JULY 2020 | VOL 6, ISSUE 7
By The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
BECAUSE A
HEALTHY BUSINESS BECAUSE A CLIMATE AND A HEALTHY THRIVING BUSINESS COMMUNITY CLIMATE ARE INSEPARABLE AND A
THRIVING COMMUNITY ARE INSEPARABLE
ATHENA AWARDS
NORTHERN ARIZONA HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
CANYONEERS JOINT SESSION INC CHAMBER MEETING WITH CITY
50 YEARS AND OF ADVENTURE COUNCIL MAYOR
CHAMBER BOARD COVID-19 RELIEF
2020 BOARD CHAMBER AND AZMEMBERS SNOWBOWL FYP BOARD PARTNER ON GRANT PROGRAM
CHAMBER ADVOCACY
FEDERAL RELIEF ROUND FOUR ON THE WAY
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CONTENTS
BUSINESS INFLUENCERS
50 YEARS OF CANYONEERS PAGE 8
SNOWBOWL PARTNERSHIP PAGE 11
05 06 07 08
LETTER FROM THE BOARD NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS YES, WE'RE OPEN CAMPAIGN CANYONEERS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS
BE SUMMER BE CHAMBER PAGE 14
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SNOWBOWL PARTNERSHIP BUSINESS ADVOCACY: FEDERAL RELIEF UPDATE USMCA COMES INTO FORCE BE SUMMER BE CHAMBER
ON THE COVER: THE STAVELEY'S: GAYLORD, JOY, CAMERON, LAURIE LEE, AND MORGAN PHOTO BY RAINA PAGE
GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JULY 2020 | VOL 6, ISSUE 7 |
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CHAMBER SIGNS LEADERSHIP PLEDGE INTRODUCTION @7000ft is published monthly by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce with revenue from member dues, advertising and sponsorships. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents of this publication, by any method or purpose whatsoever, without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. Only Chamber members can advertise in @7000ft. To inquire about advertising please contact the Chamber.
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce 101 W. Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 774-4505 info@flagstaffchamber.com flagstaffchamber.com
CHAMBER LEADERSHIP Officers
Directors
Chair Mark Love Massage Envy
Monica Attridge Hozhoni Foundation
1st Vice Chair Clay McCauslin KAFF/KMGN Radio 2nd Vice Chair Guillermo Cortes Shepard-Wesnitzer, Inc. Treasurer Mark Harris
Terry Marxen Chevrolet Cadillac
Immediate Past Chairman Brenda Carter APS
Ex-Officio Dr. Colleen Smith President, Coconino Community College Randon Cupp Foundation Chair, Foothills Bank Stephen Thompson Collins Real Estate
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Doug Bonate BBVA Compass Bank Colleen Brady Arizona Daily Sun Walter Crutchfield Vintage Partners Michael Horton Suddenlink by Altice Jacquie Kellogg West USA Realty Cecily Maniaci Toasted Owl Tyler Mark WestPac Construction Palmer Nackard Nackard Companies Fred Reese Little America Hotel Megan Roach FYP Director Richard Sanchez State Farm Insurance Flo Spyrow Northern Arizona Healthcare Kelly Tulloss Sutcliffe Floral
WBA Community Ambassador
Misti Warner Warner Companies
Tanya Christie National Bank Williams
Bryce Warren Twin Arrows Casino Resort
BOARD OF DIRECTORS LAUNCHES CHAMBER FUNDRAISER The Greater Flagstaff Chamber has been helping businesses be successful since 1891 and is designed to drive the economic vibrancy of our region by providing valuable resources and assistance to businesses and non profits of all sizes. Just as they are financially challenged by COVID, so is the Chamber. As a result, a fundraiser was designed to help the Chamber survive and maintain its critical mission. This is a way your business can help the Chamber. Every dollar raised will make an impact. Thank you.
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NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS ROUTE 66 FABWERKS
DUALITY PUBLIC RELATIONS
NEW ROOTS FITNESS & PT
2355 N STEVES BLVD STE D FLAGSTAFF , AZ 86004 (928) 440-4250 www.flagstaffcustomfabrication.com
2700 S WOODLANDS VILLAGE STE 300 FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001 (602) 456-2959 www.dualitypr.com
2605 E 7TH AVE FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86004 (928) 853-2279 www.newrootspersonaltraining.com/
TRAILSIDE APARTMENTS
COUNTRY CLUB LIVING
600 W UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS DR FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001 (928) 433-0130 www.livetrailsideapts.com/
FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001 (702) 218-4302 www.//n2pub.com/
Welcome to the Chamber! RED WING SHOES
GROUND BREAKING
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1. Highgate Senior Living - Groundbreaking
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YES, WE'RE OPEN
STAY UP TO DATE!
ENews @flgchamber
@flagstaffchamber
EVERY OTHER TUESDAY IN YOUR INBOX!
GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JULY 2020 | VOL 6, ISSUE 7 |
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LEADERSHIP @
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Advancing a Strong Community
Photo credit: Raina Page
CANYONEERS INC 50 YEARS OF ADVENTURE
WRITING BY GAYLORD STAVELY
7195 N US HWY 89, FLAGSTAFF AZ 86004 (928) 526-0924
WHAT BROUGHT YOU INTO YOUR BUSINESS OR PROFESSION?
that our passengers and employees alike have told us “changed their lives.”
Food Handlers— and sometimes psychologists.
A combination of exploration, discovery, and opportunity. In the summer of 1951, two other boys and I decided to drive out west and see Grand Canyon. A backcountry shortcut from Colorado to Arizona took us down through the Monument Valley country where by chance I met Joan Nevills, whose father Norman had conducted whitewater expeditions on several western rivers.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT IN YOUR PROFESSION?
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN OR TO BALANCE OUT YOUR WORKLIFE?
HOW LONG HAS YOUR COMPANY BEEN IN BUSINESS OR HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS PROFESSION? Canyoneers was established in 1938. Joan and I were married in 1954, and until 1971. In 1956, I took my first river trips. In 1957 I became a partner in the company, and bought it out. During a 1978 river trip I met Joy and we married a few weeks later. We operated the company until 2018 when we turned day-to--day operations over to my oldest son Cameron and his wife Laurie Lee. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE YOUR PROFESSIONAL PATH IN SOME WAY, WOULD YOU? IF NO, WHY NOT? Definitely not. My life has been, and is being, a series of unique experiences and opportunities in one of the grandest regions of our country. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR INDUSTRY? The uniqueness of it. The opportunity to work in and around Grand Canyon. Being able to provide an experience
Anyone wanting to get into it as a job or profession would need to have or acquire a lot of specific technical, paramedical and safety skills and qualifications Those are best acquired by either working for an authorized concessioner like Canyoneers, or being the child or grandchild of a company owner. Plan to work hard and love what you do. TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR PERSONAL SUCCESS? Hard work and persistence. Our company’s first two decades were physically grueling and not very successful. Coping with the regulatory, environmental, operational, and logistical changes during the 1960s, ‘70s, and ‘80s, required a lot of 15hour days, red eye flights, and slews of meetings. During the most recent 42 years, Joy and I have worked hands-on, shoulder-to-shoulder, to meet the company’s opportunities and challenges. We have loved every minute. DOES YOUR WORK DIFFER FROM THE EXTERNAL PERCEPTION OF WHAT YOU DO? IF YES, HOW SO? I think so. It’s 24 /7 and really demanding. In addition to “reading” the river and being skilled boat handlers, commercial river pilots and guides must know CPR, ground and air communications and evacuation procedures, and be currently certified Wilderness First Responders, and
Projects related to the life I chose –or that chose me. In 1970 I wrote Broken Waters Sing about our Centennial retracing of the 1869 “voyage of discovery” down the Green and Colorado Rivers. More recently I’ve written The Rapids and the Roar, a history of river running, 1825 —1970 and Taking Big Red, about political and environmental issues since 1970. I recently finished restoring one of my cataract boats that dates from 1950. WHAT INSPIRES YOU OR REMOTIVATES YOU? Optimism. When Cameron and Laurie Lee took over the day-today management of the company, both of them already had decades of experience in river operations and management. And about a year ago my grandson, Morgan, “came on board.” WHY DID YOU CHOSE TO PUT DOWN ROOTS IN FLAGSTAFF? In 1966, Cam and Scott, then ages 11 and 8, were attending grade school at the nearby uranium mill’s “company town” just south of Mexican Hat, Utah. The nearest K-12 school was fifty miles away, at Blanding. The few older kids who went there for higher grades had to board with Blanding families. We didn’t want that, and we knew Flagstaff would be a better base for our Grand Canyon river trips.
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WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF BEING IN THE FLAGSTAFF COMMUNITY? Through the years Joy and I sometimes talked about retiring to mountain country somewhere in the world that had moderate temperatures and a lot of sunshine. As time passed, we realized that we already live there. We both like staying close to The Canyon and what’s going on there. Joy loves hiking and biking and walking her new German Shepherd. WHAT PART OF YOUR LIFE TODAY COULD YOU NEVER HAVE ANTICIPATED 10 YEARS AGO? Slowing down, I suppose.
Gaylord and Joy Staveley on the river, 2006
DO YOU HAVE A RULE OR MANTRA YOU STRIVE TO LIVE BY?? I‘ve always liked “The problem is the opportunity.” WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO BE IN 10 YEARS? A lot of the river companies are family-owned, and have recently been bringing a “next generation” into their management and operation. I’d like to watch that happen with Canyoneers.
LEAD. INSPIRE.
We’re proud to support Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and the work they do to foster a strong and thriving business climate now and far into the future. 10
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Change.
AZ SNOWBOWL AND CHAMBER ANNOUNCE RELIEF FUND As businesses continue to struggle with the effects of COVID-19, some are looking for ways to help. Arizona Snowbowl and the Greater Flagstaff Chamber announced that they are partnering to create the Arizona Snowbowl/Flagstaff Chamber COVID-19 Relief Fund, which will provide eight $7,500 grants to qualifying small businesses. “COVID-19 has created new challenges for everyone, including all of us at Snowbowl,” said Rob Linde, General Manager of Arizona Snowbowl. “As a part of our continued commitment to the local community, it was important for us to find a way to give back during these difficult times.” The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and Arizona Snowbowl have shared a longstanding partnership in the region since Snowbowl opened in 1938. The Chamber, founded in 1891 and dedicated to the mission of helping businesses be successful, became involved with Arizona Snowbowl from the start understanding its contribution to the region's economic success via tourism and visitation. Back in the day the Chamber leaders championed paving the road to the ski area in effort to 'attract more visitors'. When the opportunity arose to partner to help local tourism and outdoor recreation businesses survive this COVID pandemic, both Rob Linde, General Manager, Arizona Snowbowl and Julie Pastrick, President and Chief Executive Officer, Greater Flag Chamber, were thrilled to work together. The Arizona Snowbowl realized that giving back to the community could be possible through donating a percentage of season pass sales. The Chamber knows the business community, is connected to the decision makers and is a great conduit for access to the small businesses that really need financial support during these trying times. “Since 1891 the Greater Flagstaff Chamber has been helping businesses be successful. This grant program which partners two legendary private sector partners, will elevate the opportunity for many businesses to succeed. We’re thrilled to spread this great impact with Arizona Snowbowl,” remarked Julie Pastrick, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Flagstaff Chamber. In April, the ski resort pledged to donate 1% of its initial season pass sales through May 29 to local small businesses affected by COVID-19. During the sale, Snowbowl raised $30,000 which was matched dollar-for-dollar by resort owner James Coleman’s Coleman Charitable Foundation. Applications for the relief fund opened on July 14 at 9 a.m. on the Flagstaff Chamber’s website. To qualify, businesses must have 25 or fewer employees on current payroll, be located in the Greater Flagstaff area, and have not received assistance from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) or Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Additional qualifying criteria will be listed on both organizations’ websites. “As one of the premier attractions in Flagstaff and Northern Arizona, Snowbowl has always been an integral part of the local business community. We’re proud to partner with Snowbowl during these challenging times to provide another way for hard-hit small businesses to receive financial assistance,” said Julie Pastrick, President of the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. The relief fund, is a collaborative effort set forth as yet another way that Snowbowl reaches local communities through charitable giving. During the 2019/2020 season, the resort raised $25,000 for non-profit organizations in Arizona from its Community Benefit Days. Snowbowl also continues to provide free season passes to guests ages 10 and under and 75 and older, as well as free skiing and lessons for local 5th grade students as a part of a partnership with the Flagstaff Unified School District. For more information on the relief fund and planned new improvements for the 2020/2021 season, please visit snowbowl.ski. To learn more about the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, please visit flagstaffchamber.com
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CHAMBER ADVOCACY: FEDERAL RELIEF #4 COMING At the time of this piece, early in the week of July 20, 2020, the U.S. Senate and U.S. House have convened in Washington, D.C. with hopes of passing a fourth federal relief bill in coming days. Congress typically takes a break, or “recess,” as they like to call it, every August, and elected officials return to their states and districts at that time to update citizens on the federal work product. Therefore, we greatly anticipate some form of legislation will make its way out of the halls of Congress in the next 10 business days, and be on its way to the President’s desk for signature. Both parties will signal great success, and we will be off and running with fall re-election campaigns.
To date, more than 81,000 PPP loans have been processed in Arizona totaling more than $8.624 billion in loan monies disbursed to businesses. Additionally, more than 900,000 individual applications have been filed for unemployment compensation since mid-March totaling $6.5 billion in unemployment compensation paid out to unemployed Arizonans.
Important for Chamber Members, the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce has been lobbying for key elements to be included in the next federal relief legislation. While there is no guarantee we will get these items across the finish line, most have bipartisan support. We will keep you posted on the outcome. Two of the Greater Flagstaff Chamber’s key concerns to be addressed in any forthcoming federal legislation include Liability Protection Against Unwarranted Lawsuits and Support for Small & Midsize Employers. Liability Protection Against Unwarranted Lawsuits As if the impacts of COVID19 were not hurtful enough to businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, health care providers, and many others, all of these now need “safe harbor” from unwarranted COVID19 related lawsuits, when making good-faith efforts to follow applicable public health guidelines. Safe harbor legislation will ensure bad actors can be held accountable, while at the same time protecting those working to follow public health guidance. Support for Small & Midsize Employers Employers across the country continue to struggle with the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus. The impact, however, is not the same across industries. As of June, some sectors of the economy have essentially restored all the jobs lost since February. Other sectors – particularly those most impacted by closures and social distancing requirements where remote work is not possible – have faced catastrophic revenue and job loss. As part of the CARES Act, Congress appropriately provided broad-based support for employers through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, the Main Street Lending Facilities, the Employee Retention Tax Credit, and other tax provisions. At this time, it is appropriate for Congress to take a more targeted approach: closing the gaps that existed in the CARES Act programs and providing additional relief for those businesses that cannot return to more normal operations as a result of the social distancing requirements necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Specifically, the Chamber urges Congress to consider the following proposals: Closing the CARES Act Gaps: • While the PPP was intended to assist all small business employers, including nonprofits, non-profits who are not organized as 501(c)(3) organizations have been excluded from the program. Congress should extend the deadline for applying for PPP funds through the end of the year and make all non-profit employers eligible to apply for a loan. • Congress should also make the PPP loan forgiveness process easier for the smallest small businesses by automatically forgiving loans under $150,000 or $250,000. • The CARES Act prohibited an employer from receiving both a PPP loan and an employee retention tax credit. While noemployer should be able to receive a PPP loan and a tax credit for the same expense, allowing PPP borrowers to access employee retention tax credits after exhausting their PPP loans will help small businesses who continue to face (cont.)
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constrained revenue. • In too many cases, small businesses in low-income and rural areas, as well as those without traditional banking relationships – including minority-owned businesses had difficulty accessing the PPP. The bipartisan Recharge and Empower Local Page 4 of 18 Innovation and Entrepreneurs Fund (RELIEF) for Main Street Act would provide $50 billion to seed and scale locally relief programs for small employers. The Chamber urges Congress to pass this initiative. • Replenish the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and require SBA to remove the $150,000 loan cap for the program that is authorized to provide loans up to $2 million. Providing Additional Relief for Employers: • Congress can build on the aid provided in the CARES Act to help employers address urgent liquidity needs, including by allowing the monetization of additional tax attributes like general business credits. This would provide businesses timely access to tax benefits existing on their books. In addition, Congress should provide tax relief for losses due to the Coronavirus pandemic; and modify international tax provisions to maximize the benefits of CARES Act tax relief. • The CARES Act created an Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) that provided an effective $5,000 refundable tax credit to employers negatively impacted by the economic fallout from the pandemic. Congress should increase the size of the credit, make the credit more flexible by allowing small and midsize employers to claim the credit irrespective of whether the employee is “providing services,” and expanding the universe of eligible employers by reducing the reduction in gross receipts required to access the credit. Congress can simultaneously make the expanded credit more targeted by reducing the benefit for employers who are experiencing less of a revenue loss. • While the CARES Act mostly focused on aiding small businesses with their payroll costs, for many, their fixed expenses, like rent, are a significant burden. At the same time, revenue is constrained as a result of social distancing requirements. Congress should consider a modest addition to the ERTC for ERTC eligible employers to cover a limited amount of fixed costs. • As part of the CARES Act, numerous tax provisions were enacted on a temporary basis to help businesses address liquidity issues. Given the expected time required to return to the pre-pandemic economy, a further extension of these tax provisions is
USMCA COMES INTO FORCE The USMCA has come into force on July 1st of this year, marking a new era of trade for our state of Arizona. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, replaces the current NAFTA agreement that governed trade in North America. It aims to create a more balanced environment for trade, support high-paying jobs for Americans, and grow the North American economy. The USMCA contains modern provisions in important new chapters on digital trade, good regulatory practices, cyber security, small and medium-sized enterprises, environment, and labor. The new digital trade chapter contains the strongest disciplines of any international agreement, providing a firm foundation for the expansion and investment in innovative products and services where Arizona companies and the United States hold a competitive advantage. The USMCA strengthens and modernizes intellectual property protections and increases statuary penalties for violating trade secrets or trading counterfeit goods, protecting the intellectual property rights of businesses. More than 228,000 jobs in Arizona are dependant on trade and investment with Mexico and Canada, with a total two way trade of more than $20 billion in the year 2018. Since NAFTA, trade between the North American partners has flourished, evidenced by a 296.9 percent increase in trade with an accompanying 280.8 percent growth of exports to Canada and Mexico as well. To learn more about the USMCA, please visit www.trade.gov/usmca and www.usmcanow.org/ GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | JULY 2020 | VOL 6, ISSUE 7 |
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BE SUMMER, BE CHAMBER Small Business Drives Our Character
GROUND BREAKING
ER TREAT
UMM SWEET S
S
PONDEROSA PAWN TRADING
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