February 1, 2023 – Daily Sentinel Grand Junction
According to the year-end report released by GJEP this week, for every $1 invested in GJEP in 2022, $20 in economic impact was generated. GJEP successfully recruited four primary job providers to Mesa County last year: Kooler Garage Doors, EquipmentShare, Spares in Motion and MotoMinded.
Additionally, West Star Aviation committed to building a new $16 million aircraft facility in Grand Junction, securing the company’s long-term future in the Grand Junction area. GJEP also helped CoorsTek expand locally through incentives that were in collaboration with the Industrial Development International. Boeson Research was also able to expand its local operations through GJEP, bringing GJEP’s self-titled win count to seven.
EquipmentShare, a nationwide construction technology company, was among the more significant wins for GJEP. EquipmentShare’s expansion into Grand Junction created 13 news jobs with an average salary of $50,000 and a total capital expenditure of $3 million through its purchase of its building at 719 Arrowest Ct. “Honestly, we’ve kind of been welcomed with open arms,” said Joshua Lynch, the general manager of EquipmentShare’s Grand Junction branch. “It’s been great. Everybody’s been real receptive, and new customers are happy to see that there’s another option and something new in Junction.”
Lynch spoke about why EquipmentShare jumped at the opportunity to expand to the Western Slope. “I think growth and saturation is a big part of it,” Lynch said. “A lot of companies, it seems, are looking for equipment and equipment purchases may be as big as they used to be. A lot of jobs are bid with rental in mind and options, so I think we really fit into this really big area between Salt Lake and Denver. It’s been great.”
In total, GJEP’s economic impact report called out a total economic impact of $15,690,242 in 2022 that resulted from business attraction and expansion efforts. Eighty-three actual jobs and 333 potential jobs were created, with $8,920,062 in economic impact from job creation. There was $4,025,000 in total capital expenditure and $6,770,180 in economic impact from capital expenditures.
Executive Director, Curtis Englehart, expects an even bigger 2023. This year, GJEP hopes to generate new leads by expanding its marketing efforts and attending trade shows such as the Avalon Australian International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition, set for Feb. 28-March 5 in Geelong, Victoria, in Australia. GJEP also plans to promote several tools and incentives to attract new businesses, including the opportunity zones in the Grand Junction area, the Riverfront at Las Colonias and the Rural Jump-Start Tax Credit Program.
“We’re going to continue to work toward that proactive recruitment, so we want to be able to get in front of businesses as early and often as we can, whether they’re looking at relocating or looking to expand in our area,” Englehart said.
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