More small businesses are now eligible to apply for relief under the Phoenix Small Business Resiliency Grants Program. Previously ineligible companies are now able to seek grants up to $10,000 and commercial city service bill offsets, thanks to action by the Phoenix City Council. The changes modify business longevity requirements and expand the range of Covid-19-impacted … [More]
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U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Remain High at 881,000
U.S. Department of Labor
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending August 29, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 881,000, a decrease of 130,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 5,000 from 1,006,000 to 1,011,000. The 4-week moving average was 991,750, a decrease of 77,500 from the previous week's revised average. The … [More]
U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Deficit for July 2020 Up $10.1 Billion
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis announced today that the goods and services deficit was $63.6 billion in July, up $10.1 billion from $53.5 billion in June, revised. U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services Deficit Deficit: $63.6 Billion +18.9%° Exports: $168.1 Billion +8.1%° Imports: $231.7 … [More]
EN NEGOCIOS: Cómo contratar candidatos para su pequeña empresa en crecimiento durante la pandemia
por Edgar R. Olivo
A pesar de las grandes pérdidas que han experimentado muchas pequeñas empresas desde el inicio de los cierres gubernamentales en marzo, todavía hay grandes señales para aquellos en categorías esenciales que están experimentando la necesidad de contratar a nuevos empleados. Las expectativas de los trabajadores en la era de COVID-19 se han vuelto más claras: los trabajadores … [More]
How to Hire Candidates for Your Growing Small Business during the Pandemic
by Edgar R. Olivo
Despite the major losses many small businesses have experienced since the start of the government shutdowns in March, there are still great signs for those in essential categories who are experiencing the need to hire. Expectations of workers in the age of COVID-19 have become clearer: Workers want to feel safe, valued and given opportunities to grow. This is not a new … [More]
U.S. Department of Labor Awards $646 Million in Employment Service Grants to States
U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the disbursement of $646 million in Employment Service Grants to improve the functioning of the nation’s labor markets by providing labor exchange services to all job seekers and helping businesses to meet their hiring needs by referring qualified workers. The Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933, amended by the Workforce Innovation and … [More]
Metro Phoenix AMC Theatres to Open by Friday, September 4
AMC
Moviegoers throughout the United States are once again enjoying the magic of the big screen at AMC Theatres, and with every passing week that magic gets more accessible. By this weekend 70% of all U.S. AMCs will have resumed operations, as AMC will welcome guests at approximately 420 theatres nationwide. AMC will open more than 140 theatres this week, with the vast majority of … [More]
Arizona Gets More Than $2 Million to Combat Unemployment Insurance Fraud
U.S. Department of Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $100 million in funding to support state efforts to combat fraud and recover improper payments in the Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, including those programs created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. At the same time, the Department’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) … [More]
Executive Order Delaying Expiration of Driver Licenses One Year
State of Arizona Office of the Governor
As Arizona continues to take proactive measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, Governor Ducey today issued an Executive Order deferring requirements to renew standard driver licenses that have an expiration date between March 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 by one year from their original expiration date. This action will minimize in-person visits to Arizona Motor Vehicle … [More]
Changing the Way LLCs Do Business
by Stockton Banfield
Small and mid-sized businesses, the majority of which are limited liability companies (LLCs), are the lifeblood of Arizona’s economy. But the way they are doing business — particularly managing themselves — is changing thanks to new rules governing all LLCs in the state going into effect on Sept. 1. When the Arizona legislature enacted the first Limited Liability Company Act … [More]
Industry-Specific Report: Small Business Economy Update
NFIB
The NFIB Research Center released a Small Business Economic Trends Industry-specific survey highlighting the construction, manufacturing, retail, and services industries. NFIB released a previous quarterly report in May 2020. “Small businesses are working hard to stay open while they continue to navigate the coronavirus pandemic,” says Holly Wade, NFIB Director of Research … [More]
July Home Price Appreciation Reached Highest Level Since 2018, Phoenix Tops Risk of Decline List
CoreLogic
CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released the CoreLogic Home Price Index (HPI™) and HPI Forecast™ for July 2020. Nationally, home prices increased 5.5% in July 2020, compared with July 2019, and were up 1.2% compared to last month, when home prices increased 4.3%. In July, annual home price growth … [More]
Arizona Taking Action to Prepare for Dual COVID-19, Influenza Epidemics
State of Arizona Office of the Governor
As Arizona continues efforts to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, state health agencies and the Governor’s Office are partnering with health care providers and businesses to prepare for the upcoming flu season. Governor Doug Ducey today was joined by leaders representing hospitals, pharmacies, doctors, nurses, public health, universities and more to announce a plan of action … [More]
Report: State of Hotel Industry 6 Months into COVID-19, Layoffs and Lowest Occupancy
American Hotel & Lodging Association
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) released an analysis on the economic and human struggle of the hotel industry six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, with millions of employees still furloughed or laid off and travel demand lagging far behind normal levels. Key findings of the report include: Four out of 10 hotel employees are still not working. … [More]
Personal Income Increased 0.4% in July, Impacted by Spread of COVID-19
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Personal income increased $70.5 billion (0.4 percent) in July according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI) increased $39.9 billion (0.2 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $267.6 billion (1.9 percent). Real DPI decreased 0.1 percent in July and Real PCE increased 1.6 percent (tables 5 … [More]
As Schools Reopen, Questions about Eligibility for Paid Leave and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Come Up
U.S. Department of Labor
Today, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) and Employment and Training Administration (ETA) both published guidance related to the reopening of schools. WHD has released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for workers and employers about qualifying for paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The new FAQs issued today … [More]
Nine Major Corporations and Brands Commit Funding to Help Implement Arizona’s Drought Contingency Plan
Rick McCartney
Business For Water Stewardship (BWS) announced the transfer of over $1.5 million in corporate and philanthropic funding to support Arizona’s efforts to increase water supply reliability through a system conservation project with the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT). The funds were provided by leading corporations and brands including Intel Corp.; Microsoft; Cox; The … [More]
Gov. Ducey Deploys More Than 150 Arizona National Guard Troops to Support Public Safety in Wisconsin
State of Arizona Office of the Governor
In response to a request from the State of Wisconsin, more than 150 Arizona National Guard Citizen-Soldiers from the 850th Military Police Battalion have been activated and will be sent to support Wisconsin in the wake of recent unrest. The Arizona National Guard has been activated to surge law enforcement capacity in the State of Wisconsin to assist in providing a safe … [More]
