32 Regional Businesses Continue Their Due Diligence in Prep for the Next Public Health Crisis

As COVID-19 cases continue to decrease and we slowly begin to feel more confident getting back to some semblance of life as we knew it, business and government continue diligent conversations around the new and ever-innovating standards of public health and safety. Supporting that diligence, a coalition of 32 local and regional bio-defense, health and safety business leaders and stakeholders, known as the Arizona Consortium, work together to ensure the state and region are equipped to see the tail end of the pandemic and ensure we are prepared for future public health crises.

The AZ Consortium was created in July of 2020 by a group of like-minded companies with a shared desire to serve and improve the resiliency of our community and economy in the face of a stark biological threat. The Consortium launched in August 2020 with a shared mission to provide and improve domestic innovative and effective health, safety and bio-defense solutions.

Well into its first year of coming together, the collaboration continued as the group shared its time, knowledge, technologies, interventions and best practice experience to protect public health and support business and government with an all-inclusive solution for reopening and public health safety needs. Areas of expertise include protocols and procedures to help gathering spaces fully reopen and remain open safely. The Consortium’s long-term mission is to deploy local and regional life-saving services and technologies by becoming the conduit through which companies, customers and government seamlessly interact as the total solution to this and any future public health crisis.

In a larger effort to support the community and share our knowledge, experience and resources, the Consortium hosted a showcase and discussion titled “Return to Hospitality.” The event brought hospitality, small-business leaders, government stakeholders and consortium partners together to converse about best practices specific to reopening while maintaining the health, safety and well-being specific to one of Arizona’s largest economic engines.

Also discussed was the U.S.’s reliance on outside sources for life-saving products and supply chain, and our delayed ability to mobilize to scale. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Arizona stood at port waiting for substandard products or interventions awaiting regulatory approvals from the EPA and FDA, along with the rest of the globe. Compounded by domestic demands skyrocketing, many business and local leaders were unaware of regional solutions mobilizing in our own backyard.

Now, via the Consortium’s efforts, local needs are connected to guide and share effective public health expertise, solutions and regional supply chains to overcome the obstacles experienced at the peak of the crisis. In addition, partner members strategically work together to educate and influence regulators and government leaders to prioritize utilizing and supporting domestic solutions and investing in innovations and modernizing the regulatory approval process — most especially in the wake of a public emergency.

Although the pandemic’s original grip on the country may be loosening, We the People have learned various difficult lessons and, by continuing our work, the Consortium is building the necessary local infrastructure needed to help businesses, local economies and one another to find our footing following this disaster and in preparation for the future.

We are eager to hear from businesses or government entities needing guidance, support or resources to support safe reopening, as well as entities in accord with our shared mission and innovative public health, bio-defense interventions interested in joining the Consortium’s collaborative.

Anna Maria Maldonado is vice president of strategic partnerships of Phoenix International Consultants and founding member of the Arizona Consortium.

The Arizona Consortium is comprised of local and regional businesses in bio-defense, health and safety. Members include: