GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The Grand Valley has proved a good investment for the state when it comes to helping small businesses.

Julie Morey, director of the Small Business Development Center, was given the Colorado “State Star,” an award for demonstrating exemplary performance and a strong commitment to small business. The award was presented at the National Association of Small Business Development Centers' annual conference in Orlando, Fla., Sept. 17.

“Our clients reported more capital formation, job creation, and retention than any other small business development center in the state,” Morey said.

The Small Business Development Center supports small businesses within Mesa County through counseling and low-cost business training.

“A lot of times the Small Business Development Center is perceived as working with start-ups,” Morey said. “But I've worked with (some of the same) businesses for 15 years. So, although we're here to help start-ups, we're here to help (businesses) through their growing pains as well.”

Small business development centers are funded in part by the state's allocation of U.S. Small Business Administration funding. Additional matching funds are provided by local communities.

Small business development centers are often located within college campuses, or chambers of commerce. Grand Junction's center is hosted by The Business Incubator Center, 2591 B 3/4 Road.

It's a symbiotic relationship, Morey said, since their missions are the same in promoting entrepreneurship. Another organization, the revolving loan fund, is also located at the Incubator.

“It's helped us to be a one-stop shop,” Morey said. “We can provide so much under the umbrella of the Business Incubator Center.”

Four staff counselors and more than 20 professional volunteers from the community provide free business counseling to new and existing business owners.

Volunteers come with a wide range of experience, Morey said. Some are strong in financing, marketing and accounting. Others have excellent retail or manufacturing backgrounds. There are volunteers who have banking, and nonprofit experience.

Receiving the state award was “not a one-person act at all,” Morey said. “We could never do the volume of business assistance that we do without the number of counselors we have on board.”

Incubator Executive Director Chris Reddin said the entrepreneurial center has had to adjust to the changing economy.

“We've seen so much volatility in the local community (economy) in the past two years. We've had to be really nimble and revamp how we handle our services as demand and opportunities have changed,” Reddin said.

“Julie has been all over it. She's changed how we do our classes, how we do marketing, our content. She's done an amazing job at keeping our program relevant even as the economic situation sometimes changes day by day.”

Morey, 49, has a degree in business management from Mesa State College, and is currently studying energy management at the college. She's owned businesses in the past, and grew up with a father who had his own businesses.

“A key part of my education is real world experience,” Morey said. “I know what it's like to be a suffering start-up wondering where your next paycheck is coming from.”

For more information about services, or to volunteer, the Incubator can be reached at 243-5242.

Reach Sharon Sullivan at ssullivan@gjfreepress.com.