Business Briefs

n GRAND JUNCTION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

HONORS BUSINESSES FOR EXPANSIVE EFFORTS

Six businesses were recognized for expansions resulting in a total of nearly $3 million in capital investments and 40 additional jobs.

The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce honored the businesses during its latest quarterly membership luncheon.

Networks Unlimited was recognized for moving into larger and renovated quarters at 515 S. Seventh St. in downtown Grand Junction. At 18,000 square feet, the building offers three times more space than the former location for the information technology services firm. The project cost $2.4 million and resulted in four more jobs.

Bank of Colorado was honored for opening a branch location at 2452 Patterson Road near Mesa Mall. The branch opened in remodeled quarters on the first floor of the four-story building. The project cost $250,000 and resulted in three new jobs.

Timberleaf Trailer was recognized for an expansion involving a $155,000 capital investment and five new jobs.

Land Title Guarantee Co. was honored for a $95,000 remodeling project at its operation at 2454 Patterson Road. Six employees were added to the staff.

The Christi Reece Group real estate firm was recognized for a capaital investment of $82,424 and the addition of two jobs.

Maid 2 Impress was honored for 20 additional jobs.

The latest expansions bring the numbers for 2021 expansions recognized by the chamber to more than $34 million in capital investments and 171 additional jobs. n RESULTS OF EMPLOYEE TURNOVER SURVEY

CONFIRM NEED FOR BETTER PAY AND BENEFITS

The results of a survey confirming increased employee turnover also confirm the importance of higher wages and more flexibility, according to the owner of staffing service franchise in Western Colorado,

“Colorado has the highest quit rate in the nation. Companies need to consider becoming an employer of choice in their communities by offering competitive salaries and benefits along with flexible work-life balances,” said Nina Anderson, the owner of an Express Employment Professionals franchise with offices in Grand Junction and Montrose.

Express Employment Professionals commissioned the Harris Poll to conduct the survey of more than 1,000 hiring decision makers in the United States.

Of those responding, 42 percent reported increased employee turnover costing businesses an average of $26,511 annually in recruiting costs abd lost productivity. For 21 percent of the respondents, the cost to replace employees topped $50,000 a year.

The most common reasons employees cited for leaving were more advancement opportunities and better pay and benefits.

Express Employment Professionals has a total of more than 830 franchises in the United States and four other countries.

Anderson operates a franchise with offices at 725 Pitkin Ave. in Grand Junction and 525 E. Main St. in Montrose. For more information, call 242-4500 in Grand Junction or 249-5202 in Montrose or visit https://www.expresspros.com/grandjunctionco or https://www.expresspros.com/montroseco. The Business Times Opinion December 23, 2021-January 5, 2022

Business Briefs Business PeopleSHARE YOUR NEWS The Business Times welcomes submissions for free Almanac NOTEWORTHY publication in Business Briefs. Email submissions to phil@thebusinesstimes.com or submit a news release online at the website at www.thebusinesstimes.com. A Grand Junction-based environmental and regulatory compliance services firm has acquired another environmental services company. HRL n ROCKY MOUNTAIN HEALTH PLANS DONATION Compliance TO SUPPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS Solutions announced its Rocky Mountain Health Plans in Grand Junction has donated acquisition of $300,000 to fund youth development efforts across Western Storage Tank Colorado. Technology.The donation to the YouthZone will help the Glenwood “I am very Springs-based organization expand its services to school-based excited about settings and deliver mental health and substance abuse support to the potential and least 470 youth and their families a year. added value “There couldn’t be a better time to increase support for youth this acquisition mental health,” said Jami Hayes, executive director of YouthZone. will provide to “This generous support from Rocky Mountain Health Plans will help not only our us serve more young people as we’re seeing the needs skyrocket.” combined client Alyssa Rose, executive director of Rocky Mountain Health base, but also to Plans community and state, said health care providers have seen a our employees,” growing need for mental heatlth and substance abuse support for said Herman youth and families. “We are honored to support YouthZone and Lucero, founder expand access to mental health services to meet the needs of youth and owner of who need support.” HRL Compliance Rocky Mountain Health Plans, a UnitedHealth Group company, Solutions. completed a $5 million pledge to establish the Healthy Youth/ Brett Redd, the previous Strong Colorado Fund in partnership with the Colorado attorney owner of Storage Tank general’s office. The donation is part of a $30 million contribution Technology, agreed. “Same by UnitedHealth Group to nonprofit organizations in Colorado to great company, same great promote health equity. people, lots of new capabilities.”The donation follows a $50 million payout from a lawsuit Discussions about the against the federal government seeking unpaid funds from an acquisition started in 2019, Affordable Care Act program. were put on hold during 2020 Funding also was allocated to three youth corps, including the and then resumed in 2021. Western Colorado Conservation Corps based in Grand Junction. The acquisition was finalized on In addition, funding will promote science, technology, engineering Dec. 1. and math education among women and people of color to diversify Lucero said the acquisition the health care work force as well as other programs across the strengthens the services and Western Slope. skills HRL Compliance Solutions offers as well as blends n NOMINATIONS DUE JAN. 6 FOR AWARDS skills and disciplines the two HONORING BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS companies couldn’t provide operating individually.Nominations will be accepted through Jan. 6 for annual HRL Compliance Solutions awards honoring businesses and individuals. operates offices in Western The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce will present Colorado as well as New Mexico Business of the Year awards to firms with fewer than 25 employees and Pennsylvania. and those with more than 25 employees. The chamber also will The firm provides drilling, present its Citizen of the Year award. engineering, environmental The award presentations are planned as part of the annual and regulatory consulting, field chamber banquet scheduled for Jan. 28 at the Grand Junction services and unmanned aerial Convention Center. systems imagery to clients in Nominated businesses and individuals will be evaluated on a variety of industry sectors the basis of why they deserve the awards and what they’ve done across the country.to make Grand Junction a stronger and more vibrant community. For more information, about Nomination forms are available on the chamber website at HRL Compliance Solutions, visit https://gjchamber.org. www.hrlcomp.com.F

Herman Lucero Nina Anderson

Brett Redd