Behind every storefront, service, and job in Mesa County is a business navigating tight margins, workforce pressures, rising costs, and constant change. Those challenges rarely make headlines. What deserves recognition is the resilience, innovation, and leadership demonstrated by local businesses every single day. On February 27th, 2026, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce brought…
Before the sun rose over the Bookcliffs last week, nearly 60 Mesa County business leaders boarded a bus in the dark, navigating the largest winter storm of 2026 to make a clear statement: Western Colorado’s voice belongs in the rooms where decisions are made. Our annual Legislative Days at the Capitol is not ceremonial. It…
As we approach the one-month mark of Colorado’s legislative session, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce (Grand Junction Chamber) is increasingly focused on what early proposals signal for the long-term business climate in Western Colorado. While many bills are still in their early stages, their direction matters. For businesses in our region, where markets…
National Entrepreneurship Week is more than a date on the calendar. It is a national moment that connects students, educators, business leaders, and communities in celebrating business creation and the next generation of innovators. For students in the Grand Junction Chamber’s Young Entrepreneurs Academy, this week reflects work that is already well underway. Entrepreneurship continues…
Mesa County’s approach to workforce development is receiving national attention. The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce was recently honored by the Western Association of Chamber Executives (W.A.C.E.) with the Outstanding Chamber Program Award for Large Chambers for its workforce initiative, WestSlope Works. Chambers from across the western half of the United States were considered…
Running a business is not easy. Behind every storefront, service, and job is a long list of challenges that do not always make headlines. Tight margins. Workforce pressures. Rising costs. Constant change. Yet, across Mesa County, businesses show up every day anyway. They solve problems, support employees, and keep our local economy moving forward. That…
Colorado employers participating in Registered Apprenticeship Programs may be eligible for a new incentive through the New & Emerging Industries Apprenticeship Tax Credit, created by HB24-1439. This refundable state income tax credit is designed to encourage the adoption and expansion of apprenticeships in new and emerging occupations statewide. Eligible employers can receive up to $12,600…
As the 2026 Colorado Legislative Session unfolds, one thing is already clear: despite early conversations about a nearly $1 billion projected budget shortfall, the pace and volume of legislation impacting Colorado employers has not slowed. If anything, the session is already off to a fast start. At the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, we are…
On Monday night, our Chamber joined community stakeholders, elected officials, and generations of agricultural producers for the unveiling of the newly released Economic Impact of Agriculture in Western Colorado. The room itself told a story before a single data point was shared. Producers whose families have worked the land for decades sat alongside policymakers, business…
The 2026 Colorado legislative session begins today, January 14th, launching 120 days of policy decisions that will directly affect employers, workers, and communities here in Mesa County. As lawmakers convene at the Colorado General Assembly, the business community is closely watching how this session will influence Colorado’s economic competitiveness and ability to protect and support…