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…
Funding is currently available through the Chamber’s West Slope Works program to help employers offset costs associated with Registered Apprenticeship Programs. The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, through its role as a Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary, has grant funding available to support apprenticeship-related expenses, including mentor or journey worker wages, instructor costs, training supplies, and…
Not every economic shift announces itself with a headline, but that does not make it any less significant. Some of the most consequential changes happen gradually, as a series of decisions made over time begin to reshape the trajectory of a state’s economy. Our close partners at the Colorado Chamber of Commerce recently released a…
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…
Last week, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce submitted formal comments on the Colorado Department of Transportation’s proposed 2050 Statewide Transportation Plan. For Western Colorado businesses, this plan is not just a roadmap for infrastructure—it is a roadmap for economic stability, competitiveness, and growth. Our comments made clear that the current funding model leaves…
Grand Junction, CO — The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce (GJACC) has been awarded $99,994 through the Office of the Future of Work at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary Grant program. GJACC is one of six organizations in Colorado to receive funding as a recognized Intermediary for Industry. This…
Every few years, the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)—the national organization representing thousands of chambers of commerce—takes a deep look at the forces shaping business, community, and the chamber industry itself. Their most recent report, Horizon 2035, reflects the insights of nearly 1,000 chamber leaders, partners, and futurists nationwide and offers a…
At the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, we pride ourselves on being more than just an advocate for business—we’re a driver of progress, a convener of partnerships, and a storyteller of success. Over the past seven days, that mission came to life through three celebrations that spotlighted what’s possible when passion, collaboration, and innovation…
A bill moving through the Colorado Legislature right now threatens to pull the rug out from under rural economic development efforts across the Western Slope. House Bill 25-1296, if passed, would severely weaken the Enterprise Zone Investment Tax Credit—one of the most effective tools we have to attract capital and create jobs in hard-to-reach communities…