Three of the nation's smartest cities are in Colorado, but where is Grand Junction?

In a report compiled by Bloomberg - Boulder, Fort Collins, and Denver rank in the top 10 in the Bloomberg Brain Concentration Index, which monitors business formation, along with education and employment in science, technology, education, and mathematics. Boulder, a big college town, is ranked #1 nationally.

At the opposite end of the Bloomberg, the spectrum is the Brain Drain Index. This is the lowest 50 communities in the nation, and Grand Junction comes in at #16. This is one list you don't want to be on.

The report, however, cites the Grand Junction Economic Partnership, which is hoping to take advantage of the Rural Jump-Start Tax Credit Program which offers big tax breaks for technology businesses. According to the report, the program is expected to bring 600 jobs to Grand Junction and surrounding communities.

It seems that Grand Junction has plenty to offer prospective businesses and employees including a growing university, an abundance of outdoor adventure opportunities, and an organization that is committed to bringing progress, growth, and development to the Grand Valley. It also feels like we are headed in the right direction.

Hopefully, before long, Grand Junction will graduate from the Brain Drain list to the Brain Concentration Index.

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