The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America’s 32.5 million small businesses in President Biden’s Cabinet, directed the Agency to provide additional deferment of principal and interest payments for existing COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program Borrowers for a total of 30 months deferment from inception on all approved COVID EIDL loans. … [More]
Existing COVID EIDL Program Borrowers Receive Additional Deferment
Local Governments Work Together to Address Increase in Homelessness
The number of people experiencing homelessness continues to increase in communities across the region, with those living in unsheltered situations climbing by 35 percent since 2020, according to newly released numbers from the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG). The numbers reflect a two-year increase, since the 2021 count was not conducted due to the COVID … [More]
Get a Grant for Your School or Nonprofit
The City of Phoenix is now accepting applications for two different COVID-19 related funding opportunities for nonprofits or schools. The first is the COVID Clean Public Facilities and School Improvement and Upgrades Program. The Phoenix City Council allocated $2.3 million in Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV) money to fund COVID-19 prevention improvements … [More]
Number of U.S. Homeowners in Negative Equity Dropped to Lowest Level in Over 12 Years
CoreLogic, a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released the Homeowner Equity Report for the fourth quarter of 2021. The report shows U.S. homeowners with mortgages (which account for roughly 63% of all properties) have seen their equity increase by 29.3% year over year, representing a collective equity gain of over $3.2 … [More]
Nestle’s Greater Phoenix Project Gets a Boost
Nestle USA has big plans for a manufacturing plant in Glendale, Ariz.—and they have the local authorities’ support to go along with it. During a March 8 meeting, the Glendale City Council unanimously approved the 139-acre development site’s inclusion in a Foreign-Trade Zone, which are designated areas exempt from U.S. Customs rules and regulations. The inclusion … [More]
Greater Phoenix Workforce Filled More Than 2.3 Million Jobs in January 2022
Greater Phoenix added 91,300 jobs over the past year from January 2022 compared to January 2021 for a good start to the year as reported in the March Employment Report from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity. The number of people in the Greater Phoenix workforce filled over 2.3 million jobs in January 2022. Hiring in the business professional, technical and … [More]
Inflation Rose 7.9% in February, Highest in More Than 40 Years
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.8 percent in February on a seasonally adjusted basis after rising 0.6 percent in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 7.9 percent before seasonal adjustment. Increases in the indexes for gasoline, shelter, and food were the … [More]
Two Years Later: How the Pandemic Has Rocked the U.S. Housing Market
This week marks the two-year anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic, which the World Health Organization officially declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The housing market has changed drastically since then—there are now half as many homes to choose from, and prices have surged 34%, according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate … [More]
Small Business Owners Reporting Inflation as Biggest Problem, Reaches Highest Level Since Q3 1981
In February, the NFIB Optimism Index decreased by 1.4 points to 95.7, the second consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98. Twenty-six percent of owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business, a four-point increase since December and the highest reading since the third quarter of 1981. “Inflation … [More]
Nestlé Invests $675 Million to Build Arizona Factory, Creating 350 Jobs

Nestlé USA announced a $675 million investment to build a new beverage facility in Glendale, Arizona. The 630,000-square-foot factory is expected to be operational in 2024, creating over 350 jobs. The facility, which will sit on 143.6 net acres of land in Glendale, will produce high-quality creamers for Nestlé’s category-leading portfolio, including the Coffee mate, Coffee … [More]
Maricopa Community Colleges and Intel to Launch New Semiconductor Manufacturing Workforce Development Initiative
To support the growing semiconductor industry’s employment needs and welcome diverse talent into the technical workforce, Maricopa Community Colleges and Intel Corporation have announced enrollment is now open for a new semiconductor manufacturing Quick Start program at Mesa Community College (MCC). The accelerated two-week program prepares students for a rewarding career as a … [More]
Labor Quality and Costs Remain Top Business Problems for Many as Owners Struggle to Increase Workforce
Small businesses continued to struggle to increase their workforce in February, with 22% of owners reporting that labor quality was their top business problem, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. Eleven percent of owners cited labor costs as their top business problem, unchanged from January. Reports of labor costs as the top business problem are at 48-year record high … [More]
Luxury Apartment Building Sells in Scottsdale for $193.5M, One of the Highest per Unit Sales on Record
Institutional Property Advisors (IPA), a division of Marcus & Millichap (NYSE: MMI), announced today the sale of Roadrunner on McDowell, a 356-unit multifamily asset in Scottsdale, Arizona. The property sold for $193.5 million, which equates to $543,539 per unit. The price per unit is the highest in Arizona’s history for an institutionally sized apartment building. The … [More]
Payroll Employment Rises by 678,000 in February, Unemployment Rate Edges Down to 3.8%
Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 678,000 in February, and the unemployment rate edged down to 3.8 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job growth was widespread, led by gains in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, health care, and construction. This news release presents statistics from two monthly surveys. The … [More]
New Sky Harbor Concourse Features Exciting Shops, Restaurants and Lounge

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport's 8th concourse at Terminal 4 will be opening this summer, and today, Phoenix City Council approved the recommended proposals for new restaurants, shops, and a common use lounge at the new concourse. Now, America's Friendliest Airport® will have even more local dining options for travelers to enjoy while visiting the airport as well … [More]
New Arizona Facility Gets Investment to Support North America Semiconductor Growth
Edwards, the leading supplier of vacuum and abatement services and solutions to the global semiconductor industry, has announced its investment in a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chandler. The new 200,000-square-foot facility will leverage the latest manufacturing and digital technologies to support the fast-growing North American semiconductor market with … [More]
U.S. Weekly Jobless Claims Fall for Second Straight Week, Sign Job Market Is Tightening
In the week ending February 26, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 215,000, a decrease of 18,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 232,000 to 233,000. The 4-week moving average was 230,500, a decrease of 6,000 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised … [More]
Home Prices Hit All-Time High Ahead of Spring Buying Season, Says Report
New data suggests Spring homebuying fever has already set in, as the U.S. median listing price hit a new all-time high of $392,000 in February, according to the Realtor.com® Monthly Housing Trends Report released today. Additionally, home prices grew at an unusually-fast February pace in many of the 50 largest metros, led by Las Vegas, Miami and Tampa, Fla. with annual … [More]