Latest News/Events
Local decisions affect the cost of doing business, the availability of workers and the confidence employers need to invest. Business leaders deserve opportunities to understand those decisions and help shape them. That is why the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its State of the Valley breakfast on October 14th. More than 100 local…
As printed in the Daily Sentinel on October 14, 2026 Colorado employers are already making difficult choices about what they can afford. Insurance premiums, energy and supply costs, workforce shortages and regulatory requirements compete with the dollars needed to hire another employee or expand. Amendment 87 would add a substantial tax obligation for some employers….
The Grand Junction Chamber’s 2026 Election Guide is now available ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, November 3. It brings together candidate perspectives, explanations of ballot measures, and the Chamber’s positions in one resource for readers preparing to vote. As President & CEO Candace Carnahan shares in her opening letter, the realities of running a…
Last week’s Quarterly Membership Luncheon brought nearly 100 attendees together to celebrate local business expansions and hear directly from candidates seeking offices that influence our business environment. Together, the recognitions and conversation underscored how closely business growth and public policy are connected. The Chamber recognized seven businesses and organizations whose expansions represent $33,475,000 in investment…
If an employee needs glasses, we understand why vision coverage matters. We help people care for their teeth. Some employers even help pay for gym memberships. But when someone needs support for their mental health, we are still far too likely to leave them to figure it out alone. That disconnect has been on my…
Workforce development can sound like a broad economic issue until you see what it looks like close to home. September is Workforce Development Month, an opportunity to recognize the work happening right here in Mesa County to build a stronger workforce and create meaningful pathways into our business community. Here, that work takes many forms:…
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Colorado’s dramatic slide in national business competitiveness rankings and the warning signs our state can no longer afford to ignore. Recently, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce continued that conversation by co-hosting hosting a Colorado Competitiveness Roundtable in partnership with the Governor’s Office, the Colorado Office of…
What does the future of Western Colorado look like? On August 19th, it looked a lot like 180 young professionals gathered at Colorado Mesa University to learn, connect, ask important questions, and consider the role they want to play in what comes next. Now in its fourth year, the Western Slope Young Professionals Summit has…
For more than a decade, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) has given Mesa County students something bigger than an introduction to entrepreneurship: the opportunity to build and launch a real business. Now in its 12th year locally, YEA! takes students in grades 6–12 through a 20-week entrepreneurial journey from…
What happens when you put nearly 200 members of the business community on a golf course for the day? A lot more than golf! On Friday, September 25th, the 33rd Annual Grand Junction Area Chamber Golf Tournament returns to the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa, bringing together business leaders, frontline team members, colleagues, clients, and…
When most people think of advocacy, they picture testimony at the State Capitol or meetings with elected officials. While those moments matter, some of the most important conversations happen long before legislation is debated or rules are finalized. Recently, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Chairman Eric Blank and Director Rebecca White from…
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Labor contacted the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce because of the Chamber’s work championing industry-led solutions to one of the most pressing challenges facing employers today: attracting, developing, and retaining skilled talent. Through initiatives like West Slope Works, apprenticeship expansion, sector partnerships, and the intentional convening of…
There are certain places in every community that do far more than occupy a building or fill a line item in a budget. They shape who we are. They preserve our stories. They spark imagination. They connect generations. And when they face hardship, it serves as an important reminder that these institutions only thrive when…
One of the greatest investments we can make in the future of Western Colorado is investing in the people who will lead it. That’s the vision behind the 2026 Western Slope YP Summit. On Wednesday, August 19, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce and the Young Professionals Network (YPN) of Mesa County will once…
For years, much of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce’s advocacy has focused on Colorado. That makes sense. State policy has a direct and immediate impact on the businesses we serve, and Colorado employers continue to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment that affects how they hire, invest, expand, and compete. Over the past…