Flying Triangle Ranch property includes irrigated acreage for ranching operations as well as winter range for big game animals.
A $37,900 grant, part of the conservation service corps program, will support the Colorado West Land Trust in its Pinyon Mesa headwaters restoration project.
A Western Colorado Conservation Corps crew will work on watershed restoration and habitat improvement projects on conserved properties and BLM lands.
To date, GOCO has invested more than $48.1 million in projects and partnered to conserve 18,304 acres in Mesa County. GOCO invests a portion of proceeds from the Colorado Lottery to preserve open spaces, parks, trails, rivers and wildlife habitat.
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Another hearing is scheduled for January as the City of Grand Junction proceeds with a process to license cannabis stores.
The next hearing in the application review process is set for Jan. 4. A total of 37 hearings were scheduled in September through December.
The application process follows Grand Junction voter approval in 2021 of two measures enabling the Grand Junction City Council to establish regulations and tax rates for retail cannabis sales in the city.
The city received 47 applications to operate cannabis retail stores and co-located retail and medical cannabis stores. Of those, 26 applications advanced to the next phase of the review process and 21 were denied. The city received 13 requests for appeals, which were forwarded to a hearing officer for scheduling.
For those applications deemed complete, the next phase included checks of backgrounds, business licenses, code compliance, insurance, operating plans and zoning. Applications then were scheduled for hearings.
Once the hearing and appeal process concludes, applicants will be notified 14 days in advance of a randomized selection process to choose the 10 licenses. Applicants receiving licenses will have up to a year to open stores.
An upcoming event will offer residents a chance to meet three finalists under consideration to become the next Grand Junction chief of police.
The event is set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Avalon Theater, 645 Main St.
The three finalists are:
n Andy Harvey, former chief of police for the City of Pharr, Texas.
n Jim Hughes, former chief of police for the City of Maricopa, Ariz.
n Matt Smith, interim chief of police for the City of Grand Junction.
The three finalists were selected from among 31 applicants in a national search to fill the position left vacant by the resignation of Doug Shoemaker. Shoemaker left to take a job as police chief in Denton, Texas.
“We have high expectations for the next chief of police to lead the women and men of our department,” said Grand Junction City Manager Greg Caton. “These dedicated professionals have established strong relationships within our community and every day exemplify the department values of professionalism, integrity, compassion and service.”
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Performances of a musical adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” raised more than $7,400 for the Community Food Bank.
A cast and crew staged four performances at the First Presbyterian Church in Grand Junction and covered the costs associated with the production. No admission was charged, but audiences were encouraged to donate to the food bank. A total of more than 900 people attended the four shows.
“We wanted to do something to give back to our community, and we are overwhelmed by the turnout and the generosity of our audiences,” said Joshua James, a local writer, director and actor who helped stage the production. “This was a labor of love for our cast and crew, and we honestly didn’t know what to expect. Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude.”
Alisha Wenger, executive director of the Community Food Bank, welcomed the donation. “With every $1 donated providing four nutritious meals, support from the ‘Christmas Carol’ community production will help provide over 30,000 nutritious meals to those in need. These generous donations will help spread love and light to many this Christmas season, and well into the New Year.”
The Community Food Bank has served Mesa County for nearly 45 years, providing a weekly choice food pantry, home delivery program and nutrition education. The organization has quadrupled its services since 2019.
“We are here to help lift up our community in times of need,” Wenger said. “Year to date, we have distributed nearly 900,000 pounds of nutritious food to our Grand Valley neighbors in need.”
Express Employment Professionals offices in Grand Junction and Montrose donated $600 to the Food Bank of the Rockies as part of an annual hiring drive.
The offices pledged a financial donation to the food bank for every employee placed during the Pay it Forward Hiring Drive.
“It is an incredible gesture and will create an impact for our neighbors experiencing hunger on the Western Slope,” said Gabriella Garayar, development manager for Food Bank of the Rockies.
Nina Anderson, owner of the Express Employment Professional offices in Grand Junction and Montrose, said employment provides more than jobs. “It’s about providing an opportunity for people to be productive and to take care of their families. Regardless how small it may seen, its an opportunity for people to have their dignity.”
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The chamber board hired Carnahan in September to succeed Diane Schwenke, who retired after working more than 30 years as president and CEO. Carnahan has worked at the chamber for more than seven years in a series of positions that included vice president. “I’m really excited to see her coming on board,” Golike says.
He also hails the new leaders of such other local business organizations as the Business Incubator Center, Grand Junction Economic Partnership and Mesa County Workforce Center. “I think we’re ushering in a new leadership era.”
A change in chamber leadership affords an opportunity, he says, to reassess operations and ask if the ways in which things have always been done remain the best ways. If that’s the case, those approaches will continue. If not, though, changes could be in order to better carry out the mission.
At the same time, he says there’s an opportunity to also listen to business people and others in the community to better understand what they need and how the chamber can not only help, but also strengthen relationships in the process.
Regardless of changes in leadership and possibly the way things are done, the role of the chamber will remain unchanged, Golike says. The organization will continue to serve as a catalyst for growth, convener of leaders and groups and champion for businesses and the community. “We’re an unswerving, unwavering voice for business.”
One of the most important roles of the chamber is to advocate on behalf of businesses before local governments and the Colorado Legislature, he says. That includes lobbying on local and state measures before they’re implemented and helping businesses deal with measures after they’re implemented. Unlike other groups, the chamber represents businesses of all sizes and from all industry sectors, he says.
Among other issues, businesses face shortages of labor, affordable housing and child care that affect their operations. It’s also an ongoing challenge to educate and develop the workforce to meet the changing needs of the workplace, he says.
Golike says he’s excited about his upcoming year as chamber chairman for another reason, and that’s his desire to help maintain the vibrancy of the place in which he’s lived most of his life.
CoorsTek has helped, he says, in operating an advanced manufacturing facility in Grand Junction. The facility produces a variety of technical ceramic products for everything from electronics to medical devices to the armor that protects military personnel and vehicles. The operation has grown along with the staff employed there and the revenue it brings into the community from customers around the world.
“It’s very gratifying,” he says. “What better place for that to happen than Grand Junction.?”
Continued from page 2 to extend financing to businesses that might not qualify under conventional terms — to turn a no into a yes, Padilla said.
In Mesa County, SBA lending for the 2022 fiscal year lagged behind the 35 loans worth a total of $33.8 million issued in 2021. Still, 2022 lending levels topped the pre-pandemic numbers for 2019, when 29 loans worth a total of almost $17 million were issued.
Readycap lending ranked among the top 7 (a) lenders in Mesa County during the 2022 fiscal year with two loans worth a total of more than $6.5 million. B-Side Capital was the top 504 lender with eight loans worth a total of almost $3.5 million.
Statewide, 1,527 loans worth a total of nearly $990 million were issued during the 2022 fiscal year.
Most loans — 1,128 worth a total of more than $770 million — were issued through the 7(a) program. Another 233 loans worth a combined $217 million were issued through the 504 program, and 166 microloans less than $50,000 each were issued with a total value of $2.4 million.
In 2021, 1,965 loans worth a total of nearly $1.4 billion were issued, the largest dollar volume ever processed by the Colorado SBA office.
Nationally, the SBA backed more than 62,000 loans worth a collective $43 billion during the 2022 fiscal year.
SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman praised the effort. “While still managing billions in COVID relief, the SBA also delivered record lending in FY 22, helping tens of thousands of entrepreneurs across our nation get the needed funding to start, grow and build resilient businesses.”
Padilla said Colorado has recovered faster than othr areas of the United States. The pandemic and related restrictions forced many small businesses to pivot and adapt operations to changing circumstances — selling online, for example. But that positioned them for continued success.
In addition, many individuals evaluated their circumstances and decided to launch their own businesses, she said.
For the 2023 fiscal year, the SBA will continue to charge no fees on 7(a) loans up to $500,000.
In addition to access to financing, Padilla said the SBA and its partners — including the Small Business Development Center in Grand Junciton — offer counseling, technical assistance and other resources to businesses and entrepreneurs.
Businesses face challenges with supply chain issues and higher interest rates, but Padilla said she’s remains optimistic.
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For more information about SBA programs and services, log on to www.sba.gov. For information about a service connecting businesses with lenders, visit www.sba.gov/lendermatch.
Continued from page 2
Unemployment remains low — to the point of full employment, he said.
Thanks in part to federal stimulus payments that followed the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, consumer spending has remained strong, Wobbekind said. “The consumer has been absolutely carrying the economy.”
As they go through savings, consumers could pull back on spending. Business investments have slowed as a result of lower profits and higher interest rates, he said.
The Federal Reserve has raised its key short-term interest rate in an effort to curb inflation. The questions, Wobbekind said, are how high that rate will go and how long higher rates will persist. Rates could remain high through 2023 before easing in 2024, he said.
Colorado has fared better than other states, ranking among the top 10 in several economic measures, he said.
Colorado ranks first for per capital personal income growth of 6 percent and second for its labor force participation rate of 69.4 percent.
The state is expected to add nearly 121,000 jobs to nonfarm payrolls in 2022. But the gain forecast for 2023 will be less than half that at 57,000. Employment is forecast to increase in nine of 11 industry sectors, but decline in construction and financial activities.
“Our big challenge is going to be population and labor force,” Wobbekind said.
The Colorado population is expected to grow 55,500 in 2023 with an estimated net in-migration of 35,000.
But even with high labor force participation, worker shortages are likely to persist, he said.
In Mesa County, a number of trends portend the possibility of growth in 2023, Wobbekind said.
Wages and personal income continue to increase.
Gross domestic product, the broad measure of goods and services, increased in 2021, the latest year for which numbers are available, he said.“This is a good sign overall.”
The economy is more diversified, he said, with employment gains in the health and education, leisure and hospitality and manufacturing sectors. Government employment has exerted a stabilizing force.
Agriculture remains an important sector for Mesa County, but farmers and ranchers face lower income in 2023 because of higher costs and drought.
Wobbekind said he expects higher natural gas prices to promote more exploration and production in Western Colorado, but drilling rig counts don’t yet reflect that.
Construction constitutes a mixed bag, he said, with what could be slowing in residential building and an increase in infrastructure projects.
s New business filings in Colorado, 43,657 in the third quarter, up 14.5 percent from the third quarter of 2021.
t Consumer Confidence Index 100.2 for November, down 2.
t Leeds Business Confidence Index for Colorado, 39.8 for the fourth quarter, down 1.3.
s National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index 91.9 for November, up 0.6.
s Foreclosure filings in Mesa County, 18 in November, up from 3 in November 2021.
s Foreclosure sales in Mesa County, 3 in November, up from 0 in November 2021.
t Conference Board Employment Trends Index, 117.65 for November, down 1.09.
t Conference Board Leading Economic Index 114.9 for October, down 0.8%.
t Institute for Supply Management Purchasing Managers Index for manufacturing, 49% for November, down 1.2%.
t Lodging tax collections in Grand Junction, $488,019 for October, down 3.84% from October 2021.
t Real estate transactions in Mesa County, 256 in November, down 41.8% from November 2021.
t Dollar volume of real estate transactions in Mesa County, $110.3 million in November, down 35.1% from November 2021.
s Sales and use tax collections in Grand Junction, $7 million for October, up 10.4% from October 2021.
s Sales and use tax collections in Mesa County, $4.5 million for November, up 6.7% from November 2021.
t Mesa County — 3.6% for November, down 0.2.
t Colorado — 3.5% for November, down 0.1.
n United States — 3.7% for November, unchanged.
The unemployment rate retreated in Mesa County in November as more people filled job openings.
Nov. Oct.
s Delta County 3.8 3.6
s Garfield County 3.2 3.1
t Mesa County 3.6 3.8
The seasonally unadjusted jobless rate fell two-tenths of a point to 3.6 percent, according to the latest estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
n Montrose County 3.2 3.2
s Rio Blanco County 3.9 3.8
Bullock said 2022 has been a good year as Mesa County continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.
The monthly unemployment rate traditionally edges up in December in Mesa County and spikes in January at its highest level of the year. December labor estimates are scheduled for release Jan. 20.
But Bullock said she expects a downward trend in unemployment to continue afterward. “I think we’re gong to continue on this path.”
“It’s a good trend we’re seeing,” said Lindsay Bullock, director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.
Businesses have found more effective ways to recruit and retain employees, Bullock said. In addition, more people have returned to the workforce or moved to full-time positions, some of them because of the higher prices brought on by inflation. “It’s kind of a mix of different things.”
Bullock said she’s encouraged by ongoing efforts to fill skill gaps between job applicants and job requirements as well as address issues related to affordable housing. “I’m excited to see what 2023 is going to bring.”
BullockThe monthly unemployment rate has ranged in Mesa County in 2022 from a high of 4.5 percent in January and February to a low of 3.4 percent in September. At this time last year, the rate stood at 4.1 percent.
Between October and November, Mesa County payrolls increased 305 to 76,199. The number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work decreased 143 to 2,839. The labor force, which includes the employed and unemployed, rose 162 to 79,038.
Over the past year, payrolls increased 1,190 — a gain of nearly 1.6 percent. The ranks of the unemployed decreased 367. The labor force grew 823.
Bullock said the number of job orders posted at the Mesa County Workforce Center continues to decline compared to last year. For November, 622 orders were posted. That’s down from 1,102 orders for the same month in 2021. Through the first 11 months of 2022, 8,756 orders were posted. That’s down from 10,788 for the same span in 2021.
Job orders offer a measure of labor demand, but also decrease when employers fill openings, she said. “For the most part, that’s what it is.”
Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates edged up in three neighboring Western Colorado counties between October and November: a tenth of a point to 3.2 percent in Garfield County and 3.9 percent in Rio Blanco County and two-tenths of a point to 3.8 percent in Delta County. The jobless rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent in Montrose County.
Elsewhere in Colorado, the jobless rate ranged from a high of 7.2 percent in Huerfano County to a low of 1.7 percent in Baca County, although both counties are sparsely populated.
The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate slipped a tenth of a point to 3.5 percent as nonfarm payrolls increased 4,300. Those numbers are based on the results of separate household and business surveys.
Over the past year, nonfarm payrolls grew 103,400 — an increase of 3.7 percent — with the biggest private sector gains in the professional and business services, educational and health services and leisure and hospitality sectors. Government payrolls increased 12,500.
Over the past 31 months, Colorado has added 456,800 nonfarm payroll jobs, more than offsetting the 374,500 jobs lost in March and April 2020 at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The average workweek for Colorado employees on private, nonfarm payrolls remained unchanged over the past year at 33.2 hours. Average hourly earnings increased $2.81 to $35.88. F
Sales tax collections, a measure of retail activity, continue to trend upward on year-over-year basis in Mesa County.
The county collected more than $4 million in sales taxes in November, a 5.5 percent increase over the same month last year. November tax collections have increased in each of the last five years.
November collections reflect October sales.
Reports for Grand Junction sales, use and lodging tax collections for November hadn’t yet been posted on the city website as of the Dec. 20 deadline for the Business Times.
Mesa County also collected nearly $454,000 in use taxes in November — nearly all of that on the sales of automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county. That’s a 19.4 percent increase over the same month last year.
Tax collections on retail sales reached nearly $2.4 million, a 3.5 percent year-over-year increase. Collections rose on general merchandise, home improvements and sporting goods, but declined on clothing as well as health and personal care items.
Sales tax collections also increased for most other industry categories, including the hotel and restaurant, wholesale, construction and telecommunications categories.
Through 11 months of 2022, Mesa County collected more than $44.7 million in sales taxes. That’s a 10.3 percent increase over the same span in 2021 and a 9.5 percent increase over what was budgeted.
Mesa County collected another $4.1 million in use taxes, a 5.7 percent gain over last year.
Year-to-date tax collections on retail sales topped $26.6 million, a 7.2 percent increase. Collections increased in seven of eight retail categories. Collections fell 4.3 percent on health and personal care items.
Year-to-date sales tax collections also increased for each of 15 industry categories with the biggest proportional gains in the transportation, construction and medical categories.
A measure of optimism among small business owners has increased on improving expectations for the economy, sales and profits.
The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index rose six-tenths of a point to 91.9 in November. The reading has remained below the 49-year average of 98 for 11 straight months, however.
“Going into the holiday season, small business owners are seeing a slight ease in inflation pressures, but prices remain high,” said Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist for the NFIB. “The small business economy is recovering as owners manage an ongoing labor shortage, supply chain
disruptions and historic inflation.”
The NFIB bases the index on the results of monthly surveys of members of the small business advocacy group, most of them small business owners. For November, six of 10 components of the index advanced and four retreated.
The proportion of NFIB members responding to the survey upon which the November index was based who expected the economy to improve rose three points from October. But at net negative 43 percent, a recession-level reading, more members anticipated worsening conditions.
A net 24 percent reported plans for capital outlays, up a point. A net 6 percent said they consider now a good time to expand, also up a point.
The share of those who expected increased sales rose five points. But at net negative 8 percent, more still forecast decreased sales.
Expectations for profits rose eight points, but only to a net negative 8 percent. Among those reporting lower profits, 29 percent cited rising costs and 25 percent blamed weaker sales.
A net 18 percent of survey respondents reported plans to increase employment, down two points. A net 44 percent cited unfilled job openings, also down two points.
Asked to identify their single most important business issue, 32 percent cited inflation. That’s down five points from a 43-year high reading in July.
A net 51 percent of respondents reported raising average selling prices.
The share of respondents who reported plans to increase inventories fell six points to a net negative 4 percent. The proportion of those who said existing current inventories were too low fell two points to a net negative 2 percent.
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n The Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Veterans in Business group has scheduled its next monthly muster for Jan. 3.
The event is set for noon to 1 p.m. at Mountain Roasters Coffee, 126 N. Seventh St. in Grand Junction. For more information, call 858-3894 or visit https://fruitachamber.org.
n The Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business group has scheduled its next networking luncheon for Jan. 5.
The luncheon is set for noon to 1 p.m. at a location to be determined. Admission is $10 for chamber members, $20 for others. For more information, call 858-3894 or visit the website at https://fruitachamber.org.
n The next session of the Coffee Club free networking meetings is set for 9 to 10 a.m. Jan. 20 at the FWorks coworking space, 325 E. Aspen Ave. in Fruita. For additional information about upcoming meetings, log on to https://gjincubator.org or https://fruitachamber.org.
n The Palisade Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a free networking event for Jan. 21.
The Mocktail Madness with Mavs event is set for 5 to 7 p.m. at the Blue Pig Gallery, located at 101 W. Third St. For additional information, call 464-7458 or visit www.palisadecoc.com.
n The Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce has scheduled a coffee and community connections event for 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 24 at a location to be determined. For more information, call 858-3894 or log on to the website located at https://fruitachamber.org.
In November 2020, Colorado voters went to the polls in record numbers to approve a paid leave program for employees — the Family Medical Leave and Insurance (FAMLI) program.
While employees aren’t eligible to take FAMLI leave until January 2024, most Colorado employers are required to register with the FAMLI program and begin making premium deductions from employee paychecks starting in January 2023.
Here are some frequently asked questions — and answers — about the program.
n What does FAMLI provide? The program provides Colorado workers 12 weeks — 16 weeks for pregnancy or childbirth complications — of paid leave per year for the following reasons: to manage their own serious health conditions; care for family members with serious health conditions; care for a new child within the first year of birth, foster placement or adoption; make arrangements for military deployments; and address immediate safety needs and the effects of domestic violence or sexual assault.
n How much income do employees receive on FAMLI leave? Employees receive up to 90 percent of their weekly wages from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment FAMLI Division, which will process requests much like unemployment benefits.
n How will the program be funded? Premiums to fund this program are currently set at 0.9 percent of the employee’s wage, with 0.45 percent paid by the employee. If the employer has 10 or more employees, the employer pays an additional 0.45 percent.
n How will an employee get FAMLI leave? Starting in 2024, employees will apply for benefits to the FAMLI Division when a qualifying event occurs or is planned. The FAMLI Division will evaluate the claim, request documentation as needed and approve or deny benefits. Unlike employer-provided leave, employers aren’t required to determine when employees qualify for benefits. The state will make that determination. Employees and employers may appeal determinations, however.
n Are there exceptions for employers? There are three categories of exemptions: local government entities, self-employed individuals and privately insured organizations. Although an employer may be exempted from contributing to the FAMLI program, the employees of these organizations could still sign up and receive benefits.
n Do employers have to return employees to their jobs when leave is over? In short, yes. Employees who’ve worked with employers for 180 or more days must be restored to the same or equivalent position.
n How long does an employee have to work with an
organization before taking FAMLI leave? Leave isn’t conditioned on how long the employee works with the employer. Instead, any Colorado worker who makes more than $2,500 in yearly wages within the state is eligible. Employees can request leave on the first day of employment as long as they meet the wage requirement.
n What happens to employees’ health insurance while they’re on leave? Employers must maintain health care benefits for employees on leave, but employees could be required to continue paying their share of premiums.
n Does FAMLI run at the same time as other leaves an organization provides? Yes and no. Employers can require employees to use leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act at the same time as FAMLI. But the organization can’t require employees to use employer-provided paid leave — paid time off, vacation or leave under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act — at the same time as FAMLI leave. Employees may be given the opportunity to use such leave to offset the difference between what FAMLI pays and what the employee normally receives.
n Are employees required to use FAMLI as a block of leave or can they use it on an intermittent basis? Employees may receive approved leave in increments as small as an hour. Employees won’t be paid, though, until they’ve used eight hours of leave.
n What information will an employer receive when an employee requests leave? Because employees request leave through the FAMLI Division just like an employee requests unemployment benefits through CDLE unemployment, an employer might not be the first to know an employee has requested FAMLI leave. Upon an employee requesting FAMLI leave, the employer will receive: notice an employee applied for benefits, including an opportunity to submit information to the division; the determination made by the FAMLI Division; procedures for the employer appeal process; and anticipated leave duration and return date.
n What should I do next? Employers should register on the FAMLI website at famli.colorado.gov, distribute information to employees regarding the FAMLI program, start making premium deductions on the first paychecks in 2023 and prepare to make matching contributions at the end of the first quarter.
Michael Santo is co-founder and managing attorney of the Bechtel & Santo law firm in Grand Junction. His practice focuses on defending companies in employment litigation, trade secret misappropriation, unfair competition and employee raiding. Reach him through the website at https://bechtelsanto.com. His column was provided by the Western Colorado Human Resource Association. For more information, visit www.wchra.org F
Most businesses employ skilled team members, many with decent and even great attitudes. They come to work, perform their jobs to a satisfactory or higher level and contribute to the work environment in mostly positive ways.
But what about those team members who — even though they have the skills to do their jobs — damage culture, morale and business operations through their bad attitudes?
Chances are, you’re thinking of these people right now.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Hire for skills and fire for attitude.”
Marcus StraubSimply put, this means bad attitudes far outweigh the skills people bring to their positions. Failing to take corrective action with these individuals puts companies at risk.
In many cases, business owners and managers tolerate bad apples because it’s expensive and time consuming to hire and train new people. This is especially true if these team members bring in large amounts of business, work in positions essential to operations or have extensive or proprietary knowledge.
Under these circumstances, business leaders could feel as though they’re being held hostage by these team members. Unfortunately, that can prevent necessary corrective actions.
Any business with one bad apple or more must recognize there’s a heightened awareness of these individuals throughout the company.
Negative team members are difficult to work with, which damages communication, morale, team dynamics, trust and results. Other members of the team try to avoid them and could even harbor resentment toward managers
and owners for allowing these people to remain in the business. If one of these bad apples happens to work in a management position, the consequences are even more severe.
Wherever they are in your company, negative attitudes cost you talent. Your best people will only put up with so much before they leave. Others in the organization could fall under the influence of a bad apple, putting your culture, customer service and success at risk. These infected team members spread subversive attitudes and messages, deepening dysfunction.
Keeping these individuals on board isn’t the best choice. Wise business owners and managers face situations that come with bad attitudes and initiate corrective actions sooner rather than later.
The first step is to free yourself of the belief your business can’t survive without these people. It’s simply not true. Time and time again I’ve helped business owners release this limiting mindset. The outcomes have been nothing but positive for everyone involved.
If the team member in question is vital to your operation, initiate corrective action by presenting them with a performance improvement plan and offering them development with a qualified professional to help them recognize and overcome their bad attitudes and damaging behaviors.
While not an overnight process, a professional
development coach can identify a team member who’s willing to change. When these team members choose to accept the information and do the work to change and manage their attitudes, they become a true asset and not a continuing liability.
If they’re not able or willing to change, the next step is an obvious one. You must let them go. The moment you take this corrective action, your business and everyone within it is freed of a negative influence.
When replacing team members, it’s wise to have a solid plan in place to avoid reproducing the same situations. Work with a qualified professional who can help you establish a benchmark for the position and provide insight into the attitudes and skills of candidates. When you hire for attitude, you can teach skills if needed. When you encounter a candidate who has both, you have a solid hire.
As a successful business owner or manager, you can’t afford to let bad apples taint your culture, team and customers. The costs to your operations are too high. One of the fundamental secrets to success is to build an effective team. Team members with negative attitudes, no matter how skilled, can never be part of a winning team.
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 208-3150, marcus@ligcoaching.com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com. F
The first step is to free yourself of the belief your business can’t survive without these people. It’s simply not true.
Effective writing in the business world depends on getting your most important point, request or requirement across immediately. It might be nice to tell a story with examples, processes, research and theories. But your audience wants the bottom line up front (BLUF), not the bottom line at the bottom (BLAB).
How do you make sure you BLUF? The subject of your email or memo or first couple lines of your document should address the what, how much and how many you’re writing about. You can then support this with the how as well as the when, where, who and why.
Think of BLUF this way. If you had to cut all but one sentence in whatever you wrote, which sentence would you keep? It’s usually your bottom line. Put that one sentence at the beginning or in the subject line of your email or memo. Then choose no more than 50 to 100 words to support, justify or explain. You now have an effective subject line and paragraph or two that conveys the importance and urgency of what you’re writing about. Not putting the BLUF usually results in BLABing. When you wend your way through approaches, processes and other supporting information before getting to your bottom line, you’re BLABing — beating around the proverbial bush rather than getting to the heart of what you want or need.
Here are some more tips for more effective writing: n Identify and write for the right audience. Too many documents are written for the author or author’s supervisor. That approach is fine if you’re writing a performance appraisal, but not if you’re writing a proposal, request for
proposal or technical manual. If your audience doesn’t see the value for themselves in what you’re writing, you might get no response, the wrong response or lots of requests for clarification. Always ask yourself — and your supervisor — who is this email or document really for? What do we want to happen as a result of this audience reading the document? Will our needs and wants be clear in a single reading to the intended audience?
n Use spelling and grammar checkers. If you’re using the latest versions of Microsoft Word, you might be pleasantly surprised to discover the system editor has become smarter. Assuming you haven’t disabled the spelling and grammar checkers found in the editor function, you’ll find many errors and wordy or convoluted sentences and phrases are identified as you type. If you tend to use the phrase “as well as” when you mean “and,” the editor will ask you if you want to use “and.” If you’re enamored of the phrase “make utilization of,” the editor will probably suggest changing the phrase to “use.”
Spelling and grammar checkers remain fallible, however. If you use a unique term, the editor could get confused and want you to change the term. If you have misspelled something really badly, the editor might offer wrong alternatives. If you’re offered a word with which you aren’t familiar, look it up before accepting it.
If you don’t like the editor correcting as you write and
you’ve disabled that function, run the editor when you’re done writing. You might want to turn on the readability feature to further enhance the benefits of using the editor.
n Keep it simple and short (KISS). Make your messages as clear and concise as possible. Short, focused sentences and single-topic paragraphs are easier to read. Your audience won’t have to stop and ask, “What did the author mean by this statement? What does the author want from me?” You’re less likely to be ignored or misunderstood if you KISS.
n Use active voice to clearly identify the “doer.” Active voice indicates the actor or “doer.” The responsible parties and what they are to do, or did, is stated. Passive voice doesn’t state the actor and can be misunderstood. Passive voice encourages avoiding responsibility and failing to act.
How do you identify passive voice? You’ll often read “to be” or “to have” in a sentence. The actor or “doer” is either implied or stated at the end of the sentence. How do you change passive voice to active voice? Look for the implied or stated actor or “doer” at the end of the sentence and move it to the beginning of the sentence.
For example, a sentence written in passive voice reads, “The commendation was written by the board chair.” The same sentence written in active voice reads, “The board chair wrote the commendation.”
Effective written communications are essential to convey information and get the responses you need. I hope these tips help you become a more effective writer.
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. F
Janet Arrowood
Always ask yourself — and your supervisor — who is this email or document really for? What do we want to happen as a result of this audience reading the document?
A few years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic, I wrote a blog titled The Season Is Nigh Upon Us. My blog began with the following:
In no way, shape or form do I want to slight any person’s religious beliefs. Given, however, that I’m a Catholic Christian, I’d like to reflect on how my belief system affects my thoughts about leadership. Even at this time of the year, I believe we can take some leadership lessons to heart. Regardless of our religious beliefs, within each of us there’s a core, in-the-marrow belief that considers something more divine at work. Your faith is just as important to you as my faith is to me. I embrace your right to believe as you wish. I ask you to embrace my right to believe as I wish.
This time of year brings out the best and worst in us all. There shouldn’t be either-or propositions, however. I believe there should be an all-encompassing embrace of humanity and an acceptance of each other’s beliefs no matter how far-flung they might seem.
Heck, the leader of my own church stated atheists can make their way into heaven. Then why did I endure the torment and pain of 16 years of Catholic education? Just kidding, mom and dad. I loved every minute of my formative educational years. Now, forgive me for a moment while I wipe the involuntary spastic spit from my face.
If I wish you a merry Christmas and you’re Buddhist, please don’t be offended. Instead, take my salutation as a way of welcoming you into my joy. The joy I celebrate at this time of year.
If you ask me habari gani? I’ve learned you’re not just asking how I am. Rather, the greeting reinforces awareness of and commitment to the seven principles of Kwanzaa: collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, creativity, earth, purpose, self-determination and unity. Who am I to argue against any of those principles? I embrace them as well.
I could go on and on.
Not counting the fictional or paradisical days celebrated in November or December, there are at least 58 holidays celebrated around the globe in these 61 days. Almost one celebration per day.
From Christianity through Hinduism there are 12 celebrations in the month of November — from All Saint’s Day through Diwali. We have secular days thrown in as well — including Guy Fawkes Night.
December brings 46 different celebratory days, including those involving Buddhism (Bodhi Day) and Christianity (Christmas). There are Hindi celebrations (Pancha Ganapati) as well as Jewish celebrations (Hanukkah). In addition to Kwanzaa, there’s Chalica and HumanLight.
That’s not counting fictional events or parodies. They include Festivus (thanks Jerry Seinfeld) and Life Day, when Wookiees wear long red robes, sing under the sacred Tree of Life and reminisce.
My wish during this special time of the year starts with something Mother Teresa once said: “If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people will try to cheat you. Be honest anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous of you. Be happy anyway. The good you do today will often be forgotten by tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.”
This is a great aspiration for all leaders. It’s a great aspiration for us all.
In an address to the Canadian Parliament in 1961, President John F. Kennedy said: “Geography has made us neighbors. History has made us friends. Economics has made us partners. And necessity has made us allies. Those whom nature hath so joined together, let no man put asunder. What unites us is far greater than what divides us.”
Wouldn’t it be great if we all focused on the things that unite us instead of the things that divide us?
That’s my wish during this season.
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. Reach him at info@timothyhaggerty.com or (610) 737-0496. More information is available at www.timothyhaggerty.com F
I believe there should be an all-encompassing embrace of humanity and an acceptance of each other’s beliefs no matter how far-flung they might seem.
If finding the perfect holiday gift for that special someone poses a challenge, consider giving the gift of health and fitness. You’ll not only offer something they’ll love, but also a gift that keeps on giving.
Whether you’re buying for a spouse, parent or friend that’s either a fitness enthusiast or beginner, here are some ideas sure to bring motivation and movement into their lives.
A fun way to share a fitness gift with your loved one is to join a gym together. This will give you both unlimited resources to help attain your fitness goals. By doing this together, it’ll be more fun and hold you both accountable.
If you’re already gym goers, try some personal or small group training. This is a great way to get a jump-start on a fitness journey. It might be the gift they need, but wouldn’t buy for themselves. You don’t have to be a celebrity to hire a personal trainer. And people from all walks of life — young to old, beginners to athletes — benefit from the motivation and knowledge they receive from training classes.
High-tech fitness gadgets also top many Christmas wish lists this year.
What does almost every fitness enthusiast love? Their music. There’s nothing better to help get through a tough
workout than a great playlist. Some gift ideas include music cards or a fun pair of ear buds or headphones.
The sale of such wearable fitness gadgets also is on the rise. This technology not only measures steps, but also activity, calories burned, heart rate and sleep quality. While different models offer different features, the one common trait among them is the ability to create awareness of your physical activity and inspire you to make healthy changes. These devices are available in a variety of types, sizes, colors and prices. Heart rate monitors are another device that offer information that can be beneficial during exercise.
Other technology inspired gifts include a multitude of phone apps. Did you know you can get an app with GPS and record your runs or bike rides? There’s an app for almost every type of activity you can imagine. While some apps are free, others are available for a minimal cost.
Another gift idea is a subscription to a favorite magazine that specializes in their sport or area of interest. Want to be an amazing gift giver? Give them a certificate for a massage after a hard workout.
On the eccentric side, a little research will lead you to some unique gift ideas. Did you know you can give a yearly subscription to have a healthy snack box delivered each month? How about a cap for runners with lights in the brim of the cap so they can see during a night run? Or a bike that folds up for city dwellers? The list goes on.
A fitness-inspired gift list would be incomplete if you were unaware of the gifts NOT to buy. Readers of Fitness Magazine asked to chose the worst fitness gifts cited a diet book and sauna suit. Remember those suits that made you sweat and looked like you were wrapped in foil? Of course, the No. 1 worst gift is a talking scale.
These are just a few ideas to help with gift buying for the loved ones on your list.
Christmas is followed by a new year filled with resolutions to live healthier lifestyle. Giving a gift that helps your loved one be healthier is a gift they’ll enjoy every day all year.
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.
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Let’s start with some highlights from a recent Coldwell Banker Commercial blog titled “Do Company Priorities Align with Workers’ Shifting Values?”
“For many people, the mandatory hiatus from in-person work triggered a re-evaluation of the type of work they want to do and where they want to do it,” the blog stated. “Some have embraced remote work, relocated geographically, moved to another company. In certain cases, people reoriented their career trajectory or even entered early retirement.”
An ADP study titled “People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View” found that 71 percent of workers have seriously considered a major career move this year as they re-evaluated the importance of job security and business ethics. The study cited an “emerging sense that a secure job is one that allows workers to earn a living on their own terms, without compromising on essentials like their health, well-being or family time or even their personal
beliefs and values.
“These shifts in worker sentiment, combined with a tight labor market, have given employees a massive upper hand. To attract and retain skilled, valuable staff — particularly, a diverse and productive staff — leaders need to not only offer higher compensation, but also rethink the way they run their companies.
“As in the broader economy, employees in commercial real estate are experiencing greater levels of stress without the appropriate resources to counter it, which leads to the trend of ‘quiet quitting’ and, eventually, burnout.”
As you’ve probably guessed, the biggest effect of these labor issues on commercial real estate has been in
the office market.
The occupancy of office space hasn’t recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone home. Workers got used to being home and many have been fighting ever since to stay there.
While some jobs can be performed remotely, not every office job can or should be.
On the retail front, I’ve spoken with a few business owners who’d like to expand their operations by adding locations, but they’re having a hard time finding motivated employees to fill new positions.
No one seems to have an easy solution to the problem. But I’m hoping the problem will be solved sooner rather than later.
Tim Whitney is managing broker of Coldwell Banker Commercial Prime Properties, a commercial brokerage and property management company based in Grand Junction. He’s been involved in the sale, leasing and management of commercial real estate in Colorado for more than 35 years. For more information, call 243-7375 or visit www.CBC-Prime.com. F
You don’t have to be a celebrity to hire a personal trainer. And people from all walks of life — young to old, beginners to athletes — benefit from the motivation and knowledge they receive from a training class.Tim Whitney
The occupancy of office space hasn’t recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone home. Workers got used to being home and many have been fighting ever since to stay there.
Talon Wines has announced plans to consolidate two tasting rooms at a renovated facility in Palisade.
Talon Wines will move a tasting room on Elberta Avenue near the Palisade exit off Interstate Highway 70 to the Meadery of the Rockies, located at 3701 G Road. The final day of operations at the Elberta Avenue location is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 24.
Talon Wines at the Meadery will offer indoor and outdoor seating, expanded production space and other updates. Renovations are planned to begin after the first of the year.
“We are excited to focus our efforts on an unforgettable customer experience offering events, tours and tastings where the wines are actually made,” said Glenn Foster, founder and chief executive officer of Talon Wines. “Additionally, we can dedicate more of our time, energy and resources to continually improve the quality of the wines we produce. In the world of winemaking, there is always something to be learned and improvements to be made.”
Talon Wines is the parent company for Talon Winery, St. Kathryn Cellars and Meadery of the Rockies. Talon Wines produces more than 25 wines. For more, visit www.talonwinebrands.com.
Credit Union of Colorado will accept through Dec. 30 donations for its winter clothing drive.
New or gently used hats, gloves, scarves, socks and other winter clothing may be dropped off at Credit Union of Colorado branches, including the branch at 202 Main St. in downtown Grand Junction.
Donations will be delivered to community outreach organizations in early January.
Credit Union of Colorado operates 18 full-service locations throughout the state. For additional information, visit the website at www.cuofco.org.
West Star Aviation in Grand Junction has been recognized for its support of military service members and their family members.
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) presented West Star Aviation with its Patriotic Employer and Statement of Support awards.
Established in 1972, ESGR recognizes employers that support employee service in the military, particularly the National Guard and Reserve. The organization operates a network of volunteers and 54 field committees across the United States.
For additional information about the ESGR, call (970) 640-7971 or send an email to patriot08@bresnan.net.
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.
High Desert Hearing Center will accept nominations through Jan. 12 for people who face financial difficulty in correcting hearing loss and would benefit from a free set of ReSound Omnia hearing aids.
The Grand Junction practice has joined with ReSource and hearing care professionals nationwide to provide hundreds of hearing aids and services to people who can’t afford them.
Four businesses and a nonprofit organization were honored for expanding their operations and staffing.
The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce recognized the five as part of its economic outlook luncheon.
The Food Bank of the Rockies Western Slope was honored for a $12 million capital investment in opening a new and larger facility in Grand Junciton and adding four jobs.
Hensley
“It’s been a tough couple of years for so many of us, so we want to support those in our community who are struggling with hearing loss, ” said Chelsie Hensley, doctor of audiology at High Desert Hearing Center.
Nominations can be submitted in person at the practice, located at 631 24 1/2 Road, Suite 6, or requesting a nomination form by email from tjacobson@highdeserthearing.com.
For more information about the High Desert Hearing Center, log on to https://visit.highdeserthearing.com.
Mesa County Libraries locations will be closed Dec. 24 to 26 and Jan. 1 and 2 for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Due to holiday staffing levels, the Collbran, Orchard Mesa and Palisade branches will be closed Dec. 30. The Collbran, De Beque, Orchard Mesa and Palisade branches will be closed Dec. 31.
For more information about Mesa County Libraries, visit the website at https://mesacountylibraries.org.
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The new warehouse and distribution center offers more than 50,000 square feet, twice that of the former facility in Palisade. The larger facility is expected to enable Food Bank of the Rockies to provide 62 percent more meals annually. The new facility also houses the St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center Meals on Wheels program, which provides free meals to older adults in the Grand Valley.
DT Swiss, a bicycle parts manufacturer, was honored for a capital investment of $3.1 million and the addition of 16 jobs.
The Christi Reece Group, a real estate firm, was honored for a $500,000 capital investment in opening a second location in downtown Fruita.
Hormone Health & Wellness of Colorado, a hormone replacement therapy clinic, was honored for a $350,000 capital investment and four new jobs.
Mission Ready Tree Service was honored for a $25,000 capital investment and one new job. The business opened a year ago after relocating from Fremont County.
The food bank and four businesses accounted for a total capital investment of nearly $16 million and 25 new jobs.
Those numbers bring the capital investment of firms honored by the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce in 2022 to nearly $57.8 million. Those firms added a total of 202 new jobs.
Mary Kruse was among the agents honored for their sales performance for November at Heiden Home Realty in Grand Junction.
Kruse posted the highest dollar volume in closings for the month. She tied for most closings with Anthony Heiden, Toni Heiden, Mike Moran and Kathy Tomkins.
In addition to her work as an agent, Kruse helps with management duties, including management of rental properties. She holds the Graduate Realtor Institute designation as well as the Certified Negotiation Specialist and Accredited Buyers Representative designations.
Heiden Homes Realty operates offices at 735 Rood Ave. For more information, including properties for sale and rent, call 245-7777 or visit www.heidenhomes.com.
Michael Caflisch has been named executive director of the Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA).
Caflisch brings to his duties more than 40 years of experience, including 26 years in numerous roles with Boeing and six years as chief executive officer of Aircraft Performance Group.
“CABA makes such an impact in Colorado representing the needs of the business and general aviation communities. The opportunity to expand CABA’s reach and support our members’ varied interests is truly exciting,” Caflisch said.
CABA seeks to identify and address issues affecting aviation businesses and airports and advocate on their behalf. The group provides aviation scholarships and supports charitable causes. For more information, www.mycaba.org.
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.
Andrea Haitz, president of the Mesa County School District 51 Board of Education, has been elected to the Colorado Association of School Boards (CASB) Board of Directors.
Established in 1940, the CASB advocates on behalf of more than 1,000 school board members and superintendents in the state. The organization also provides services and training for board members as well as develops relationships with other education stakeholders on state and national levels.
The CASB board is comprised of 23 members representing 12 regions.
Jared Prochnow of Fruita has been reappointed to the Colorado Juvenile Parole Board and serves as chairman.
Prochnow was reappointed to a four-year term expiring in 2026. He’s among five public members not employed by the state to serve on the nine-member board.
The board grants, denies, revokes and otherwise specifies conditions of parole for juvenile delinquents. F
Dec. 22
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Welcome Thursday Friends networking luncheon, noon to 1 p.m. Dec. 22, Qdoba Mexican Eats, 401 Jurassic Ave., Fruita. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894 Jan. 3
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Veterans in Business monthly muster, noon to 1 p.m., Mountain Roasters Coffee, 126 N. Seventh St., Grand Junction. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894
Jan. 5
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business networking luncheon, noon to 1 p.m., Copper Club Brewing Co., 153 N. Mulberry St., Fruita. Admission $10 for chamber members, $20 for others. 858-3894 or https://fruitachamber.org
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce business after hours, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12, Fruita Community Center, 324 N. Coulson St. Admission $5 for chamber members, $10 for others. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894
n Coffee Club free networking meeting, 9 to 10 a.m. Jan. 20, FWorks coworking space, 325 E. Aspen Ave., Fruita. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894
n Palisade Chamber of Commerce mocktail madness with Mavs free networking event, 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 21, Blue Pig Gallery, 101 W. Third St. 464-7458 or www.palisadecoco.com
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce coffee and community connections event, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 24, location to be announced. Chamber members attend at no charge. Others pay $5. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894
n Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce Women in Business hat bar party, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jan. 25, 634 Main St., Suite 101, Grand Junction. Admission $65, which includes materials for the hats. https://fruitachamber.org or 858-3894
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