RSVP Opportunity Zones 2.0: Shaping the Future of Investment on the Western Slope Opportunity Zones play a critical role in how communities grow, attract business, and create long-term economic opportunity. The Business Incubator Center, in partnership with the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) and the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT), [...]
Shauna and Chad Van Beek, Owners Custom pallets may not be a high-profile industry, but they are a critical part of the manufacturing and shipping pipeline. When Shauna and Chad Van Beek saw a gap, they moved quickly to fill it. In late 2022, Shauna discovered that her company’s pallet supplier had closed leaving [...]
Lori Schroeder, President & Owner | Daryl Becker, Co-Owner Before she was leading major commercial construction projects across the region, Lori Siegesmund was simply helping out, stepping into her grandfather’s business for what was supposed to be a short-term commitment. Six months turned into years of learning the business from the ground up; estimating, [...]
Ag Awareness Week: A Community Rooted in Agriculture Agriculture is more than an industry in Western Colorado, it’s a way of life, a foundation of our economy, and a defining part of our landscape and identity. Over ten days in March, the first-ever Ag Awareness Week brought that reality into focus. Organized through the [...]
Jennie's Playhouse | Jennifer, Founder Sometimes the path to entrepreneurship begins with a carefully crafted business plan. Other times, it grows from a simple idea and the determination to keep going when circumstances change. For Jennifer, founder of Jennie’s Playhouse, the journey began in 2017 with a side business renting bounce houses for local events. [...]
Grand Mesa Nordic Council | Dan Tille, Project Manager A successful nonprofit capital campaign and a clear example of how passion and Enterprise Zone incentives turn support into impact. For more than 35 years, the Grand Mesa Nordic Council (GMNC) has maintained 31 miles of Nordic ski trails on the Grand Mesa often under [...]
Ag Awareness Week Spotlight: Janie VanWinkle on the Importance of Agriculture in Western Colorado As part of Ag Awareness Week (March 14–24), we’re highlighting the voices and conversations that help deepen understanding of the role agriculture plays in our region. In this interview with Tom Sheldon of MBC Grand Broadcasting, AgriWest Fellow Janie VanWinkle shares [...]
Pronto Bronto Kenny and Andrew, Co-Founders A creative partnership, built on vision, hard work, and the freedom to do things differently. Some businesses begin with a formal plan. Others grow from partnerships built over years of working side by side. For Kenny and Andrew, founders of Pronto Bronto, that creative alignment developed naturally. The [...]
Geothermal Industry & Market Open House Join us for a Geothermal Industry & Market Open House on March 9, 2026, at Colorado Mesa University, from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. Learn about geothermal power generation and what it could mean for our Colorado communities. Geothermal power represents a significant emerging opportunity—providing 24/7 baseload electricity while catalyzing [...]
SURPstone Jill Layton, Founder A passion for upcycling leads to a concrete industry innovation. SURPstone has a rare and earth-friendly business model. It takes materials that would otherwise end up in landfills and turns them into concrete pavers and landscape elements. Founded by Jill Layton, the business transforms discarded plastic into functional, durable products sold [...]
