EquipmentShare, a nationwide construction equipment and technology solutions company, held a ribbon cutting on Aug. 9 for its new location in Grand Junction, Colo. The branch will serve local contractors and provide dozens of job opportunities for the area.
Around 50 people attended the event, including EquipmentShare employees, local county and city officials, members of Mesa Community College and the Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce to cut the ribbon on the new facility.
“This is great news for our community and the dozens of families who will benefit from these new tech-enabled jobs. We are proud to have attracted such a forward-thinking company that will be building the future of construction from right here in Grand Junction,” said Steve Jozefczyk, deputy director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership.
EquipmentShare team members and members of these organizations also spoke about EquipmentShare’s background, its goals to partner with the Grand Junction community and how local resources will work together to create a pipeline of skilled workers to fill job openings needed now and for the future. The Grand Junction location will also serve as a training site for EquipmentShare’s apprenticeship program. Interested individuals looking for career opportunities were encouraged to attend and meet onsite with the recruitment team.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to expand our training programs through partnerships with EquipmentShare, which includes an apprenticeship program,” said Karen Sightler from the Mesa County Workforce Center. “This is where our residents will get the latest, cutting edge training on mechanics, telematics and more. We thank you for your decision to grow here in Grand Junction and look forward to building the future workforce and the future of construction together.”
The branch will be home to full-service rental operations for the Grand Junction community and create 20 to 30 new jobs. EquipmentShare is actively recruiting for positions that will span a number of fields, including mechanics, drivers, sales representatives and more. Members of the recruitment team were onsite at the event to conduct screening interviews and answer questions about employment opportunities at EquipmentShare.
“These 20 to 30 good-paying jobs with starting salaries above the average Mesa County wage will be a boost to our economy as these folks buy vehicles, pay mortgages and shop at local businesses,” said Jozefczyk. “We are proud to have attracted such a forward-thinking company and know we have the high-quality workforce right here in Grand Junction who will help it build the future of construction.”
In addition to the job fair, EquipmentShare presented checks of $1,250 each to two community organizations it has chosen to support: the Grand Junction Firefighters Foundation and the Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition. These donations align with EquipmentShare’s commitment to become part of the communities it inhabits and to continually give back to its neighbors.
“We are beyond excited to have this company that is on an upward trajectory choose our community to grow their business,” said Candace Carnahan, vice president of the Mesa County Chamber. “EquipmentShare understands what it takes to create strong, local relationships, both by creating a work environment for employees as well as investing in their community through efforts like giving back. This is an excellent example of how a business puts skin in the game and serves their community.”
Following the program, guests received a tour of the facility.