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Business Pitch Competition Like ‘Shark Tank’ Coming to Quad Cities

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“We are eager to support our local businesses and start-ups for this year’s challenge.”

Yavapai College Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Moonshot Az are proud to announce that the AZ Pioneer Pitch State-Wide Tour – an entrepreneurship contest similar to ABC’s Shark Tank – is coming back to the Quad Cities as part of the fourth annual tour.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur with a moonshot start-up idea or a seasoned founder with a business you’d like to expand, participation in the event hones your business skills and assists in moving your business forward.

The final event will be held on Feb. 24, at the Yavapai College Prescott Campus. Entrants must apply at azpioneerpitch.org/quad-cities by Feb. 1. There is a $35 fee to participate. Local prize packages for the top three winners are as follows:

First place

  • $1,500
  • A year membership to the Prescott Chamber of Commerce
  • AND a chance to compete at the state-level competition in July!

Second place

  • $1,000

Third place

  • $500

In addition to competing to win cash prizes and Moonshot scholarships, entrants will also receive start-up and pitch education led by SBDC Director Ruth Ellen Elinski and her team of business analysts. Workshops will run from 5-7 p.m., Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22. Participants will be prompted to sign up for the workshops after completing the online application.

“I am honored to be working alongside Moonshot Az in support of area entrepreneurs and to bring this competition back to the Quad Cities in Yavapai County,” Elinski said. “Having one of our very own entrepreneurs, Elaine O’Connor of Prescott Bark, win the state competition last year, capturing the grand prize of $10,000, we know that Yavapai County entrepreneurs are competitive. We are eager to support our local businesses and start-ups for this year’s challenge.”

The competition continues to empower business owners and provides opportunities to learn new skills and strengthen their business overall. Participants prepare, practice and perfect a five-minute pitch presentation for a panel of judges who select the finalists. The winner of the Quad Cities Pioneer Pitch Competition will go on to compete in the state-wide competition for a $10,000 cash prize from sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and Arizona Commerce Authority. The final event, which also honors successful Moonshot entrepreneurs throughout Arizona, will be held in Flagstaff at Little America Hotel in July 2023. QCBN

Courtesy Photo: SBDC Director Ruth Ellen Elinski teaches entrepreneurs how to pitch their ideas. 

APS Adding More Carbon-Free Resources

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Charging stations and solar parking structures installed in Quad Cities.

Since announcing its clean energy commitment in January 2020, Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) has made steady progress in adding more carbon-free resources to meet the energy needs of one of the fastest growing service territories in the country.

Last year, APS secured more than 400 megawatts of clean energy capacity, including 200 megawatts of wind power and 75 megawatts of demand response capability from APS Peak Solutions and APS Cool Rewards – two voluntary energy conservation programs that provide business and residential customers ways to manage energy use on hot summer days and help maintain grid reliability.

“APS’s bold clean energy goal is an opportunity to work in close collaboration with our stakeholders,” said APS Northwest Community Affairs Manager Darla DeVille of Prescott. “While our resource experts and energy planners focus on integrating renewable resources into our overall clean energy plan, we’re also enhancing our customer experience and finding ways to bring energy efficiency programs with cutting-edge technology to Arizona’s rural communities.”

Along with expanding clean power capabilities, APS plans to add an additional solar generating resource and acquire more battery storage that can be combined with the company’s existing solar power plants, increasing the access of renewable energy to customers even after sunset. APS also proposed the Coal Communities Transition plan to facilitate a shift away from coal and support the communities that are home to coal-fired power stations. The utility plans to end all coal-fired energy production by 2031.

APS began its commitment with an energy mix already 50% clean and has interim target goals of increasing its resource mix to 65% clean by 2030, with 45% of that generation coming from renewable energy.

While the utility plans to closely track and adapt to the future of renewable energy and storage technology, APS customer programs are already providing opportunities for local communities to reduce their carbon footprint.

“Our programs provide innovative carbon-free solutions for our customers. We are committed to designing for tomorrow, empowering one another and succeeding together, and that means developing meaningful clean energy opportunities for our partners,” said DeVille. “The strong relationships we’ve cultivated with Prescott-area leaders and environmental experts over the years have helped us broaden the reach and impact of our carbon-free resources.”

Among the APS customer programs that are focused on promoting carbon-reduction, two are paving the way for increased access to electric vehicle charging stations and solar power energy.

The APS Take Charge AZ program expands access to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and helps prepare Arizona for the anticipated growth of electric vehicle adoption. As part of the program, APS covers the cost of installing and maintaining Level 2 EV charging stations at businesses, government agencies, non-profits and multi-family communities. Level 2 EV chargers can provide drivers a full charge within two hours, depending on battery life.

To date, APS has installed 14 Level 2 charging stations in the Quad Cities and Verde Valley regions. In Prescott, several businesses and organizations have taken the opportunity to participate in the charging program. Medical patients, staff and business patrons are already charging their EVs at participating locations, such as the Yavapai Medical Center, PACE Preparatory Academy and the Residence Inn by Marriott. The City of Sedona and City of Cottonwood are also participants in the program.

For local EV drivers looking to explore other parts of the state, APS is in the planning stages of launching the second phase of Take Charge AZ. This phase will include the installation of DC fast charging stations at retail and tourist locations in the communities of Prescott, Sedona, Payson, Show Low and Globe. DC fast charging technology can provide an EV a full battery charge within 45 minutes. Construction is expected to begin later this year.

New solar parking structures have recently been installed at the U.S. VETS facility in Prescott, Sedona City Hall and the Town of Jerome. These projects are part of the APS Solar Communities program, which offered a unique opportunity for limited and moderate-income customers, government agencies and non-profits to access solar energy resources at no cost.

“APS is a born-and-raised Arizona company. We believe in the success of rural Arizona and want to provide communities in the northwest region access to resources that will help drive our carbon-free future,” said DeVille. “We value our customers, invest in our communities and will work together to achieve a sustainable energy future.” QCBN

By Yessica Del Rincon, QCBN

Sound Check

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Live entertainment venues test demand; some concerts have limited capacity.

Music and dancing has returned to the Quad Cities area and is starting to return to the Flagstaff area, with a lot more planned for May. The scheduling of more live music gives musicians, venue owners and customers hope for the future.

Prescott area venues never totally shut down the music during the pandemic, but solos or duos were playing instead of bands, and there was no dancing on the dance floor, per the safety protocols in place.

Sidekicks Lounge in Prescott Valley and Jersey Lilly on the square in Prescott are just two places where the owners are thrilled to be in the process of bringing music back to normal levels. Other entertainment venues, like the Highlands Center for Natural History, are also bringing back music.

The Northern Arizona Blues Alliance will host the first annual Greater Prescott Valley Blues Festival in the Prescott Valley Amphitheater from 1-9 p.m., Saturday, May 22. The lineup includes national acts such as Kat Riggs and Jimmy Carpenter, as well as local performers Ray DeSylvester, Leon J, Dr. Bob Sellani, Christian Berry, Paul Epoch, Tommy Dukes, Darryl Poras and Sir Harrison.

Mortimer Farms in Dewey has scheduled its Friday Night Barn Dance and dinner from May 7 to Oct. 30.

The Highlands Center for Natural History has scheduled its monthly concert series starting May 28, starting with Art Podell, one of the original musicians with the New Christie Minstrels. The Acoustic Eidolon duo will perform July 2. Prescott folk band Ponderosa Grove will perform July 24. Shakespeare in the Pines is scheduled during the middle two weeks in August and Acoustic Blues is on the calendar for Sept. 24.

Folk Sessions at the Highlands Center for Natural History has its ninth annual Americana Music Fest set for July 22, featuring “Southwestern Americana,” tales of Nancy Elliot, the Robby Robertson Trio and the Valley’s Hambone. Concert host Highlands Center Marketing and Communications Coordinator Tom Agostino said the pandemic impacted the center quite a bit. “We had to cancel our summer series last year,” he said.

This season, they will sell 70 tickets for each show, as compared to 120 for each show before the pandemic.

Laura Lee Morgan, who, with her husband, John, owns Sidekicks Saloon in Prescott Valley, said the community needs live music because people thrive on interaction. “It was depressing not having it,” she said. “It’s great having it back. That’s why we’re in the business.”

Jersey Lilly Saloon owner Josh Makrauer says that although the past year has been difficult, as the venue lost about 50% of its business, he is excited to be able to provide some fun music for the patrons.

Sidekicks has live bands every Saturday and karaoke on Friday and Sunday nights. The schedule for Saturdays in May has Parker Jenkins on May 8, Shake of Yesterday on May 15, Hit Squad on May 22 and Honey Girl on May 29.

Jersey Lilly has music almost every night. Sky performs every Tuesday, Little Larry every Thursday and there are jam sessions every Wednesday. Bands perform every weekend, with Hit Squad the first weekend in May, Combo Deluxe the second weekend in May, Little Larry and the Drive the third weekend in May, the Tone Kings the fourth weekend in May and Well Dressed Wolves the last weekend in May. Weekend shows are from 7-10 p.m.; weekday shows 8-10 p.m., and Sunday solos perform from 4-7 p.m. QCBN

By Stan Bindell, QCBN

NAU Enhancing Presence In Quad Cities

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NAUyoSaying she sees nothing but positive population growth and solid economic development in the area, Northern Arizona University President Rita Cheng says she expects considerably more university activity in the future for the greater Prescott area.

Noting that the NAU-Yavapai branch campus is now in its sixth year of operation, Cheng points out that more than 200 students are currently enrolled in degree programs there. She also says the Alumni Office has identified more than 3,000 alumni in the immediate area.

“Knowing the workforce needs in the area, we at NAU envision expanding our programs and curriculum to help meet those needs. We’re especially pleased to have so many positive and productive relationships in this community with individuals and businesses who are willing to support what we envision,” she said.

“We are excited at the potential of helping the university in grow,” said Jeff Wasowicz, a partner in the Fain Signature Group. “Expansion of the university is just another indication of positive growth in the community and area. The university’s influence is another step necessary in our growing community.”

The Fain Signature Group has been a leader in developing the 640-acre downtown area into a comprehensive retail and business community coupled with a variety of contemporary residential sub-divisions.

Prescott Valley Town Manager Larry Tarkowski says the town appreciates the growing partnership with NAU. “We certainly share in its goals of increasing post-high school academic production in central Yavapai County. In the same way that NAU is a job creator within the City of Flagstaff, we in Prescott Valley look forward to the positive economic force that NAU will become here.”

NAU-Yavapai Celebrating Sixth Year

Since 2010, when the state university created its NAU-Yavapai regional campus as a partnership with Yavapai College and the Town of Prescott Valley, it has served hundreds of students and is continuing to grow, according to Susan Johnstad, assistant vice president and campus executive officer.

“We’re especially delighted at the energy and support that President Cheng has brought to our campus,” she said. “Our programs are growing, and we see more and more opportunities for student to have a genuine university experience.”

Johnstad also noted that the current program provides “…an affordable university education at an accelerated rate. In fact, it allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as three years while at the same time preparing them for employment or for graduate school.”

The full-time tuition rate for NAU-Yavapai students this year is $5,562 – about half the cost of the other state universities.

Degree programs offered include applied human behavior, community development and sustainability, entrepreneurship and service management and leadership.

Johnstad says the courses at the NAU-Yavapai campus are a blended format, combining the best of traditional classrooms with the flexibility of online education.

 

Hockey Game First in Two Years

President Cheng was recently in the Quad Cities for the NAU-Arizona State University hockey match between the club teams at the Prescott Valley Event Center where she ceremoniously dropped the starting puck.

“I hope this will be the first of many NAU opportunities to participate in activities in the area,” she said.

It was the first time the center has hosted a hockey game in two years since the defunct Central Hockey League’s Arizona Sundogs suspended operations.

Despite an enthusiastic crowd cheering for the NAU Lumberjacks, the ASU Sun
Devils dominated, winning 5-1.

NAU Athletic Director Lisa Campos accompanied the president. “We hope we’ll soon be returning to the Prescott Valley arena,” she said.

By Ray Newton, QCBN