No one can control the ups and downs of the economy. As a business owner, chances are you’re already doing what you can to control your costs and boost your revenue. Yet there’s another area where you may be able to improve your financial performance: Streamlining your incoming and outgoing payments to improve your cash flow. According to a 2010 Visa® small business cash management survey, 35 percent of respondents ranked cash flow as their top concern, followed by 29 percent who cited … [Read more...] about Steps to Improving Your Company’s Cashflow
Business
Measuring the Economic Impact of Catastrophic Wildfire
As many residents east of Flagstaff remain worried about flooding below the Schultz Fire burn area, they are joined by many other residents statewide who are waiting to determine what life will be like after the big one. In eastern Arizona, the Wallow Fire burned more than 500,000 acres. The short and long term impacts will ripple through local and statewide economies well after the last ember is out. Looking back at past fires in Arizona and New Mexico might help some people gauge Wallow’s … [Read more...] about Measuring the Economic Impact of Catastrophic Wildfire
NAU Grad’s Program Helping Sell Sun, Wind Power
In 2001, the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technologies (NACET) – then known as the Northern Arizona Technology & Business Incubator (NATBI) – was founded to help develop small tech start-ups in the Flagstaff area. That same year, Brad Van Orden began studying mechanical engineering at NAU. Few could have foreseen that Van Orden would eventually go on to become one of NACET’s greatest success stories. Brad Van Orden, founder of the now-acquired SunWind Solutions … [Read more...] about NAU Grad’s Program Helping Sell Sun, Wind Power
Jobs Report Showing Signs of Growth
According to the latest Arizona Workforce Employment Report released last month, the percentage of unemployed Arizonans dropped from 9.3 percent in April to 9.1 percent in May – the third consecutive decrease since February, and one that brings Arizona’s unemployment in line with the rest of the nation’s. Despite the continued drop in unemployed Arizonans, Ronald Gunderson, a professor of economics at NAU, said the state – along with the rest of the nation – has a long path out of the … [Read more...] about Jobs Report Showing Signs of Growth
Credit Union’s Shred-A-Thon Protecting Identity Theft
The Arizona State Credit Union's Shred‐A‐Thon will make its second stop in Flagstaff Tuesday, August 9, before completing the 2011 tour with stops in Prescott and Prescott Valley. This free event helps members of the community by raising awareness about the importance of shredding personal documents to protect against identity theft. “I am inspired by the turnout we’ve had during this Shred‐A‐Thon tour and encourage the Flagstaff community to drop off their old documents for shredding and … [Read more...] about Credit Union’s Shred-A-Thon Protecting Identity Theft
Buyers Signing Contracts but Closings are Few
Lots of info packed into last week's video from National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. He covers the continued uptick of pending home sales in June and the dissappointing closing results following a similar uptick in May. Yun also covers the impact the gridlock in Washington has had on the economy and real estate markets and the threat of rising interest rates caused by the debt-ceiling impasse. Even though it looks tonight like that impasse is resolved, interest rates … [Read more...] about Buyers Signing Contracts but Closings are Few
17 Graduate from NGS Program
Seventeen Navajo men and women graduated last week from the most intense entry training program in the energy industry to become regular employees at the Navajo Generating Station. The seven week long Power Plant Fundamentals School, an updated version of the program NGS originated 40 years ago to train its operators, instructs each new employee in every phase of the power plant’s technical operation, procedures and safety. “It’s a tough school and you all should be very proud that you … [Read more...] about 17 Graduate from NGS Program
Speed Networking Event Tonight
An opportunity to meet and mingle with other business people is this Tuesday night at the Flagstaff Community Center. Speed Networking is kind of like 'speed dating', except with a business focus. It gives you the opportunity to quickly meet other business people, and discover new avenues to give and receive business referrals. Don't worry if you're not an expert networker; event host Mary Cravets will give you tips on how to make your speed rounds effective. In addition not meeting new … [Read more...] about Speed Networking Event Tonight
Governor Names Board of Commerce Authority
Governor Jan Brewer today announced the selection of 17 of Arizona’s premier business leaders to serve as members of the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) Board of Directors. The Commerce Authority, established with the passage of the Arizona Competitiveness Package earlier this year, is playing a critical role in the state’s recruitment and retention of quality employers and jobs. Board members come from across the state and virtually every key sector of the economy, including real estate, … [Read more...] about Governor Names Board of Commerce Authority
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