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Legislation will inject $425 million into economy for growth-stage businesses
During the past few years, Arizona has done more than any state to position itself for strong economic growth once the national economy recovers. In particular, the broad-based tax reforms and new economic development tools contained in last year’s competitiveness package laid a strong foundation on which to grow the state’s economy.
Cardon announces $18.2 million fed grant to ACA for small business loans
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has awarded an $18.2 million grant to the Arizona Commerce Authority, which President and CEO Don Cardon said the authority plans to use as the foundation of a revolving loan fund for small businesses.
Groups push for affordable, consumer-driven health exchange
Consumer and health groups are pushing for a state-run health insurance exchange that they say should be transparent and not dominated by the insurance industry.
Small-business leader: Arizona needs law giving state contract preference to local firms
Dollars spent with local businesses have a far greater impact on Arizona’s economy, tax revenues and jobs, and that applies even when state government puts out contracts for bid, the head of a small-business group said Friday.
Brewer asks feds for fire disaster declarations
Gov. Jan Brewer is asking the U.S. Small Business Administration for wildfire disaster declarations for Cochise and Apache counties.
Brewer was right to veto health insurance bill
I suspected Gov. Jan Brewer would veto SB1593 and applaud her for doing so.
This bill was yet another example of a misguided Legislature embracing a feel-good piece of legislation that was promoted by health insurance reform advocates, such as Dr. Eric Novack.
Small business’ top 10 legislative victories in 2011
The 50th Arizona Legislature has boldly staked its claim to being the most pro-small business Legislature in Arizona’s history. On issue after issue, legislators advanced measures to relieve the tax and regulatory burdens on the engines of our economic recovery, Arizona’s small businesses. Even in instances where lawmakers mistakenly pursued bad policy, they did so with the right motive in min[...]
Forecast for Arizona economy shows gradual gains
A state economic projection for the next two years is favorable but tempered by continued weaknesses in construction, as Arizona makes a gradual pullout from the recession.
Senate OKs bill limiting state general funds
The Arizona Senate has given preliminary approval of a bill that would limit state government spending.
Deal-closing fund may be just the start for Commerce Authority
The $25 million deal-closing fund that forms a pillar of the new Arizona Commerce Authority is eye-catching, but may just be a drop in the bucket.
Some say ‘incentives,’ others call them ‘bribes’
Like many public-private partnerships, the Arizona Commerce Authority will be responsible not only for attracting new businesses, but also for doling out incentives. Others say the incentives many states use to lure new companies ignore the needs of businesses already in the state, especially small businesses, while paying their competition to move in next door.
Electorate’s message: No more stimulus packages
Simply put, the 2010 election results show that the American people (and Arizonans) know that government central planners cannot spend and stimulate our way out of recession and reject the notion that these same government workers are qualified to pick winners and losers in tax policy.
