OCTOBER 2020 | VOL 7, ISSUE 10
By The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
BECAUSE A
HEALTHY BUSINESS CLIMATE AND A
THRIVING COMMUNITY ARE INSEPARABLE
ODEGAARD SEWING
STITCHING TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY OF FLAGSTAFF
NATIONAL MANUFACTURING MONTH CHAMBER ADVOCACY
PROTECTING BUSINESS INTERESTS
Arizona Census: What you need to know
Every Arizonan counts The census counts every person living in Arizona.
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Your civic duty
$675 billion each year
$3,000 per person
The U.S. Constitution mandates that everyone in the country be counted every 10 years.
Distribution of $675 billion in federal funds is based on each state’s population.
It’s estimated up to $3,000 per person, per year is at stake for Arizona.
$20.5 billion
Arizona’s future
Arizona representation
More than $20.5 billion annually in federal funding supports critical programs in Arizona.
Census data gives leaders vital information to make decisions about building community centers, opening businesses and planning for our state’s future.
The census is used to redraw legislative districts and determine Arizona’s representation in Washington D.C.
7000ft | OCTOBER 2020 | VOL 7, ISSUE 10 | GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
CONTENTS
BUSINESS INFLUENCERS
ODEGAARD SEWING PAGE 8
Adoption of Public Safety Development Fees
September 15, 2020 CHAMBER ADVOCACY PAGE 12
05 06 07 08
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE NEW MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS CHAMBER EVENTS ODEGAARD SEWING CENTER: 50 YEARS
BE COZY, BE CHAMBER PAGE 15
10 11 13 14
ROTARY NAVAJO WATER PROJECT MANUFACTURING MONTH SPOTLIGHTS CHAMBER ADVOCACY: FEES AND FUNDING BE COZY BE CHAMBER
ON THE COVER: CHARLIE AND ODEGAARD, OREGAARD SEWING CENTER PHOTO BY RAINA PAGE
GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2020 | VOL 7, ISSUE 10 |
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SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES 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
DON'T FORGET TO KEEP UP WITH FLAGSTAFFOPEN.COM FOR UPDATED LOCAL BUSINESS HOURS AND COVID-19 PRACTICES! HAVE AN UPDATE FOR US? EMAIL ASHLEY@FLAGSTAFFCHAMBER.COM WITH YOUR BUSINESS NAME AND INFORMATION!
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7000ft | OCTOBER 2020 | VOL 7, ISSUE 10 | GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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
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
VIEW FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK OCTOBER IS MANUFACTURING MONTH, LET'S CELEBRATE! For more than 10 years the Greater Flagstaff Chamber has run the Northern Arizona Manufacturing Partnership comprised of local manufacturers who make a diverse list of products. So diverse, that Flagstaff is noted to be a tad more 'recession resistant' because we continue to need the products our local industries are making such as pet foods, medical devices, ice cream cones, machines to make medical devices and that list goes on. This month the Chamber launched our LOCAL MAKERS series which celebrates the resiliency and huge economic impact our manufacturing community delivers. You can find the start of our blog in printed form in this edition of @7000ft magazine which features Joy Cone and Mother Road Brewery. Many more stories are coming over the next 30 days and you can also like our facebook page to read about them easily at flagstaffchamber/facebook. Today, small businesses are taking every step they can to keep their businesses open safely and productively. The concerns, challenges and issues they deal with every day are mostly NEW and shake their confidence about their future. We're here to help and now more than ever SHOP LOCAL BUY President + CEO CHAMBER is so, so important. Here are a few tax revenue statistics from the City of Flagstaff: Retail is up 23.9% with auto sales comprising the hottest sales category; construction is really helping us survive the pandemic with a 49% sales tax revenue increase. No other category of business is outperforming last year by 50% other than construction! We now know that preserving and growing our construction industry will be KEY in the coming months since it is forecasted that tourism, lodging, and restaurants could have a slower recovery than many other types of business. Additionally, BBB tax revenues August '19 to August '20 are down 20.8%. On a brighter note, however, consumer confidence beginning Q4 is definitely on the uptick at more than 55%.
Julie Pastrick
In a brief recap, when COVID-19 hit, the Chamber immediately began a one-on-one check in with each of our member investors to answer your questions, to let you know we are here for you, to ask what resources you needed and if you knew about the Federal financial assistance coming to navigate those waters. Your responses defined our actions day-by-day and month-by-month. We also coalesced around our banking community to discuss how they could support local business--what specific tools did they have--even though we knew Federal monies were on their way. This was extremely helpful dialogue and resultantly, we worked hand in hand with many small local businesses to make sure you made the best effort to successfully receive funding. In addition, the Flagstaff Chamber Foundation, a 501c3 tax deductible entity, partnered with Arizona Snowbowl to solicit applications from businesses in the outdoor recreation and tourism industries to qualify for COVID Relief grants that totalled $60,000. What a wonderful opportunity and what a great impact those dollars made for so many! We still have much work to accomplish. Recent data from the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity shows that Coconino County has the highest unemployment rate of all Arizona counties and in a recent Brookings Institution study Flagstaff ranked the #5 college town out of 10 to be hit the hardest by the recession largely due to a higher than average reliance on the travel and tourism industry. At the Chamber we hold strong to our value that a Healthy Business Climate and a Vibrant Community are inseparable. That value points me to the cover feature you see this month which celebrates Odegaard's Sewing Center and the Odegaard family. When you vote early or go to the polls in November, please vote for the person who will help diversify our economy and recognize, as a small business owner himself, the huge struggles we face with a $15 wage on the horizon beginning, January 1, 2021. Together, we have never had a task this big before. Bringing our economy back and retaining as many businesses as we can will take honest and open conversation with actions that make owning and running a business more affordable in Flagstaff. Keeping families employed and creating new jobs must be a top priority for all of us in this community to ensure that the future we want for our children will be a prosperous one. Businesses cannot absorb more fees, taxes, or additional costs to operate right now. Recovering and rebounding further will require a hard look at any new fees or taxes that stymie growth or make the cost of housing higher. Your investment and trust in the Greater Flagstaff Chamber is valued and appreciated. Through your financial support we work hard for you while you are hard at work. Together our voice is loud and strong in support of a competitive business climate. Thank you for your support.
GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2020 | VOL 7, ISSUE 10 |
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NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS
Welcome to the Chamber! SAGE HOME
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BETTER PLACE FORESTS
FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001 SAGEHOMEFLAGSTAFF.ORG/
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RE/MAX PEAK PROPERTIES PAT ROSE
CARQUEST AUTO PARTS COCONINO AUTO SUPPLY
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P.O. BOX 31335 FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86003 (928) 527-8489
713 N BEAVER ST, STE 1 FLAGSTAFF, AZ 86001 (928) 440-3302
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CHAMBER EVENTS
RED WING SHOES
NEW MEMBER EVENT
GROUND BREAKING
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2 1. Highgate Senior Living - Groundbreaking 2. New Member Connection - September
STAY UP TO DATE!
ENews @flgchamber
@flagstaffchamber
EVERY OTHER TUESDAY IN YOUR INBOX!
GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2020 | VOL 7, ISSUE 10 |
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Advancing a Strong Community
Photo credit: Raina Page
CHARLIE ODEGAARD ODEGAARD'S SEWING CENTER WHAT BROUGHT YOU INTO YOUR BUSINESS OR PROFESSION? I joined the family business full time while I was attending NAU. I always worked in the family business as a kid, whether running a spool of thread across the street to Babbitt’s Department Store on San Francisco Street for grandma or going up to the reservation helping my Dad fix sewing machines at the schools. HOW LONG HAS YOUR COMPANY BEEN IN BUSINESS OR HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS PROFESSION? Odegaard’s Sewing Center been in Flagstaff since 1969 when my grandparents opened the door at 108 N. San Francisco Street. IF YOU COULD GO BACK AND CHANGE YOUR PROFESSIONAL PATH IN SOME WAY, WOULD YOU? IF NO, WHY NOT? No. I enjoy going to work, unlocking the door at 8am and turning off the lights as I lock up in the evening. We’ve been blessed for the sewing industry has changed from a necessity of making garments to the hobby of making quilts. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR INDUSTRY? The customers; they are like family. Sometimes we see someone on a daily basis or every other day. The Odegaard customers are so loyal in supporting our business and spending their dollars locally. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT IN YOUR PROFESSION?
2109 N Fourth St # 3, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 (928) 774-2331
Be prepared to work really hard and I would suggest to have the goal of owning your building that houses your business. Also involve your family, if I don’t have someone to pass along the business to and no one wants it, what do I really have? DOES YOUR WORK DIFFER FROM THE EXTERNAL PERCEPTION OF WHAT YOU DO? IF YES, HOW SO? Yes, for there is so much more that happens in our business than what people see, from ringing up the cash register to repairing sewing machines to vacuuming the sales floor. WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN OR TO BALANCE OUT YOUR WORKLIFE? IIn my limited time I have fun spending time with my family. I was blessed to be elected on the Flagstaff City Council in 2016 and I have enjoyed being on the City Council and fulfilling my promise of getting things done for our community and the opportunity as the next Mayor of Flagstaff. I’m also involved in several community service organizations.
community. When there is a call out for a need in our community, we respond. WHAT PART OF YOUR LIFE TODAY COULD YOU NEVER HAVE ANTICIPATED 10 YEARS AGO? Serving on the Flagstaff City Council for I had no interest in the political world. I was very involved in my church, where I was the Church Council President and led our congregation that was in financial difficulties with no Pastor to being fiscally sound and the hiring of wife/husband Pastors that led an increase in memberships. DO YOU HAVE A RULE OR MANTRA YOU STRIVE TO LIVE BY? Treating everyone with respect and equally. WHERE DO YOU HOPE TO BE IN 10 YEARS? I’ll still be working at the shop in providing services and serving our community whether it’s in the political world and or community service in Flagstaff.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU OR REMOTIVATES YOU? My Dad; he is one of the hardest working people I know. WHY DID YOU CHOSE TO PUT DOWN ROOTS IN FLAGSTAFF? Family and I love Flagstaff. I cannot imagine living anywhere else. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF BEING IN THE FLAGSTAFF COMMUNITY? The diversity of the people and in my experience, the generosity of our GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | OCTOBER 2020 | VOL 7, ISSUE 10 |
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FLAGSTAFF ROTARY NAVAJO WATER PROJECT FUNDRAISER Rotary’s Navajo Water Project Auction a Big Success Rotary clubs of Flagstaff, Sedona, Sedona Village, and Verde Valley announced the recent online auction fundraiser to help bring clean running water to homes on the Navajo Nation was a big success. Proceeds from the auction and donations from generous members of the communities will fully fund water systems installations for nearly six homes in Arizona. Rotarian David Simmer, who led the effort, explained “Rotarians from the four clubs purchased gift certificates from local businesses and organizations to support them at this difficult time. Club members poured over $10,000 into the local economy. Part of our purpose was to return the favor for the support that they have given us in the past.” The clubs then offered the gift certificates in an auction they conducted online. Rotary is also appreciative of generous bidders, many of whom bid more than the value of the gift certificates, as well as cash donors to the cause. “Their participation made the auction a huge success for Navajo families who will receive hot and cold running water in their homes, many of whom for the first time.” Arizona Rotarians and The Rotary Foundation have partnered with the non-profit organization DigDeep since 2016 to assist in a massive, multi-year project to bring running water to remote Navajo Nation homes. Rotary provides funding and DigDeep coordinates the installations. The partnership has funded over 150 water systems on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico and Arizona. “Our primary goal is to bring clean running hot and cold water to the homes of Navajo families. If the Navajo family does not have electricity, which many in the area do not, we install solar panels to run the pump and heat water. In many situations the solar panels also provide the first electricity that the Navajo family has ever had,” said Simmer. For more information on the Navajo Water Project visit https:// www.navajowaterproject.org/. The Rotary Club of Flagstaff is an affiliate of Rotary International, a service organization that works to promote world health and eradication of polio, to support the education of young people, and to make the community a better place through a variety of local service activities. The Club meets at noon on Zoom the first and third Tuesdays of the month. For more information visit: https://FlagstaffRotary.com/.
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MANUFACTURING MONTH SPOTLIGHTS Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Julie Pastrick, sat down with Joe Pozar Jr., Plant Manager of Joy Cone Co., to discuss their 20-year success story establishing roots in Flagstaff, Arizona. Joy Cone came to town in 2000. Wanting to expand into the west, they saw Northern Arizona as a logistically perfect location. As distribution is primarily done through ground transportation, I40 was perfect for shipping to California and Texas. The success of the Flagstaff location has allowed Joy Cone to complete 5 expansions, breaking ground on their 6th last month. The new space will include 2 new silos, a batter room, and a brand new lab. Joy Cone occupies 30 acres locally with a total of 260,000 square feet at the plant in Flagstaff’s Air Park. Joy Cone’s rapid growth really began in 2016 when they acquired their competitor, BoDeans Baking Group, from Iowa and Mexico City. This expansion provided the opportunity to build a second facility in Hermitage, Pennsylvania, their headquarters, expanding their manufactured items to include cookies, sugar cones, inclusions, and pie shells, and really upped the ante in Flagstaff production as well. Joy Cone is diving headfirst into the industrial field, which saw 65 million mini sugar cones distributed since April of this year, making them the number 1 cone maker in America and the sole cone distributor for Trader Joe’s and Blue Bunny Ice Cream. Employing over 140 workers locally and 1,000 globally, Joy Cone has a very positive impact on Flagstaff’s manufacturing footprint and local economic development. When asked about the success that Joy Cone has had over the last two decades, Pozar stated, “You gotta be good at what you do, and we feel like we’re the best!” Thank you Joy Cone for your last 20 years locally and we celebrate National Manufacturing Month with you looking ahead to the next 20! Mother Road Brewing has been a staple in Flagstaff, Arizona since November of 2011. They started their business on November 17, 2011. Mother Road Brewing runs experimental batches and creates tomorrow's favorite beers. Their intimate tasting room allows you to relax with a pint and enjoy conversation, read a book from their small library, or play one of their board games. Mother Road has 4 mainline beers for 2020-2021. Tower Station IPA, Daily Driver Low Octane IPA, Conserve & Protect Golden Ale, and Limited Visibility Hazy IPA. Tower Station IPA was ranked as the #1 Independent Arizona Craft Beer by Nielsen, Conserve & Protect Golden Ale is a new beer that supports their partnership with Arizona Game and Fish Department and helps protect over 800 species of Arizona wildlife, and Limited Visibility Hazy IPA is a new beer that will be released in October 2020. There are two main areas to consider when designing a new beer. The brewing process and the story. The brewing process’ biggest challenge is to brew large quantities of a beer with consistency, which takes many ‘Standard Operating Procedures’ and high attention to detail. The story arrives by standing authentic to our mission, values, and history. The key to distributing a food or beverage product is to find the right distributor. Mother Road Brewing distributes its beer through Hensley Beverage Company. Hensley has shown an incredible amount of support over the years and has been instrumental in helping the growth of Mother Road. Beyond Hensley Beverage Co. the real support comes from the Arizona community. They feel this is what helped the growth of the Mother Road brand and allow their beers to become widely available across the state. Read more Manufactuiring Month interviews at www.flagstaffchamber.com/madeinflg/
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SHARE AND GROW WITH SCORE What is SCORE? SCORE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Thanks to the support from the SBA and because of the dedicated volunteers, we are able to provide mentoring to our clients at no cost. SCORE is dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals. Since 1964, we have provided education and mentorship to more than 11 million entrepreneurs. The mission of SCORE is to grow successful small businesses across America one business at a time. Beyond an individual working with a local or remote mentor, anyone can go to the SCORE site score.org where an abundance of information is available. The site offers free live and recorded webinars & interactive courses on demand on small business topics. Templates for Business Plans and Financial sheets can be downloaded for free. SCORE welcomes individuals to use their site for numerous tools that can help small business grow and improve their understanding of various business areas. The Northern Arizona Chapter of SCORE has local mentors that live and work in Flagstaff and these mentors enjoy having a successful working relationship with the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. An individual can reach a mentor by contacting the local SCORE Chapter at www.northernarizona.score. org or 928.778.7438.
Share your expertise. Volunteer with SCORE and help local business owners. Don’t hesitate. Get in touch today. 928-778-7438 score.org/volunteer 12
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CHAMBER ADVOCACY: CHAMBER URGES ACTION City of Flagstaff to Raise Fees on New Housing and Commercial Construction: Chamber Urges Action – Email Mayor & Council On September 15, 2020 the Flagstaff Mayor and Council held a public hearing on a proposal from the city’s Community Development department to increase fees assessed on new construction, specifically new single family and multi-family housing and new commercial, industrial and office. The fee increases are large, and in most categories the fees are almost triple the cost of existing fees, while a few categories see fees more than tripled what’s currently charged. Increased fees are passed through to consumers in the form of higher costs. These fee increases being considered by the Flagstaff City Council will raise the cost of new single family housing, and raise the cost of rents in multi-family housing and commercial. In recent years, the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce has seen Flagstaff’s annual housing costs range between 35% and 45% higher than the national average in the Cost of Living Index (COLI) studies. At the same time, our elected officials at City Hall tell us they are for “affordable” housing, but the proposed fee increases say otherwise. Worse, the mantra of “growth should pay for growth” is often heard loud and clear by those same electeds at City Hall, yet they refuse to admit that new construction generates new property tax revenues for the City of Flagstaff, as well as new sales tax revenues generated by new consumers. These new revenue streams are already in place to take up the burden of providing expanded city services. Tacking new & higher fees on new construction only drives up the cost for Flagstaff consumers, making it more expensive to live in Flagstaff. Have your voice be heard on this important issue. Email the Mayor and Council at council@flagstaffaz.gov, and tell them not to increase fees on new construction. Proposed Combined Fees from the September 15th Meeting below:
Adoption of Public Safety Development Fees
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BE COZY, BE CHAMBER Small Business Drives Our Character
SPOOKY SIGHTS
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AZ SNOWBOWL AND CHAMBER RELIEF GRANT RECIPIENTS
1 Alpine Resources
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3 First Chair Rentals
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Kachina Peaks Avalanche Center
5 Market of Dreams
Mount-N-View Taxidermy
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