Shares of publicly traded Arizona companies had their ups and downs through last month’s stock market plunge. Yet, most Arizona companies’ year-to-date (YTD) stock prices out-performed the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The graph below/to the right/to the left compares the YTD performance of local companies’ shares to the Dow YTD performance. Arizona-based, publicly traded companies that have operations in Northern Arizona include: Arizona Public Service (APS), subsidiary of Pinnacle West … [Read more...] about Many Arizona Stocks Out-Performing the Dow
“Gigs for Geeks” Connecting Students with Business
"Gigs for Geeks" is a little-known program established by the NAU Department of Computer Science that connects students with local businesses needing computer engineering services. When local businesses and agencies like Gore, Southwest Windpower, Efficient Learning Systems, Southwest Forest Science and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) need help building a simple data-driven website, creating a more complex Web2.0 portal or writing a piece of custom software, they look to their local … [Read more...] about “Gigs for Geeks” Connecting Students with Business
Local Agency’s Secrets to Serving International Clients
Northern Arizonans traveling to far away destinations like Hearst Castle, Niagara Falls or the San Antonio River Walk this summer will notice dramatic, full-color billboards, banners and advertising pieces designed by a small Flagstaff ad agency. WM. McElfresh Advertising Inc. develops and produces all promotional materials for Destination Cinema, a partner of the National Geographic Society. Destination Cinema, Inc. (DCI) operates the Grand Canyon's National Geographic Visitor Center and … [Read more...] about Local Agency’s Secrets to Serving International Clients
Solar Power Projects Illuminating Northern Arizona
Last year, Arizonans received 26 percent more megawatt hours of renewable energy than the previous year, reported APS to the Arizona Corporation Commission in May. That was enough to surpass Arizona’s renewable energy goals – set by the Arizona Corporation Commission – for the third straight year. To help reach aggressive future goals, APS is spending about $500 million to build new photovoltaic (PV) solar plants located across Arizona. One of those solar facilities was just approved by the … [Read more...] about Solar Power Projects Illuminating Northern Arizona
National Chains Employing Local Contractors
Local contractors have not been overlooked by national chains. In fact, qualified Northern Arizona construction companies are doing business all over the state and throughout the United States for nationally recognized companies. Bed, Bath & Beyond, PETCO, TJ Max, Wal-Mart, IHOP and KFC are just a few of the national chains that prefer Northern Arizona contractors. “We work all over the country,” said Pete Muscarella, president of Straightline Builders, Inc., which has done work in … [Read more...] about National Chains Employing Local Contractors
Lack of Pre-Developed Land Thwarting Relocation
Businesses looking to relocate to Flagstaff cannot find developed land that adequately meets their needs. “We are seeing interests out of California. One of the challenges right out of the gate is that we don’t have enough pre-developed land for them,” said Rich Bowen, president and CEO of Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA). “We hear, ‘We want to come, but we need to move into a preexisting building.’ They don’t have the two years that it would take to build such a building – … [Read more...] about Lack of Pre-Developed Land Thwarting Relocation
Locals Hoping to Hit Jackpot on Twin Arrows Casino Bids
After last month’s groundbreaking at Twin Arrows Casino, Northern Arizonans hope to be put to work on the $150 million construction project. “Hopefully, work will be awarded to local contractors, but it is really up to the construction manager’s or owner’s discretion,” said Kim Brewster of Northern Arizona Building Association. “We have a lot of qualified subs in Northern Arizona.” NJ Shaum & Sons is one of the qualified. “We hope we can get some of the bid,” said Frank Patton, president. … [Read more...] about Locals Hoping to Hit Jackpot on Twin Arrows Casino Bids
Feeling the Impact of Climbing Cotton Prices
“It was a perfect storm,” explained Hal Majors, director of purchasing at Drury Hotels. “Cotton mills in Pakistan and India began hording to drive up the price of cotton. Then an atypical monsoon season flooded Pakistani mills. There was no rise in demand until the flooding issues in 2010. Add to that the rising costs of shipping – prices have gone from $3,500 to $5,000-6,000 per container – and you have the perfect storm for record-high cotton prices. We thought we had staved off increases … [Read more...] about Feeling the Impact of Climbing Cotton Prices
Archaeology Drawing Tourists and Jobs
Northern Arizona is sprinkled with thousands of prehistoric archaeo- logical sites. Not only does the rich prehistoric legacy bring visitors to the area, but businesses involved in construction must be sensitive to surface and buried relics. When land development was in its heyday, archaeology consulting firms were busy with surface surveys and excavating. “For the last couple of years, there have not been so many archaeol- ogy surveys or excavation projects that are related to land development. … [Read more...] about Archaeology Drawing Tourists and Jobs
Spring Break–Important Spending Driver
With a significant chunk of the 25,000 Northern Arizona University (NAU) students, 13,000 Yavapai College students and 4,500 Coconino Community College students taking part in the annual ritual, spring break is clearly an important spending driver for some Northern Arizona businesses. When you take into account that faculty, administrators and families with school children are also readying for the March 14-18 holiday, participant numbers multiply. Spring Breakers are spending now to prepare … [Read more...] about Spring Break–Important Spending Driver