Legislation & Regulations

Last month, the Biden Administration announced new regulations aimed at protecting workers from heat-related illnesses. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will launch a process to create rules for a workplace heat standard. OSHA will …

If the infrastructure bill currently under consideration in Congress is passed, Amtrak officials have said the rail service may once again provide passenger transport between Phoenix and Tucson for the first time since 1996. Phoenix …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News New PPP Extension Leads to Pushing for Bigger Loans The House last week passed the PPP Extension Act of 2021. If approved and signed into law, the measure will extend …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News Lenders Push SBA About Loan Delays A coalition of lender groups has urged the Small Business Administration to act to clear thousands of Paycheck Protection Program loans currently being held …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News Senate Passes Relief Package The U.S. Senate this weekend passed the $1.9T COVID-19 stimulus and relief bill backed by the Biden Administration. The vote was 50-49 along party lines. The …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News What’s Next for $1.9T Relief Package? Potential changes could be in store for the Small Business Administration‘s Paycheck Protection Program under the Biden Administration’s proposed new $1.9T stimulus and relief …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News What’s Next for $1.9T Relief Package? Now that the House has passed its version of the $1.9T release package sought by the Biden Administration and congressional Democrats, the bill moves …

A bill in support of the North-South Corridor in Pinal County has won approval from the Arizona House of Representatives. The proposed freeway would run from I-10 in Picacho to US 60 in the Gold …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News PPP Delays Frustrating Ariz. Businesses As of Feb. 21, 1.9 million Paycheck Protection Program loans, totaling $140B across the country, have been approved by the Small Business Administration. Arizona businesses …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  Six Things to Know About PPP Loans, Taxes  Arizona Certified Tax Law Specialist Giselle Alexander recently offered up six things businesses should be aware of concerning Paycheck Protection Program loans and taxes. In summary:  Expenses …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News Delays Causing PPP Application Issues Gusto, a payroll and benefits provider, reports more than half of small business owners in a survey of 1,093 firms, have not yet received their …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News Arizona PPP Loans Jump From January 24th-31st, Paycheck Protection Program loans in Arizona surged from 4,640 approvals to 10,279, according to information from the Small Business Administration. Loan values grew …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  Glendale Wants to Use CARES Act Funds for Homelessness  Glendale’s Community Services Department has proposed a pilot program to curb homelessness by devoting $3.2M of a one-time grant fund through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  Expiring Aid Could Create Eviction Explosion  An end to aid for renters could lead to a spike in evictions for Arizona renters. Maricopa County has run out of funds in its $30M …

Economic News  Good News in Affordable Housing  A recent report from MRI Software offers some hope for the affordable housing sector. Rent payments last month reached past 80 percent year-over-year for the first time since June. Payments rose to 82 …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  Phoenix May Extend Sky Harbor Rent Relief  Having already reduced rents for concession companies at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport through the end of the year, Phoenix City Council wants to ensure companies are …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  New Aid Announced as Eviction Ban Ends  Just as Arizona’s moratorium on tenant evictions ends, Gov. Doug Ducey’s office has announced $7M in new aid for renters and landlords. The Rental Property Owner Preservation …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  Glendale Introduces Landlord, Tenant Relief  The Glendale City Council approved a program designed to help tenants and property owners apply for assistance if they’ve been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Property Owner …

Economic News  Phoenix Commercial Leasing Remains Bogged Down  Phoenix CRE is slogging away amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with some deals continuing to move forward but many major deals remaining stalled. Andrew Cheney, principal for Lee & Associates, says almost any …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  SBA Makes Some Smaller Loan Forgiveness Easier  The Small Business Administration released a streamlined Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness application for some loans under $50K — but small-business groups and experts say it still leaves …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  Tempe Launches $1.1M Small Business Grant Program  The City of Tempe has allocated $1.1M to create the Tempe Small Business Grant Program to help businesses impacted by COVID-19. The program will assist small businesses with up to …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  Gilbert to Start Spending Relief Funds  Gilbert will begin spending some of its nearly $30M in coronavirus relief funding, three months after the town received the money. The Town Council will spend $18M …

Budget, Policy & Stimulus News  When to Apply for PPP Loan Forgiveness?  The SBA’s formulas for loan forgiveness, and businesses’ individual forecasts, have created confusion as to when may be the best time to apply. A …