Investing in Arizona Workers, Ducey Outlines Plan

inbusinessPHX.com

Governor Doug Ducey outlined an ambitious 2022 policy agenda earlier this month, including an important initiative to significantly expand Arizona’s talented workforce. The Governor proposes to establish six advanced manufacturing training centers facilitated by community colleges across the state. “Let’s invest in the worker, arming them with the skills they need for our … [More]

Grassroots vs. Government: How the Climate-Change Battle Is Trickling Up

inbusinessPHX.com

Throughout the world, governments have vowed to lower their countries’ greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change. But while having the government take the lead in curtailing global warming makes sense for many countries, it can be problematic in the U.S., where the people are the real authority and a distrust of government hovers, says Frank Dalene, the … [More]

Arizona Clears $1.2 Billion in Total Event Wagering in Less Than Three Months

inbusinessPHX.com

The Arizona Department of Gaming released the event wagering and fantasy sports revenue reports for the month of November today. Through the first three months of operations, Arizona has had over $1.2 billion dollars in wagers, highlighting the strong start to the event wagering and fantasy sports market in the state. “Arizona has exceeded expectations and is already a top ten … [More]

New SBA Pilot Program to Bolster Cybersecurity Infrastructure of Emerging Small Businesses

U.S. Small Business Administration

Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), announced $3 million in new funding for state governments to help emerging small businesses across America develop their cybersecurity infrastructure – a priority of the Biden-Harris Administration, outlined in the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). As part of the … [More]

SBA and Business Forward Announce Launch of the ‘Small Business Digital Alliance’

U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and Business Forward, Inc., a non-profit organization working with small business leaders in support of policies promoting America’s economic competitiveness, announced the launch of the Small Business Digital Alliance (SBDA). A joint public-private co-sponsorship, the SBDA will connect small businesses with critical tech resources … [More]

City of Phoenix Offers Food Business Training for Entrepreneurs

City of Phoenix

Through a partnership with Thrive Consultancy, Inc., the city of Phoenix's Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) is excited to offer a special training program for potential and current food business owners. Applications are open through Feb. 1 for the 10-week Sustainable Cooperative Food Business Training Program, which will build your skills and confidence for starting (or … [More]

Greater Phoenix Chamber Sets 2022 Legislative Priorities

Greater Phoenix Chamber

The Greater Phoenix Chamber announces its legislative priorities for the Second Regular Session of Arizona’s 55th Legislature. This session, the Chamber is advocating for a structurally balanced budget, the extension of Prop 400, employer protections that permit businesses to effectively manage their workforces, and seeking pro-workforce policies that ensure employers have … [More]

Governor Kicks Off Second Session of 55th Arizona Legislature 

State of Arizona Office of the Governor

Governor Doug Ducey outlined a bold and sweeping public policy agenda today as he delivered his State of the State address for the eighth and final time – something no governor of Arizona has done in more than three decades. In a substantive address to lawmakers, Arizona’s 23rd Governor was met with enthusiastic applause as he vowed to build on the successes of his seven-year … [More]

Phoenix City Council Approves Water Conservation Plan

City of Phoenix

The Phoenix City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022, to allow the city to enter into an agreement with the Central Arizona Water Conservation District in response to continuing declines in water supplies in Lake Mead on the Colorado River. The agreement, known as the 500+ Plan, involves the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and stakeholders in Arizona, California, … [More]

New Gaming in Arizona Off to a Strong Start, Nearly $130M in Revenues to the State

Arizona Department of Gaming

Gaming in Arizona contributed $129 million to the state through tribal gaming contributions and the newly implemented event wagering & fantasy sports in 2021, legalized through Governor Doug Ducey’s signing of historic legislation and the amended Tribal-State Gaming Compacts. This landmark agreement between the state and Arizona Tribes modernized gaming in Arizona, allowing … [More]

Nikola to Pay $125M Civil Penalty in SEC Dispute

Nikola Corporation

Nikola Corporation, a global leader in zero-emissions transportation and energy infrastructure solutions, today announced a resolution with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As part of the resolution, Nikola has agreed to pay $125 million to the SEC in five installments over two years. The first installment will be paid by the end of 2021, and the remaining … [More]

Update on Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccinations or Testing

inbusinessPHX.com

On December 17, 2021, in a 2-1 decision, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals allowed OSHA’s Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) to move forward by lifting an earlier court’s stay that had put the ETS on hold. In response to the court’s decision, OSHA has initiated an aggressive implementation and enforcement schedule. While OSHA expects covered … [More]

Water Agencies Announce Partnership to Invest $200M in Conservation Efforts to Bolster Colorado River’s Lake Mead

inbusinessPHX.com

Water agencies across Arizona, California and Nevada, together with the Department of the Interior, today announced a historic effort to invest up to $200 million in projects over the next two years to keep the Colorado River’s largest reservoir, Lake Mead, from dropping to critically low levels. The agreement, known as the 500+ Plan, aims to add 500,000 acre-feet of … [More]

Local Governments Unite to Reduce Homelessness

Maricopa Association of Governments

For the first time, local and tribal governments have rallied around a single plan to respond to homelessness in the region. “Pathways Home, the Regional Homelessness Action Plan for Local and Tribal Governments,” was unanimously approved today by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Regional Council. “This is a monumental step for the region in creating lasting … [More]

City of Phoenix Vaccine Mandate Paused

City of Phoenix

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The city of Phoenix Tuesday announced it has paused plans to implement a federal mandate requiring all city employees be vaccinated against COVID-19. This decision comes after a series of legal challenges and a ruling Tuesday from a federal judge in Georgia which temporarily halts the COVID-19 vaccine … [More]

SBA Is Delivering Support to America’s Small Businesses, Helping Them Recover from the COVID-19 Pandemic

U.S. Small Business Administration

While the holidays may still look a little different this year, the U.S. has made significant strides to ensure Americans can safely congregate with their loved ones for the Thanksgiving holiday and take part in celebrations to shop local and small on Small Business Saturday. Last year, shoppers came together in full force to support their local communities, and Small Business … [More]

Micro and Small Business Grants Up to $15K Now Available for Phoenix Businesses

City of Phoenix

Small business resiliency grants up to $15,000 are available beginning this week for Phoenix businesses through the PHXbizGrants program. An allocation of $8 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 by the Phoenix City Council created a program helping micro and small businesses with the pandemic’s economic impact. The PHXbizGrants application portal is now … [More]

Federal Minimum Wage Increases to $15 per Hour

U.S. Department of Labor

On November 22, 2021, the Department announced publication of the final rule, “Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors.” The Department has finalized regulations to implement Executive Order 14026, “Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors,” which was signed by President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on April 27, 2021. Executive Order 14026 states that the Federal … [More]

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