The Grand Junction Business Incubator Center hosted its eagerly anticipated Holiday Expo on December 5, drawing hundreds of residents to celebrate and support small businesses in the region.

Since its inception in 1986, the Business Incubator has been a cornerstone of entrepreneurial growth, providing aspiring business owners with the tools, mentorship, and opportunities needed to thrive. This year’s Holiday Expo embodied that mission, offering vendors a platform to showcase their businesses while fostering a vibrant community spirit.

Empowering Small Business Owners

For many entrepreneurs, the Incubator’s resources have been a lifeline. Sean Roth, the owner of Roth’s Pretzels, expressed his gratitude for the center’s impact on his business.

“If I didn’t have the business incubator or events like this, I probably wouldn’t be in existence, especially after 2020,” Roth shared.

Robert Andrews, representing New Liberty Wool & Ewe So Soft, echoed these sentiments. “We are probably two to three years ahead of where we would be if we’d been doing this just through discovery, learning kind of figuring out as we go,” he explained.

The Incubator’s CEO, Dalida Sassoon Bollig, emphasized the critical role entrepreneurship plays in the region. “Our mission is to see our community succeed, and that’s why we are here,” Bollig stated. “I believe that small businesses and entrepreneurship are the backbone of our economy. It is what makes the western slope thrive.”

Community Comes Together in Holiday Spirit

The event drew a diverse crowd of Grand Valley residents eager to support local entrepreneurs while enjoying festive activities. The expo featured food, entertainment, and even a visit from Santa Claus. A silent auction added an extra layer of engagement, acting as a fundraiser for the Incubator Center.

Attendees enjoyed the chance to connect with vendors, learn about their unique products, and celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit. Bollig praised the community’s turnout:

“Being able to see the community rally around them in a cheerful holiday spirit, coming around, having a chat, celebrating them, celebrating their entrepreneurial journey, and making sure that we shop local, that we support our local small businesses, it just makes sure that our community overall thrives.”

Vendors Celebrate a Day of Connections

For the small business owners in attendance, the Holiday Expo was about more than just sales—it was an opportunity to forge meaningful connections. Andrews described it as a vital networking opportunity.

“This is a great opportunity to bring us all together in one location,” he said. “We all go out, we visit, we meet each other at their booths. We get a chance to explain what we do, they a chance to explain what they do.”

Roth also highlighted the practical benefits of participating. “An event like this really brings people around, so outsourcing resourcing to, you know, be able to further grow the business,” he noted.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As the year comes to a close, entrepreneurs like Andrews and Roth are optimistic about the future. Both expressed confidence that the connections and exposure gained at the Holiday Expo will set them up for success in the coming year.

The Grand Junction Business Incubator continues to play a vital role in the region, empowering small businesses to navigate challenges, embrace opportunities, and grow within a supportive community.