Katie Ramos, June 2019 @7000ft

JUNE 2019 | VOL 5, ISSUE 6

By The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce

BECAUSE A

HEALTHY BUSINESS CLIMATE AND A

THRIVING COMMUNITY ARE INSEPARABLE

FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO

Katie Ramos, Rodeo Queen

JACK'S ANTIQUE

Full of antiques from all over the world, and located at the Flagstaff Mall

CHAMBER GOLF CLASSIC RE-CAP

Sponsored by Coca-Cola (Swire) of Flagstaff

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www.flagstaffsummerfest.com

UPCOMING CHAMBER EVENTS

CONTENTS

Thursday, June 13th 7:30 - 9:30 am DoubleTree by Hilton Flagstaff 1175 W Route 66 Flagstaff, AZ 86001

FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO

Sponsored by

KATIE RAMOS, FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO QUEEN IS OUR JUNE @7000FT FEATURE PAGE 8

Doors open at 7am.

JACK'S ANTIQUE PAGE 10

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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS EVERY MEMBER COUNTS LEADERSHIP @7000ft FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO

GOLF CLASSIC PAGE 11

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Thursday, June 27th 5:30 - 7:30 pm

JACK'S ANTIQUE GOLF CLASSIC RE-CAP BUSINESS ADVOCACY

The Peaks, a Senior Living Community 3150 N Winding Brook Rd Flagstaff, AZ 86001

BE COOL, BE CHAMBER

$10 members $15 Prospective members (One time only please)

Free with VIP

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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 place advertising 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 Brenda Hazlett APS

Monica Attridge Hozhoni Foundation

1st Vice Chair Mark Love Massage Envy

Doug Bonate BBVA Compass Bank Guillermo Cortes Shephard-Wesnitzer, Inc.

2nd Vice Chair Joe Pozar, Jr. Joy Cone Co. 3rd Vice Chair Clay McCauslin KAFF/KMGN Radio

Walter Crutchfield Vintage Partners Mark Harris Terry Marxen Chevrolet Cadillac Jacquie Kellogg West USA Realty

Treasurer Jennifer Nordstrom Cecily Maniaci Toasted Owl Nordstrom & Pete Muscarella Associates PC Immediate Past Chairman Randon Cupp Foothills Bank

Ex-Officio Colonel Ray Garcia Camp Navajo Joanne Keene Northern Arizona University Dr. Colleen Smith Coconino Community College

e ebsit See w lendar for cavents of e gstaff a / ess.fl busin mber.com a ch vents e

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7000ft | JUNE 2019 | VOL 5, ISSUE 6 | GREATER FLAGSTAFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Straightline Builders Patrick Nackard Nackard Companies Fred Reese Little America Lindie Rodgers Superior Propane Richard Sanchez State Farm Insurance Cassity Smith Flagstaff Young Professionals Flo Spyrow Northern Arizona Healthcare John Stigmon ECoNA Steve Thompson Colliers International Kelly Tulloss Sutcliffe Floral Bryce Warren Twin Arrows Casino Resort

Cover Photo Credit: Barbara Sherman

BUSINESS INFLUENCERS

VIEW FROM THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT’S DESK May Showers Bring June Flowers?

It's official: the weather service announced that Arizona is no longer in a drought! After nearly a decade of dryness, we are particularly grateful for this news since we sit in the tallest stand of Ponderosa pines in the country.

Big news this month from Cecily Maniaci and The Toasted Owl restaurants who just announced she is franchising her two-unit, unique concept in other states. Congratulations to our Chamber Board member. In other business news, the Grand Canyon Brewery of Williams will spread its wings into Flagstaff in August by opening in the former Buster's Restaurant location. Congratulations to John Peasley and his team.

Last month, Governor Ducey appointed our former Corporation Commissioner, Andy Tobin, (Pauldin, AZ) to be the Director of the Arizona Office of Administration. His vacancy on the Corporation Commission is being filled by Lea Marquez Peterson, former CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, who was also appointed

by Governor Ducey. Both of these stellar leaders are great friends of this Chamber. We congratulate them and look forward to working with them on your behalf.

Right now I am preparing for Washington, DC, next week to meet with our delegation on many issues, including the location of a Federal Court in Flagstaff, Camp Navajo requests to boost business development and job creation on the installation, and the United States Mexico Canada Agreement ratification (USMCA) which is touted to be one of the best trade agreements ever crafted for our North American countries. I'm joined by other military installations in the state and by Orville Wiseman, Wiseman Aviation, who is a board member of Northern Arizona Military Affairs Council (NAMAC), which the Chamber leads.

In this edition, you will see more information regarding the Chamber's Summer Coding and STEM Camps which kick off June 10 and run for four weeks. Science and technology learning for 11-16 year olds never has been so fun, and we encourage you to take a look at our website to see how to register your student. The Chamber serves as a centerpiece of summer STEM learning for its seventh year in Flagstaff, and we are in collaboration with Coconino Community College at their 4th Street campus. We encourage Williams and Flagstaff students to apply.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY, GROW YOUR BUSINESS, CONNECT & ENGAGE

Julie Pastrick President + CEO

Summer brings with it three big Greater Flagstaff Chamber events over the Fourth of July weekend.

The Downtown Mile registrations are still open for the one-mile race for all ages which has garnered national acclaim. We partner with Team Run Flagstaff to bring this race to town, which is the first event in the morning (while it is still cool). The Chamber's 4th of July Parade is a center point of Independence Day activities and a large reason why Travel and Leisure Magazine named Flagstaff the top city for 4th of July activities. You have to see the 100+ floats and entries to believe it. If you haven't entered you should right away. And very important, too, is the return of the Flagstaff Festival in the Pines. We are hosting at this event at Fort Tuthill Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 4, 5,and 6 - artists, food, outstanding music, kids' play, beer garden, and everything you need for you and your family. Please plan on bringing the gang. And why do we bring these events to Flagstaff??? To promote and enhance tourism and to ring cash registers all across the city. Elevating business success is our success.

Thank you for your investment in the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. We are proud to work on your behalf creating a strong business climate, which we truly believe provides a vibrant community for all.

Become a member today!

Visit our website flagstaffchamber.com or call Kat Ross, Vice President of Investor Relations at (928) 774-4505

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CHAMBER BUSINESS INSIGHTS RADIO SHOW Tune in to our show every Saturday at 11 AM on KAFF Country Legends 93.5FM and AM930 Listen to the latest interviews at flagstaffchamber.com/media

Here are some of the latest interviews you can listen to on our website:

Dr. Alice Christy - Tynkertopia With over 50 years in education and a passion for STEM, Alice dreamt of a permanent place for her 50 lb suitcase of exploration. She describes how America’s First STEM Community, Flagstaff, became that place. And Tynker and Wine nights mean her adventures aren’t just for kids!

Mary Huntley - Taylor & Huntley Financial Group Mary’s father and uncle started the firm in the 1970s, and the focus has always been to foster long-term client relationships.

Hear Mary describe how everyone needs a financial plan and learn how Taylor & Huntley helps clients work in increments to achieve their goals.

Paul Noel - HuHot Mongolian Grill Listen to this one before lunch! Paul explains HuHot’s approach to dining, which involves fresh ingredients and a user-defined experience. Choose fresh seafood, chicken, vegetables, noodles, and a seemingly infinite variety of sauces, and see it grilled to order on a huge, blazing, circular grill.

Aired 2/9/19

Aired 2/23/19

Aired 3/9/19

Christina Caldwell - Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona Christina discusses the Goodwill Career Center, which offers credentialed computer training at no cost to those wishing to upgrade their Word, Excel and PowerPoint skills. Brent describes how Caviat creates grade 9-16 internships so businesses can test and retain talent locally.

Melissa Flemming & Roxanne Augenstein Northern Arizona Financial Roxanne and Melissa, as Enrolled Agents, are licensed by the Department of Treasury to represent taxpayers before the IRS. Learn why EAs and other credentialed preparers are so important in navigating the new tax laws and forms, and how their firm can help.

Mike Horton - Suddenlink by Altice Mike discusses Suddenlink by Altice’s business and residential services, highlighting those which improve speed and efficiency in the workplace. Solutions are tailored to the needs of the customer; among these are high-speed internet, business-hosted voice, cloud backup, wireless service and business media advertising.

Aired 3/23/19

Aired 3/23/19

Aired 3/23/19

NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS

Welcome to the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce

HOT WOK RESTAURANT 1451 S Milton Rd Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 226-1007 azyum.com

REVIVAL MED SPA 1505 S Yale St, Suite 2 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 774-5465 flagstaffmedspa.com

FLAGSTAFF HOLISTIC SPA 223 N San Francisco St, Suite 104 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 606-7271 flagstaffholisticspa.com

HOWARD JOHNSON BY WYNDHAM WILLIAMS 511 N Grand Canyon Blvd Williams, AZ 86046 (928) 433-6923

BARDEN HOME BUILDERS 114 N San Francisco St, Suite 201 Flagstaff, AZ 86003 (928) 699-3515 bardenhomebuilders.com

ALL SEASONS ROOFING 3100 W Kiltie Lane Flagstaff, AZ 86005 (928) 853-0505 asroofing.net

CARE1ST (A WELLCARE COMPANY) Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (602) 778-4138 wellcare.com

CON-TEK COATING AND POLISHING 3800 N St Rt 89 Chino Valley, AZ 86323 (928) 515-4090 contekfloors.com

HUFFORD, HORSTMAN, MONGINI, PARNELL & TUCKER PC 120 N Beaver Street Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 226-0000 h2m2law.com

CLEAR TITLE AGENCY OF FLAGSTAFF 513 N Beaver St Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 440-5530 cleartitleaz.com/flagstaff

JAVA JUICE CAFE 1530 S Riordan Ranch St, Suite D407 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 774-1034 javajcafe.com

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ROGUE ANTIQUES 101 S Milton Rd Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (928) 774-5915

CHAMBER WELCOMES & CONGRATULATES

RIBBO N CRI N UBB T O IN G CUTTTIN G

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1. PrimeLending - 10 Year Anniversary 2. Quality Connections Inc. EXPRESS - Ribbon Cutting 3. West, Christensen, Degomez & Ignace, PLLC - 15 Year Anniversary 4. Michael McLaughlin Orthodontics - 10 Year Anniversary 5. SenesTech - 10 Year Anniversary 6. The Red Door - Ribbon Cutting 7. CNN Mortgage - Ribbon Cutting 8. Russ Lyon Sotheby's International Realty - 15 Year Anniversary 9. Flagstaff Food Tours - Ribbon Cutting

STAY UP TO DATE!

You have joined a special organization.

This is a partnership & WE are working on your behalf.

@flagstaffchamber

@flgchamber

ENews emailed every 2nd Tuesday

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LEADERSHIP @

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Advancing a Strong Community

Flagstaff Pro Rodeo is now in its 6th year at Fort Tuthill County Park. The Rodeo features bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. Katie Ramos, Rodeo Queen, is the face of our June @7000ft issue.

Photo Credit: Barbara Sherman

FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO

KRISTEN DAULTON VICE PRESIDENT OF FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO

2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff, AZ 86005 flagstaffrodeo.com | (928) 707-1119

HOW MANY YEARS HAS THE FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO BEEN UP AND RUNNING AGAIN? This will be our 6th anniversary.

Flagstaff was originally part of the Wild West.

The Flagstaff Pro Rodeo helps us preserve western heritage, teach our youth and keep the west wild!

WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ADVANTAGE OF BEING IN THE TURQUOISE CIRCUIT? There are 28 rodeos within the Turquoise Circuit, 13 circuits in total that make up the PRCA! We have some of the BEST barrel racers and team ropers in the industry due to the amazing climate in Arizona year round.

The weather makes it easy for contestants to keep their horses in shape and their skills at the top of the game. It’s also easy to find an event to practice at every weekend in the valley. Our number of contestants has grown dramatically since our 1st year. We think that is due to the caliber of an event we produce.

We work extremely hard to make every single experience from start to finish top notch for our contestants by provide some of the best bucking stock, pickup men and contract personnel in the business.

PLEASE DESCRIBE SOME OF THE EVENTS PEOPLE WILL ENJOY AT FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO. Bull Riding and Mounted Shooting are always some of the favorite events! They are exciting and entertaining! We also have a lot of great kids activities, mutton busting (sheep riding), Calf scramble, live National Anthem sang by Emily Johnson, great food, shopping, and overall a lot to offer just about anyone who attends. We're definitely a family event for kids of all ages.

WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENT HAS MEANT THE MOST TO THE RODEO IN RECENT YEARS? Being named one of the Top 5 Small Rodeos in the United States & receiving the Justin Boots award in 2017 for the most improved ground. Our goal is to be the premier rodeo in the southwest. We want contestants and rodeo fan to travel from all over the US just to attend our hometown rodeo. We strive to offer the best hospitality in the industry by making everyone who attends feel welcome and right at home. We truly feel this is what make a successful event, this is what makes people come back year after year whether they are in the arena competing or in the grandstands cheering!

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE RODEO. WHY IS THE RODEO IMPORTANT TO FLAGSTAFF?

RODEO CONTESTANTS COME FROM ALL OVER THE WEST - WHAT ATTRACTS THEM TO FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO? We hear all kinds of things from our contestants on why they like to attend Flagstaff. Some say it’s the history behind rodeo in Flagstaff, some have grandparents that competed here many years ago in the same arena. Some love the summer temperatures and the dark skies with all the stars. While others think it’s a great stop on the way to a BIGGER rodeo.

WHAT OTHER COMPETITIONS COMPRISE THE TURQUOISE CIRCUIT? Any PRCA rodeo in the state of AZ or NM make up the Turquoise Circuit.

WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF A GOOD RODEO? We believe there are many aspects that make a rodeo great! The show that keeps people coming back night after night, year after year.

The welcoming “Home Town” atmosphere is extremely important to us. We have an incredible hard working committee that makes every experience from start to finish memorable and fun for our rodeo fans. We have very well kept, high caliber animals. Our stock contractor Cervi Championship does

an outstanding job maintaining the highest quality stock that is happy, healthy and loves to BUCK! RODEOS ARE WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR QUEENS. PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE OF THE RODEO QUEEN AND THE TEAM QUEEN. Our Rodeo Queen & Teen Queen are the spokespersons for our rodeo all year long.

They visit all the PRCA rodeos and events across the great state of Arizona. They talk to the youth about rodeo and what it means to preserve the western way of life. They make memories with their family and friends that last a lifetime.

WHERE WOULD THE RODEO LIKE TO BE IN 10 YEARS? Over the past 6 years we have grown each year! We would like to be bigger and better with each passing year! In 10 years we would like to have added more seating, and more excitement so we can continue to be one of the most anticipated summer events in Flagstaff!

RODEOS TYPICALLY SPELL FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. WHAT'S IN STORE FOR ATTENDEES THIS YEAR? Barrel Racing, Bull Riding, Team Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Tie Down Roping, Steer Wrestling, Bareback Riding, Cowboy Mounted Shooting and Rodeo Queens are all in store for families this year at the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo! There will be non-stop action under the lights each night from 7pm-9pm Thursday June 27-Saturday June 29th.

Gates open at 5pm nightly for a chance to shop, eat, get autographs and enjoy all that the rodeo has to offer. We will also do a nightly ball toss fundraiser for local suicide prevention organizations with a chance for one lucky rodeo fan to walk away with $500 CASH each night! Must participate in the ball toss for a chance to WIN!!!

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JACK'S ANTIQUE ANNIVERSARY Jack always had a passion for and love of antiques. He started collecting as a young child and was encouraged by his mother, so he’s collected all his life. We have always furnished our own home with some antiques and original artwork, so opening our own story on April 15, 2016 felt natural. We just celebrated our 3 year anniversary, and are looking forward to year 4!

Our collections span at least 6 continents and are displayed as such. The sections are Americana, Traditional, Asian, African, Modern and Native American. We have fine art of various mediums such as oils, watercolor, pastel, lithograph; bronze and marble sculptures, antique art glass, furniture, vintage toys, Navajo jewelry and rugs, Hopi pottery and kachina dolls, folk art, antique baskets, wooden masks from South America and the Pacific, Japanese and Chinese artifacts, French etchings and clocks. Items are priced from $5 onward. We have shipped Items to France, Australia and Canada, and all throughout the United States.

Jack and I started to collect in earnest for more than two years, knowing we wanted to open an antique store and art gallery. We had artwork and furniture warehoused in our home, and we were so surprised to have our hallways and guest rooms back when we opened. We wanted to complement the antique stores already established in Flagstaff, but we also were excited to offer a different experience to our customers.

It took us a year to find a space that beautifully showcases our art and collectibles. In our store we changed the store lighting to 98% LED in order to protect the art from fading, as fluorescent lighting emits UV waves.

We are located inside the Mall in Suite G014, across from the Verizon Store. We are open seven days a week and on most holidays. Our email is jack@jacksantique.com and customers can also call us at 928-526-0696. We have a Facebook page and our store is also online at jacksantique. com. Our space is also wheelchair accessible and lots of young people visit the store often as they are fascinated by the items we have.

We want our customers to have a museum-like experience when they walk in the store. Jack loves to speak with our customers about the items we have curated and assist them with choices based on budget, occasion and taste.

We are open seven days a week.

Store Hours are Mon-Thus: 10am - 7pm.

Fri.-Sat.: 10am - 9pm Sun: 10am - 6pm

MOUNTAIN LINE TRANSIT By: Erika Mazza, Mountain Line CEO & General Manager

I had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. in early June to meet with our Arizona delegation, and other elected officials from around the country. While my primary responsibility is to keep the wheels moving on our hybridelectric Mountain Line buses in Flagstaff, a critical component of that movement is the federal funding we receive.

The Mountain Line transit story is one that resonates with lawmakers, and I am honored to share our successes on a national level. This story is one of economic growth that is critical to our community’s sustainability. Compared to our counterparts on the east coast, Mountain Line is a relatively young system – only 18 years old. Since its inception, Mountain Line has experienced

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year-over-year ridership growth, and in less than 10 years we have grown our ridership by 150 percent. In a community of 75,000 people Mountain Line transports nearly 2.5 million riders a year.

A significant portion of Mountain Line’s federal funding is based on population. This means that a community like Avondale in Maricopa County receives three times the funding we do but has 14 times LESS ridership than Mountain Line.

Our turn to shine comes with the Small Transit Intensive City (STIC) funding, which rewards high-performing small transit systems like Mountain Line with additional funding for meeting or exceeding the performance measures of larger systems.

The STIC funds Mountain Line

receives go directly back into the system, benefitting the entire community. By investing in things like higher frequency, new bus stops, and a new Downtown Connection Center, Mountain Line can better connect Flagstaff residents and visitors with the things they need to do on a daily basis. Whether this is getting to a job, a medical appointment, school, or a dinner reservation, a robust transit system is critical to making these connections.

Second, I am making the case for an increase in STIC funding.

This type of funding is not a handout. It is competitive and rewards those transit systems that operate efficiently, and with dynamic targets we can be more effective in improving the performance of our transit system. A 1 percent increase in STIC funding means that a community like Flagstaff could be on par with what Avondale receives, simply for having a larger population.

I have two primary messages when I’m meeting with elected officials. First, the transit industry needs consistent, dedicated, and long-term funding, which would provide the necessary federal investments necessary to build, maintain, and operate our public transportation systems.

We are proud to make every dollar we receive go far, and I look forward to continuing to share the story of transit thriving in our mountain town.

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CHAMBER GOLF CLASSIC RE-CAP

A little rain never stops us! We had a blast at our 2019 Flagstaff Chamber/Coca-Cola Golf Classic.

Thank you to all of our sponors but especially Coca Cola (Swire) of Flagstaff, Twin Arrows Casino Resort, and Unisource Energy Services.

We would like to give a big shout out to our winners: Gross 1st Place Score - 53 Luke Mattila Jim McCartin Patrick Kelly Brian Prouty

Net 1st Place Score - 47 Brad Fendley Mike Groeger Ivan Blackwell Mark Whitcomb

Contest Holes Closest to the Hole #3 Longest Drive for Men #6 - AJ Peru Longest Drive for Women #6 Anna Elliot Longest Putt Made #18

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CHAMBER BUSINESS ADVOCACY Arizona $11.8B FY2020 Budget Good for Northern Arizona By: Joe Galli The Greater Flagstaff Chamber has long been a champion of funding local schools. Just this past week, the Arizona Legislature wrapped-up work on the State’s annual budget concluding with $11.8 billion in expenditures for fiscal year 2020 beginning July 1. The Greater Flagstaff Chamber signed a letter in favor of the budget passed by the Republican-led House and Senate, and signed by Governor Doug Ducey, which provided extraordinary funding for our Arizona education system.

This budget provided the following for:

K-12: • • • • • • • •

$165 million to fully fund 20 percent teacher pay raises by school year 2020 $136 million to speed up the restoration of recession-era cuts to District and Charter Additional Assistance $88 million for school building renewal $76 million for new school construction $30 million in new dollars for high-performing schools through results based funding $20 million to hire more school counselors and cops on campus $10 million to grow Career and Technical Education programs at public high schools $1.5 million in permanent funds for Foster Youth Education

Higher Education: • • • • • •

$35 million in funding for Arizona’s three public universities, ASU, U of A and NAU $15 million in permanent, ongoing funds to expand the Arizona Teachers Academy $14.2 million for rural community colleges outside of Pima and Maricopa County $1 million for Diné College, a community college on the Navajo Nation $1 million for the National Guard Tuition Reimbursement $500,000 for Northern Arizona University’s Freedom School

Infrastructure & Economic Development: • • • • • • • •

$130 million over three years to expand Interstate 17 $95.3 million for targeted priority infrastructure projects $11.3 million to eliminate counties paying for a share of operating costs at the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections $3 million to expand broadband services in underserved rural areas $2.2 million for the Arts $1.1 million to promote tourism $1 million for a business one-stop, helping entrepreneurs furthering Arizona’s economic growth $700,000 for a Mariposa Port of Entry Cold Inspection Facility

We are proud of the great work done in Phoenix by our LD 6 representatives Walter Blackman & Bob Thorpe, and Senator Sylvia Allen who fight tirelessly for rural Arizona each session at the Arizona Capitol.

JOIN FLAGSTAFF YOUNG PROFESSIONALS! As a division of the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, FYP comes together to influence the professionals ages 21-39 of the Flagstaff Community. For more information, or to sign up, visit: www.FlagstaffYP.com

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CHAMBER INTRODUCES NEW THEATRIKOS DIRECTOR Theatrikos: Good Theatre is Good Business By: Tom Marcinko Despite 4,000 gallons of sewage flooding the basement, the show must go on.

Too often the nonprofit arts are considered a luxury.

However, Chris Verrill, the recently arrived executive director of Flagstaff's Theatrikos Theatre Company, points out that the arts, including the theatre, are a key driver of the economy that keeps the community going.

He cites a 2017 nationwide study by Americans for the Arts, with local data provided by the Flagstaff Arts Council. According to that report, the arts and sciences bring more than $20 million annually into the local economy.

Verrill, who spent the last dozen years as the executive director of the English theatre in China, adds, “We know that many tourists come to Flagstaff just to see an art or science event, that they spend money in local restaurants, lodging, and other attractions, and that they tend to stay in Flagstaff longer. Theatrikos contributes to that prosperity, along with and in synergy with other local theatre organizations like the Flagstaff Musical Theatre and Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, to name just two.”

That sense of community is much-needed when the unexpected strikes. Verrill speaks warmly of the outpouring of support Theatrikos recently received in the aftermath of a basement sewage flood that damaged several decades' worth of props and costumes, not to mention the dressing rooms and the workshop used for set design and construction. The flood was caused by a blockage of a city sewer line that runs under the theatre. “To be honest, it was gross,” he said. The flooding forced the cancellation of performances of Wait Until Dark and forced a TheatriKids education theatre production to move to another venue.

The theatre has since been cleaned and sanitized. But the basement has been gutted and will take a year to rebuild. “It’s nearly an empty shell, with all props and costumes and other things either destroyed or in storage with the cleaning company,” Verrill says.

“We are still cautiously optimistic that insurance and the city will bring us back to where we were,” he adds. “But we hope to come back even better than before. To turn lemons into lemonade.” Making the best of a problem nobody could have foreseen should mean a new lease on life for the almost 100-year-old building. “Depending on how our fundraising is going, and other factors, we should be able to create a good thing out of this stinky mess.”

Theatrikos plans to rebuild and repurpose the underground space to include a classroom for theatre students and studio theatre for small performances and rehearsals and performances. Verrill adds, “We're recruiting skilled construction professionals to help us develop a plan and undertake this project. We're exploring offsite storage for our costumes and props and set pieces.”

Theatrikos is using Facebook, GoFundMe, and donations to raise the $75,000 needed to take itself to a new level.

“Ultimately, we will be able to provide improved service to the community, and to continue playing our part in the economy of Flagstaff at an even higher level.”

Theatrikos, established in 1972, has been a crucial part of the economic engine for almost 50 years. And despite recent stinky obstacles, it is planning to be an everincreasing part of that economic engine for another 50 years.

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BE COOL, BE CHAMBER Behind the scenes of local, small businesses

Warner's Nursery & Landscapring

Mountain Sports Flagstaff

The Toasted Owl Cafe 14

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Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the First Moon Landing on July 20th with special Lunar Legacy events. discoverflagstaff.com

FREE

Flagstaff’s Lunar Landmarks Trail Map & Passport Available for FREE at the Flagstaff Visitor Center | One E. Route 66

E L Z T Z A I E H S E H E T T H U O T H T I L W L A GRAB SOME FRIENDS AND HEAD TO TWIN

A G E TAWAY N O T T O O FA R AWAY 855-946-8946 • twinarrows.com

Gambling Problem? Call 1.800.NEXTSTEP

15 Minutes East of Flagstaff