Last week, Grand Valley middle school student entrepreneur Roan Baldwin represented Colorado at the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Saunders Scholars National Competition in Frisco, Texas. After earning the title of local Saunders Scholar earlier this year, Roan advanced to compete alongside some of the nation’s top young entrepreneurs. He presented his business, Munch Mode Machines,…
Last Thursday evening, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce proudly celebrated the graduation of the Mesa County Leadership Program Class of 2026 at Bookcliff Country Club. Family members, employers, alumni, community leaders, and program supporters gathered to recognize 30 graduates who dedicated the past 10 months to immersive learning, community exploration, and leadership development….
Last weekend, the Mesa Mall was transformed into something different: a marketplace of student-owned businesses. The annual Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Trade Show gave local students the opportunity to showcase businesses they have spent months developing and preparing to launch. Through the afternoon, shoppers stopped by booths to learn about products and services, ask questions,…
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…
If you’ve spent any time at a Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce event, you’ve felt it. The ease of walking into the room at Networking@Noon. The familiar faces greeting you at Business After Hours. The introductions that happen naturally at a Quarterly Membership Luncheon. The sense that you are not just attending something, you…
Each year, I look forward to the release of the Edelman Trust Barometer. Not because it tells us something new, but because it puts language and data behind what many of us are already feeling here at home. This year’s report confirms it. The divide is growing. Seventy percent of people worldwide now have what…
One of the most impactful moments in the Young Entrepreneur Academy each year is the CEO Roundtable. It is where ideas meet experience and where our students get the opportunity to step out of the classroom and into real conversations with leaders who have built, led, and grown organizations right here in our community. Last…
As I look at the future of Mesa County, I keep coming back to one simple truth: if we are not intentionally investing in young professionals today, we are leaving the future of our workforce and our community to chance. This isn’t just about filling jobs. It’s about cultivating leaders. For years, we’ve talked about…
Agriculture is not just part of Mesa County’s history. It is a core part of our business community and a driving force behind our regional economy. During Ag Awareness Week, we are taking time to recognize the role agriculture plays across the Grand Valley, not only in what we produce, but in how our economy…