Programs to support continued economic growth, financial recovery as state emerges from pandemic.
“This past year has brought extraordinary challenges on Arizonans and businesses across the state, and we are committed to helping them get back on their feet,” said Governor Ducey. “We’re making targeted investments that will go a long way in helping our small businesses create opportunities and foster growth in our state, and they will help Arizonans get better financial footing after the devastating effects of the pandemic. There is still no better place to live, work and start a business than right here in Arizona.”
The investments come from federal funding as well as the state’s Crisis Contingency and Safety Net Fund, a bipartisan FY 2021 budget agreement signed by the Governor that added $50 million for Arizona’s COVID-19 response.
Arizona Small Business Association
Governor Ducey invested $925,000 to establish the Arizona Small Business Association’s (ASBA) Growing Opportunities Grant. The grant will complement the Arizona Healthy Forest Alliance by providing training, mentorship, resources and support to help program participants launch their own business.
The Arizona Healthy Forest Alliance is a joint program between the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management and the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry that utilizes inmate work crews to conduct hazardous vegetation removal and clear Arizona’s forest floor of debris. The initiative aims to reduce recidivism by giving state inmates the opportunity to learn job skills for employment upon release.
Governor Ducey also invested $650,000 to establish the Small Business Relocation Grant Program led by ASBA. The grants will support additional small business growth, defray costs associated with a move, and provide dollars that a small business can use to establish a footprint in the state.
InvisionAZ
Governor Ducey invested $1.5 million to establish the EmergeAZ Fast II grant program, developed in partnership by InvisionAZ and StartupAZ. The program will help provide financial and business mentoring support to businesses as they emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Grant recipients will have access to mentors and peers with experience building businesses. These individuals will work with the grant recipient on a quarterly basis for a year and monitor their progress. Grants will range from $25,000 to $50,000 based on viability, talent, previous venture capital funding and progression.
In January, Governor Ducey invested $1 million to help InvisionAZ and StartupAZ launch the EmergeAZ Fast Grant, a grant program dedicated to Arizona’s startups as they navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic. 33 Arizona startups received funding through the EmergeAZ Fast I program.
Money Management International
Governor Ducey invested $500,000 to assist Money Management International (MMI) in their efforts to help Arizonans repay debt, balance their budgets and recover from disasters.
MMI will help low-income, disadvantaged or otherwise vulnerable households in low-income communities map out individualized plans to financial recovery and literacy. This will include in-person and virtual training sessions and one-on-one coaching on topics such as debt management, foreclosure prevention, student loan repayment counseling and more.
46 percent of lower-income adults in the U.S. have struggled to pay their bills since the start of the pandemic, and 32 percent have struggled to pay their rent or mortgage, according to a 2020 Pew Research study. This grant program will help Arizonans manage their finances as they recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
Earlier this month, Governor Ducey announced an additional investment of $5 million in the Small Business Rehiring and Retention Program, which is designed to help Arizona small businesses recover from the economic consequences of the pandemic and extreme weather conditions. The Governor launched the program in August and has invested a total of $10 million in the program.
This month, legislation allowing bars, restaurants and liquor stores to sell mixed cocktails to-go went into effect. This law follows an Executive Order issued by Governor Ducey in March 2020 which temporarily allowed certain businesses to sell to-go cocktails during the pandemic.
By September, Arizona had recovered over 100 percent of private sector jobs lost during the pandemic, representing one of the fastest jobs recoveries in the nation.
In July, Governor Ducey signed legislation to reduce and streamline taxes for Arizona small businesses and protect them from a 77 percent tax increase.
In May, Governor Ducey announced the “Arizona Back To Work” program to support Arizonans getting back to work and filling jobs available across the state. The plan offered a $2,000 Back To Work bonus for eligible workers.
In July 2020, Governor Ducey announced $600,000 to fund the launch of the Arizona Small Business Association’s Live Local Program, which trains small businesses to find and navigate resources available during the COVID-19 pandemic, helps them build relationships within their communities, provides mentoring and internship programs, and more.
Governor Ducey
Governor Ducey Signs Historic Tribal-State Gaming Compact Amendment
Gov. Ducey: “We Did It By Bringing Everyone To The Table.”
As representatives from the Arizona Legislature and 18 Tribal Nations looked on, Governor Ducey marked the culmination of a multi-year effort to modernize an industry that has become a mainstay of the state’s expanding economy since 1992 and has grown to support more than 38,000 jobs.
“I can’t overstate the impact the tribal-state gaming compact amendment and its associated legislation will have on our state,” Governor Ducey told guests at a ceremony at the Heard Museum in Phoenix. “Gaming employs thousands of Arizonans, and it generates millions in tax revenue that benefits areas like K-12 education, conservation, and treatment centers. Today’s signing is a culmination of years of partnership and engagement among many diverse stakeholders — and we did it by bringing everyone to the table, pushing individual agendas aside, and putting Arizona first.”
The many tribal leaders and large bipartisan group of state lawmakers attending the event included Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, who was instrumental in tribal and state efforts to amend the compact, as well as Senator T.J. Shope and Representative Jeff Weninger, who spearheaded the effort to secure passage of House Bill 2772.
“This is a once-in-a-generation milestone for tribal nations, their communities, and the entire state of Arizona — and I’m proud to sign a gaming compact amendment and associated legislation that will benefit people in every corner of our state,” the Governor added. “My sincere thanks to President Karen Fann, Speaker Rusty Bowers, Leader Reginald Bolding, Leader Rebecca Rios and Assistant Leader Lupe Contreras. I’m also grateful to Senator T.J. Shope, Representative Jeff Weninger, all the legislators who supported the legislation, Governor Stephen Roe Lewis, Chairman Clarke, and all tribal partners who were instrumental in securing a compact that builds on the success of our tribal-state partnerships.”
With current tribal-state gaming compacts expiring within the next few years, the Arizona Legislature this week passed a bill that modernizes gaming in Arizona and provides additional revenues for Arizona and tribal nations. The legislation, House Bill 2772, is part of a compromise that was negotiated in the amended gaming compact, which is undergoing the most significant modernization in almost two decades. The compact amendments and the associated legislation took more than five years to negotiate, and it ensures gaming in Arizona remains limited and regulated while providing certainty for the future of the state and tribes.
Gaming facilities provide tribes with funding sources to support tribal education, health care, housing and other basic services such as clean water. The modernized compact continues requirements for tribes to contribute a share of their net win from Class III gaming to pay for regulatory costs in exchange for substantial exclusivity with exceptions for sports betting, fantasy sports and Keno.
In addition, the number of Gaming Devices that a tribe may operate will increase but continue to be limited, and a system that allows tribes to transfer all or some portion of its gaming device allocation to other tribes that have valid and effective tribal-state compacts will remain in place. The compact also specifies the number and location of authorized Gaming Facilities, including limitations, and it specifies the number and location of where and when the new facilities can be opened and operated.
“The Gila River Indian Community is proud to partner with other tribes and the state to come to a gaming agreement that benefits all communities,” said Gila River Indian Community Governor Stephen Roe Lewis. “Gaming enhances economic development and job growth within our tribe, and it provides funding sources for education, housing and much more for tribes throughout Arizona. My sincere thanks goes to everyone who partnered to amend the compact and get House Bill 2772 signed.”
Additionally, the compact was amended to authorize event wagering, Keno through lottery, fantasy contests and mobile lottery off-reservation. The amendments extend the compacts to an additional 20 years and specifies the types and forms of additional gaming that a tribe may operate. Additional details on the modernized compact can be found HERE.
“Sports betting is coming to our state, and it’s a big win for all Arizonans and our tribal partners,” said Representative Weninger. “Not only does gaming result in a wide range of jobs, it helps generate revenue for issues important to many people across Arizona. I’m proud to have played a role in this historic deal, and I thank Governor Ducey, my fellow legislators, tribal leaders and everyone who helped get the legislation and compact amendments through the finish line.”
Senator Shope sponsored mirror legislation, Senate Bill 1797.
“This is a historic day,” said Senator Shope. “The legislation and the amended gaming compact will keep our state moving forward and benefit Arizonans of all walks of life. It will impact our tourism industry, generate millions in revenue, and expand job opportunities across Arizona. I’m grateful to Governor Ducey, Representative Weninger, all legislators who supported the bill, and our tribal partners for playing a role in modernizing Arizona’s gaming.”
Arizona’s first tribal-state gaming compacts were entered in 1992. Arizona voters approved the continuation of tribal gaming 10 years later with the passage of Proposition 202. Since then, all 22 federally recognized tribal nations in Arizona have entered into compacts with the state, establishing a relationship that has been mutually beneficial to the tribes and the state. Across Arizona, gaming employs thousands of Arizonans in industries such as food service, hospitality, and tourism. As of December 2020, there has been nearly $1.5 billion in total tribal contributions to the state, counties, cities, and towns since the original compacts were signed.
Governor Ducey Announces $25 Million For Medical Professionals, Additional Safety Measures
At a press conference at the state Public Health Lab, Governor Doug Ducey today announced a list of new actions to support hospitals and medical professionals and combat the spread of COVID-19. Arizona will invest $25 million to bolster hospital staffing in the midst of rising cases nationwide and reward frontline medical workers for their dedication. Arizona Director of Health Services Dr. Cara Christ also announced new guidance for holiday gatherings to help Arizonans make smart decisions and prevent new infections over the holidays.
Actions announced at today’s press conference include:
- Adding $25 million to bolster hospital staffing;
- Publishing new ADHS health guidance for holiday gatherings;
- Launching testing sites and health campaigns at airports;
- Doubling Investments In Public Service Announcements;
- Ensuring mask use on school grounds and buses;
- And ensuring up-to-date data on COVID-19 vaccinations.
“Arizona, and our nation, remain in a public health emergency. This has been a long haul — but we need to redouble our efforts,” said Governor Ducey. “For eight months, Arizonans have acted responsibly and safely to protect others and fight COVID-19 — and today’s efforts build on that. The $25 million for frontline workers in our hospitals will help ensure we have plenty of staffing as numbers rise, and it will support the medical professionals working long hours to care for Arizonans. Our additional safety measures will help keep Arizonans safe as we enter the winter months and snowbirds migrate to our state. Thank you to the families, individuals, businesses, organizations, community leaders, school leaders and more who continue to adapt to follow health guidance and protect fellow Arizonans.”
“We want all Arizonans to stay safe during the holidays,” said Dr. Christ. “We ask that all Arizonans make responsible plans for Thanksgiving that include moving your celebrations outside, reducing the size of your gathering, celebrating virtually with loved ones who are higher risk, and more.”
Support For Health Care Heroes
The Governor is directing $25 million to boost and support staffing at our hospitals. The funding can pay for higher staff costs due to current demand, and allow hospitals to reward their existing direct care employees with bonuses for their dedication. This funding comes from the Coronavirus Relief Fund as part of the federal CARES Act.
Safe, Healthy Thanksgiving Celebrations
Dr. Christ today released official guidance for Arizonans to celebrate Thanksgiving safely and responsibly. The guidance directs Arizonans to:
- Celebrate outside;
- Minimize the number of guests;
- Physically distance when possible and only touch or hug those from your immediate household;
- Wear masks if your gathering includes guests from outside your household;
- Celebrate together with your quarantine pod, using a tablet and virtual meeting programs to bring family and friends together without exposing one another;
- Wash your hands before and after preparing, serving and eating food;
- Use hand sanitizer;
- And avoid self-serve or buffets.
Find additional guidance for the holiday season at azhealth.gov/winterholidays
Testing At Airports
As more winter and holiday visitors travel to Arizona, many are entering through airports. At the Governor’s request, Dr. Christ will work with Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Tucson International Airport to launch testing sites, allowing incomers to get tested immediately with quick turnaround. The Department of Health Services also will work with the airports on inbound messaging around the importance of wearing masks and information on where travelers can get tested.
Doubling Down On School Safety
Schools are already required to have mask policies, but Dr. Christ will be issuing an emergency measure to make sure schools statewide are implementing those policies on school grounds and on school buses. More information can be found at azhealth.gov
Preparations For Vaccine Distribution
Earlier this year, the state assembled a vaccine task force that is actively working to ensure the effective distribution of COVID-19 vaccines once they are available. To support these efforts, Governor Ducey today issued an Executive Order extending the Enhanced Surveillance Advisory to collect information on vaccinations.
The enhanced surveillance will ensure all Arizonans who want the vaccine will receive the appropriate follow-up doses at the correct time. It will also allow the state to identify and support vulnerable populations and underserved communities.
Enhanced Health And Safety Campaigns
Arizona is amplifying public health messaging and doubling investments in public service announcements to ensure every individual knows what steps to take to protect themselves and their loved ones — from wearing a mask to getting tested to remaining physically distant.
View the Governor’s Executive Order HERE.
View information on COVID-19 and daily updates HERE.
View guidance for the upcoming holiday season HERE.