The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce is highlighting the importance of supporting local businesses during the holiday season through its “Keep the Cheer Here” campaign. The initiative encourages residents to shop, dine, volunteer, and give locally as a way to strengthen Mesa County’s business community.
According to the Chamber, its daily efforts focus on strengthening the local economy by building relationships, providing resources, and representing employers’ interests. The organization states that it assists businesses with challenges and opportunities, advocates for their concerns in policy discussions at all levels of government, and works to ensure that local voices are heard during times of change.
In 2025, the Chamber’s Existing Business Retention and Expansion program engaged directly with over 140 employers in the first half of the year. This led to millions in capital investment and new job creation. In the second half of 2025, these engagements increased to more than 240, resulting in additional investments and over one hundred new jobs.
The Chamber also convened a roundtable with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City where local employers discussed issues such as rising costs and supply chain instability. Governor Jared Polis visited Grand Junction for tours of local manufacturers organized by the Chamber. These events aimed to give state leaders insight into how policies impact Western Slope industries.
Industry advocacy was another area where the Chamber reports significant activity. For example, it opposed a proposed temperature-control mandate for commercial kitchens and played a role in shaping Colorado’s construction defect reform legislation. The Chamber also worked against new heat-standard mandates for job-site workers and advocated for changes to consumer-protection laws affecting professional service firms.
Locally, the Chamber conducted a Downtown Business Survey that brought attention to concerns about parking access, safety, construction impacts, and customer flow. The organization continued direct communication with downtown employers on these topics. It also focused on transparency regarding impact fees faced by builders amid housing shortages.
Addressing workforce challenges remains a priority for the Chamber. Its West Slope Works initiative distributed over $100,000 in training funds this year and supported work-based learning placements across several sectors including healthcare and technology. A statewide apprenticeship grant further advanced talent development efforts throughout nine Western Slope counties.
Chamber leadership emphasized that these activities contribute not just to economic growth but also to community well-being: “When a business chooses to expand rather than relocate, when a job seeker finds the right employer…our entire region benefits.”
Annual membership in the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce starts at $37 per month. According to the organization: “The question for every business is simple. What is it worth to have a partner who champions your interests at the Capitol, brings decision makers to your doorstep, stands with you when challenges arise, and works every day to create the conditions where your business can grow? The value of that partnership far exceeds the cost.”
For more information about membership or involvement opportunities visit gjchamber.org.
