FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (June 3, 2020 | Grand Junction, CO) – Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and the Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) are partnering on an industry analysis to support the post-pandemic recovery efforts in Colorado’s Grand Valley. The first phase of the analysis kicked off this week with an in-depth survey of estimated 500 businesses across multiple industries in Mesa County.
“Mesa County has maintained low numbers of COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. Thanks to the proactive efforts of Mesa County Public Health and our local governments, we can safely begin the economic recovery process in the Grand Valley,” said Robin Brown, GJEP Executive Director. “In order to best support our business community, we first need to better understand the unique circumstances of each industry.”
The nearly 30-question survey, which was developed by Dr. Nathan Perry, Associate Professor of Economics at CMU, and the GJEP staff, is the most in-depth analysis to date of the Grand Valley business community to gage the impact of COVID-19.
“From the CMU Student Showcase and Entrepreneurship Day to economic development and economic research, the partnership between GJEP and the CMU remains strong and continues serving the best interests of the community and students,” said CMU President Tim Foster. “The analysis and research produced by the CMU Department of Business in conjunction with GJEP continues to enrich our community during times of prosperity and in times of challenge.”
In addition to GJEP’s vast database of local businesses, the business directories of the chambers of commerce in Fruita, Grand Junction and Palisade, as well as ResearchUSA (a third-party resource available through the Mesa County Public Libraries) were utilized to create a comprehensive list of businesses that represent the full industry spectrum in the Grand Valley, barring tourism-related establishments. GJEP will combine the survey results with the findings of a similar survey recently conducted by Visit Grand Junction of the Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism industries. Once completed, the industry analysis will help inform Grand Valley economic development partners and local municipalities of how to best allocate funds and other resources to support the recovery of individual industries. Additionally, the goal is to have a better timeline of when we can expect the local economy to be back to pre-pandemic numbers.
The GJEP staff will conduct phone calls and collect survey responses electronically the first part of June. Initial survey results are expected to be released by July.
About Colorado Mesa University
Founded in 1925, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is a comprehensive regional public higher education institution offering liberal arts, professional, and technical programs at the master’s, bachelor’s, associate and certificate levels. With an enrollment of more than 11,000 students, Colorado Mesa University is a dynamic learning environment that offers abundant opportunities for students and the larger community to grow intellectually, professionally, and personally. Visit www.coloradomesa.edu for more information.
About the Grand Junction Economic Partnership
The Grand Junction Economic Partnership (GJEP) works to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in Colorado’s Grand Valley by supporting high-impact capital investment and job creation. Operating as a 501(c)3, GJEP administers incentive programs and offers services free of charge to organizations interested in relocation or expansion in the cities of Grand Junction and Fruita, the town of Palisade and surrounding communities of Mesa County. Visit www.gjep.org for more information.
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Media Contacts:
Cilia Kohn
Dir. of Marketing & Communications
Grand Junction Economic Partnership
T: 720.272.1777
E: cilia@gjep.org
David Ludlam
Director of Public Relations
Colorado Mesa University
T: 970.248.1868 / 970.433.2178
E: dludlam@coloradomesa.edu
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