Mesa County Welcomes Sunshine...

Hello Sunshine!

Sunshine Polishing Technology, that is. After a highly competitive bidding process, the company has decided to move it's North American headquarters to a two-acre plot in the Jarvis Development area in Grand Junction. The company, which restores and renovates gondolas and other cable transport systems, chose Mesa County because of the proximity to current and potential clients in local ski resorts - and because the company's employees "are looking forward to playing in your backyard." The company expects to bring seven employees to the new site, and hire additional staff on site, adding about 15 jobs to our economy. (Read more on Sunshine Polishing here.)

We've been on traveling foot quite a bit to start the New Year. Steve visited the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for the first time at the beginning of January - and then headed back to Vegas for the Shot Show a couple of weeks later, where he was able to chat to exhibitors about the upcoming Palisade Shooting Complex. Steve also visited SIA SnowSports, the premier trade show for the snow sports industry, and the Medical Design & Manufacturing show in California (MD&M West). Back in the office, he's busy following up with business prospects.

I headed to Denver last week for a meeting with the Economic Development Commission to gain statewide support to grow the outdoor recreation industry in the Grand Valley in a significant way. I left with some positive news and we urge you all to stay tuned to the March 15 City Council meeting in Grand Junction, where much more will be revealed!

In the meantime, the outdoor recreation industry will take center stage, alongside technology and manufacturing at this week's CAMA West FUSE Summit. We hope to catch you there, as well as at the grand opening of Grand Junction's first-ever coworking space, FACTORY, on Friday! (Visit the GJEP event calendar for more information.)

Here's to a grand start to 2017!

GJEP Executive Director
T: 970.245.4332
E: kristi@gjep.org

SAVE-THE-DATE

The Western Colorado Economic Summit is coming back even brighter and bolder than last year. We'll be announcing tickets, speakers, workshops and more in the coming weeks.

Visit the website for a recap of the 2016 inaugural summit, and follow GJEP on Facebook so you don't miss a thing.

Know a business that might like to move to the Grand Valley? Tell GJEP and you could win a $1,000 cash prize! Learn more at gjep.org/spreadthelove

Seven companies and counting. Over 500 potential new jobs and a $22 million boost to our local economy. What is Jump-Start and could it benefit your business?

A Tech Hub Takes Shape

One of our inaugural Jump-Start Mesa County partners, ProStar Geocorp, has been tirelessly working to support a growing tech hub in Colorado's Grand Valley. Earlier this year, the company plucked SynaptixGames out of the Business Incubator Center, gave them some office space and introduced them to a couple of businesses in Canada. A lucrative partnership has ensued - read all about it here.

GJEP 2017 Board of Directors

GJEP welcomes some new faces to the board this year:

Dr. Brian Davidson, St. Mary's Hospital
Sarah Shrader, Bonsai Design
Doug Simons, Enstrom
Chris Thomas, Community Hospital
Karen Troester, U.S. Bank

We would like to thank all of our new and returning board members for your support and dedication to growing our local economy. (Meet the whole board here.)

Meet Our New Chair

Tim Fry, President of Mountain Racing Products (MRP) and a longtime supporter of GJEP, serves as our board chair in 2017. See what he's got planned here.

THANK YOU TO OUR INVESTORS