FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 15, 2017 | Grand Junction, CO) – The Grand Junction Economic Partnership is pleased to present its latest video endeavor, “Grand (Silicon) Valley”, which highlights opportunities in Colorado’s Grand Valley for businesses and entrepreneurs in the technology realm.
The video, sponsored by Colorado PERA and produced by Lightbulb Media in Grand Junction, Colo., kicks off with an introduction to Robert and Stephen Madsen, the father-son team behind local video game production company SynaptixGames. Their soon-to-be-released Virtual Reality game was projected against the landscape near the Lunch Loop Trails in Grand Junction, showing a literal integration between the local tech community and the environment in which they live, work and play.
“We wanted a video that would capture the unique lifestyle and work environment that is available to entrepreneurs in the Grand Valley,” said Cilia Kohn, GJEP Marketing Director. “You don’t need to be in a big city to be a successful tech business. Often you just need access to like-minded talent, funding and a wireless connection. The Grand Valley offers all that in a beautiful, outdoor setting unlike any other.”
The video also features Erica Witherspoon, Founder and CEO of Omnifica Consulting, who relocated to the Grand Valley from Silicon Valley (with previous roles at Amazon, Microsoft and Nintendo) based on the lifestyle and outdoor recreation offered in the region. Other participants include Colorado Mesa University; Josh Hudnall, co-founder of the Western Colorado tech community organization, LAUNCHWestCO, and Grand Junction’s first coworking space, Factory; Jon Maraschin with The Business Incubator Center; and Page Tucker, CEO and Founder of ProStar Geocorp, and recent awardee of the Colorado Technology Association’s Entrepreneur Excellence Award.
In addition to capturing the quality of life in Colorado’s Grand Valley, the video shares more information about the Rural Jump-Start Tax Credit program, a veritable tax holiday for new business in the advanced technology field. Jump-Start started in the Grand Valley in January 2016 and has since supported eight companies start up or expand in the region, including ProStar Geocorp.
“As an innovative organization, PERA is always looking for ways to partner with organizations helping to spur new ideas and activities—especially in rural Colorado, where PERA’s economic impact is especially strong. We’re excited to join with PERA employers like CMU and OEDIT to help promote JumpStart Mesa County,” said Tara May, Chief Communications Officer for Colorado PERA.
The “Grand (Silicon) Valley” video launched at the Western Colorado Economic Summit on June 6. It is now available on www.gjep.org, www.jumpstartmesaco.com and circulating on social media.
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