COVID-19鈥檚 viral spread beginning in early 2020 set back every economy on the face of the planet. Its downward effect on wages, employment, output, and other positive economic indicators devastated workers鈥� incomes (and job status), industries鈥� profits, and governments鈥� treasuries.听

The United States federal government鈥檚 massive fiscal response to the pandemic mitigated some of these negative externalities over the course of one year, but the sustained impacts of the pandemic-induced recession continue to endure: unemployment is still almost double what it was in early 2020, many families lost loved ones to the virus, many businesses (particularly small businesses) went out of business, and many industries are still struggling to get back on their feet. In Arizona, tourism, entertainment, retail, and nonfarm jobs . 

Arizona economist Jim Rounds has argued that the best economic stimulus is widespread vaccination against COVID-19. Indeed, since the approval of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, the economy has seen growth. Nonetheless, less than half of Arizonans have received one shot, let alone two (Johnson & Johnson only requires one shot, whereas Pfizer and Moderna require two). 

Figure 1 

: UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA 鈥� COVID-19 TRACKING ECONOMIC IMPACTS 

Policies aimed at expanding vaccinations and easing the public鈥檚 willingness to frequent businesses could accelerate the state鈥檚 post-COVID economic recovery. As the economic engine revs up, the maintenance of public health will be critical to the expansion of private-public sector collaboration, wage growth, trade, immigration, and economic clusters. The easiest path to securing all of these aims is to prioritize vaccine distribution. 

Beyond these proposals, larger obstacles face the international, American, and Arizonan economies. While the United States is expected to reach 鈥渉erd immunity鈥� within months, Europe will not reach this state until late 2021, and many other nations and regions still have no timeline for this milestone. Accelerating the international distribution of vaccinations could promote the health and wellbeing of the domestic economy, particularly considering Arizona and the United States鈥� . 

Further, inflationary pressures could threaten markets and consumer prices. Already, the United States has reported a 13-year peak in inflation in April of 2021, with the 鈥渞ate of inflation [] to 4.2% from 2.6% in the prior month.鈥� This inflation is largely expected, particularly considering the passage of several federal stimulus packages, but it could diminish the value of wage gains. 

The following policies might be pursued by Arizona leaders to ease Arizona鈥檚 post-COVID economic recovery: 

• Collaborating with the federal government and foreign governments to distribute excess vaccines to nations with lower vaccination rates (Mexico in particular, considering their proximity). 

• Urging the federal government to maintain manageable levels of inflation, so that wage gains are not eaten up by rising prices. 
• Provide incentives for vaccinations by partnering with Arizona businesses, cities, and counties (incentives could range from free food and beverages to coupons to favorite restaurants and bars). 

As Arizonans look forward to a post-COVID economy, the fundamentals of the state鈥檚 exploding growth should not be neglected. Vibrant public-private partnerships, a foundationally pro-growth regulatory agenda, expanded trade relations with inter- and intra-national neighbors, and an embrace of smart immigration policies could provide a formula for continued economic success.

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I recently had the opportunity to hear from the Richard Stavneak, director of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee followed by revered economist Jim Rounds at the Arizona Tax Research Association鈥檚 highly anticipated annual Economic Outlook Conference. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Arizona is in better position economically than the rest of the country.  

So why is Arizona thriving despite the adversity we are facing? Great public policy. 

Despite an unexpected pandemic, Arizona was prepared for a fiscal downturn we didn鈥檛 see coming. The state had approximately a billion dollars in the rainy-day fund. That said, one might argue that most of this year would qualify as a 鈥渞ainy day.鈥�  

If you look back, the state had also identified sustainable funding sources for vital services such as education. Over the last half decade, Arizona has also increased dollars for priorities, while ensuring those programs are sustainable.  In fact, in FY2004-FY2008 Arizona experienced an 11% average spending growth compared to FY2016-FY2020 when we saw only a 4.5% average spending growth in the state. Fiscal foresight and restraint played a key role in why Arizona is not suffering like other parts of the country. 

Since the pandemic began, state revenue collections have been much higher (20%) than anticipated, and as many states consider drastic budget cuts, Arizona ended the most recent fiscal year with a $370 million surplus. Instead of cutting, Arizona is investing in key areas like K-12, by infusing an additional $440M for education in addition to funding already allocated in the FY2021 budget. That鈥檚 impressive given the current circumstances. 

While recent years have seen significant investments in specific areas of the state鈥檚 budget that are important to Arizonans, much of these expenditures were wisely handled with one-time spending to avoid encumbering future legislatures with fiscal obligations. When it came time to pass the 鈥渟kinny budget,鈥� in May of this year, much of the previous one-time spending was not included. There was not a fight that legislators were cutting programs, as would have been the case if these expenditures were made ongoing. It is also notable that it was resolved by a bipartisan effort. 

Arizona can and must continue to implement great public policy in a fiscally responsible manner to remain prosperous going forward. 

As many states implemented harmful lockdowns, and are considering it again, Arizona has largely taken a commonsense approach. Critical industries like construction and manufacturing were allowed to continue operating safely, small businesses have remained nimble and creative in order to stay viable and Arizona businesses in general has remained resilient under one of the most adverse situations our state has ever experienced.  

Arizona鈥檚 unemployment continues to remain below the national average and the state has regained 95% of the jobs that were lost during the spring months of 2020. Further, Arizona is in the top 5 in the nation for year-over-year job growth largely due to the Governor鈥檚 鈥淥pen for Business鈥� policies. Arizona鈥檚 housing market is one of the fastest growing in the nation. We must continue to remain vigilant and fiscally responsible.  

Arizona is obviously doing something right to be in this great position. 

Steve Trussell is the executive director of the Arizona Rock Products Association

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Leaders from chambers of commerce across Arizona came together Monday night in a 鈥渢ele-townhall鈥� conducted via video conference to hear from the campaign to defeat Proposition 208 and from renowned Arizona economist Elliott Pollack.

Pollack, who has served as co-editor of the Arizona and Greater Phoenix Blue Chip economic forecasts published by Arizona State University’s Economic Outlook Center, told the audience that the tax initiative to raise the state鈥檚 top income tax rate by 77.7% would have grave consequences for the state鈥檚 future. 

鈥淔or the first time in the 50 years I鈥檝e been a practicing economist in Arizona, it would do something that would hurt economic development in the short- and long-run,鈥� Pollack said. 鈥淭his is a disaster waiting to happen.鈥� 

If passed, the tax increase initiative would result in Arizona having the country鈥檚 ninth-highest income tax rate, only to be exceeded by economic poor performers like California, New York, and New Jersey, which Pollack said are 鈥渁ll economic disasters. And it鈥檚 not a coincidence they鈥檙e all economic disasters.鈥� 

Pollack says high-tax states give the wrong incentives, shedding people and jobs. 

Terri Kimble, the president and CEO of the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, agreed, saying Proposition 208 sends the wrong message to businesses attempting to recruit new talent to Arizona. She cited attracting top-notch health care and manufacturing professionals as an example. 

鈥淚f Arizona鈥檚 going to continue to lead the healthcare industry and some of the healthcare networks that we have, this is going to be huge,鈥� Kimble said. 鈥淎nd we also see that in the manufacturing sector as well.鈥� 

Kimble said her chamber is especially concerned about the impact on small businesses, which would bear the brunt of the tax increase, a sentiment shared by her counterpart at the Tucson Metro Chamber, Amber Smith.

鈥淩ecovering from COVID-19 and your business trying to survive during this time, here is one more obstacle in trying to survive,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淭hat is really what is most worrisome for these companies is that they are looking at trying to survive next week. How can they survive this for next year?鈥� 

All the speakers at the meeting convened by the Greater Phoenix Chamber and the Arizona Chamber Executives agreed that they view adequate education funding as essential to the state鈥檚 continued economic development, but that Proposition 208 risks far more harm than good.

鈥淭his is not about not funding education,鈥� economist Pollack said. 鈥淭his is about finding the right way to fund education, and this is the wrong way.鈥�

鈥淲e view education as an economic development tool to attract high quality companies here,鈥� Kimble said. 

Smith, the president and CEO of the Tucson Metro Chamber, concurred. 

鈥淥ur 鈥榥o鈥� vote on this is not because we don鈥檛 believe in funding education,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n fact, it鈥檚 because we believe in funding education why we are against this.鈥� Smith said the economic harm that would result from the tax increase would jeopardize the future revenues necessary to fund education. 

Todd Sanders, the president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber, who served as the meeting host and moderator, asked his counterpart at the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Glenn Hamer, to respond to criticism that the business community has failed to support education funding. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 a phony baloney sandwich,鈥� Hamer said, citing the numerous legislative funding initiatives and ballot referrals his and other business groups have supported to increase education funding and improve academic outcomes. 鈥淚t is a false comment to say that the business community hasn鈥檛 supported more dollars into our K-12 system鈥攚e have.鈥�

The chairman of the effort to defeat Proposition 208, Jaime Molera, who also chairs the Greater Phoenix Chamber鈥檚 Education & Workforce Development and Public Affairs committees and served as the state superintendent of public instruction and twice as president of the state Board of Education, said he is heartened by his campaign鈥檚 broad coalition and urged everyone to vote no.

鈥淵ou have just a wide array of Arizona businesses that have come together to say, 鈥楾his is not a reasonable plan for education. It鈥檚 a horrid plan for our education system, but it鈥檚 even worse for our economy.鈥欌��

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The White House鈥檚 senior adviser on economic affairs outlined what Arizona businesses can expect if President Donald Trump is re-elected during an event sponsored by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Arizona Bankers Association last week. 

The nation鈥檚 top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, also urged the business community here to reject Arizona鈥檚 Proposition 208 tax increase. 

Pushing Arizona鈥檚 income tax rates higher during the pandemic would be foolish timing, said Kudlow, the assistant to the president for economic policy and the director of the National Economic Council. 

鈥淲hile men and women are returning to work, this is not the time to raise taxes,鈥� said Kudlow,  who leads the coordination of the president鈥檚 domestic and global economic policy agenda.

Unwise timing for a hike in income tax rates聽

If passed, the so-called 鈥淚nvest in Ed鈥� proposition will raise the state鈥檚 top income tax rate by 77.7 percent, making Arizona鈥檚 top income tax rate higher than every other state in the West except California, and one of the ten-highest nationwide. 

鈥淲e are coming out of a pandemic contraction. We do not want to be removing money from the economy,鈥� Kudlow warned. 

Higher income tax rates would erode Arizona鈥檚 economic edge at a critical time. Right now, Arizona is seen as a desirable location to live, play and do business. 

鈥淎rizona鈥檚 personal and business taxes have been moderate down the years. It鈥檚 a hot sunbelt state and you don鈥檛 want to destroy that story,鈥� he said.  

Data speaks to successes聽

During the event, Kudlow detailed Trump鈥檚 platform for the economy moving forward, the administration鈥檚 successes so far, and efforts to help those still struggling from pandemic disruptions including small businesses, the airline industry and the unemployed. 

One only has to look at data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve to count the success of the administration鈥檚 economic policies over the past four years, he said.

Prior to the pandemic, the standard of living went up for the first time in 20 years, corporate and individual income taxes dropped, and regulatory red tape was reduced, Kudlow said. 

鈥淚nequity fell, poverty fell, unemployment fell, the living standard rose and family income rose,鈥� he said.

Platform forward would be a repeat of past four years聽

Basically, the economic plan for the next term would be a repeat of the White House鈥檚 guiding principles the past four years, he said. 

鈥淭hat is, lowering business taxes across the board, lowering individual taxes, and rolling back costly and burdensome regulations,鈥� Kudlow said.

Keeping the economy open and reopening schools while practicing all the lessons learned about masking, social distancing and hygiene is a top priority, he said. 

Also high on the list are investment in new technology advances in energy, particularly in natural gas fracking and horizontal drilling, and the brokering of 鈥渂etter鈥� global trade deals to mimic the success of the new free trade agreement, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). 

Good news for full economic recovery聽

A rash of economic indicators show that the pandemic recovery will be V-shaped, Kudlow said. A V-shape recovery is characterized by a quick and sustained recovery in measures of economic performance after a sharp economic decline.

Currently, about 80 percent of the economy has recovered and about 50 percent of the unemployed are back to work, he said. Industry sectors like construction, auto sales and manufacturing, and certain retail sectors are seeing 鈥渂ooming鈥� growth. 

Meanwhile, unemployment is dropping. Since the country was shut down at the start of COVID-19, about 14 million workers are back to work, bringing unemployment down to 7.9 percent, he said.

CARES Act helped keep businesses, individuals afloat

Part of the recovery is due to the CARES Act economic stimulus package that was passed by Congress and signed by the president to help the country survive the shutdown.

About 12 million people are still unemployed, he said. Moving forward, Congress is trying to broker another package to help those still struggling. 

鈥淲e look at this (package) as being smart and targeted,鈥� Kudlow said. 鈥淭he other side sees this as a political and ideological wish list.鈥�

Nevertheless, the Republicans and the president are willing to 鈥渃ompromise and put up more dollars to make a deal.鈥�

Meanwhile, $139 billion from the act is still waiting to be allocated. Congressional members need to pass stand-alone bills to appropriate the funding to aid those still in need. 

President 鈥渞ewards success鈥�

In conclusion, Trump鈥檚 economic policies 鈥渉ave benefited those who need it most,鈥� Kudlow said. A vote for Trump will be a vote for America鈥檚 recovery. 

鈥淗e鈥檚 a president who wants to reward success and promote workers. Whereas my friends on the other side seem to always want to punish success.鈥�

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Arizonans now have new non-stop flight options to both Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico every day of the week.

Southwest Airlines announced it is making Phoenix Sky Harbor airport its newest international gateway. The airline also is adding other routes here and across the country. Starting Nov. 15, travelers from Phoenix can fly multiple times daily to Palm Springs as well. 

Southwest joins American Airlines in offering nonstop service from Sky Harbor to the popular Mexican destinations. 

For the Phoenix region, the news is a heartening sign of hope for the tourism industry that has lost tens of thousands of jobs due to the pandemic, according to the U.S. Labor Department statistics. 

Now, those numbers are creeping up as leisure travelers flee to warmer markets like Phoenix and skiers head to places like Telluride, airline officials said.

Phoenix City Council member Thelma Williams said the news has brought some positive excitement to the city. Before the pandemic, international flights brought more than $3 billion annually into the Arizona economy.

鈥淭hese flights will not only provide more choices for travelers, but they will continue to boost our local economy,鈥� said Williams, who chairs the city鈥檚 Transportation, Infrastructure and Innovation Subcommittee.

Nonstop daily service to Mexico

Nonstop service now is available daily to Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. Here鈥檚 the daily schedule:

• The Phoenix-to-Cabo flight departs at 10:50 a.m. and arrives at 2 p.m. 
• The Cabo-to-Phoenix flight departs  at 3 p.m. and arrives at 4:05 p.m.
• The Phoenix-Puerto Vallarta flight departs at 11 a.m. and arrives at 3:45 p.m. 
• The Puerto Vallarta-Phoenix flight leaves at 4:40 p.m. and arrives at 5:15 p.m.

Expansion of other routes in Arizona and nationwide

Southwest also announced the addition of other flights starting across the country to sunshine and snow destinations like Miami and Telluride. To see a complete listing, visit: . As always, flights as low $39 or $49 one way will be available.听

COVID-19 protections are continuing聽

In order to protect passengers from COVID-19, Southwest Airlines is continuing to take precautions including:

• The middle seats will be left open until at least Nov. 30
• Passengers and employees are required to wear masks
• Scheduled stringent cleanings including the use of electrostatic and anti-microbial spray treatments in the cabin
• HEPA air filtering system
• Physical distancing including limited number of passengers onboard and modified boarding procedures. 

For a complete list of protections and procedures, visit:. 

Sky Harbor COVID-19 procedures

Sky Harbor also has implemented a number of procedures to protect travelers as well. For a list of its protocols and requirements, go to: .

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Whether rich, poor, cold or hot, every region鈥檚 economy will be affected by climate change, indicates research from institutions like the National Bureau of Economic Research and the World Bank Group. 

In Arizona, technology, research and public-private collaborations already are helping to mitigate the impacts here. Still, the quest to protect the state鈥檚 quality of life under the scorch of record breaking heat, drought and increasing wildfires is a constant chore.  

Last week, a slate of experts in Tucson offered up recommendations on how Arizona can rise above the heat to keep the economy and the environment thriving. 

They spoke at a virtual event, Climate and Arizona鈥檚 Future: A Conversation About the Nexus Between Environment, Economy, and Innovation. The event was sponsored by the University of Arizona鈥檚 Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC), and Biosphere 2.

No-growth mentality not realistic 

A no-growth mentality is not the answer, the panelists said. Smart growth is. 

鈥淭he truth of the matter is that people are coming,鈥� said Ted Maxwell, president and CEO of SALC, a group of more than 140 CEOs and business and community leaders actively working to create a vibrant future for the Tucson region and the state. 

New industries and residents provide the jobs and tax revenues that make quality of life possible, said Maxwell, who added that Pima County is now home to about 1.1 million residents. 

鈥淧eople coming here are going to be driven by two things: the economy and the social and natural environment. That鈥檚 not going to go away. We just have to figure out how to preserve it.鈥� 

Sharon Megdal, director of the University of Arizona鈥檚 Water Resources Center, and Joaquin Ruiz, vice president of the university鈥檚 Global Environmental Futures and the director of聽 Biosphere 2, also were featured speakers at the event.

Here are three of their key recommendations for moving forward:

1. Communicate to the world that Tucson is a hotbed of innovation 

Other cities have made a name for themselves in specific areas that attracts not only big industry but startups as well. Tucson could do the same, Ruiz said.

San Diego is known for biotechnology, Silicon Valley for digital technology and Fort Collins, Colorado for energy. All are reaping investment for their communities, he said.听

University of Arizona in Tucson already has a reputation for top rankings in environmental and sustainable research in areas like water management, controlled agriculture, and green technologies.

鈥淟ike Fort Collins is the innovation capital for energy solutions for the future because of the relationships of the university with its city, we should become the innovation capital for solutions of global climate change and semi arid environments,鈥� Ruiz said.

Dialogue is needed to create task forces and networks to attract industries and startups that are interested in global climate change technologies and solutions for semi-urban environments, he said.

2. Public-private partnerships and a stronger voice in Congress

Over the past decade or so, the business community has become much more involved in sustainability with public partners. But to make it successful, it takes investment on both parts, Maxwell said. 

鈥淧ublic-private partnerships are going to play a big factor in the future because for all this technology, for all the innovation and for all the research, it鈥檚 going to require investments,鈥� Maxwell said.

Right now, other, bigger states like California are pulling in a large share of dollars, he said.

The new U.S. Census count could help. There may be enough new residents in the new count to earn another congressional seat, he said. A larger voice in Congress would help Arizona better compete for public investment in research and development. 

3. Leave no stakeholder behind   

All stakeholders must be included in the process.

Arizona, long a leading state in water management and technology, has shown it can bring a diverse group of players together to tackle water challenges, Megdal said. 

One example is the historic agreement hammered out last year to protect Arizona鈥檚 share of the Colorado River. The deal involved changes to a seven-state-and Mexico agreement, called the Drought Contingency Plan (DCP). 

An update was needed earlier than projected because of a relentless drought shrinking the mighty Colorado. The updated DCP requires states and water suppliers to 鈥渂ank鈥� water in Lake Mead where Arizona鈥檚 share of the river supplies are stored.

It took a buy-in from water stakeholders statewide. Tribes, cities, water companies, farmers, legislators, nonprofits and industry were all at the table to make it happen, Megdal said.

It wasn鈥檛 easy, but it worked. Last month, state water leaders reported that Arizona鈥檚 river supplies should remain stable for the next two years and likely beyond because of the DCP.听

鈥淔undamentally, it’s going to come down to the people part; having the people work together to accept, adopt and recognize the solution set that will help us go forward,鈥� Megdal said.

To hear more of their discussion, view the entire event at:

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Friends,

Once again, I am providing here an update on our situation with regard to the Coronavirus pandemic. In Arizona, we have over 350 deaths and over 8,500 cases, and while we mourn every lost life, we have been spared the worst. We have some good news to share: Our curve has plateaued, as daily cases and deaths remain steady as of this writing. Our hospitals have not become saturated to the point where mortality would have risen rapidly. Speaking from my own first hand experience in the ER and that of my physician colleagues, we have not had anywhere close to the experience that the New York area suffered. An important exception is the Navajo Nation, which continues to be a hotspot. The Department of Emergency Management (DEMA) has been working hard to ensure that supplies keep flowing and patients there are cared for well. Many people have also raised concerns about senior living facilities and prisons, but our data so far seems incomplete. These populations deserve further study and attention.

In America as a whole, the situation is more grim, led by the massive numbers from the New York metro area. We continue to see about 30,000 new cases per day and around 2,300 deaths per day. To put that in perspective, our leading cause of death in normal times, cardiovascular disease, usually kills around 2,300 people per day. Yes, COVID19 has now become the leading cause of death in America, and has been continuing to kill us at this rate for weeks. We have over 1.1 million confirmed cases in the US and over 65,000 total deaths. Compared to my last post (), the numbers have increased greatly. America has more official cases and deaths than any other country by large margins.

Some have asked why Arizona was so much different. Having been a prior resident of New York City, I believe that one big factor to consider is population density. In Arizona, we are much more spread out and we rely much less on elevators, small apartments in older buildings, and public transportation. We do not have as much international traffic. We also had a few more weeks to prepare and acclimate to the idea of social distancing, whereas New York was quickly caught off guard.

Despite all the hardship that we have suffered, our attitude here in Arizona has been remarkable 鈥� for the most part, we have been positive, responsible and caring toward our neighbors. Arizonans deserve to be commended and hear that their sacrifices saved many lives, and the difficulty that we have endured was not in vain.

Has our response been successful?

For the last six weeks, we have been under stay-at-home orders. Naturally, many people are wondering how much of a difference we are making with our lockdown policies. We can get a rough estimate of lives saved in Arizona by studying a unique case. Instead of strict social distancing, Sweden chose to enact a relatively lax set of guidelines. In contrast, all of its neighbors 鈥� Denmark, Norway and Finland 鈥� chose to follow a path close to Arizona鈥檚 policies. Note that the population density of Arizona almost exactly matches that of Sweden.

1) Compared to Denmark, Sweden has three times the death rate, and 5.5x the total number of deaths.

2) Compared to Norway, Sweden has six times the death rate and 11.5x the total deaths.

3) Compared to Finland, Sweden has six and a half times the death rate and almost 12x the total deaths. Our President agrees with this:

While Denmark has a higher population density, the other two are much closer to Sweden.

So now that we have a close comparison, we can calculate how many deaths were likely preventable in Sweden. Had they been like their neighbors, roughly 2,000 Swedish lives would have been saved so far. Over the next few weeks and months, that number is certain to increase. With 90% of their deaths in the senior population, the Swedes have chosen in essence fewer protections for their elderly and vulnerable with clear consequences. Given Arizona has 70% of Sweden鈥檚 population and a similar timeline, we have likely saved about 1,400 Arizona lives with our efforts so far, with many more saved lives to come. This might be a low estimate given we have a large senior population. Moreover, with an estimated 3-4 people hospitalized to every one death, Arizona鈥檚 health care system would have been easily overwhelmed without our lockdown measures.

The data so far also suggest that the Swedes have not received a countrywide economic benefit from their policies. According to its own central bank, the crisis has damaged their economy at a scale similar to neighboring countries, though these are just early estimates. Losing lives AND a shrinking economy would certainly be a lose-lose situation. More importantly, part of the reason for our lockdown was to avoid overwhelming the health care system and allow capacity and supply to catch up. In this sense, we have certainly been successful too. Millions of pieces of personal protective equipment are getting to where they are needed, hospital bed and ICU bed and ventilator capacity have increased tremendously, and testing has increased greatly. We are much better prepared than we were six weeks ago.

Recent State and Federal action

In response to our specific circumstances, Governor Ducey has issued an extension of the stay at home order until May 15. In his explanation, he reiterated that we have plateaued but 鈥渢here is no trend鈥� downward. He has been consistent in his message that a downward trend would be one of the factors he requires before choosing to reopen. He again stated that he has relied on evidence and solid science to make his decisions, and in doing so I believe he has acted admirably. His decision took courage, and he deserves our commendation, continued support and to be credited for the lives saved in Arizona. He specifically asked us for our patience and we should keep in mind that his request is on behalf of the greater good.

The Governor has allowed for elective surgeries to resume May 1, and a phased reopening of retail establishments with limitations next week. Arizona is also conducting a testing blitz each weekend throughout the month of May with a goal of screening 10,000-20,000 people regardless of symptoms. With a widespread and comprehensive program, we will add to our knowledge about the true rate of infection and hopefully contain the virus more effectively. Testing sites may charge, and they will accept insurance. Pre-registration is required at most sites. Testing locations and more information are available here:

In other good news, antibody tests have been introduced last week from several manufacturers including the University of Arizona. Antibody tests provide a different type of information and will add to our armamentarium in fighting the virus. In contrast to the standard RT-PCR nasal / oral swab tests to diagnose an active infection, the antibody tests determine whether a person has an immune response to the virus and therefore has likely recovered. In theory, the tests have the potential to identify people who would be able to move around society freely with little worry of infecting others. Unfortunately, because of the rapid development and early stage of research on the tests themselves, we still have significant concerns about their accuracy and what a positive result might actually mean. The value of the tests should improve over the next few weeks as more data becomes available.

Meanwhile, the Federal government passed its third COVID19 relief package last week. It provides $484 billion to replenish the depleted small business assistance loan program, as well as smaller amounts for testing and hospital support. The Arizona legislature may also meet later this year to take up more COVID19-related legislation.

Looking ahead to reopening

Naturally, many of you are now wondering how much longer our stay-at-home orders will continue in the long term and how long businesses will be shuttered. A spirited political conversation in Arizona and around the country continues with regard to reopening. The economic effects have been devastating to several sectors, but most notably retail, travel, tourism, gyms, personal services such as salons, beauticians, barbershops, and hospitality including bars and restaurants, among others. The spillover then moves into all remaining sectors as overall demand slows.

Over the last month, we have received dozens of constituent calls and emails about help for small business and unemployment. Some are desperate because they don鈥檛 know how they will feed their families, and are afraid that their lifetime鈥檚 work will be wiped away. We have been busy connecting all of them to available resources. The rollout of the Small Business Administration鈥檚 Paycheck Protection Program has been problematic, but funds have started to flow through just as Congress provided another round of financing. Similarly, long wait times and lack of personnel have hampered the unemployment assistance program, though the problems have improved with increased hiring at the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

Clearly, Arizona and the country will need to reopen, as we cannot remain in an economic and social freeze for months. But we do not want to see our sacrifices wasted and eventually experience a greater loss of life. The virus is still out there, and if we suddenly remove all of our restrictions, it will quickly run amok and cause mayhem.

Furthermore, loss of public trust in being able to participate in the marketplace safely could cause even worse long-term economic damage. Governor Ducey in his explanation on the 29th argued that economic recovery depends upon the public鈥檚 confidence to interact and conduct business without fear of death for themselves or their family members. In the survey he cited, 30% of people are ready to go out immediately, 40% would require assurances of public safety, and 30% are too concerned to go out until a vaccine becomes available or the pandemic ends.

To reiterate, without credible public assurances, 70% of people would not fully re-enter the marketplace. We would effectively suffer something akin to a large boycott, which would be unsustainable, especially for businesses that normally operate with slim margins such as restaurants. Therefore, I believe that our economic and public health interests converge rather than conflict in the long term.

Please note that the assurances that the public requires would have to come from our health professionals, and as a whole, our medical societies and health organizations are not willing to support reopening without a sound, data-driven plan. Even if political leaders unilaterally were to 鈥渙pen the economy鈥� by decree, we might still face inadequately low demand. If cases and deaths subsequently spike or the health care system becomes overwhelmed, public trust would be further eroded, making matters even worse for the recovery.

So if we can鈥檛 simply reopen, and we can鈥檛 just stay closed, what can we do?

A Measured Path Forward

I believe the real question before us is not whether or when exactly we should reopen. Let鈥檚 focus instead on WHAT WE NEED in order to open safely and execute that plan as quickly as possible. Logically, the following elements appear crucial for public health:

1) The 4 T鈥檚: Test, Track, Trace and Totally isolate. The ability to conduct widespread and rapid testing as part of a comprehensive strategy to track and trace all results followed by complete isolation for the positive cases would effectively and surgically remove the virus from circulation. This is how several Asian countries reopened and minimized further outbreaks. New York State under the decisive management of Governor Andrew Cuomo is currently hiring thousands of workers to perform these functions. Arizona鈥檚 DHS has an initial plan to hire 400 contact tracers. Our efforts will take training and ramp-up time, but ultimately allows us to assure the public will be as safe as possible. COVID19 will still be with us, but any further exponential spread would be quickly nipped in the bud. A word of caution: Individual states will struggle on their own with these endeavors 鈥� we will need much more Federal government support for logistics, CDC guidance, coordination than has been provided so far.

2) Downward trend in cases and deaths. This would allow our contact tracers to chase down the virus. If the virus is spreading exponentially, our contact tracing teams would never catch up with caseload without ever-increasing resources. With a flat curve as we have now, we would simply need more tracers to find every case and catch up to the virus. We seem to be on the verge of a downward trend, but only time will tell.

3) Adequate hospital bed, ICU bed, staffing, PPE supply and vital equipment capacity. In Arizona, we currently have adequate available hospital and ICU bed capacity as well as staffing. PPE supply is tenuous but remains overall adequate with the reuse programs and increased manufacturing. We have 1500 ventilators to adequately meet current use, up from the 300 we started with. We have added over 1500 hospital beds, but as we reopen, we will need to keep constant vigilance over these numbers. Fortunately, DHS currently keeps track of real-time data on a daily basis.

4) A system for controlling entry of the virus from travel. Across the country, foreign and even possibly domestic travelers will need to be screened, monitored and quarantined when necessary. Asian countries also employed these tactics to keep their populations safe. Again, the Federal government may need to train TSA to execute these efforts at airports and other checkpoints. Governor Ducey has issued a self-quarantine order for New York area travelers so far.

5) Clear new marketplace rules. In the upcoming weeks, we will need to establish rules to allow businesses to reopen in ways that generate only a very minimal risk of viral spread. This will require creativity, trust and partnership among our government, business and public health communities. Barbershops and golf courses are quite different in terms of risk, and I hope that following evidence will allow us to identify opportunities for progress.

My hope is that the above measures are established rapidly but carefully with a watchful eye to respond nimbly to the many upcoming fits, starts and bumps in the road. Repurposing unemployed workers for contact tracing and unused capacity such as hotel rooms for quarantines to accomplish the above goals could also represent creative economic solutions.

Final thoughts

When I first began to post these updates 6 weeks ago, I wanted everyone to understand upfront that we would face serious hardship, and we have indeed. Beyond the economic effects, people are suffering from loneliness, frustration, and anxiety related to the isolation and sudden change in our way of life. We miss each other and being able to be close to our friends and family and strangers too. We miss activities and sports that make life enjoyable. We do not want this to become our new normal, and it is trying our patience to a tremendous degree.

In the face of such tiresome adversity, I ask you again as my friends, fellow Americans and constituents, please let鈥檚 continue to summon our inner fortitude. We are a strong people and I continue to believe that this situation will show us our capability and resilience. We are not quitters. We have shared goals of a vibrant economy and confidence in our public health and safety, and we will not abandon them. We are not complainers either, but rather innovators who have thrived throughout history because we see opportunities where others see obstacles. The pandemic has forced upon us a new normal, but I know Americans will adapt and succeed. There is a solution and an end to this, and it is within our reach. Let鈥檚 choose a path that will deliver us with our national fabric intact so that our posterity will remember our ingenuity, bravery and resolve with pride and reverence.

(And please, order a meal from your favorite restaurant today if you are able. I just did. They need your support!)

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Arizona businesses that are losing revenue due to the coronavirus can tap into a wealth of resources to help them stay afloat during the pandemic. 

From grants, to no-interest loans, to technical assistance, there are many avenues for relief. One of the largest is the federal Paycheck Protection Program that opened its second round of funding for small businesses last week. It provides $310 billion for companies including those who lost out during the first round when the funding ran out in the first two weeks. 

Glenn Hamer, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, is hoping the process will be easier and more accessible this time. 

鈥淢ore than one million jobs in Arizona are connected to small businesses and more than 350,000 Arizonans have filed unemployment claims in the past month,鈥� Hamer said. 鈥淭he administration of these federal programs must be simple for small business owners to navigate. If there isn鈥檛 radical improvement, then it could be too late for them.鈥�

The Arizona Chamber and chambers statewide have as their top priority the survival of small businesses. Most chambers have links to resources, tips and 鈥渃heat sheets鈥� in both English and Spanish on their websites to assist businesses. 

Dozens of programs for small and mid-size companies 

There is a wealth of resources designed to help businesses and employees survive financially during the pandemic including: 

FEDERAL FORGIVABLE LOANS 

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

Companies with 500 or fewer employees,聽 including independent sole operators, may apply for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) . Companies can receive up to two months of operating costs including payroll, rent and utilities. The majority of the funding is forgivable, acting more like a grant than a loan. Those applying should go through their regular bank or find a qualified lender on the Arizona Banking Association website at: SBA .听

Free training to navigate PPP application process

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Small Business Association launched the CARES Act Readiness Program for Small Businesses, a free training program that helps both novice and experienced borrowers navigate the federal assistance program. The programs are in English at: or Spanish at .听

FEDERAL LENDING FOR SMALL, MID SIZE COMPANIES 

The Federal Reserve announced that it is establishing a Main Street Lending Program to support lending to small and medium-sized businesses that were in good financial standing before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information go to: . 

TAX CREDIT EXEMPTION FOR EMPLOYERS

The federal Employee Retention Tax Credit is a new tax credit program designed to help companies and nonprofits retain their employees during the coronavirus outbreak. Employers whose business operations are suspended, partially suspended or are experiencing significant revenue losses because of the virus outbreak are eligible for the tax credit exemption. To learn more, go to:

The U.S. The Chamber of Commerce also has issued a guide to assist employers at: . 

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, FREELANCERS  

Unemployment benefits for independent contractors

Due to COVID-19, independent contractors can qualify for unemployment payments in Arizona. In the past, this service was not available to freelancers and 1099 contractors. Applicants may receive up to $600 weekly during the pandemic. Expect a wait time as the Arizona Department of Economic Security is dealing with a record number of claims. For more information, go to:

NO INTEREST, LOW INTEREST LOANS 

Kiva Tucson

Kiva Tucson, Growth Partners Arizona and Community Investment Corporation have partnered to provide no-interest, no-fee, community-backed business loans from $1,000 to $15,000 that are crowdfunded on Kiva鈥檚 world-wide online platform. Learn more at::听

Small Business Success Loan

Growth Partners Arizona, in collaboration with the Business Development Finance Corporation, are offering loans of $10,000-$75,000 to qualified small businesses for equipment, long-term working capital, tenant improvements, consolidation of more expensive debt, and more. For more information, go to: .听

HOTLINE HELP FOR PHOENIX BUSINESSES 

City of Phoenix Hotline

Phoenix businesses hurt by the pandemic can call the hotline at (602) 262-5040 to be connected to resources, financial assistance, and more. The city does not have a call center so the hotline is the main phone number for Community and Economic Development. If possible, all calls are answered or returned within one business day.听

The department also has a list of many resources available for city businesses at:

RESTAURANT WORKERS  

The restaurant industry has been among the hardest hit in the pandemic. To help employees, a number of groups are offering grants and accepting donations to help including:

Arizona Restaurant Association Relief Fund provides immediate funding for restaurant workers impacted by the pandemic. Individual grants of $500 are being given to restaurant industry staff who have suddenly found themselves without a paycheck. Donations also are being accepted to help these employees. Go to:

Another Round Another Rally is providing $500 relief grants in emergency assistance for employees in hospitality. Chefs, servers, bartenders, dishwashers, sommeliers, managers and others in hospitality roles who have lost jobs or had hours slashed. The group has been flooded with requests so donations are welcome. More information is available at: 

Chamber road maps and 鈥渃heat sheets鈥�

Chambers of commerce statewide also have lists of local, state and federal resources to help businesses on their websites. 

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry offers a comprehensive resource guide at: . The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also has a host of links to resources and tips for small businesses and sole-operator companies at: .

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This op-ed was originally published in the Arizona Republic on 4/28/2020 .

Gov. Doug Ducey’s decision to let聽on May 1 is an important step on the path to reopening big portions of the Arizona economy from its coronavirus-induced coma.

The state鈥檚 business community, which is comprised of innovative, creative thinkers who are leading enterprises large and small, is ready to work with public health officials to adopt policies and procedures that will allow for an even broader reopening of the Arizona economy, safely.

On an April 16 conference call with business leaders, the governor solicited ideas for the reopening. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, along with more than 150 other entities, have since provided input.

The governor wisely makes clear that he鈥檒l rely on CDC protocols and Arizona public health data to drive decision-making.

Data such as the number of hospitalizations, new cases, available ICU beds and ventilators are the key benchmarks. The rapid scale-up of diagnostic and contact tracing and antibody testing is critical to our efforts to contain the virus and reopen greater swaths of the economy.

1.  Businesses need flexibility

Flexibility is key. Not all employers are the same, so not all guidelines for a reopening should be the same.

Certain types of small businesses might rarely have large numbers of people congregating in one place and can reopen soon, while businesses that engage in face-to-face customer interactions will need to implement appointment-based transactions to limit foot traffic, or can alter their hours to limit interactions throughout the workday.

Industries in close-contact fields like cosmetology, which already must meet rigorous public health standards, will need to develop options to serve their customers in new ways, increasing sanitization measures聽and utilizing personal protective equipment to protect employees and customers.

Sectors that have been walloped by the pandemic are pivoting to serve a new type of customer.  and first responders a place for some needed rest without the worry of exposing loved ones to the virus at home. As contact tracing programs grow, hotels can host those who need to be quarantined, too.

Meanwhile, businesses that have shifted their workforces to telework should continue those arrangements for the foreseeable future, particularly for workers most at risk.

As certain essential service providers like grocery stores and restaurants delivering takeout have already demonstrated, businesses can be counted on to be nimble, meeting customer needs while still adhering to CDC guidelines. Government should be nimble, too, relying first on industry best practices before rigid mandates.  

2.听 Businesses need protection

Liquidity is key. Businesses need every dime right now to keep their operations afloat, so, where possible, governments should delay things like sales tax remittances and property tax payments, and eliminate penalties for businesses that need forbearance. Our congressional delegation must ensure that financial lifeboats like the Paycheck Protection Program have adequate funding.

We should also reduce job creators鈥� exposure to legal liability.

Governor Ducey took the right approach through an executive order in  to Arizona鈥檚 health care workers and medical facilities on the frontlines of combating COVID-19.

Similar protections should be extended to businesses that take all proper steps in accordance with state and federal guidelines to stop the transmission of the virus among employees and customers.

If employers are hesitant to reopen out of fear of inviting a potential lawsuit, then Arizona鈥檚 economic recovery will be delayed.

The governor and his entire team throughout this ordeal have demonstrated that prudence does not have to mean paralysis.

It may not feel like it, but a majority of the economy has remained open as we have slowed the spread of the disease. The governor鈥檚 declaration of essential services and activities was among the most comprehensive in the country and became a national model, ensuring continuity in sectors as varied as manufacturing to telecommunications to construction.

We are confident that Arizona will exit this pandemic how we entered it: with the nation鈥檚 strongest economy.

Glenn Hamer is president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Twitter:听.

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We鈥檙e hours away from ringing in 2020! But before the ball drops and before we pop the champagne, it鈥檚 time for Arizona鈥檚 favorite year-end tradition, Glenn Hamer鈥檚 Ham(m)er Awards, where the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry president and CEO looks back at the people and events of 2019.

If you鈥檝e been reading Glenn鈥檚 commentaries throughout 2019, you can probably guess what this year鈥檚 theme is going to be.

Trade, trade, trade. We鈥檙e on the edge of the adoption of the most important trade deal in a generation and there鈥檚 a lot of praise to go around.

We also had a big year on water with passage of the Drought Contingency Plan. Finally, the state continues to be at the top of the leaderboard when it comes to education funding and reforms that drive results.

When you add it all up, we live in one of the fastest-growing states in the country, with the fastest-growing county (Maricopa) and big city (Phoenix), with now more jobs than people to fill them.

Here鈥檚 who and what stood out to me in the year that was鈥�

The Jim Kolbe Congressional Trade Hero Award

This Ham(m)er is named for my first boss in Arizona politics. (I was a law school fellow, but he says I was an intern.) Former U.S. representative Jim Kolbe was essential to getting the original trilateral trade agreement, NAFTA, through Congress. He will always be royalty in trade circles.

The award goes to Rep. Greg Stanton. The so-called freshman stepped up early and often to make the case for USMCA among his fellow Democrats. I call him a 鈥渟o-called鈥� freshman because few lawmakers on Capitol Hill arrived on the job with his level of insight into one of the most important issues before Congress.

He and 13 of his Democratic colleagues penned a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August on the importance of bringing USMCA up for a vote. He tapped into his experience as the former mayor of Phoenix, where he led 18 trade missions to Mexico鈥攐ur friend, neighbor, and ally. He brought the relationship between Mexico and Arizona back and elevated it.

Mexico and Canada are Arizona鈥檚 top trading partners鈥攂y far鈥攁nd our state needs these countries to continue to invest, travel and trade with us to be successful. Few understand that better than Rep. Stanton.

Most Deserving of Nobel Peace Prize Award Award

United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

In a meeting with about a dozen Arizona business leaders in 2018, Ambassador Lighthizer said that he wanted a revised trade deal with Mexico and Canada that would pass overwhelmingly in Congress and receive the endorsement of Tom Donohue, the head of the U.S. Chamber, and Richard Trumka, the head of the AFL-CIO. Let鈥檚 just say that this seemed like a stretch at the time.

Well, both men did endorse the deal and the USMCA passed the House with the most votes of any trade pact since the very first U.S. free trade agreement, which was signed with Israel way back in 1985. For his work, Ambassador Lighthizer gets a Ham(m)er.

The Trade Supergroup Award

Think of this Ham(m)er Award as recognition of a group effort鈥攁 supergroup effort along the lines of the Traveling Wilburys. Many inside and outside the Beltway had a hand in the House鈥檚 passage (and soon-to-be Senate passage) of the USMCA. The U.S. Chamber鈥檚 Myron Brilliant, John Murphy and Neil Bradley all did outstanding work, as did the National Association of Manufacturers鈥� Linda Dempsey. The Wilson Center鈥檚 Mexico Institute, under the leadership of the swashbuckling Duncan Wood and his partner in crime Chris Wilson, puts out useful content on a daily basis.

The best chamber of commerce trade advocate outside of D.C., Paola Avila of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce (home to the Western Hemisphere鈥檚 busiest land border crossing!), positioned the agreement for success. A Ham(m)er is also deserved by our friends in Mexico, starting with Jos茅 Andr茅s Garcia聽for scheduling an insane amount of high impact meetings for business leaders. At a state legislative level, Arizona state Rep. C茅sar Ch谩vez was an important leader inside and outside of Arizona advocating for USMCA and giving the deal some bipartisan chops. Thanks also go to Arizona Morena leader Lorena Schmit and my volunteer Spanish-language publicist and the owner of Pescaderia el Puerto de Guayman Irayda Flores. Finally, I want to thank Garrick Taylor of our shop who does a better job of articulating the case for trade and explaining tariffs better than anyone I know.

The Paul Fannin Legacy Award

This Ham(m)er Award goes to the Arizona-Mexico Commission, the best run gubernatorial commission in the U.S. Under the direction of Gov. Doug Ducey, Senior Advisor Juan Ciscomani, President Jessica Pacheco, and secret weapon and consultant Luis Ram铆rez, the commission is tremendously effective on every level. Paul Fannin, the former Arizona governor, founded the organization 60 years ago, and in 2019 the AMC lived up to his vision in major ways.

Start with its work on USMCA, where the commission developed a special website that outlined trade鈥檚 importance to all 50 states. No U.S. governor was more active in pushing USMCA than Gov. Ducey. His fireside chat with Ambassador Lighthizer moderated by U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark, energized the nation鈥檚 top chamber leaders at a September meeting and motivated the business community to make a final push for the agreement鈥檚 passage.

Beyond USMCA, the AMC鈥檚 work on behalf of Arizona鈥檚 ports of entry helped secure $150 million for San Luis. Our chamber joins the AMC in its continued advocacy for important initiatives on tourism, transportation, education, streamlined cargo inspections鈥攜ou name it. Kudos to the AMC for a great, Ham(m)er Award-winning year.

Albert Einstein Leader of the Year

This Ham(m)er Award goes to our senior senator, Kyrsten Sinema. She鈥檚 a genius. Her poll numbers are sky-high and it鈥檚 no wonder. She has the most bipartisan voting record in the U.S. Senate. In addition to running in endurance races all over the world (she set a personal record at Ironman New Zealand) and being a model of bipartisanship, she is putting points on the board. Take a look at her recent win on a seven-year reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank鈥攁 huge deal for Arizona manufacturers who want to reach customers beyond U.S. shores. Her work on rebalancing trade policy powers between the executive branch and Congress can be legacy-type stuff.

The Ping-Pong Diplomacy Award

Give the Phoenix Suns a Ham(m)er for their return to Mexico City. It was a big deal. The game against the Spurs was an overtime thriller before a sold-out crowd of 20,013 fans who loved the game. (The same can鈥檛 be said for the officiating.) Kudos to my friend Maria Lourdes Delgado of Visit Phoenix for leading a business group to the game, and to the team at Molera Alvarez and Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association boss Kim Sabow for helping pull the trip together.

Sports are a great export industry for us. The Yankees and Red Sox headed to London in 2019, but give me Mexico any time. I can鈥檛 wait for the Diamondback to play ball in Mexico City in 2020 in the first regular season games ever in that country.

Bipartisan Accomplishment of the Decade Award

The Drought Contingency Plan.

What a way to close out the 21st century鈥檚 second decade. Start with the work of Gov. Ducey, Central Arizona Project鈥檚 Ted Cooke and Arizona Department of Water Resources honcho Tom Buschatzke, who grinded out a deal on a water stewardship plan that earned near unanimous approval in the state Legislature. Ensuring the health of Lake Mead and the Colorado River requires adult leadership, which is what Senate President Karen Fann, House Speaker Rusty Bowers, House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez, and state Sen. Lisa Otondo delivered. When the baton was passed to Capitol Hill, Sen. Martha McSally and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ra煤l Grijalva grabbed it and got the Drought Contingency Plan through Congress.

Outside the elected officials, the efforts of Valley Partnership President and CEO Cheryl Lombard were indispensable, as were her fellow members of the Governor鈥檚 Steering Committee and Water Augmentation Council. They all deserve Ham(m)ers for ensuring that Arizona鈥檚 water future remains secure.

Best Motivational Speech on Education Award

It鈥檚 not quite a Grand Slam championship, but tennis great Andre Agassi deserves a Ham(m)er. He wowed a crowd of charter advocates at the 25th anniversary gala of the Arizona Charter School Association with his reflection on why he entered this arena: to give kids quality educational choices.

It was a special evening for the Association, which honored education choice pioneer Lisa Graham Keegan and named an award in her honor. The work of the Charter School Association鈥攏ow under the outstanding leadership of Jake Logan鈥攁nd the entire education choice movement has changed lives for the better.

The Tony, Tony, Tony Award

State Rep. Tony Rivero.

No, it鈥檚 not a 90s R&B throwback. This award is named for the state legislator who once again proved to be the driving force at the Legislature for raising Arizona鈥檚 global profile.

Rep. Rivero has led the effort to increase Arizona鈥檚 trade presence in Mexico and, in 2019, he was the prime mover for the establishment of a trade office in Israel, a world tech superpower.

A few years ago, he led a bipartisan delegation of about 15 lawmakers to Mexico. This year he topped that with a group of 18 lawmakers to mark the opening of the trade office. For all of that, he certainly deserves a Ham(m)er.

The Art of the Deal Award

State Rep. Ben Toma.

This Ham(m)er goes to the lawmaker who put together the most significant tax reform deal since the original jobs package that marked the beginning of the decade of economic recovery and chart-topping growth.

The deal that Rep. Toma shepherded to passage included massive simplification, a reduction in our top individual income tax rate, and a reform to online sales tax collection.

My Main Man Award

A.P. Powell gets the nod. A.P. has created an environment where, by working with veteran advocates like Admiral Hal Pittman, various groups are working together to improve policies at all levels of government for our military veterans. There鈥檚 nothing ordinary about A.P.鈥檚 background鈥攊t鈥檚 fascinating. Give him a follow on Instagram and you鈥檒l see what I mean and why I love rolling with him鈥nd why he deserves a Ham(m)er.

The Tom Seaver You Can Come Home Again Award

Every year I sprinkle in some baseball heroes of my youth. This year鈥檚 edition is named for the Cy Young Award winner and Hall-of-Famer whose long career included two stints with my hometown New York Mets. This Ham(m)er goes to former state treasurer Jeff DeWit, who鈥檚 now the COO at NASA. DeWit returned to Arizona in October for Manufacturing Month to deliver an update on the space agency before a packed Arizona Manufacturers Council audience.

Don鈥檛 be surprised next year if we recognize the contributions of Barbara Barrett, the former Arizona Chamber Heritage Award winner whose nomination to be secretary of the Air Force sailed through the confirmation process, or ASU鈥檚 Dr. Sethuraman “Panch” Panchanathan, who鈥檚 been nominated to be the next director of the National Science Foundation. All three are making Arizona proud on a different stage.

Art of the Selfie Award

Karin Jimenez.

Formerly of the Arizona-Mexico Commission and now with the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association, Karin has helped me develop a special appreciation for the art of the selfie photo. (My kids have put the kibosh on me taking any selfies involving them.)

Karin is everywhere and, in every selfie, looks happy and proud to be representing her organization鈥攁nd she is! Karin is a great champion of trade, tourism and the relationship with Mexico, too.

We end the year on all sorts of positive. Wishing all a healthy and Happy New Year. Let鈥檚 make the 20s our best decade yet!

Glenn Hamer is president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

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