Arizona Dept of Commerce Faces Catastrophic Cuts

AZIGG is an important partner of the Arizona Department of Commerce. We wanted to provide you with an important budget update. This content is supplied by the Arizona Dept of Commerce.

During this unprecedented time of financial hardship for the state, when Arizona is facing a budget deficit of roughly $4 billion, the budget released by Governor Brewer on June 1st reflects a commitment to the health and welfare of Arizona’s business community, while continuing to be sensitive to the financial realities of our state.

The Arizona State Legislature recently passed a budget that slates Commerce for a $2 million general fund reduction as well as additional line item reductions. This cut would be crippling to Commerce and would mean an immediate ceasing of many programs vital to the business of Arizona and our ability to recover from this economic downtown.

In fact, the Legislature's reductions result in over a 50% reduction in staff and resources, including those from business attraction, community development, innovation and technology, and tax credit programs. This essential “shut-down” of services would mean that Arizona is the ONLY state in the country without a state level business attraction team dedicated to recruiting companies and creating jobs.

In stark contrast, although the Governor’s budget requires Commerce to forego $2 million, the managerial constraints of funds are removed and the $2 million comes from various funding streams, not just the general fund. This flexibility allows Commerce to continue to staff and fund its important programs. Also included in the Governor’s budget is a requirement that Commerce continue to look for cost-savings by renegotiating existing contracts, continue vacancy savings and begin to reduce its reliance on the General Fund.

The Governor’s budget also streamlines and modernizes the agency. Specifically, under the direction of the new Director, Don Cardon, Commerce will look at its internal processes and programs to ensure that they are in line with the mission of Commerce – to spur and grow economic development for all of Arizona. The Executive budget also lays out a plan for long term fiscal planning and stability.

In total, the Executive budget proposes over $1 billion in spending cuts, maximum utilization of federal stimulus funds, including those for the State Energy Office housed in Commerce, and a temporary one percent sales tax increase. This sales tax increase is expected to garner approximately $1 billion in additional revenue, that when paired with other fiscal tactics, not budgetary gimmicks, will help Arizona recover.

As a key stakeholder, we ask for your support of the Governor’s budget proposal as this process moves forward. The timing of your support is crucial, as there are only a few days left before the beginning of the fiscal year.

For additional information on the impact of the Governor’s budget to the State of Arizona, please visit: http://www.governor.state.az.us/ and click on the “Building a Better Arizona” link.

Also, if you are interested in contacting your legislator, please visit the Arizona Legislature’s website at : http://www.azleg.gov/MemberRoster.asp for contact information. If you are unsure of your elected officials, you can easily find your legislators by visiting the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission website at: http://azredistricting.org/mapping/default2.asp?tname=Interim.2009.Legislative.Map&service=ircmaps&Layer4=on&Layer1=on&action=zoomin&ActiveLayer=16
As always, thank you for your continued support of the Arizona Department of Commerce. We look forward to working with you during these rough times and for the future ahead.

Kerri Morey
Director of Public Policy
Arizona Department of Commerce
602-771-1175


Karla Castro Teixeira
Arizona Department of Commerce
International Business Development Manager
International Trade and Investment Division
1700 W. Washington Street, Suite 220
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

AZIGG June 26th Event at D'Backs

Homerun Networking Event - AZIGG and the D'Backs - June 26th

Annual networking event with Cullen Maxey, SVP, Corporate Partnerships and Marketing, Arizona Diamondbacks. Watch the D'Backs play the Anaheim Angels with 200 new friends. Investment $55.

Thanks to Michael Swiczsz of the Phoenix CEO-CFO Group. In cooperations with CEO-CFO Group, ACG-Arizona and AZIGG.

Annual Networking with the Diamondbacks

All the best, Doug

Doug Bruhnke - Growth Nation and AZIGG

Grow Globally Using the Internet - AZIGG June 1st at ASU SkySong

AZIGG in June Presents:

Panel Discussion
"Grow Globally Using the Internet'

Omar Sayed - Founder and CEO of Succeed Corporation

Lon Safko - Entrepreneur & Author, The Social Media Bible

Vijay Kapoor - Founder and CEO of TCC247
Robert Wilkinson - Founder and CEO of Abacus 24/7

Monday, June 1st, 7:30am - 9:00am
Location: ASU SkySong, 1475 N Scottsdale Road, 1st Floor (SE Corner)
(Southeast corner of Scottsdale and McDowell)

Moderator: Doug Bruhnke - CEO of Growth Nation & President of AZIGG
Investment $15 includes coffee and juice

Omar Sayed (Succeed Corporation), Lon Safko (The Social Media Bible), Vijay Kapoor (TCC247) and Robert Wilkinson (Abacus 24/7) are four of the top experts in the US on web marketing for your business. They'll be at ASU - SkySong to discuss growing business online, and answering your questions. For early sign-up: www.azigg.com

All the best, Doug

Doug Bruhnke

AZIGG and Growth Nation

Scottsdale, AZ USA

Green Events with Global Implications in Arizona

Arizona Competes Globally, in Green Workshops
Scottsdale-based Green Street Development is turning the desert green. They're offering 2-hour Green Remodel Workshops at Arizona's first LEED-certified single-family remodel in Phoenix. For more info and to sign-up: http://www.greenstreetdev.com/green-remodel-workshop/. The Workshops are offered to professionals May 12, May 14 and June 9, and to homeowners June 11.

Arizona Competes Globally, in Solar Decathlon
The University of Arizona's Solar Decathlon Team was elected by the US Department of Energy to compete in the 2009 Solar Decathlon. The competition is a showcase for sustainable architecture, with the goal of increasing awareness in the general public of the immense opportunities for solar powered innovation, applicable today for a reduced, if not carbon-neutral, way of living. Congrats U of A, and more info here: http://www.uasolardecathlon.com/

All the best, Doug

Doug Bruhnke
AZIGG and Growth Nation
Scottsdale, AZ USA

AZIGG Draws Overflow Crowd for Solar

At AZIGG on Monday, our expert panel sent a uniform message: call your legislators and city officials to get them to support Arizona business initiatives in solar, NOW. See these links for more info. Thanks Chris.

http://www.gpec.org/News_-_Events-Renewable-energy-news-updates.aspx

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1179/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26947

Special thanks to John Balfour (PerfectPower), Patrick O'Grady (Phoenix Business Journal) and Chris Camacho (GPEC) for great information.

The event was sold out and standing room only. Thanks to Glenn Hamer (Arizona Chamber), Chet Ross (SCORE) and Steve Zylstra (AZ Tech Council) for their contributions.

Thanks to Lon Safko for the pictures and sharing the launch of The Social Media Bible at AZIGG. Watch for Lon at our next AZIGG on June 1st that discusses growing your business globally on the internet.

Thanks to Bart Butler, Julie Vasquez and Maria Gryskiewicz for helping with the event. Watch for more pics from our group photographer Laird Brown (www.smallbusinessphoto.com).

All the best, Doug

AZIGG and Growth Nation
Scottsdale, Arizona

Arizona's Solar Energy Future at AZIGG May 4th

Arizona International Growth Group (AZIGG)

Features a Panel Discussion...

"Global Solar in Arizona: The Future's So Bright, If..."

• John Balfour - President of PerfectPower
• Patrick O'Grady - Reporter for Phoenix Business Journal
• Chris Camacho - VP of Business Development for GPEC
  
  

Monday, May 4th, 7:30am - 9:00am

Location: ASU SkySong, 1475 N Scottsdale Road, 1st Floor (SE Corner)
(Southeast corner of Scottsdale and McDowell)
Moderator: Doug Bruhnke - CEO of Growth Nation & President of AZIGG
Investment $10 includes coffee and juice

John Balfour (Perfect Power), Patrick O'Grady (Phoenix Business Journal) and Chris Camacho (Greater Phoenix Economic Council) each understand the dynamics of the solar industry in Arizona. Together they can speak to the realities, challenges, opportunities, possibilities and probabilities of solar. We're in a critical phase on the future of green in Arizona, and this month we'll be discussing what it takes to win, and if we can.

Please RSVP: www.azigg.com

John Balfour - BS, MEP, Ph.D. and LEED Accredited Professional

John is the president of PerfectPower Inc. which he founded in 1998. PerfectPower was developed out of "The Energy Doctor" an active solar and energy consulting firm which he founded in 1977 and trademarked since 1981. PerfectPower is the most award-winning Solar Company in North America and is the only solar company in the US to win a Better Business Bureau "Business Ethics Award". John has two degrees from ASU including a BS in Science in Political Science (1977) and a Masters of Architecture in the Masters of Environmental Planning (MEP) Program (1982), which was ASU's solar program in the 1970's and 1980's. In 1992, he received a Ph.D. in Management funded by the Daimler Benz Corporation. John has been an active proponent of the application of high performance PV systems (systems that perform well in desert regions like Arizona) and aesthetically pleasing PV design and installations. As a result, PerfectPower is the only US solar company that designs for performance in high temperature locations.

Chris Camacho - Vice President of Business Development

Chris is Vice President of Business Development for the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), focusing on GPEC's business attraction efforts in emerging technology and international economic development. He is former president and CEO of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation (GYEDC). During his three and a half year tenure there, GYEDC helped with the location of 35 companies to Greater Yuma representing the creation of over 3,500 new manufacturing and service jobs and $450 million in new capital investment.

Chris has also served as a financial incentives consultant for Madison County, Illinois, and a research associate for the TheAlliance, an economic development partnership in Metro St. Louis. He attended Southern Illinois University where he earned a master's degree in Public Administration and Public Policy and studied psychology and business administration as an undergraduate.

Patrick O'Grady - Technology Reporter

Patrick covers technology, manufacturing and sustainability for the Phoenix Business Journal. He has been in the Valley for 13 years and has covered a range of issues throughout the years including growth and economic development. His latest focus has been on, among other things, the burgeoning solar industry in the Valley and Arizona and its attempts to ramp up to provide another area of growth for the state.

All the best, Doug

Doug Bruhnke

AZIGG

Growth Nation

Scottsdale, AZ

AZIGG Global Funding Panel Delivered to Full House at ASU SkySong

AZIGG Panel on Global Financing - April 2009 at ASU SkySong

Photography by Laird Brown (www.smallbusinessphoto.com)

Four experts who understand every angle of finding financing for global business delivered information to a full house at SkySong.

Norman E. Clarke of Windstone Capital covered options through private capital groups for an existing business.

Havana-born and now Phoenix's own Carlos Emmermann spoke on financing your business through international sales and provided information on the Export Import Bank.

Chet Ross provided financing information for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Chet leads SCORE in Arizona and is in his own right an extraordinary business resource for entrepreneurs and small businesses as they look to grow globally.

Tucson-based Sy Rotter has over 30 years experience in Washington and globally with for-profit and non-profit international financing. Sy provided additional financing information from this panel containing over 100 years of global funding experience.

All the best, Doug

Doug Bruhnke
President, AZIGG
Scottsdale, AZ USA