Last week, local government, businesses and community leaders gathered for the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual State of the Valley. A crucial engagement for community members across the Valley, the event offered a platform for meaningful discussions on key topics and priorities facing our communities today, and insights on collaborative regional efforts shaping our future.
Top staff and elected officials from the City of Grand Junction, City of Fruita, Town of Palisade and Mesa County shared reflections with attendees, highlighting accomplishments made over the last year as well as outlooks on strategic planning and coordination to address issues that influence quality of life in the community, such as the rising costs of housing and workforce housing needs, intentional economic growth, the unhoused population, business impacts, public safety and measures to maintain welcoming environments for both existing and new business operations.
Thank you to our participating panelists:
Abe Herman, City of Grand Junction Mayor
Andrea Phillips, City of Grand Junction Interim City Manager
Cody Davis, Mesa County Commissioner
Pete Baier, Mesa County Administrator
Matthew Breman, City of Fruita Mayor
Mike Bennett, City of Fruita City Manager
Greg Mikolai, Town of Palisade Mayor
Janet Hawkinson, Town of Palisade Manager
Intentionality, sustainability and collaboration were recurring themes throughout the panel discussion, providing attendees with a greater understanding of the innovative and solution-minded efforts that enhance our community’s competitive edge and distinguish Mesa County from neighboring areas.
Conversations with our local leaders are essential to remain informed, invested and involved in shaping the future of our community. These types of conversations also bring strategic insights to businesses, ensuring they are aligned with evolving dynamics, economic factors and growth opportunities in our community that directly affect business.
Economic development is a collaborative effort, and the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to convening impactful engagements with businesses, stakeholders, public and private economic development partners across our community for the future of our Grand Valley.
By bringing people together, we can ensure we are working toward a common vision – to create a thriving and prosperous future for our growing Valley.