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…
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…
The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce took a different approach to networking and professional development at its recent Quarterly Membership Luncheon, creating an experience that placed conversation, connection, and practical problem-solving at the center of the event. Held at the DoubleTree by Hilton, the luncheon brought together business leaders from across Mesa County for…