JULY 22 - 29, 2026
VOLUME 33, ISSUE 29
THE DEFINITIVE SOURCE FOR GRAND JUNCTION BUSINESS & COMMUNITY NEWS SINCE 1994
Incubator seeks new leader for AgriWest Brandon Leuallen
T
The Business Times
he Business Incubator Center is searching for a new leader for its AgriWest initiative as founding Program Manager Janie VanWinkle prepares to conclude the 30-month fellowship that helped establish the regional agricultural program. VanWinkle’s final day with the Business Incubator Center will be July 31, marking the end of her Economic Recovery Corps fellowship through the International Economic Development Council. While her fellowship is ending, AgriWest will continue under the Business Incubator Center with a new part-time program manager focused on helping agricultural producers strengthen and grow their businesses. “I feel like we’ve done some good things,” VanWinkle said. “We’ve laid some really good groundwork.” AgriWest was created to strengthen western Colorado agriculture by: helping producers build stronger businesses; connecting different sectors of the agricultural industry; increasing collaboration with government and community organizations; and ensuring agriculture has a stronger voice in regional planning and economic development. See story Page 5
THEBUSINESSTIMES.COM
Cycle of change
Electric bicycles and service work help bike shops offset decline in traditional bike sales — See Page 2
Naked Bike Works co-owner Brandon York talks to a customer on the phone while standing in the area where he repairs and services bikes. He said Naked Bike Works avoided being a bike retailer from the outset, because online, consumer-direct sales of bikes make it really hard to compete. “And for us,” he said, “this seems to be working.” York said he is seeing bicyclists choose to repair their bikes instead of replace them, because “they can’t afford a 6,000-plus-dollar new mountain bike.” And when people can’t afford to buy something new, he said, “They need a place to service what they have.” Photo by Tim Harty.
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