Site-selection experts discuss potential for GJ at the Western Colorado Economic Summit.
n Tariffs’ impact on Grand Junction
n Desierto Rojo
Desierto Rojo will open in former home of Mike’s Famous Chicken on a busy Fruita weekend.
n Rentals of all types
Off-road outfitter Adrenaline Driven Adventure Co. finds more ways for you to find them.
n Harris Column: NLRB shake-up
With new administration comes changes in the National Labor Relations Board. These changes will affect most private-sector employers.
Connect for Good founder Porcia Chen Silverberg speaks to the attendees during one of the monthly luncheons Connect for Good began hosting this year. Photo courtesy of Connect for Good.
Relate, then collaborate
Connect for Good hosts events aimed at creating relationships and eventually collaborations
Porcia Chen Silverberg is a flaming extrovert. By the way, that’s her self-description.
“I love talking to people. I have no problem making connections, but that’s who I am,” she said.
She also knows many people are not built that way.
“They’re not extroverts. They’re very cautious when it comes to meeting new people,” she said.
But that doesn’t mean an introvert can’t create meaningful, productive connections with others for the benefit of their community.
That’s why Chen Silverberg created her business, Connect for Good, and in January it debuted a monthly luncheon that’s a start down the road to bigger and better things.
She sees people of all ages and from all walks of life building relationships that in turn lead to collaboration.
She sees everyday people who may not have seen themselves as leaders stepping into community involvement “in ways that feel approachable and meaningful.”
She sees welcoming spaces “where participation feels possible, not overwhelming, and where curiosity is enough to get started.”
And she sees more people, who care deeply and are
ready to contribute their time, talents and insights, getting connected to nonprofits and helping them grow stronger.
Those things can bring about what Chen Silverberg said is Connect for Good’s ultimate goal: “To foster a more connected, caring and compassion-powered community.”
LET’S HAVE LUNCH AND TALK
Connect for Good’s January and February luncheons reached their maximum attendance of 50 people and the March luncheon was just four people shy of maxing out again.
It costs $35, and people are parting with the cash and participating in ways that Chen Silverberg knows make a difference. She knows, because she’s done this before. In Denver. In California.
“I’ve done this type of work for 25 years,” she said, adding, “I know that’s what I was meant to do.”
Chen Silverberg moved from California to Grand Junction in 2021, and she didn’t see anything like the organizations she ran previously.
“I know there are lots of great service clubs, like Kiwanis, Rotary, and there’s not a shortage of that, but those are weekly meetings and, you know, a big commitment to become a member. Then, I’ve been to networking groups, and I just didn’t see anything in our community that offers
a place, a space where people feel welcome and can come together, because I really believe in collaborations.”
That’s where luncheons come in. They’re the start to relationships and subsequent collaboration.
“We need to build a relationship in order to build trust and in order to build collaboration,” Chen Silverberg said.
“You know, you just don’t walk up to a stranger and say, ‘Hey, let’s collaborate,’ right? There’s just no such thing. It takes a long time to build that trust, so everyone feels comfortable to really create long-lasting, authentic and sustainable collaboration.”
Several attendees who have been to multiple luncheons say Connect for Good is off to a good start with its approach.
“It’s a really great, relaxed format that’s facilitating deeper conversations with our community,” said Laurel Cole, executive director of Mesa County Habitat for Humanity and a newly elected Grand Junction City Council member. “It’s a really wide range of different people in the community coming together to talk through some of the positives and areas of challenge in our community. And I think that it’s like the basis of a format that could bring together people who wouldn’t normally be together to think outside the box for some solutions.”
See CONNECT on page 9
Tim Harty The Business Times
GJ has economic allure, but has hurdles to clear
Site-selection experts say speed, infrastructure and intentional collaboration are key to attracting new businesses to the Grand Valley.
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
As Grand Junction eyes future economic growth, a panel of national site-selection professionals said the region’s natural beauty, strategic location and new leadership could give it a competitive edge. That’s if it can overcome significant hurdles, such as slow speed to market, limited commercial inventory and high housing costs.
Speaking at the annual Western Colorado Economic Summit, following a two-day tour of the area, representatives from four site-selection firms outlined the challenges and opportunities for attracting new companies in today’s market.
The panel, “Attracting Investment: A Conversation with Site Selection Professionals,” was hosted by Brad McCloud, area manager of Xcel Energy.
On speed to market, Savannah Jermance of Ryan LLC, a Dallas-based corporate tax consultancy, said, “Taking two years to develop a 50,000-square-foot commercial space is surprising — and not in a good way. It would have taken longer in California, but that’s not the benchmark you want.”
Other panelists agreed a quicker turnaround time is essential because of a lack of available inventory.
“There is a lack of inventory of sites and commercial buildings,” said Chris Lloyd of McGuireWoods Consulting, noting this is a common issue, but a critical one for Grand Junction to address.
Housing affordability also emerged as a key challenge, particularly for young professionals.
“Housing is 14 percent above the national average,” said Jeff Pappas of Newmark, adding, “Young people are asking: Can I survive in this market? Can I own a home? Can I afford to stay?”
Jermance underscored the economic pressures, saying, “We heard a story that each new home in this market would cost an additional $9,000 to build. You have to do something to offset those costs.”
Pappas noted that utilities are 7 percent below the national average, which could offset some housing-cost concerns.
Jermance addressed the role of environmental mandates in economic development, noting sustainability matters deeply to some companies, but not to all.
“For some companies it’s vital; others don’t care,” she said.
Jermance warned against rigid requirements, adding, “Mandating anything is always going to cause friction, because people don’t like to be told what to do.”
Instead, she advocated for flexible solutions, such as repurposing existing buildings, which can “increase speed to market” while also advancing sustainability goals.
Panelists urged the community to streamline permitting processes, increase commercial inventory and address housing costs to compete globally.
“You’re competing globally,” Lloyd said. “Grand Junction doesn’t yet have the brand awareness it needs. Every resident and leader here is an ambassador. It’s your job to tell the story.”
Building on strengths
Despite challenges, the panelists praised Grand Junction’s scenic environment and outdoor lifestyle, calling them major assets in appealing to younger workers and companies seeking a better quality of life for employees.
They also highlighted the strategic location and the critical role of aligning the education system – School District 51, Colorado Mesa University and CMU Tech – with the business community to create opportunities for students to work and stay in the region.
Jermance emphasized the potential for industries like gaming and multimedia, which may seem unlikely to locals, but could thrive due to the area’s recreational appeal.
“Gaming and multimedia industries are often drawn to adrenaline-based activities,” she said. “That lifestyle balance can be a real draw. You might say gaming and multimedia wouldn’t work here, but these companies have employees who enjoy outdoor activities after work, like mountain biking or whitewater rafting.”
Pappas said companies prioritize employee investment in the community.
“Companies want to see their employees invested in the community, not just commuting through it,” he said.
The panelists underscored CMU and CMU Tech as unique assets that set Grand Junction apart from other communities.
“I’m impressed with the university. For a market this size to have a university like this is remarkable,” Pappas said, praising the leadership and programs that prepare students for local careers.
Sabrina Champagne, a senior incentives and tax advisor with Strategic Location Services, highlighted the university’s dual pathways.
See GJ GROWTH on page 11
Site-selection expert panelists at the Western Colorado Economic Summit discuss Grand Junction attracting investment. From left: moderator Brad McCloud, Xcel Energy; seated: Savannah Jermance, Ryan LLC; Jeff Pappas, Newmark LLC; Sabrina Champagne, Strategic Location Services LLC; Chris Lloyd, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC. Photo courtesy of Ryan Sanchez, Grand Junction Economic Partnership.
Tariffs provide Grand Junction opportunities and challenges
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
At the Grand Junction Economic Partnership’s 2025 Economic Summit, speakers highlighted tariffs’ potential to reshape global trade and impact Grand Junction’s economy.
Nathan Perry, a Colorado Mesa University economics professor, and Savannah Jermance, a Dallas-based corporate tax consultant from Ryan LLC, spoke to business leaders at the CMU Ballroom on April 24. They noted tariffs’ effects can increase exports, create opportunities in regional supply chains and increase local manufacturing while cautioning about risks such as inflation, market uncertainty and effects on interest rates.
Perry said tariffs, taxes on imported goods, serve three purposes: generating government revenue; retaliating against unfair trade practices; and protecting domestic industries. He cited the late 1800s, when President William McKinley used tariffs of 20 percent to 40 percent to fund government and shield U.S. businesses, unlike the low rates post-World War II that were driven by globalization and the U.S. dollar’s reserve currency status.
Perry called the U.S. dollar’s reserve currency status an “exorbitant privilege” that affected how the country historically dealt with having a trade deficit, because it would make money on foreign investments in the country instead.
“I’ve argued in my classes for more than a decade that the United States is the only country playing in the free-trade game. Every other country is playing mercantilism, where they are imposing trade restrictions and taking advantage of the U.S,” Perry said, tying this to America’s “exorbitant privilege” as the reserve currency holder.
Speaking about the federal government in the 1890s, Perry said, “Tariffs were a primary revenue source before income taxes.”
He added, “However, today’s complex global supply chains and economic dependencies have transformed the economic landscape.”
Perry presented a chart illustrating a trade deficit persisting since the 1980s, which he believes the Trump administration’s tariff policies aim to address.
Perry said tariffs could bolster local manufacturing because of rising import costs and reduced trade deficits, creating jobs and encouraging U.S.-based supply chains to grow. He highlighted benefits, such as reducing reliance on Chinese
pharmaceuticals, and said tariffs might pressure countries such as Vietnam to open markets for U.S. exports.
However, Perry warned that increased tariffs could raise consumer prices, fuel inflation and prompt retaliatory tariffs from countries like China, harming exporters. He forecasted U.S. Gross Domestic Product growth could dip below 1 percent in 2025 until negotiations settle and while uncertainty persists.
“We’re seeing mixed signals,” Perry said. “Tariffs could help some sectors but hurt others. It’s hard to predict winners and losers without detailed supply-chain data.”
Perry also noted the Federal Reserve most likely won’t lower interest rates until everything settles down and it sees what effects tariffs will have long term.
Jermance, a strategic business tax consultant, described tariffs as an opportunity for proactive businesses.
“It’s not all doom and gloom,” she said. “Economic development corporations are busier than ever.”
She also said she has seen how tariffs have increased demand for domestic production. She cited a tire manufacturer that has seen a surge in demand for U.S.made tires for golf carts and recreational vehicles, which were previously imported from Asia.
“Their business is blowing up,” she said.
Jermance advised businesses to closely examine their supply chains to uncover both vulnerabilities and opportunities. She suggested regional collaboration to replace imported components with domestic alternatives and promoted “soft pivots,” where companies adapt existing equipment to produce new products. She also encouraged communities to offer incentives to retain struggling businesses and attract foreign firms interested in investing in Mesa County.
Perry described tariff proposals ranging from modest to over 50 percent on countries with trade surpluses, possibly as a negotiation tactic per President Donald Trump’s “The Art of the Deal.”
“Within six months, a lot of the higher numbers could come down,” Perry said, citing potential deals with India.
He cautioned that China might continue to resist, unburdened by U.S.style elections.
“China could hold out, because they don’t have elections every two years. They could potentially tank their own economy in the short term because they aren’t going to lose the next election,” Perry said.
He also shared his enthusiasm for teaching economics amid evolving tariff policies.
“It’s fun to teach right now,” he said with a grin. “Usually, I’m digging into history to explain tariffs, but this is happening live.”
Nathan Perry
New Fruita restaurant’s focus is tacos
Desierto Rojo will open in
former
Tim Harty The Business Times
Grab some street tacos and mingle in the street.
home of Mike’s Famous Chicken on a busy Fruita weekend
That’s what the husband-and-wife ownership team of Jeff and Marlen Orehek are going for with Desierto Rojo, the Mexican restaurant they’re opening May 2 at 233 E. Aspen Ave. in Fruita.
In the building where Mike’s Famous Chicken previously resided, basically the only thing that’s changing indoors is some new paint. Nothing’s changing in the kitchen and dining areas except what kind of food is made and served.
The menu, Jeff Orehek said, is probably not what most people are expecting it to be.
“It’s not going to be a traditional sit down and eat with beans and rice, a plattertype meal,” he said. “It’s going to be more geared toward modern, fast-foodish, grab some street tacos and mingle in the street. You can also get drinks to go, whether they’re alcoholic or non alcoholic. We have a license to sell those both.
“And so you can continue to do your Fruita thing, whether it’s, you know, go to the Headless Chicken or go to the bike festival or hit the road and go.”
Customers can dine indoors, but again, Jeff said, “It’s just not going to be typical beans and rice with your enchiladas.”
And there’s a really good reason for that, as Jeff added, “We won’t have any enchiladas. We won’t have any plates, per se. We’ll have baskets. We’ll have things that are geared to be easier.”
Ease is why the menu will be “mostly tacos, our focus is tacos,” Jeff said. “Tacos and beer.”
He said Desierto Rojo will have items that aren’t offered at most of the Grand Valley’s Mexican restaurants, such as chicharrones. Jeff emphasized their chicharrones will be nothing like “the things you buy at the grocery store.”
He said Desierto Rojo’s chicharrones will have meat on them, and the pork skin will be a little less crispy.
Other items to look for will be street corn, whether it’s elote (on the cob), or chaska (in a cup).
And if you’ve been craving nopales, rejoice! Desierto Rojo will be serving it. Nopales are fried cactus, by the way.
“Who would think you would eat cactus?” Jeff said.
Marlen Orehek would, as she’s originally from Mexico, and most of the recipes being used at Desierto Rojo are hers, based on foods she grew up with.
“They are delicious,” Jeff said of the nopales. “And I was scared the first time my wife served them to me, but I promise you, you will not be disappointed.”
For another menu rarity in the Grand Valley, Jeff said Desierto Rojo will have cheese tortillas, as in cheese that’s been skillet fried.
“It’s like when you accidentally get cheese on your skillet, and it becomes crunchy, and it’s yummy. We’re going to have a whole tortilla like that,” Jeff said. “And you can order your tacos in that. The only place I’ve seen that is in Cabo.”
The Oreheks think seeing their food will sell customers on it. So, if someone takes their food outside and eats it, perhaps a friend will see it and decide to get it, too.
“I’ve been in the industry for most of my life, so the biggest thing we’re going to try to do is sell you with your eyes,” Jeff said. “Because I am aware from my marketing degree and from my experience in the restaurant industry that people eat with their eyes more than they do their mouths. So, if you can make it look amazing, you’re gonna be 10 steps ahead of the next guy.”
MORE ABOUT DESIERTO ROJO
ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THIS?
The grand opening of the Desierto Rojo, 233 E. Aspen Ave., on May 2 coincides with Fruita Fat Tire Festival, which runs May 2-4. That means downtown Fruita is going to be busy.
So, a soft opening for a few days or a week prior would seem to be in order, but Marlen Orehek said May 1 will be the lone day to prepare for the chaos the weekend is likely to bring.
Jeff Orehek added there is no soft opening. May 1 will be for family and friends, and he and Marlen will be cooking and playing around in the kitchen.
Come May 2, Jeff expects, “We’ll have the festival. We’re going to get rocked.”
But he added, “I’m not afraid. I’ve got experience. I’ll be here, backing (Marlen) up. She’ll be doing what she does and being the face and the polite one, and I’ll be the one in the background yelling and getting things done.”
JUST SOUNDS MORE APPETIZING
When it came to naming the restaurant, Jeff wanted to call the restaurant Red Desert or Red Desert Restaurant and Brewery. And he thought that was the end of the story.
Um, yeah, not so fast.
“Marlen one night in bed says, I think we should call it Desierto Rojo,” Jeff said. “I said, ‘No. It’s Red Desert.’
“And I said, ‘You know what? I’ll take a poll, because we’re going to let the customers decide.’ And so I took that poll, and I asked about 10 people, nonbiased people, which one of these two places would you rather go eat? And they said, ‘Well, I don’t know what this means.’ I said, ‘That’s not the point. You have to choose which one of these places you would prefer to go eat, just looking at the name.’
“And they all, hands down, chose Desierto Rojo. Not a single vote for my Red Desert.”
Jeff and Marlen Orehek stand outside their new restaurant, Desierto Rojo, 233 E. Aspen Ave. in Fruita, where they will serve authentic Mexican cuisine, primarily tacos, and craft beers. Jeff emphasized the restaurant is family-owned and operated, and their family’s roots are firmly planted in Fruita. Photo by Tim Harty.
Grand Valley Power buys hydropower from Redlands Water & Power
Grand Valley Power, Colorado’s oldest rural electric cooperative, announced it will purchase 1.4 megawatts of electricity from the nonprofit Redlands Water and Power Company over the next three years. Generated by a Redlands Water and Power hydropower plant, the renewable energy is enough to power about 420 homes.
“This agreement underscores our commitment to driving a sustainable future and increasing our system’s resiliency while meeting our members’ energy
needs with locally produced power,” said Tom Walch, Grand Valley Power’s chief executive officer.
The electricity is generated by the company’s small hydropower plant on Power Road in Grand Junction. The plant is a diversion facility that channels water from one of the company’s canals through a penstock to produce energy. The canal is fed upriver by the Gunnison at the Redlands Dam and eventually returns to the Colorado River.
Grand Valley Power will take delivery of all the available electricity produced by the Power Road hydropower plant.
“Having our power used locally strengthens our commitment to the community and our neighbors,” said Jon
Mauch, RWP board president. “Producing and using this clean, carbon-free energy in Mesa County is a huge win for RWP, GVP and the Grand Valley.”
The agreement furthers the power providers’ commitment to sustainability and investing in local clean energy production on the Western Slope. As of 2023, 55.4 percent of Grand Valley Power’s energy portfolio was sourced from renewable wind, solar, hydro and nuclear energy sources.
Beginning in 2028, the electric cooperative has procured a contract for the equivalent of 26 megawatts of clean power from a solar agri-voltaics facility under development in neighboring Delta County.
Hilltop honors Lostumbo with Volunteer of Excellence Award
Hilltop
Community Resources gave the Ken Kitzman Volunteer of Excellence
Award to Jane Lostumbo on April 22 during its annual volunteerappreciation event.
Hilltop hosts the event to express gratitude to the dedicated volunteers who generously share their time and talents to make a meaningful difference in the community.
“Volunteers are an integral part of Hilltop, and our mission, creating connections to build a community where everyone belongs, is strengthened by the 108 volunteers who dedicated more than 11,000 hours to our programs last year,” Hilltop CEO Mike Stahl said.
Lostumbo began volunteering with Hilltop in 2021, initially delivering meals to residents at The Cottages. She later took on roles as a Supporting Our Seniors (SOS) driver and a ride scheduler.
“Jane is exceptional at creating connections and building relationships with fellow volunteers, clients, and staff. The time and dedication she brings to the SOS program are truly priceless,” said Sandra Acevedo, Hilltop’s community-access manager.
Supporting Our Seniors (SOS) is a transportation program that provides free rides to homebound seniors aged 60 and over. SOS volunteers schedule and drive seniors to medical appointments, pharmacies, and grocery stores, helping them maintain their independence.
Volunteering at Hilltop is about more than logging hours; it’s about building meaningful relationships. Whether it’s providing companionship to individuals with brain injuries, connecting someone with resources to leave an unsafe situation or ensuring the needs of homebound seniors are met, Hilltop volunteers uplift the entire community.
“We know there are many volunteer opportunities in the Grand Valley, and we are so grateful for those who choose to support Hilltop,” said Mary Mlot, Hilltop’s volunteer manager.
Tom Walch
Jane Lostumbo
Connect
Continued from page 2
Shelby Burroughs Pryzgoda, director of TRiO Upward Bound at Colorado Mesa University, witnessed “an eagerness in the community, whether it’s with business professionals, folks in the nonprofit world, folks in the government realm that want to connect to really make Grand Junction the best place that it can be.”
She said that was “super inspiring,” and she met people who are excited to work with students.
“I have the privilege of working with young students in the high school level and helping them go to college,” Burroughs Pryzgoda said. “I met so many people that are interested in wanting to help our students and connect them with internships or teach them something that they’ve learned from their time in their career, and that’s really invaluable, because you can’t put a price tag on people’s experience.”
NETWEAVING, NOT NETWORKING
The early feedback in Grand Junction excites Chen Silverberg, who was thrilled to add, “I’ve had people say, ‘You know, it’s remarkable to me that I come to this thinking it’s a networking event, but I didn’t hand out my business card once.’”
That means they already realize there’s something more to Connect for Good.
Chen Silverberg said another luncheon attendee told her, “I see older people, I see younger people, I see liberals, I see conservatives, I see nonprofits, business, government, all in the same room and feeling good about it.”
And Chen Silverberg added, “You know what? That’s the essence. That’s what we’re creating here.”
Her term for what is transpiring is “netweaving,” and she explained it: “I feel like we’re not networking, because networking implies: What’s in it for me? Netweaving, it’s about: What’s in it for us? What can we do for each other?
“You know, we’re weaving people, connections, resources and lots of possibilities.”
Chen Silverberg said that’s what Connect for Good is striving for.
“My agenda is: I want a better
community,” she said. “I want us to be connected. I want us to have compassion.
I want us to be engaged with our community.
“Because, you know, I think that’s one of the one of the secrets to a happy, fulfilling life is when we are thinking bigger than ourselves, when we are giving back and contributing to something bigger. I believe we need that to really have a very holistic, meaningful, fulfilling life.”
MORE THAN JUST LUNCHEONS
The monthly luncheons are a good start, and Chen Silverberg wants to build on it with other events.
For starters, Connect for Good will will host “Board Connect,” a nonprofit board fair, on May 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Art Center of Western Colorado, 1803 N. Seventh St. Attendance is free to community members looking to learn more about board service and opportunities at 25 nonprofits that will be at the event.
Later in the year, likely November, Chen Silverberg envisions Connect for Good hosting an all-day conference.
“I’m looking at new programs all the time,” she said. “This conference (idea) came out of the last luncheon. Somebody said, ‘This is so great. I wish we didn’t have to end it.’ So that gave me the inspiration.”
The luncheons are 90 minutes, and “the energy is so good in the room,” Chen Silverberg said. “So, OK, we’ve got to extend this deliciousness, right? Let’s do an all-day thing where you have a chance to talk to more people, maybe have deeper conversations without rushing off, you know?”
She also wants to try something in Grand Junction that she wanted to do in other cities, but never did.
“I think I’m finally going to do it this time,” Chen Silverberg said. “I want to create some potluck dinners or some dinners and maybe happy hour.
“I’m just looking at creating more and more opportunities for people to connect because not everyone can get away during lunchtime. I realize that. So, depending on what people are looking for and if I can, I would love to help create more opportunities.”
Grace Logsdon, green shirt and black vest, registers for a recent Connect for Good luncheon. Behind her, left to right, are Porcia Chen Silverberg, Mary Bruno-Mlot and Steff Gwinn. Photo courtesy of Connect for Good.
Getting them in the door
Off-road outfitter Adrenaline Driven Adventure Co. finds more ways for you to find them
Tim Harty The Business Times
People can now pick up or drop off a U-Haul truck at Adrenaline Driven Adventure Company, 750 1/4 Horizon Drive in Grand Junction. That service was made available through an arrangement with U-Haul earlier this year.
Similarly, this year Adrenaline Driven Adventure owners Kelli and Lewis Baker added snowmobiles for rental and radio-control cars that can be rented, especially for events like kids parties.
But to be clear, those new offerings are ultimately meant to draw attention to a business that remains centered on adventure tours and rentals (predominantly side-by-sides and dirt bikes for off-road; Slingshots and wine carts for on-road).
“The reason why we did U-Haul,” Lewis Baker said, “is because it's easy to be able to draw in more people that already rent things, right? They already have that mindset that they rent things anyways.
“So, we rent things that are fun. They're not necessarily renting fun at the time (with a U-Haul truck), but we can at least get them in the door to be able to say, 'Hey, we're here.' And it might not have been somebody that necessarily was looking for off-roading, and they've never even done off-roading before, and now they're standing in an off-road shop.
“So, I thought it was a really good window to have an opportunity to be able to say, 'Hey, man, look how cool this is. Isn't this awesome?' If you have never done this before, maybe you don't like off-roading, but you could get in a Slingshot and go over the monument or go over the mesa and see the area, right? That's what we're all about here, man.”
Baker added there's no better place than Grand Junction to experience variety of terrain.
“We have the nation's biggest open play area in America with 550,000 acres right from our front door,” he said. “We have five different terrains all within 45 minutes of here. So, you can do so many different things and so many different obstacles, you know, from sand to actual adobe dirt to red clay to redrock rock crawling to that black, super-up-into-the-mountains dirt where you're up in the middle of the mountains in the middle of nowhere on top of the mesa or up on the Uncompahgre, where you're getting away from everyone.
Baker said that variety is what separates it from another nearby, outdoor mecca, Moab, UT.
“Moab, you get one terrain. You get red rock and sand, that's it,” he said. “When you come here, you can point your finger, spin a circle and ride anywhere you want to go. So, it really makes us different from everybody else.”
In addition to guiding tours and the rentals, Adrenaline Driven Adventures has a full-service shop.
“So, you can get your UTV, dirt bike or your Slingshot, all serviced here,” Baker said. “We specialize in tires, accessories, bolt-on parts, light bars, S&B particle separators, oil changes, air filters. Like I said, full service.”
ABOVE: Lewis Baker, co-owner of Adrenaline Driven Adventure Company, stands next to a 2025 Polaris RZR XP1000 side-by-side, which is one of the off-road vehicles the business rents out.
LOWER LEFT: Baker sits in an Evolution LSV six-seat golf cart, which he calls a “bougie” wine cart, frequently used for guided Palisade wine tours. Baker said one of the things Adrenaline Driven Adventure Company wants to do is create an off-roading community like it was in the 1990s. “The ‘90s were way cool for off-roading,” he said. Photos by Tim Harty.
PART OF THE ADVENTURE IS FINDING THEM
Adrenaline Driven Adventure Company is located at 750 1/4 Horizon Drive, which sounds easy enough to find, but it’s a little tricky.
It helps to know the store sits deeper on its lot, so it’s not right by the road. If you’re going toward Grand Junction Regional Airport, it’s the first business on the right when you pass the Interstate 70 overpass. If you reach the Wendy’s restaurant, 750 1/2 Horizon Drive, you just missed them.
To find out more about Adrenaline Driven Adventures, including its rates for tours and rentals, visit its website, www.adacgj.com.
YOU’LL PUT THIS ON THE CHRISTMAS CARD
What’s the most common thing people come to Adrenaline Driven Adventures for?
Without hesitation co-owner Lewis Baker said, “UTV tours, for sure. Our four-hour tour is our number one seller.
“It’s people who want to go out and see the desert, or they’re just stopping here, and they saw the UTVs, and they’ve never even been to our desert before. So, we can literally take them out there for a four-hour trip and just blow their mind, man. … Like, when you’re going out and trying to get that awesome family photo, we literally make Christmas cards daily here.”
Baker said people are blown away when
Adrenaline Driven Adventure Company takes them to the top of the Bookcliffs to overlook the city on a six-hour tour.
“It’s just amazing, dude. You can’t beat it,” he said. “So, it’s that different thing from everyone else. … We call it a rollercoaster without the rails.
“That’s why we named this company Adrenaline Driven Adventures, because of that aspect of the desert is literally a rollercoaster without the rails. I’ve linked together mountains where they flow so nicely, and you can just go out and stay the trail and be able to have an amazing day out there.”
PROVEN THEMSELVES TO POLARIS
Polaris Inc., the maker of off-road vehicles, also made a company called Polaris Adventures, and Adrenaline Driven Adventures, now in it’s seventh year, has steadily climbed in stature with the off-road giant.
“We started as regular Polaris Adventures, and we went to Polaris Adventures Gold, and then we were Polaris Adventures Premium, and now we’re Polaris Adventures Elite, because we’ve been with the company since they started,” Baker said.
And for customers that means?
“We actually get some better pricing and things like that,” he said.
MORE ABOUT ADRENALINE DRIVEN ADVENTURE CO.
GJ Growth
Continued from page 4
“It is unique to have a university like CMU with both a traditional path to a degree and other paths for certification,” she said. “What you’ve created here is a path for both blue- and white-collar jobs, with a community of businesses able to bring them in, train them and be part of their education process so that it’s applicable.”
To ensure students stay in the community, Champagne emphasized collaboration between educators and businesses.
“Key HR directors of both private and public sectors should meet consistently to align on what companies need,” she said, stressing this helps tailor training programs to local job opportunities, reducing the need for graduates to leave.
Lloyd reinforced the need for this partnership, saying, “You need clear alignment between the education system and businesses. Ensuring that alignment is critically important to your economic future.”
He said the community’s resilience further bolsters its appeal.
“There is a great deal of pride in this community. Everyone here wants to see it move forward and is invested with their time and treasure,” Lloyd said. “This community has been wiped out, either economically or physically, multiple times and re-established itself. That says a lot about the ethos and determination of the people here.”
Opportunities for Innovation
The panel urged Grand Junction to think creatively about attracting investment and fostering entrepreneurship. Jermance recommended developing earlystage coworking spaces for businesses that are past the startup phase but not yet largescale operations. She also highlighted sectors like ag tech, gaming and AIenhanced entertainment as potential targets, alongside the region’s logistical advantages.
“Grand Junction’s location being an equal distance between Salt Lake and Denver supports logistics, as evidenced by the Amazon logistical center,” Jermance said, underscoring its strength as a distribution hub.
The region’s tourism is another asset.
“The success of your outdoor amphitheater, selling out over 5,000 seats for big-name shows, is impressive and indicative of great demand in this area,” Jermance said, highlighting the region’s opportunity to be a destination for tourists with the increased influence of artificial intelligence on the culture.
She said immersive, in-person experiences, such as outdoor recreation and cultural attractions, offer unique value that AI cannot replicate.
Jermance noted the area could seek investment from foreign companies with similar landscapes and lifestyles, particularly from Western Europe, where “this has very French, German vibes.”
Other examples from across the country offered inspiration: A community in South Carolina repurposed a large warehouse, with Pappas noting, “Every company that commits to our community and signs a lease can use any part of this building for free. If you need a warehouse, you have a warehouse.”
Another in Kentucky used a $2 million to $3 million incentive fund, partly funded by local hospitals, to attract businesses that offered robust medical benefits as a requirement to use the space.
“They are mandated to provide a certain percentage of coverage for employee benefits,” Pappas said.
Champagne emphasized the importance of supporting companies already rooted in the Grand Junction region, particularly those that naturally align with its character and strengths.
“Foster smaller local companies that already identify with your region,” she advised.
Rather than focusing solely on attracting outside firms, she encouraged local leaders to invest in homegrown businesses that understand and reflect the area’s values and workforce. By doing so, the community can build sustainable growth from within and retain talent that’s already committed to the region.
Ensuring infrastructure readiness and streamlining processes are critical to attracting businesses.
“If a site does not have the infrastructure in place, companies are not patient. They want a site today, and if we don’t have it here locally, they will increase their search radius,” Jermance said, urging Grand Junction to prioritize ready sites to stay competitive.
She added that recent leadership changes offer an opportunity, saying, “A new city council gives you a chance to streamline processes in the planning and building department, which is critical for speed to market.”
“Growth and prosperity don’t just happen,” Lloyd said. “They require strategy, speed and a willingness to tell your story before someone else tells it for you.”
Western Colorado Economic Summit site selection pannelists.
March residential real estate numbers tick up year over year
March’s 237 residential real estate sales in Mesa County were up 12 percent over March 2024, while active listings were 36 percent higher year over year for March with 556, according to data gathered by Bray & Co. Real Estate.
March’s median price of $400,000 was up 4 percent year over year, while the average of 57 days on the market was the same as the average in March 2024.
Sellers also received an average of 98.6 percent of the list price, compared to 98.1 percent the previous March.
Year-to-date figures through March reflect growth over 2024 numbers. So far in 2025, units sold have increased by 17 percent, rising from 507 to 593, while total sales volume has increased 28.7 percent, with a total of $266.7 million compared to $207.2 million in 2024.
The most popular price range for residential sales changed from February and now is between $400,000 and $499,000 with 133 sales year to date, followed by 125 sales in the $500,000–$749,000 range, 107 sales in the $300,000–$399,000 range.
The most popular area to buy also changed from February and is now North Grand Junction with 83 sales, followed by Southeast Grand Junction at 80, Grand Junction City at 78 and Northeast Grand Junction at 77. Fruita has 55 sales so far in 2025, while Clifton has 54, and Orchard Mesa and Redlands each have 50.
Year-to-date single-family building permits, including townhome permits, are up 14 percent year-over-year at 154, compared with 135 a year ago.
Months of inventory currently sit at 2.3 months, down from 3 months in February.
Honeybee Festival new venue next year
The Palisade International Honeybee Festival will move to a new venue at Cross Orchards Historic Site next April 11.
Cross Orchards, part of the Museums of Western Colorado, provides a living demonstration of historic farming operations at its 3073 F Road (Patterson) location.
Board President Michelle Gossage said it was a unanimous decision of the Palisade International Honeybee Festival board to move to Cross Orchards, because the festival has outgrown its original venue of downtown Palisade.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to the Town of Palisade, which has supported the festival since our beginning. We could not have enjoyed the success we have experienced without the support of the town and the good people of Palisade,” Gossage said.
Gossage said the new venue will provide more space for vendors, more parking, more activity features, an easy access location and many more helping hands. The festival will continue to have free admission.
“We are absolutely thrilled to join forces with Cross Orchards to reach a broader audience about the urgency of enlisting the public in protecting honeybees and other pollinators. Unfortunately, colony decline continues as recent catastrophic setbacks make immediate action even more critical,” Gossage said. “Together we can better influence individual cooperation to protect our local agricultural economy.”
Mollie Shepardson, director of development and communications for the Museums of Western Colorado, said the partnership aligns with Cross Orchards’ dedication to preserving and sharing the region’s agricultural heritage.
“Cross Orchards Historic Site, with its authentic early 20th-century apple orchard setting, provides a unique and engaging backdrop for demonstrating the vital role honeybees play in our ecosystem and the history of orchard cultivation,” Shepardson said. “We anticipate that visitors will find the experience both educational and deeply enjoyable, connecting with the rich story of our site in a truly special way.”
One focus will be to inform individuals about what they can do to help.
“We can plant more bee-friendly flowers and shrubs in our gardens,” Gossage said. “We can stop using insecticides that kill off our pollinators. We can lobby for regulations on these products, especially the tobacco-based ones. We can become beekeepers.”
Gossage said the festival and Cross Orchards are “keeping our eyes on the prize” of reversing pollinator loss.
For more information about the Palisade International Honeybee Festival, visit palisadehoneybeefest.org, contact Gossage at magossage@gmail.com or (970) 433-0647, or Shepardson at info@mowc.co or (970) 242-0971.
The Palisade International Honeybee Festival is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2008 by a group of Palisade business owners of The Blue Pig Gallery, Colorado Wine Country Inn, Grande River Vineyards, Meadery of the Rockies and Z’s Orchard. The event was the vision of former resident and beekeeper Tina Darrah and Marla Wood, original owner of The Blue Pig Gallery. F
Monument Trail event marks completion
Colorado West Land Trust and the City of Grand Junction will host a chainbreaking ceremony May 2 at 4 p.m. at the Lunch Loops Trailhead to celebrate the completion of the final phase of the Monument Trail.
The event will feature food trucks and a group ride to commemorate the longawaited connection between the Colorado Riverfront and the red rock landscapes at the base of the Colorado National Monument.
The three-mile paved trail provides outdoor recreation infrastructure that supports the local economy, promotes healthier lifestyles, and helps preserve the natural beauty of the region.
“As a cyclist myself, I understand the value of safe, accessible spaces for people to walk, bike and move through our city in ways that support both health and sustainability,” Grand Junction Mayor Abe Herman said. “This trail is more than a path; it’s a connection point, linking neighborhoods, promoting active transportation and enhancing quality of life. It’s also part of a broader commitment to building a community that supports a variety of travel choices for all residents.”
Once only accessible via single-track dirt trails, the Lunch Loop/Tabeguache area can now be explored by walkers, runners, bikers, kids on scooters, families with strollers and individuals of all ages and abilities. The trail winds through native vegetation, offering views of the Colorado National Monument, Grand Mesa and Bookcliffs, and it provides a safe, scenic way to experience nature up close.
The trail is now part of a multimodal transportation network in which commuters can ride from home to work, students can safely travel to school, and mountain bikers can reach Lunch Loop without ever getting in a car.
The Monument Trail forms the backbone of the Redlands Loop, a 10-mile
route that connects desert, riparian and lake ecosystems in one breathtaking ride through Lunch Loop, Connected Lakes, the Audubon Preserve, the Riverfront and nearby neighborhoods.
“The Monument Trail represents what we can achieve when we work together to balance recreation with conservation,” said Rob Bleiberg, executive director of Colorado West Land Trust. “It’s a legacy project that protects the land we love while making it more accessible to the community.”
The Monument Trail is the result of years of collaboration among Colorado West Land Trust, the City of Grand Junction, Mesa County, the Regional Transportation Planning Office and the Bureau of Land Management. Since 2012, Colorado West Land Trust has partnered with the city on nine land transactions, conserving 213 acres of public open space and raising more than $5 million to support land acquisition and trail development.
A $1.5M Great Outdoors Colorado grant provided the majority funding of the first part of the Monument Connect trail from downtown Grand Junction to the Lunch Loop trailhead that opened in 2019. This second and final part of the Monument Trail completes the trail from the Lunch Loop trailhead to Jurassic Flats trailhead at the footsteps of the Colorado National Monument. A $500,000 GOCO grant was provided for this final segment.
Additional partners include the Monument Stewards, Grand Valley Audubon, One Riverfront, The Cycle Effect, Riverside Educational Center, Eureka!, COPMOBA, Grand Valley Outdoor Recreation Coalition and the Mesa County Trails and Restoration Crew, all of which work together to promote recreation in balance with stewardship.
To learn more about the Monument Trail, visit cowestlandtrust.org/monumenttrail.
Shake-up at the National Labor Relations Board
As expected, the new administration is making big changes at the National Labor Relations Board. These changes will affect most private-sector employers.
Dean Harris
The NLRB enforces the National Labor Relations Act. The NLRA gives employees the right to organize, form or join labor unions, and collectively bargain with their employers. The NLRA also prohibits unfair labor practices by employers and unions.
But some employers do not realize that the NLRA applies to both union and non-union employers. The NLRA protects the right of all private-sector employees to engage in “concerted activity” to address their pay and working conditions. Concerted activity includes actions taken by two or more employees working together to improve their wages, hours or working conditions.
So, for example, concerted activity could include actions such as discussing pay raises with coworkers or a group meeting between employees and their manager to address safety issues or scheduling. The NLRB acts against employers who terminate or retaliate against employees who engage in protected activities.
So, what changes currently impact employers?
First, the composition of the NLRB is in turmoil. On Jan. 27, President Trump, as expected, fired the NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo. The general counsel acts as the NLRB’s chief prosecutor and oversees the NLRB Division of Advice, thus significantly shaping federal labor policy. The general counsel operates independently of the board, so their prosecutorial and policy decisions are not subject to board approval. The President holds the authority to appoint or remove the general counsel. President Biden similarly removed General Counsel Peter Robb shortly after taking office in January 2021.
But for the first time in history, the president removed a sitting board member, too. President Trump removed Gwynne Wilcox, whose term was not set to expire until August 2028. This move temporarily brought board activity to a screeching halt, because it left the board with only two sitting members. The NLRB is composed of five members and needs a quorum of at least three members to decide labor cases.
GC 25-05, rescinding 18 previous general counsel memos and rescinding several more pending further review. This rolls back General Counsel Abruzzo’s agenda, much of which was highly unfavorable for employers, and sets the stage for the current administration to reshape the federal labor agenda.
Memorandums that Cowen rescinded include those:
1. Holding that proffering or enforcing noncompete agreements in employment contracts or severance agreements violates the NLRA.
2. Holding that many college athletes are employees under the NLRA;
3. Providing guidance on the NLRB’s 2023 decision adopting a union recognition standard that was more favorable to unions.
4. Allowing mail-in-ballot union elections, which were authorized during the COVID-19 federal public health emergency.
The General Counsel also rescinded Memorandums GC 23-05 and 23-08, which clarified the board’s February 2023 McLaren Macomb decision. McLaren Macomb held that severance agreement provisions, including confidentiality, nondisclosure and nondisparagement clauses, could violate the NLRA if proffered, maintained or enforced, even if the agreement was signed before the date of the decision.
Federal labor policy and law constantly change from one administration to another, creating uncertainty and confusion for employers. The Employers Council makes available to its members resources on the NLRA and union questions.
But the NLRA provides that the president has the power to remove board members only “upon notice and hearing, for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office, but for no other cause.” Wilcox challenged her removal. A federal district court initially sided with Wilcox and ordered her immediate reinstatement. But the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted the Trump administration an injunction staying her reinstatement.
Again, the board ceased work. But on April 7, the full DC Circuit Court held that Congress may limit the president’s removal authority and ordered Wilcox’s reinstatement. So, for now, the NLRB is back in business.
But this saga is far from over. The DC Circuit only decided that the stay was not appropriate. The Circuit Court has not yet decided the case on the merits, which it probably will not do for another month or two. And whoever loses this decision will very likely appeal this case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, on Feb. 3, President Trump appointed William B. Cowen acting general counsel for the NLRB. And on Feb. 14, Cowen issued General Counsel Memorandum
GC 23-05 outlined the kinds of severance agreement provisions that violated the NLRA. Cowen’s GC 25-05 removes the presumption that noncompete agreements violate the NLRA.
Memorandum GC 25-05 also rescinds GC 21-04, which required the NLRB’s regional offices to submit certain cases to the Division of Advice, which as mentioned above, General Counsel Abruzzo oversaw. GC 21-04 was widely viewed as the general counsel’s attempt to uniformly overturn legal decisions favoring employers. What does the future hold? Certainly, the new Board will issue decisions overturning decisions such as McLaren Macomb, summarized above, and other decisions seen as unfavorable to employer interests. And the Senate has yet to approve President Trump’s nominee for general counsel, management and employer side attorney Crystal Carey. If confirmed by the Senate, Carey will replace Acting General Counsel Cowen. Carey worked at the NLRB for eight years, first as an attorney under the general counsel and then as the board’s senior counsel during both the Obama and first Trump administrations. She has vocally criticized Biden administration board decisions limiting employer rights under the NLRA.
Federal labor policy and law constantly change from one administration to another, creating uncertainty and confusion for employers. The Employers Council makes available to its members resources on the NLRA and union questions.
And Employers Council consulting and enterprise-level members may speak directly with our employment attorneys at any time for advice on properly applying the NLRA’s employee protections.
And the Employers Council’s labor attorneys are available to assist and represent members on organized labor matters, including union avoidance, union organization, collective bargaining and unfair labor practices. F
Dean Harris is Western Slope area managing attorney for the Employers Council. The Employers Council counsels, represents and trains member employers in all phases of employment relationships. Contact Harris at dharris@employerscouncil.org or (970) 852-0190.
Paying for humans? No possible way this turns out good because
it never
Especially when you consider the idea is coming from government
has.
And yes, to the partisan zealots in the Mesa County, Colorado and national Republican Party, even when it comes from your lord and savior, President Donald Trump. I expected the left to go nuts over the president’s idiotic idea of paying $5,000 to “humans who can get pregnant” for letting one of those little swimmers penetrate their precious eggs.
To all those worshipping at the altar of Trump can do no wrong, here’s something you thought you’d never read in my column: Whoopi Goldberg is right. Because five grand isn’t (insert your word for excrement here) when it comes to having kids. And it should always be questioned when that money comes directly from government. Because even while the government loves giving away free money, we would all do well to remember this: Nothing from the government comes with freedom as a result.
There’s a reason the left gushes over The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s mostly because they aren’t in charge of it while putting the blame on the right. Same for Whoopi’s take on knocking up now-favored eggs donors, democrats are lamenting they didn’t come up with the idea (although one could argue the Child Tax Credit was the junior version) first and so openly. But what Whoopi is really arguing about is the money isn’t enough, not on the premise of the idea.
And no one argues to spend more on a bad idea with horrible results more than democrats.
First off, the child tax credit – like the marriage credit, mortgage tax credit, standard income deduction, electric car subsidy, student loan interest deduction, loopholes for the rich and anything else you can claim to lower your “income” on the slave contract known as IRS Form 1040 (or any version) – is proof of one thing and one thing only: The American people are overtaxed, and the federal government uses the tax code to force behavior.
It’s literally as simple as that. So, for part two, when this idiocy passes into law – and believe me, democrats will vote for it knowing at some point they can control it, even if it comes from Trump – it will be codified into the tax code either by creating it as a tax credit or in taxing the money the “participants” receive. Because that’s what’s going to happen with it as the amount increases year over year. Anything the government does that comes with a budget while making whatever behavior they are forcing, mandating or telling you is “for the greater good” always becomes more expensive.
Think of student loans. Were they a good idea? It could be argued way back when, when college was a few grand a year at the most. But where are we now? The country is stuck with over $1.5 TRILLION in student loan debt while giving away degrees in studies that can only appease skulls full of mush who wonder why they can’t get a job or have any life skills upon graduation.
How did this happen? Have you ever investigated a government program and its intentions and results? My goodness, criminals who run confidence schemes wish they had come up with a scam like the Federal Student Loan Program.
Think about it. Tell the people they must be college educated to obtain the American dream. Give them money to borrow at a reasonable rate they can pay back, because they’ll be making more in salaries and wages due to their college degrees. Make sure the banks deny no one approval for the loans, because they are secured on the backs of taxpayers – so everyone gets a loan who would never normally qualify. No bank gives 50 grand to an 18-year-old with no job.
Then, basically everyone believes they have the right to go to college, driving up the cost of college. So, the loans get larger, and then college gets more expensive, and then the loans get larger, and college gets even more expensive. There’s no denying this is exactly what happened. And today, we are learning what happens when the government, as intended, forces the taxpayers to foot the bill for all the money which has been “lent.”
So yes, President Biden and the democrats were just doing the next step in the very predictable result of the student loan program: The taxpayers foot the bill. Although I don’t think anyone could have come up with the ridiculous, worthless degrees they produced.
The government has always known it was a giveaway, Ponzi scheme, destined to default. It’s the same with every government program ever thought up “for the common good.” It all ends up on your doorstep on April 15th, even though what you now pay doesn’t come close to covering the tab.
Just imagine how it’s going to turn out when the government starts subsidizing childbirth on a mass level. Heck, I didn’t even get into the reparations that will be demanded by parents of previous generations.
Call it “The handmaid and handyman’s nightmare.” Or slavery. Or indentured servitude as the more polite way to say it. The government owns your life, and with this, your offspring’s. When it comes to the government, the citizens always pay. And the government only accepts cash or blood. The problem is: It’s always yours.
In Christ and Freedom.
F
Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com
Tariffs: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Tariffs are the subject of discussion in 2025. Tariffs are not new, but are they good or are they bad?
A tariff is defined as a tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports. Tariffs are a tool to regulate foreign trade and protect domestic industries. Countries throughout the world use tariffs; however, only recently have tariffs become regular topics of conversation.
According to “Understanding Tariffs: What They Are and How They Work” on Better American Media on Feb. 7, governments impose tariffs to:
• Protect local businesses by making imports costlier to encourage domestic sales.
• Raise revenue as tariffs contribute to government funds.
• Negotiate trade deals, using tariffs as a bargaining tool.
• Retaliate to counter unfair trade practices.
The history of tariffs dates back to British trade policy toward the American colonies. Britain wanted to gain funds from all colonial trade. According to historian and policy advisor Bruce Barlett, writing on July 1, 1998, “The Truth About Trade in History,” Britain passed the Navigation Acts to regulate trade and to build wealth. These policies were a burden on the colonies and eventually led to the American Revolution.
Soon after the colonies won freedom, Alexander Hamilton began to advocate for import restrictions, the same protectionist policies America had rebelled against. Hamilton’s position was based on his perceived need to protect infant industries. Congress did adopt its first tariff in 1789, for the purpose of raising revenue. Mr. Barlett’s research showed tariffs continued to be adopted, lowered and then expanded until 1857 when the tariffs’ rates became more stable.
In the March 4 Epoch Times, Bruce Pardy wrote “In Some Scenarios, Tariffs Actually Make Sense.” He acknowledged tariffs are taxes, and taxes are bad. He continued to point out the negative aspects of enacting tariffs. Tariffs tax your own people when they buy foreign goods. Tariffs raise prices and increase inflation. They impede transactions that benefit both sides. Countries are better off without trade impediments. Ideally there would be zero tariffs.
“Circumstances are rarely ideal. If you value free trade and economic competition, sometimes tariffs are the best choice,” said Pardy, a law professor at Queen’s University. The Trump administration is promising to level the trade playing field by charging a reciprocal tariff on any country placing a tariff on the United States. If a country complains the tariff is too high, the country can mitigate the situation by reducing or eliminating the tariffs on the U.S. In a free-trade market, the rules need to be the same for everyone. Tariffs can be a bargaining tool.
A top priority for the Trump administration is to stop the importation of the deadly drug fentanyl across the southern border with Mexico and the northern border with Canada. The tariffs are used to retaliate for this scourge on the American populace. The tariff will be used as leverage to secure help from these two countries in stopping the inflow of fentanyl being smuggled across their borders. President Trump, in his speech to a joint session of Congress on March 4, emphasized the tariffs are meant to force Mexico and Canada to step up and stop the flow of fentanyl. When these goals are met, the tariffs will be reduced or removed.
“There are no winners in a trade war, and new tariffs are bad news for all of us trying to make ends meet,” home economist Catriona Redmond wrote in the article “What are Tariffs and How Do They Affect My Pocket?” appearing in the Feb. 18 Irish Examiner. Having said that, she went on to write that sometimes it is necessary as a way to encourage fair-trade practices or as a retaliation tool in a trade dispute. Tariffs are used as leverage for policy changes with other countries.
Government solutions rarely solve any problem without unintended consequences. Enacting tariffs is no different. Any new tax will affect citizens’ pocketbooks. Unfair trade practices also negatively affect the economy. There is no panacea. There are risks attached to the decision: to tariff or not to tariff.
Tariffs shape global trade, impact businesses and increase costs to consumers. Tariffs can generate revenue, protect industries and coerce actions from other countries. If the tariffs work to stop the flow of fentanyl and global trading becomes fair, Americans will be the winners.
F
Phyllis Hunsinger is founder of the Freedom & Responsibility Education Enterprise Foundation in Grand Junction. A former teacher, principal and superintendent, Hunsinger wrote “Down and Dirty: A ‘How To’ Math Book.” Reach Hunsinger by email at phyllis@free-dom.us.com. For more information about the FREE Foundation, log on to www.free-dom.us.com.
Phyllis Hunsinger
Craig Hall
n GDWC NAMES ELSBERRY FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
DWC CPAs and Advisors promoted Amber Elsberry to financial controller.
Elsberry has more than 20 years of experience in public accounting. Since joining DWC in 2011, she has been a senior financial accountant, then was promoted to assistant controller and supervisor in 2018. As controller, she leads a team of finance professionals who ensure the firm’s day-to-day operations run smoothly, efficiently and with a strong emphasis on accuracy and integrity.
Elsberry is a certified public accountant and chartered global management accountant. She is a member of the Colorado Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs and earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and public accounting from Colorado Mesa University
n REALTY ONE GROUP ADDS 2 NEW REAL ESTATE AGENTS
Realty ONE Group Western Slope announced the hiring of real estate professionals Danette Davidson and Cassidy Crowell. Davidson brings more than 24 years of real estate experience to the team. She twice served as president of the Glenwood Board of Realtors.
“I truly love what I do,” Davidson said.
“Helping people find their place to call home is incredibly rewarding, and I’m thrilled to be part of a team that shares my commitment to service and community.”
Crowell, a Colorado Mesa University alum, joins Realty ONE Group Western Slope as a Grand Valley market specialist with a background in business and emerging markets.
“My passion for real estate is matched only by my desire to help people build wealth and security through smart property decisions,” Crowell said. “Joining Realty ONE Group Western Slope feels like the perfect next step in my journey.”
n CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION HOSTS BIKE MONTH EVENTS
May is Bike Month, and the City of Grand Junction will assist with various events, programs and educational resources aimed at promoting bicycle safety.
Upcoming city-hosted Bike Month events include: Monument Trail ribbon cutting on May 2, 4 p.m., at the Lunch Loops Trail Head; bicycle and pedestrian counts on May 3, 6 and 8 (volunteers can register online); and Bike to Work Day on May 16, 7-9 a.m., at City Hall.
The city also encourages the community to take advantage of free educational resources available online, such as: tips for safe riding; how to commute by bike; how to share the road with a bicyclist; and where to find local bike routes.
For information about other Bike Month events, visit gjcity.org.
n CHRISTI REECE GROUP DONATES $21K TO NONPROFITS
Real estate company The Christi Reece Group announced its Circle Fund donated $10,000 to Hilltop Community Resources, $4,000 to Colorado Mesa University’s Cultural Inclusion Council, $4,000 to Grand Valley Horse Rescue, and $3,000 to the Colorado West Performing Arts Company.
The Circle Fund is the charitable giving arm of The Christi Reece Group. Every quarter, 2 percent of its earnings are donated to local nonprofits. Nominations for the nonprofits are provided by the community via The Christi Reece Group’s Facebook and Instagram pages, then its real estate clients vote from those nominations to choose the quarterly recipients of The Circle Fund.
Since its inception in 2019, The Circle Fund has contributed $442,000 to local nonprofits.
“From smaller groups like the student-led Cultural Inclusion Council to more established organizations like Hilltop, we love connecting to our community through our Circle Fund,” team leader Christi Reece said.
To learn more about The Circle Fund and the past recipients, visit www.christireece. com/thecirclefund.
n RIVER PARK AT LAS COLONIAS OK FOR INNER TUBES
The River Park at Las Colonias has a yellow flag posted to indicate the park is accessible for inner tube use with caution.
To promote public safety, all visitors are asked to follow the River Park rules, pay attention to the flag-warning system and wear life jackets.
The flags used to notify the public about hazard levels are located near the east and west ends of the River Park. A yellow flag signifies a medium hazard warning. and while inner tubes are acceptable, visitors should still exercise caution using the park. A red flag indicates a high hazard warning and only experienced river users should use the park with strong caution.
Life jackets are strongly recommended for all visitors of the River Park. Life jackets, through the Save-A-Life Life Jacket Program, are available free of charge at each kiosk on the east and west ends of the park. No lifeguards are on duty at the River Park and guardians are responsible for all youth. City River District hosts are present at busier times to provide educational materials and to help visitors have a positive experience.
The River Park at Las Colonias includes a lengthy and accessible water channel, a standing wave water feature, a beach and wading areas. These amenities are accessible to a wide range of ages, ability, and experience levels. There is also a boat ramp on the east side of Las Colonias Park for boats to enter and exit the Colorado River
Each summer when river flows drop below 810 cubic feet per second (CSF), the channel of the River Park is cut off with the placement of sandbags. This typically happens about mid-summer. While the River Park remains open, due to the lower water levels, the experience is different for users of the park. The water flow in the channel is closed to protect the habitat for the four endangered fish species in the Colorado River. The River Park channel was developed as an ecological enhancement to create additional aquatic and riparian areas and recreation was a secondary factor. Learn more about the River Park.
