My team and I have been putting the final touches on BIC’s annual report and I am so proud of what we accomplished last year for our community and region. In 2023, BIC fortified the infrastructure critical to our community’s entrepreneurs, directly impacting economic growth and sustainability.
As Colorado’s longest-operating business incubator, we prioritized, strengthened and launched programs with a laser focus to achieve a singular goal—fortifying economic development in the Grand Valley and surrounding region.
Our return of the Small Business Holiday Expo saw 600 community members engage with over 30 local businesses. BIC received Congressional recognition for our strategic and effective operations. Our new collaboration with Mesa County Behavioral Health has launched and aims to build capacity to boost the nonprofit sector, demonstrating our commitment to economic diversification. Our event, “The World Comes to Grand Junction,” in partnership with Representative Matt Soper and local economic development bodies, emphasized our focus on international commerce. Our Economic Impact Study of Nonprofits, conducted by Dr. Nathan Perry of Colorado Mesa University in partnership with four leading nonprofits, underscores the crucial economic contributions of nonprofit organizations in our area.
We are grateful for your trust as we continue to build a diverse, sustainable, and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem. The full 2023 Business Incubator Center Annual Report can be found here.
I’d also love to share with you that the completion of the 2024 Spring cohort of our Small Business Development Center’s flagship business planning series, LEADING EDGE, has successfully graduated 14 new small businesses. Congratulations to all our brilliant entrepreneurs pursuing their dreams and paving the path for their business success journey!
Onward to a future rich with potential,