As the first quarter of the year comes to a close, we at the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce find ourselves reflecting on the incredible connections, insights and opportunities that have been forged through engagements with our business community. We are honored to serve this community as a catalyst for business growth and success, and we continue to seek opportunities to convene businesses, strategic partners and stakeholders for discussions that champion the voices of our business community and drive our efforts. In the month of March, the Grand Junction Chamber hosted a variety of impactful engagement opportunities for businesses across industries that have promoted business connections and actionable insights to continue to support the business community.
Last week, the Grand Junction Chamber hosted the first of our Industry Insights Roundtable Series in partnership with CMU Tech, convening nearly 40 businesses in key industry sectors, including Restaurant and Retail, Manufacturing, Professional Services, and Construction. Designed to be more than just meetings, these sessions provided opportunities for attendees to discuss the most pressing challenges they are currently facing at their businesses and within their industries locally, and cultivated a space for pivotal conversations regarding industry-specific resources, opportunities and solutions. Chief among the challenges discussed were hiring and retaining skilled workers, compliance with certain state and federal regulations, sourcing supplies and materials to the Western Slope, and a lack of opportunities to communicate and collaborate with other businesses in the same industry.
Just as important are the conversations and celebrations that recognize the successes of our business community – the grand openings, new business locations, expansions and anniversaries that tell the story of perseverance and resilience.
On Monday, March 25th, members of the Grand Junction Chamber and business community gathered at our Quarterly Membership Luncheon for an afternoon of celebration and conversation. Each quarter, the Chamber honors the latest expansions and investments of our member businesses with an awards ceremony. Presented with an engraved hammer, each business expansion award signifies a recognition of the sweat and strength that has gone into achieving these milestones in their businesses, as well as the weight of economic impact their contributions undoubtedly make on our community as a whole.
This quarter, we are incredibly proud to announce over $85 million in expansions and capital investments with over 80 jobs created in Mesa County by 6 member businesses.
Congratulations to these businesses on their recent expansions:
BBSI
ColorAuto Detailing
Community Hospital
Food Bank of the Rockies
Innovative Textiles
Riverside Education Centers
Following the awards ceremony, the luncheon featured a special town hall style format, where tables had an opportunity to engage in robust group discussion and share their priorities, issues, ideas, experiences and visions for the future with Chamber Board members and staff. Covering a variety of topics that affect industries, business owners, and representatives at all levels such as education and workforce, employer resources and incentives, employment laws and legislation, takeaways from the dynamic dialogue were diverse and substantive.
We are grateful for opportunities like this that allow us to connect with our members and survey our business community so that we can continue to remain proactive and nimble. Central to our mission at the Chamber is a fearless sense of curiosity, as we believe that continuing to listen and understand is essential to advocate effectively and protect the business climate here in the Grand Valley. Engagements such as the Industry Insights Roundtable Series and the Quarterly Membership Luncheon’s town hall discussion are integral to the shaping of intentional efforts at the Chamber that bolster business representation, resources and relationships.
As we look forward to April and a new season, the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is eager to continue the momentum and cultivate meaningful engagements with our businesses and community that help us navigate challenges, find innovative solutions, realize opportunities and drive sustainable growth for our community. Together, we can chart a course towards a thriving future.