Have you ever heard of the WorkKeys assessments? If not, I’m sure you are familiar with ACT, the company which provides standardized tests for college admissions. WorkKeys tests from ACT are essentially the standardized tests that show if individuals have the foundational skills needed for entering the workforce. A National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is…
Oftentimes the Chairman’s Column focuses on a specific topic or theme but not this time. As one of our board members astutely observed late last year, “This Chamber does “freaking” everything,” so this month I think it is important to give the members some updates about what your organization is doing, has accomplished, and is…
Arguably the largest bottleneck and most challenging aspect when running a business is hiring and retaining a skilled workforce. With our current, difficult employment atmosphere and increasing technology needs within business, this gap is widening further. The Chamber, in partnership with The Business Incubator Center and Mesa County Workforce Center, are excited to continuing collaborating…
Recent efforts have begun by the City of Grand Junction to update Zoning and Development Code (Z&DC) in addition to updates to the Landscaping Ordinances which are set to be completed soon. These updates are vital to support the growth and development priorities that were identified as a community by the recently adopted One Grand…
In rural communities such as ours, it takes everyone rowing in the same direction to accomplish significant tasks, which alone one person may not be able to pull off. Community and Economic Development is conducted by community members – that means all of us. It is a process where local people can create more jobs,…
On April 26th, Diane Schwenke was honored with the The Joseph C. Prinster Leadership Award at the Grand Junction Economic Partnership Annual Economic Summit. This award is given to an individual who has had a profound impact on the regional economy and has demonstrated exceptional drive, adaptability and leadership characteristics. Diane denotes, “It is such…
Our business community has persevered over the past few years in the face of the pandemic. As we move out of those uncertain times and refocus on the future of our Valley, many topics continue to keep our business owners and stakeholders up at night. From workforce challenges, child care shortages, and affordable housing questions,…
The YEA! students are students ages 11 to 18 and are taught by local entrepreneurs and are introduced to guest lecturers, successful entrepreneurs, and business mentors. During the course of the program, students have created their own business plan, pitched their business plan, and now they will unveil their business at a trade show. This…
You’ve heard quite a bit from me lately as we move toward the selection of new staff leadership at the Chamber. That is because you are part of the Chamber team. I’ve been reminded these past few weeks that a strong team is a key to a strong organization like our Chamber. It is the…