Dissolve the Western Colorado Business Alliance (WCBA)

The Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce must immediately dissolve its affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, the Western Colorado Business Alliance (WCBA).

What Is the WCBA?

The WCBA was established by the Chamber in 2012 as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. Unlike traditional nonprofits, 501(c)(4) organizations:

• Do not have to disclose their membership, board, or funding sources.

• Can serve as dark money vehicles, funneling money into elections without transparency.

The WCBA has been used to interfere with Grand Junction City Council elections, spreading misleading public information and shielding its funders from accountability.

Why the WCBA Must Be Dissolved

• Lack of transparency: WCBA refuses to answer questions about its operations, leaving the public in the dark.

• Spread of misinformation: Their model enables dark money interference in local elections.

• Racially charged rhetoric: Recent comments by Mike Anton, a WCBA founder, at a City Council meeting, exposed the harmful and divisive direction of this group.

An organization that claims to promote local business should not divide our community or promote misinformation.

Mesa County Democrats’ Call to Action

The Chamber of Commerce must:

1. Dissolve the WCBA immediately.

2. Commit to transparent, ethical business advocacy.

3. End practices that enable dark money influence in Mesa County elections.

Our community deserves business organizations that strengthen unity, promote fairness, and help build a better future for Grand Junction — not ones that use dark money and divisive rhetoric to undermine democracy.