Eastern Plains Chamber launches Web site

The new Eastern Plains Chamber of Commerce, formerly the Falcon Business League, has launched what it calls a preliminary Web site at www.easternchamber.org. Some information, such as a business directory, is still to come, but there is contact information, details on meetings and leadership, and links to other chambers.

Top 10 fastest growing occupations in the U.S.

Thinking of changing careers? You might want to think health care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the top 10 fastest growing occupations in the nation through 2014, ranked by percentage of growth, are:

1) Home health aides, 59 percent growth

2) Network systems and data communications analysts, 54.6 percent growth

3) Medical assistants, 52.1 percent growth

4) Physicians, 49.6 percent growth

5) Computer software engineers -- applications, 48.4 percent growth

6) Physical therapist assistants, 44.2 percent growth

7) Dentists, 43.3 percent growth

8) Computer software engineers -- systems software, 43 percent growth

9) Dental assistants, 42.7 percent growth

10) Personal and home health care workers, 41 percent growth

Two Colorado foodie companies link products

Two Colorado-based companies have created a tasty partnership.

Beginning this month, Village Inn restaurants are offering a bite of Boulder Sausage.

As part of Village Inn's Legendary Restaurants and Recipes promotion, the restaurant chain owned by VICORP Restaurants of Denver is offering Boulder Sausage skillet dishes, a Boulder Sausage platter and a Boulder Italian Sausage sandwich. Also new at Village Inn this month are two pot roast recipes from the Dorset Inn in Vermont.

The Legendary Restaurants and Recipes promotion started in the fall of 2007 with blueberry stuffed French toast from the Maples Inn in Maine and a handful of recipes made with seasonings from the Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Texas. More new dishes following the theme will be added throughout this year.

BBB eye shut

The Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado's "BBB Eye" monthly TV show on Comcast Channel 2 has been canceled. The show shared consumer tips and interviews with local business people. However, Comcast discontinued production of local shows effective Jan. 1, and so the BBB show was forced off the air.

Two local residents win volunteer grants

Two El Paso County residents received grants from the Prudential Foundation and Prudential Financial, in honor of their volunteer service, to pass on to their chosen charities.

Randy L. Reynolds, a broker associate with Prudential Professional Realtors, received a $1,000 grant, which he donated to Junior Achievement. Reynolds donated 200 volunteer hours to Junior Achievement in 2006, teaching students about finance and entrepreneurship.

Jacqueline Youmans, a Prudential Financial retiree from Colorado Springs, received a $1,000 grant, which she donated to Easter Seals of Southern Colorado. She volunteered 200 hours to Easter Seals, which included coordinating a minor league baseball game, wrapping gifts during the holidays and working at bi-weekly bingo games.

The program provided $461,000 volunteer grants to 444 nonprofits worldwide. Grants range from $250 to $5,000 and recognize team and individual efforts of at least 40 hours of volunteer service per person.