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Briefs
Lack of Child Care Impacting Arizona’s Post-Pandemic Recovery
Child care is an essential service, and the pandemic has elevated awareness of the importance of quality early education and care to maintaining a thriving economy.
One in three households is struggling to find the child care they need to return to work, according to a recent poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Equally alarming, ReadyNation and Council for a Strong America estimate this unmet demand costs the U.S. economy $57 billion each year in lost productivity, earnings and revenue.
Taking a deeper look into the current state of child care in Arizona, a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce study estimates working parents’ inability to access child care costs the state $1.7 billion annually. The same study states that, 34% of the Arizona workforce polled cited inadequate access to care as the catalyst for a major career change.
An expansion of quality child care offerings is particularly critical in Phoenix, which has experienced a higher population increase than any other major U.S. city over the last decade. Therefore, the opportunity for individuals to become early education providers and expand their community’s child care options in Arizona has never been greater.
For local business leaders and entrepreneurs who are seeking to make a meaningful investment in their community’s future, a child care center is an ideal opportunity to meet these growing needs. However, starting from scratch may seem daunting, especially if this is an owner’s first business venture. Pursuing this passion alongside an experienced and accredited education franchise model can ease that fear by offering the right resources and support along the way as a school is brought to life.
Now more than ever, there is a growing need for early education and child care programs. Education is the backbone of any community and with the help of a leading child care brand recognized by a reputable source like Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list, members of the community can accelerate the next generation of Phoenix’s future by investing in becoming a local franchise owner. —Steve Clemente, president of Primrose Schools, a leading early education provider with nearly 475 locations in 33 states; offering entrepreneurs impactful, innovative business opportunities, the company is projected to open an estimated 25 new locations in 2022. DAILIES TOP STORIES
‘In Business Dailies’ Most Views Last 30 Days
Here are the stories with the most views over the past 30 days (prior to press time) that were features in our In Business Dailies. The In Business Dailies hit email inboxes twice each weekday — at 9:30 a.m. and updated at 4:30 p.m. Sign up today at www.inbusinessphx.com/dailies-signup
Economy & Trends | Cover Story | April 2022 Our Bioscience Economy
How this sector is transforming who we are
by RaeAnne Marsh “… because Phoenix is so diversified in so many industries, the city manager announced last week we have a $76-million surplus this year. We are moving stronger than we ever have before because we’ve focused the last decade on absolute diversification, with biosciences being a leading sector,” said Christine Mackay, community and economic development director at City of Phoenix, in an interview for this story in late February.
Legal & Regulations | Legal | April 2022
Luxury vs. Affordable Multifamily Housing
Arizona’s cities should focus on growing both
by Benjamin Graff It may be surprising to hear that a city or community can be opposed to a luxury multifamily development just as strongly as an affordable housing development, but for very different reasons.
Banking & Finance | inbusinessphx.com | April 7 2022
Sarver Retires as Executive Chair of Western Alliance Board, CEO Signs on for Three Years
inbusinessPHX.com Western Alliance Bancorporation today announced that Robert Sarver and Steve Hilton will be retiring from their respective roles as Executive Chairman and Director of the Board of Directors of the company and its principal subsidiary, Western Alliance Bank.
Commercial Real Estate & Development | inbusinessphx.com | March 23 2022
Japanese Izakaya Bistro Going in at The Grove, 44th Street and Camelback Development
inbusinessPHX.com The new independent restaurant concept Pyro, a Japanese izakaya bistro, will make its debut as the first dining establishment coming to Red Development‘s The Grove, a $400 million mixed-use destination on the northwest corner of 44th Street and Camelback Road.
LOOKING GOOD
Local Standouts Recognized for Achievements and Philanthropy
ACHIEVEMENTS
Pomchies a Fastest-Growing Company
Pomchies, the Valley-based fashion accessories and facial masks company, ranked No. 5 on the 2022 Inc. Regionals: Southwest list of the fastest-growing private companies. Heather Logan Clark created Pomchies in 2002 out of a desire to utilize the excess unused swimsuit material from her previous swimwear company. With the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, Pomchies launched the nowpopular POM MASK line of comfortable, breathable facial masks in quick response to the immediate need for face coverings. pomchies.com
Footprint Awarded for Sustainable Packaging Breakthrough
Footprint, a global materials science technology company focused on creating a healthy planet, was recently recognized with two awards from the Flexographic Technical Association.
Footprint won the Sustainability Excellence Award and the Excellence in Flexographic Printing Award for its shelfstable cup and print-to-fiber technology, a flexographic print process on molded fiber cups. The breakthrough technology allows Footprint to eliminate the need for brands to label their containers with a separate plastic wrapper, which typically then renders the entire package landfill waste. flexography.org • footprintus.com
Sustainable Earth, a collaboration between Arizona State University (ASU) and Wells Fargo, aims to make expert-level sustainability news, research, and education relatable and accessible to consumers, small businesses and educators, with the goal of providing ways for them to take direct action toward creating a more sustainable future.
With content produced by ASU researchers and research students, and other sustainability experts, the platform delivers expert knowledge, innovative research, and science-backed curricula to empower ‘everyday’ sustainability through small changes. The content covers a broad range of topics across lifestyle, sustainable business and education and aims to break down the latest trends, research and reports, making the information more accessible and actionable.
“Fundamentals of sustainable supply chains” and courses on CDP reporting (fundamental, intermediate, advanced) are among the nine micro-courses Sustainable Earth currently offers, with more in development now and a goal to continue adding courses.
Says Sustainable Earth Program Manager Katelyn Armbruster, M.Ed., “Countries and global organizations are struggling to meet climate goals, and climate change is becoming a bigger threat to humankind and the world. Consumers and small businesses want to take action, but it can be a nebulous topic. Sustainable Earth is on a mission to change that.”
The idea for Sustainable Earth came from several teams at ASU doing work to drive the mission of sustainability forward. Realizing they needed a platform to disseminate important research and information coming out of the university and beyond, Sustainable Earth was born. Earlier this year, the Rob & Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service team at ASU reimagined the platform, which now features sustainability research, studies, guides, microcourses, student-led innovations, and solutions to inspire daily actions toward sustainability.
To celebrate the innovative solutions small businesses throughout the US are developing to support their communities and the planet, Sustainable Earth has also launched the Sustainable Earth Small Business Awards. This year’s inaugural program will award more than $50,000 in prize money, with individual award amounts up to $5,000, to 15 US small businesses making strides toward a more sustainable future. —Mike Hunter
Sustainable Earth sustainable-earth.org
Delta Dental of AZ’s Customer Call Center Tops in U.S., Canada
Delta Dental of Arizona, the state’s largest dental insurance company, has received multiple awards in BenchmarkPortal’s Top Contact Center Contest for its ability to provide superior customer service to its members. In the 2022 competition, Delta Dental of Arizona earned first place in the prestigious “Top Contact Center” category for contact centers with 2 to 49 agents. In addition, Delta Dental’s call center was also awarded “Lowest Abandon Rate” and “Best Agent Retention” titles. benchmarkportal.com • deltadentalaz.com
PHILANTHROPY
Boeing Co. Grants $125K to Phoenix Children’s Homeless Youth Outreach
The Boeing Company recently granted $125,000 to Phoenix Children’s Hospital to support the healthcare system’s Homeless Youth Outreach program. This investment will allow HYO to provide primary and preventive medical services to Arizona’s homeless youth population, and is in alignment with Boeing’s mission to support outreach projects that directly improve access to quality health care to historically underserved communities. boeing.com • phoenixchildrens.org
New High-Vibe Burger Concept in Town
Hamburgers are, arguably, America’s favorite food. And not only can they be served in a variety of sizes, shapes and sandwich accoutrements, they can be found throughout Phoenix in a vast array of restaurant concepts build around creating their own unique vibe to enhance the culinary experience.
Sid’s Garage is the latest restaurant concept to shake things up on our burger scene. The comfort-food concept from Idaho is bringing its high-energy, full-throttle dining (and music) experience to Phoenix at Desert Ridge Marketplace this month.
Innovation is rampant, from shakes and cocktails to the Boss Hog Burger — made with a half-pound Wagyu/Black Angus Snake River Farm patty, 48-hour-roasted pork belly, onion rings and scratch Sriracha-Bourbon sauce — and Sid’s version of bacon and eggs, which includes four pieces candied bacon suspended above two flash-fried deviled eggs with a honey mustard dipping reduction.
The move to Phoenix was an easy choice for owners Will and Nicole Primavera, who share, “Our core beliefs revolve around supporting local in an area where community means so much. We have family who live in Phoenix, and it gave us the opportunity to see what a hot bed of culinary chops the Valley has.” —Mike Hunter
Sid’s Garage sidsgarage.com
