New to Greater Grand Junction, CO? Here’s How to Get Connected
Greater Grand Junction rolls out the welcome mat for its newest residents.
When you relocate to a new city, it can be tough to click into the community, meet friends and find your place. But in Greater Grand Junction, CO, forging connections is made easy, and you’ll feel at home in no time.
Those who are new to Greater Grand Junction, CO, are greeted by friendly neighbors at farmers markets, local wineries and on hiking trails. Plus, there are several initiatives that connect newcomers with business resources and roll out the welcome mat.
Greater Grand Junction, CO’s Welcome Wagon
The Welcome Wagon pairs Greater Grand Junction locals with new people who have recently moved to the area, says Karen Mahoney, the office manager at Grand Junction Economic Partnership and the program’s coordinator. Longtime locals are matched with new residents based on shared interests, whether it’s hiking, a love of arts and culture or excitement over entrepreneurship.
Enthusiastic Grand Junction area residents – the kinds who would totally have a #westslopebestslope sticker on their water bottles or laptops – then show newbies around the valley, helping them forge deeper connections with like-minded community members. Residents also introduce newbies to the best spots to grab a beer or go for a bike ride and let them in on some secrets – like the fact that Rattlesnake Canyon has the world’s second-largest concentration of arches and that Tacoparty has fantastic tacos with ingredients grown and sourced in the region.
The idea? Help the region’s newcomers feel like residents in no time!
“We also offer monthly networking opportunities, from industry tours, hikes, brewery tours, local art and communities tours, as well,” Mahoney says. “It is a chance for people to connect and get to know the area and become connected.”
The Welcome Wagon is now in its third year, and it’s not uncommon for newbies, who spend a year in the program, to help welcome the next wave of newcomers to the region, Mahoney says.
The Greater Grand Junction region, she says, always has something going on, and finding friends to explore the outdoors and local events makes living here even more meaningful.
Get Connected in Greater Grand Junction, CO
Local chambers and organizations have several initiatives to help new residents feel more familiar with the area and network.
New residents and visitors alike are welcomed to Fruita with a welcome bag from the Fruita Area Chamber of Commerce. It contains a directory of local businesses, information about upcoming events, history and fun facts about Fruita, says Kayla Bowers, the chamber’s executive director.
(Speaking of fun facts: Did you know that some of Fruita’s earliest residents were dinosaurs and that you can see fossils from the Western Slope at the Dinosaur Journey Museum?)
The Mesa County Women’s Network (MCWN) hosts monthly opportunities for women in the region, like after-hours drinks and luncheons, where attendees can meet new friends and learn new professional skills. MCWN also makes monthly contributions to local charities and encourages members to volunteer, which gives way to deeper connections within the community.
Even budding entrepreneurs who are new to the area can get a leg up in Grand Junction. The Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), run through the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, is a yearlong program that teaches middle and high school students how to start and run their own businesses.
Mingle With Your Neighbors in Greater Grand Junction, CO
In addition to a number of initiatives, there are also plenty of organic ways to get to know your neighbors, including farmers markets in the summer.
For example, Bowers says the Fruita Civic Center hosts a Thursday Night Concert Series throughout the summer. Other gatherings that bring locals together include Food Truck Fridays and the Fruita Farmers Market.
Palisade keeps a busy social calendar, too, with a concert series in vineyards; locals happy hours at The Sneak Line, a paddleboard shop; the downtown Palisade Farmers Market on Sundays; and the beloved Palisade Peach Festival that takes place every August to celebrate the area’s famous stone fruit.
In Grand Junction, the Market on Main is a summerlong event series that draws an estimated 5,000 visitors per week, and music lovers can come together at the Amphitheater at Las Colonias Park, an outdoor venue on the riverfront.
Get to Know Greater Grand Junction, CO
Want to learn more about living and working in Greater Grand Junction, CO? Check out the latest edition of Livability Grand Junction & Beyond, Fruita, Grand Junction & Palisade, Colorado.