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 Colorado’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program continues to evolve, Mesa County employers are adjusting to changes that affect workforce planning, payroll administration, and compliance responsibilities. As we move into 2026, there are several updates to the FAMLI program employers should be aware of, along with an anticipated federal change that has been delayed….
Candace Carnahan, President and CEO of the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed Vice Chair of the Colorado Chamber Alliance (CCA). The Colorado Chamber Alliance is a statewide network representing more than 75 local chambers of commerce and over 50,000 businesses across Colorado. The organization works to strengthen chambers through shared…
Recently, national thought leader Mark Perna visited Grand Junction to share his message about unleashing the passion, purpose, and potential of the younger generation. His keynote, brought to our community in partnership with the Business Incubator Center and the D51 Foundation, centered on a theme we couldn’t agree with more: investing in our youth is…
September marks Workforce Development Month, and at the Grand Junction Chamber, this is a time for us to reflect on the partnerships, programs, and people that prepare Mesa County for the future. Workforce development is more than just filling jobs; it’s building strong, sustainable connections between education, business, and community – ensuring that our region…
When Elisabeth Henry, Chair of the Young Professionals Network and local changemaker, signed up for the Mesa County Leadership Program, she was hoping to gain a better understanding of the community she had come to call home. What she discovered instead was something far more profound: a renewed sense of purpose, connection, and responsibility as…
Following a workshop discussion on Monday, May 5th, the Grand Junction City Council voted to end the 4th and 5th Street pilot program and return the corridor to its prior configuration at the City Council meeting on Wednesday, May 7th. The decision came after months of mounting concern from downtown business owners, customers, and community…
In celebration of National Apprenticeship Day, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to spotlight a member who’s taking workforce development into their own hands — quite literally. Driven Diagnostics, an advanced diagnostics and repair shop owned by Rich Willis, recently welcomed its first apprentice, Keegan Womack, into a thoughtfully built apprenticeship program….