By Curtis Englehart, CEcD, Executive Director  for Grand Junction Economic Partnership (Originally published in the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel – February 2026 ) 

Economic development requires us to spend time thinking about the past, present, and future. Data and regional indicators often lag, latest news and press releases highlight what’s happening now, and proactive business recruitment and expansion strategies require a long-term vision paired with alignment and execution.

Five years ago, the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP), asked the question, “What do you see for the future of our community?” to a room of 500 business leaders, residents, civic leaders, and innovators during the annual Western Colorado Economic Summit. Our community wanted to be known as safe and forward-thinking with a strong education system and talent pipelines, access to recreational amenities, and a strong business climate. If you pose that question today, many of the same themes emerge with the addition of housing affordability, sustainability, and access to opportunity.

Collectively, we envision a region with a strong and confident identity where families and workforce want to live because of quality amenities, safety, education, and can afford to do so through access to attainable housing and meaningful employment.

Turning Vision into Measurable Impact

Every January, our team reflects on the previous year to set actionable goals using the 4 Disciplines of Execution framework. This year, we focused on how the organization has evolved, its long-term economic impact, and how we can continue to encourage industry diversification, job creation, and capital investment. We set specific goals and drill down into the “how”, holding each other accountable through weekly report-outs and establishing clear deadlines for accomplishing these goals.

Year over year, our primary goal remains the same: To increase economic impact. Each year, we track this progress and share GJEP’s ROI on economic development efforts supported by our community’s investment within our annual report. The data tells an encouraging story, reflecting an economy that has trended upward over the past several years with continued job creation, rising average wages, and new investment.

Investing in a Strong Business Ecosystem

This progress reflects a broader shift in the region’s economic identity. While energy development and rural geography remain important characteristics of our community, they no longer define the full picture. Today’s focus is on diversification, supporting existing employers, recruiting across industries, and leveraging assets like outdoor amenities, quality healthcare, a rapidly growing university, a thriving regional airport, and a business-friendly community.

Mesa County’s next chapter is one grounded in resilience with a future forward outlook that respects the character and history that make this region unique. From an economic development lens, that vision means ensuring that businesses have access to the resources they need to grow and invest here so that employees and residents can enjoy a stable, and vibrant quality of life.

GJEP’s role is to help our region define where it wants to go economically and then work alongside our partners to turn that vision into measurable progress. To grow, businesses need three things: talent, capital, and infrastructure. This requires a pipeline supported by quality education, competitive access to state and federal funding as well as private equity, and a commercial real estate market that keeps pace with demand and features predictable, streamlined planning processes.

Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty

At times, 2025 felt like a pause. Uncertainty lengthened project timelines; some awarded incentives were delayed as companies reassessed expansion plans, and decision making slowed across multiple sectors. Despite these headwinds, Mesa County maintained momentum through proactive strategies, consistent business engagement, a strong prospect pipeline, and continued investment that signals long-term confidence in the region.

Our resilience wasn’t just about weathering challenges, but proactively moving through them. Where we want to go is clear: A balanced, opportunity-rich regional economy. How we get there matters just as much, through proactive economic development efforts, targeted marketing and communications, and strong relationships with businesses, investors, community, and public partners.

Shaping Our Future, Together

Thoughtful economic development respects existing residents, honors community character, and emphasizes civic responsibility. Progress does not have to come at the expense of identity.

This work must be intentional. GJEP exists to create quality jobs and expand capital investment and economic diversification so residents can experience an improved quality of life. That mission extends well beyond our organization, relying on collaboration with economic development partners, local businesses, municipalities, education partners, and civic leaders who are all working toward shared outcomes.

The community is already demonstrating what is possible. As investments in amenities, education, and infrastructure continue to strengthen the quality of life, the region is experiencing positive net migration, with more people choosing to build their lives and careers here. This momentum is reinforcing a regional identity that supports business growth, workforce attraction, and long-term economic competitiveness. The perception of Grand Junction as solely a retiree community is shifting. In its place, there is a more dynamic reality shaped by students, entrepreneurs, young professionals, families, and employers choosing to put down roots.

That alignment of vision and action will take center stage at this year’s Western Colorado Economic Summit held on April 23rd at Colorado Mesa University. It’s an invitation and call to action for business leaders, elected officials, educators, and community partners from across the region to align priorities, examine trends, and chart a course forward for our economy, together.

Building a strong regional economy is a shared responsibility, and progress is strongest when vision, collaboration, and action come together. We invite you to join us in building what’s next by registering at info.gjep.org/wester-colorado-economic-summit.