Author: BEX Staff

Policy & Stimulus News  PPP May Get Another $310B  The U.S. Senate this week approved another $310B infusion into the Paycheck Protection Program. Even with the additional funding, some experts and advocates warn the amount may not be sufficient to meet need or demand. (Source: Phoenix Business Journal)  Ariz. Following Feds Lead on Reopening  The Governor’s Office told Arizona mayors Monday the state will essentially mirror President Trump’s plan to reopen the economy in phases, but that it’s not yet ready to take the first step. (Source: Arizona Capitol Times)  Economic News  Theaters Will be Among 1st to Reopen  Under recently issued federal guidelines, movie theaters…

By George W. Hammond for AZ Big Media  There is still a huge amount of uncertainty about the future of the outbreak and the economic impacts on the Arizona economy associated with it. Regarding the outbreak, the question at this point is when government and self-imposed social distancing will ease. The April 2020 U.S. forecast from IHS Markit, which underpins the Arizona forecasts, assumes that social distancing begins to ease in the July-August period.  The epidemiological uncertainties create economic uncertainties. We are on track for a major downturn, the question is how bad and for how long. This forecast update is the second…

By Cecilia Chan for Gilbert Sun News  Given the current economic situation and the uncertainty surrounding the future, Gilbert Town Council will hold off going to voters this November with a $465M transportation and infrastructure bond.  Instead, an ad hoc Citizens Transportation Task Force recommended Gilbert put the bond on the November 2nd, 2021 ballot. Council would take a formal vote in June 2021 to do so.  Postponing the election would delay project design by six months, which is not a significant impact, Public Works Director Jessica Marlow told the Council.   The town’s funding for transportation projects come from a combination of sources, including Proposition 400 funds, the Highway User Revenue…

Awards & Accolades  1. High Street Residential (HSR), the residential subsidiary of Trammell Crow Company, and MetLife Investment Management announced that the Astor at Osborn, a 191-unit apartment building at 7th Avenue and Osborn Road in Phoenix, was awarded LEED Gold certification.   Groundbreakings  2. Construction of the proposed $2M playground marks one of the first projects to break ground for the renovation of downtown Phoenix’s Margaret T. Hance Park. City officials say construction will continue with precautions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city’s effort to make the “smart park” of the future will come with a total price tag of $100M. The playground is expected to be complete in December 2020.  Progress Reports  3. Optima is debuting an enhanced virtual…

Contributed Exclusively to AZBEX by Stephanie Hertzberg  What if much of your job description centered around your ability to connect people and opportunities? And what if one day in mid-March you were told that you can’t do that in person anymore, only through video, calls, emails and messaging. In fact, you can’t really leave your home or come closer than six feet to another person.   Gone are the business lunches, getting-to-know-you coffees, networking events and strategic face-to-face meetings. “If anyone’s world has changed it’s the business development profession, but at the same time we have always been the most flexible,” said Brooke (Vink) Taff, Business Development Manager for Wood Patel.  Having to constantly think on their feet, work from anywhere and…

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX  Pinal County recently heard and approved plans for a new 10MW solar photovoltaic energy generation facility at its April 15th Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.  The project, named Chirreon Energy Solar Facility, will be located on Edwin Road, about 1.5 miles west of the North Oracle Road intersections with Edwin Road and Eagle Crest Boulevard. The land is owned by the Arizona State Land Department and the intention is to secure a long-term commercial lease. A formal lease agreement is expected in June 2020.  Chirreon Energy LLC – also shown in the submitted documents as Torch Clean Energy – submitted three separate requests to the county in…

Policy & Stimulus News  Union Pushes for Enhanced Worker Protection  The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades is demanding that Congress act now to protect workers and their families by subsidizing health plans and providing stronger oversight of sanitation and safety protocols for ongoing construction sites. (Source: IUPAT)  GPEC Calling for Another $250B in Stimulus  The Greater Phoenix Economic Council, along with other economic development advocacy organizations in Arizona, have called on the federal government to approve a second $250B stimulus immediately to give struggling businesses a lifeline. GPEC also is working to streamline resources to help businesses apply more quickly the next round. (Source: Phoenix Business Journal) …

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX  Salem, Oregon-based Link Senior Development is planning a new 211.5KSF senior care facility at the NWC of Yuma Road and Sundance Parkway in Buckeye called Sundance Senior Living.  The site is located at 22150 Sundance Parkway, which is south of the Sundance Golf Clubhouse in the Sundance Community Master Plan.  Ankrom Moisan Architects, the applicant and architect for the project, recently submitted a site plan to the City of Buckeye for approval on behalf of Link Senior Development.   Sundance Senior Living campus will consist of a single building ranging from one to three stories in height. The building will house 102 independent living, approximately 75 assisted…

By Wayne Schutsky for Scottsdale Progress  As Scottsdale city leaders grapple with the financial implications of the coronavirus crisis, they also are weighing whether or not to delay infrastructure projects connected to the $319M bond approved by voters last November.  The city has already approved some smaller bond projects — including some needed fire department expenditures — but was planning to spend the bulk of bond proceeds over the next five years.  But during a hearing on next year’s city budget, Councilman Guy Phillips suggested delaying bond projects amid the economic uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic.  An early draft of the city’s next budget presented to City Council showed it allocating $241.5M from…

Awards & Accolades  1. Winslow+Partners received an award for achieving Green Business Platinum level. The City of Phoenix offers a Green Business Leader Program, which is a voluntary sustainability certification for local businesses to receive recognition for waste diversion, water conservation, energy efficiency, transportation, and sustainability awareness. Before the project, Winslow+Partners had multiple sustainability programs, with a score of 25 points in the Phoenix Green Business Leader Program. By April 2019, the firm achieved 51 points, earning Platinum certification.  Boards & Commissions  2. Keith Woods, president of KB Woods Public Relations, won a contested race for SRP’s Board of Directors as chairman of the Power Committee. The SRP Elections…