2026 Rural Entrepreneurship Symposium

June 9-11, 2026 | Grand Junction, CO
Hosted by Colorado Mesa University

After a successful 2025 symposium at Iowa State University, Colorado Mesa University is excited to host the 2026 Rural Entrepreneurship Symposium in June! Seen as the signature event for USASBE’s Rural Entrepreneurship Special Interest Group, but open to all who are interested in entrepreneurship and innovation in rural areas, the symposium will run June 9-11 (Tuesday through Thursday) in and around Grand Junction, Colorado. 

Named for the confluence of the Gunnison and Grand (later renamed Colorado) Rivers, the community was one of the last settled in Colorado when it was opened up to settlement in 1881. It has seen a number of boom and bust cycles based in energy extraction in the region from uranium mining to oil shale development to natural gas drilling. Today the community is widely regarded as the Western Slope of Colorado’s capital city. 

Grand Junction is the largest community between Denver, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah, both of which are 250 miles away. The metropolitan area is home to over 100,000 people and serves as a regional hub for a population exceeding 300,000. The local economy is diverse and key drivers include tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, health care, energy development and retail.

There is no other place in Colorado where you can experience the intersection of so many prized ecosystems. Mountains. Rivers. Canyons. Lakes. High Desert. Forests. The powerful rivers course through the verdant valleys and beckons paddlers, anglers and rafters. The surreal canyonlands and high-altitude alpine forests provide thousands of trails and striking scenery that captivates hikers, bikers and OHV riders in Grand Junction, CO. With over 1.5 million acres to explore and 76 percent of the area being public land, Grand Junction boasts unforgettable Colorado experiences without the crowds!