With the end of the Paycheck Protection Program on May 31, 2021, a number of small business owners have been asking and thinking about other U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs, and it is perhaps a propitious moment to remember why SBA loans are so attractive to small business owners, how they reduce lender risk, and why that is beneficial for a loan applicant.   

Generally speaking, SBA-guaranteed loans are attractive to small business owners because they have longer terms and lower down payment requirements than conventional loan products.  Further, SBA-guaranteed loans have capped interest rates and no balloon payments.  The loans are made through a private lender and then guaranteed by the SBA.  That guarantee lowers the lender’s risk which allows them to approve borrowers where they may not have been able to extend credit otherwise.  

Small, for-profit businesses are eligible for an SBA-guaranteed loan.  Each lending scenario rests on its own merit and the lender’s criteria for extending credit.  Just as with any conventional loan product, SBA participating lenders evaluate the borrower’s ability to repay the loan.  The credit score is a key indicator of the borrower’s credit history.  A low score would be a weakness while a high score would be a strength.  It’s important to keep in mind that you have the option to “shop” lenders and find loan terms that best benefit your business.  Along that same line, even if one lender declines the loan, another lender could approve it.  SBA works with a large network of lenders and so business owners have many options, to include large traditional banks, regional banks, and smaller community-based lenders.  Your local SBA District Office can provide you with a list of participating lenders in your area. You can also use SBA’s on-line lender matching tool to connect with SBA-approved community development financial institutions (CDFI) and small lenders from all over the country at. Many business owners find it helpful to meet with a business advisor from one of SBA’s business counseling resource partner organizations as they research their financing options.  You can find a business advisor near you by using our locator tool at.  These partner advisors can assist the businesses owner in any aspect related to applying for financing, be it identifying lenders, preparing a strong loan package or even building or repairing credit if that is a concern.  As our partners, these advisors offer their services at low or no cost and are a great resource to any business owner looking to start or grow their business.  

The application process is managed by the participant lender from start to finish.  The exact paperwork and forms required is determined by the lender.  Generally speaking, most lenders will ask for your business plan, tax returns and financial statements (or financial projections for a new company).  Advisors with our SBA small business counseling partners, the SCORE Association, the Small Business Development Center or a Women’s Business Center, can assist with preparing these documents and the loan package.  These services are free of charge. 

A question often asked by a potential borrower is “how long does the process of applying for an SBA loan take” or “what is the average wait time before applicants receive funding after the approval?”  The easy answer is that it depends on what authority the bank has with SBA and whether they process a loan using their delegated authority.  If they use delegated authority, they generally receive the SBA approval instantly.  While there is no guaranteed timeline, generally speaking, borrowers report completing the full process anywhere from two weeks to one month.  Quicker processing time usually occurs when a lender is an SBA-preferred lender and that is why there is an advantage to working with them.  When a lender has Preferred Lender status, the lender has authority granted by SBA to make final credit decisions on SBA-guaranteed loans.  Non-preferred lenders must submit the loans directly to the SBA for approval, which may make the process longer and can potentially be a timing issue.  

Borrowers also often want to know the most common reason an SBA loan application is rejected.  Many times, it is because of insufficient or incomplete application information or issues of character, such as a criminal record or bankruptcy.  It is important to remember that even with the SBA guarantee, the lender may require the borrower to provide a down payment or additional collateral because the SBA guarantee does not eliminate risk, it merely reduces it.  The exact terms of what is required is based on the overall risk of the transaction.  Always remember that personal guarantees also apply, and the borrower does have an obligation for repayment.  

To learn more about how SBA loans can benefit your small business, please join us for our monthly SBA Arizona Virtual Loan Clinic, next offered on Wednesday, August 4^th at 9am.  We will discuss financing options, general loan requirements and tips for preparing a successful loan application.  No registration is necessary.  Webinar log-in information is at   

In addition to our website, please follow us on Twitter and view our Resource Guide at for further information. 

Robert J. Blaney has served as the district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration for the State of Arizona since 1998. His experience includes work as a federal agent, police officer, vice-president of an insurance brokerage and district director for the late Congressman Jack Kemp. 

About the U.S. Small Business Administration 

The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit. 

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Last year was monumental to say the least. Life as we once knew it became a thing of the past, for individuals and businesses alike. As countless businesses struggled to adjust to the unforeseen challenges presented by the pandemic, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), part of the CARES Act, was a lifeline for many.

The PPP loan program was intended to help small businesses, although numerous large businesses also benefited. According to the Small Business Administration, over five million PPP loans were approved, the majority of which went to small businesses. Ninety-two percent of the loans given out were $250,000 or less and 87% were under $150,000. The average loan size was $100,729. 

Many businesses needed the money to keep employees working and to pay for everyday expenses to keep the business open. Business owners were told that the loan would also be “forgiven” as long as the money was spent on payroll (60% requirement), mortgage interest, utilities and rent during the eight or 24-week period after disbursement. While the rules for how to use the PPP loan funds were fairly straightforward, the tax effects remained murky.  For months the IRS has taken the position that the expenses paid with PPP loans which were forgiven would not be deductible on the business’s tax return. With bated breath, the nation awaited Congressional relief with respect to COVID-19. Relief came through at the last minute, including a provision that expenses paid with PPP will be deductible. Congress also reiterated that any forgiven PPP loans will not be includible in the business’s income.

Here are six things you should know about PPP loans and your taxes:

You Can Deduct Expenses Paid for with the Loan Proceeds Payroll, mortgage interest, rent and utility expenses are all forgivable uses of the loan and Congress has superseded the IRS’s guidance in Notice 2020-32 disallowing such expenses. Not only are these expenses deductible, but Congress has broadened the categories of expenses that may be paid for with PPP funds to include: software, cloud services, accounting, human resources, property damage due to civil unrest, personal protective equipment, and supplier costs ordered or contracted for prior to loan approval.

You Do Not Have to Include Forgiven PPP Funds in Income While loan proceeds forgiven by the lender are generally includible in income, PPP loan forgiveness is an exception to the general rule. Businesses do not have to include the debt forgiveness in their income.

You Can Take Advantage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) The FFCRA requires some employers to provide employees with paid leave for reasons related to COVID-19. However, businesses can still take advantage of the FFCRA tax credits in addition to utilizing the PPP loan.

You Can Defer Payroll Taxes Under the CARES Act, employers may elect to defer payroll taxes from March 27 through December 31, 2020. Fifty percent of the deferred taxes accumulated in 2020 must be paid by December 31, 2021 and the remainder must be paid by December 31, 2022. 

You Cannot Use PPP Money to Pay for Business Taxes As mentioned above, the PPP loan may only be used for certain identified categories of expenses. You cannot use the loan proceeds to pay income, sales, or other tax liabilities.

You Can File an Amended Tax Return If you applied for forgiveness but have not received a decision from the IRS at the time of tax return filing and you later learn that you will not receive full or partial forgiveness, you may make the related adjustments by filing an amended return.

Taxes are daunting even without COVID-19 and PPP loans to worry about. Add in conflicting guidance by multiple government agencies and it is understandable that a small business owner may feel overwhelmed. Fortunately, Congress enacted favorable provisions applicable to PPP funds and provided certainty to small businesses awaiting answers before year’s end. If you need further guidance, the tax lawyers at The Cavanagh Law Firm are always available to answer any questions. 

Giselle Alexander is an Arizona Certified Tax Law Specialist, a CPA, and holds a Masters in Law in Taxation. Giselle represents clients at all states of the tax controversy process and is one of only a few tax attorneys in the U.S. with experience in trying 831(b) micro captive insurance cases before the U.S. Tax Court.

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This holiday season the country should have a renewed sense of hope as our frontline workers continue receiving the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations and now with the passage of an additional round of COVID relief, the second largest relief package in our nation’s history following the CARES Act.  

After months of delay, Congress late Monday overwhelmingly passed containing $900 billion in COVID relief and $1.4 trillion to fund the government through September 30, 2021.  

The COVID relief package delivers needed relief for American businesses, nonprofits, and families hit hard by the pandemic. 

Learn more about what this relief means for you and/or your business with a few significant highlights of the package below.  

• RELIEF FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES:

1. Direct payments to individuals
   Individual adults will receive $600 for those making up to $75,000 a year on their 2019 tax returns, $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000, and $600 for each dependent child. Individuals earning between $75,000 and $99,000 would receive a partial payment.Ěý

2. Extended aid for unemployed workers
   Extends unemployment benefits for jobless workers, who will receive up to $300 per week through March 14^th.  This includes the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) which provides UI benefits to workers who traditionally are ineligible.Ěý
   Ěý
3. Rental Assistance
   Provides $25 billion in rental assistance to help pay past due rent, future rent, and utility bills. Extends the existing CDC eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021. The Treasury Department will disperse the rental assistance to states via a formula based on population.ĚýĚý

• CONTINUED LIFELINE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES: Ěý

4. Extends and expands the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)
   Provides renewed funding of $284 billion and extends the program to March 31. Will provide forgivable loans to both first- and second-time small business borrowers. The bill expands eligibility of the program for 501(c)(6) nonprofit and destination marketing organizations. It authorizes hard-hit small businesses with fewer than 300 employees and at least a 25% drop in gross receipts over a specified period to receive a second loan. The bill dedicates a portion of the funding specifically for low-income communities and sets money aside for loans from community-based and minority-owned lenders.
   
   The bill makes some changes to the program to reduce the maximum loan amount from $10 million to $2 million and expands how funds can be used. While the requirement that 60% of the PPP loan must be used for payroll remains in place, Congress added four additional categories for qualified expenses: 1) operations expenses for items such as software and computing, 2) supplier costs for goods essential to the operation of the business, 3) worker protection expenses such as items need to protect workers and customers to comply with CDC guidance i.e. plexiglass, expansion of outdoor dining etc., 4) property damage expenses as result of riots.Ěý
   
   While the CARES Act specified that forgiven PPP loans would not count as taxable income, the new package clarifies that businesses can deduct expenses paid with forgiven PPP loans.Ěý

5. Expands the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) ProgramĚý
   Provides $40 billion to extend the Small Business Administration EIDL grants through December 31, 2021 and sets aside $20 billion for employers in low-income areas with 300 or less employees who experience at least a 30% economic loss, allowing them to receive a $10,000 grant. Authorizes individuals who previously received a partial EIDL grant to receive an additional payment for a combined total of $10,000. Importantly it removes the requirement for EIDL emergency grants to be deducted from the calculation of PPP loan forgiveness.Ěý

Are you a small business that needs help navigating these new changes and impacts to your existing relief? The to answer your questions that will continue to be updated as more information becomes available.   

• TARGETED BUSINESS SUPPORT:

6. Live venue grant program ĚýĚý
   Provides $15 billion for the Small Business Administration to concert venues, independent movie theaters, live entertainment venues, museums, and cultural institutions who demonstrate at least a 25% decline in revenue.
   Ěý
7. Transportation and travel support
   Includes $45 billion for relief to transit agencies, airlines, airports, state departments of transportation, the motorcoach industry and Amtrak. Includes $15 billion to cover airline salaries and benefits through the end of March, $1 billion for airline contractor payrolls, and $2 billion for airports and airport-based business.
   Ěý
8. Support for the agriculture community & food supply
   Provides $12 billion to crop farmers, cattle ranchers, and rural communities.

• TAX PROVISIONS PROVIDE RELIEF AND STIMULATE ECONOMIC RECOVERY

9. Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC)
   Extends the ERTC to July 1 and increases the refundable payroll tax credit from a maximum of $5,000 to $14,000 by changing the calculation from 50% of wages paid up to $10,000 to 70% of wages paid up to $10,000 for any quarter.Ěý

10. Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC)Ěý
    Increases allocations to states for LIHTC which subsidizes the construction and rehabilitation of housing developments that have strict income limits for eligible tenants and their cost of housing.ĚýĚý

11. Employer-side Social Security Payroll Tax Credits
    Extends through March 2021 to offset paid sick and family leave related to the coronavirus created Families First Coronavirus Response Act.  

12. Deduction for Business Meals
    Expansion of the deduction for business meals to 100% for 2021 and 2022. 
     
13. Tax Extenders
    The bill included tax extenders for 32 of the 33 tax provisions that were set to expire at the end of 2020 including the permanent extension of lower excise tax rates for beer, wine and spirits, and the 5-year extension of tax incentives for investing in low-income areas and hiring workers from disadvantaged groups.  

• SUPPORT FOR SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTINUE SAFE OPERATIONS

14. K-12 schools and higher education support Ěý
    Provides $82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with reopening which includes $54.3 billion for K-12 schools and $22.7 billion for higher education.ĚýĚý

15. ĚýSafe opening of childcare Ěý
    $10 billion for childcare centers to help providers safely reopen and $250 million for Head Start providers.ĚýĚý

• COMBATING THE VIRUS WITH ADDITIONAL HEALTHCARE SUPPORT

16. Vaccines, Testing & TracingĚý
    Provides a total of $63 billion for vaccine distribution, testing, tracing and other health-care initiatives. Of this amount, $22.4 billion will go to states for testing, tracing and COVID mitigation programs, of which $2.5 billion is dedicated as grants targeting rural areas and communities of color.Ěý

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As Gov. Doug Ducey continues to deliver new guidance for the reopening of the Arizona economy and as Arizona prepares to return stronger, new data from the Small Business Administration indicates the state’s small businesses are accessing an important economic lifeline.

According to the SBA, nearly 44,000 Arizona small businesses have been approved for $3.7 billion in loans in the latest round of the Paycheck Protection Program, placing the state within the top 15 for both number of businesses and funds approved.

Combined with the first round of funding, that means more than 63,000 small businesses in Arizona have been approved for over $8.5 billion in PPP loans.

PPP funds are designed to help businesses keep employees on the payroll, to make rent payments and pay utilities. Most loans are forgivable, meaning the program acts more like a grant than a loan.

If your business has not yet been approved or if you have not yet applied, it is estimated that $135 billion in funds still remain, so qualified businesses are urged to apply as soon as possible.

The Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce & Industry is here to help. We have joined forces with the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA) to launch the CARES Act Readiness Program for Small Businesses, a free online training to help small businesses access the capital they need. We’re also proud to count the SBA Arizona District Office and Arizona Commerce Authority as partners.

And better yet, the training program is completely free, and is designed to help both novice and experienced borrowers successfully access relief funds. The overall goal of the program is to increase access to relief funds throughout Arizona by providing the training in both English and Spanish.

In this same vein of access, a partnership was formed with Acronis #CyberFit Financing and Lendio to help those small businesses with limited lending options. Lendio is a free online marketplace that streamlines the SBA application process for eligible small businesses to access relief funds and provides other lending options through its network of over 75 lenders offering multiple loan products for small businesses.

Options like Lendio have proved essential to small businesses participating in the CARES Act Readiness Program, especially those from underbanked communities in Arizona.

Participants are already reporting positive results through our program, and we’re looking forward to many more Arizona small businesses getting the information and training they need not only to keep their doors open, but to continue to thrive.

More information is available at, or in Spanish at. To partner with us to amplify this program in your network, please contact Laura Ciscomani at lciscomani@azchamber.com.

Laura Ciscomani is the Director of Development for the Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce & Industry

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As the coronavirus spreads outward from Arizona’s urban centers, rural towns and cities have been practicing social distancing for weeks as a preemptive strike.  

The stakes are high. Arizona’s rural areas tend to have more low income and elderly residents. Rural hospitals and health care facilities, many struggling financially, may not be equipped to handle a serious outbreak.

Businesses statewide are dramatically curtailing operations. Municipal coffers are squeezed. Community leaders also are feeling pressure on all sides as they plot when they can safely reopen their economies and save most of their businesses. 

For now, many mayors and tribal leaders are saying it’s still too soon. But opening commerce back up could start in the next few weeks. 

As the virus starts to flatten out, recovery will be gradual. 

Last week, Gov. Doug Ducey took the first step, announcing that hospitals and health care facilities can start performing elective surgeries if they meet certain “preparedness” criteria. This would allow patients in need of surgery to get treatment they need. It would provide much-needed revenue for all health care providers that were ordered to increase bed capacity and preparedness for a potential serious outbreak.  

Under the new order, hospitals, dental offices and other health facilities can resume conducting elective surgeries May 1 if they can show they have implemented measures designed to keep health workers and patients safe. 

A balance between saving lives and saving livelihoods

As the stay-at-home order stays in effect, mayors in rural counties like Doug Nicholls of Yuma and Arturo Garino of Nogales are publically calling on citizens and businesses to continue taking precautions.   

Nicholls is urging citizens and businesses to “double down” on social distancing.    

“We need to focus on that as a community to get our businesses open because we haven’t

peaked yet,” said Nicholls at a meeting to discuss economic recovery with public and private officials recently. 

Mayor Garino is taking to the airwaves in English and Spanish to ask the community to follow Gov. Ducey’s order to, “Stay home. Stay healthy. Stay connected.”

Garino is public messaging to remind citizens to wash their hands, not touch their faces when they go out, and other precautions. 

“If you do go to the store, please go by yourself. Don’t take the whole family with you,” Garino says on a video posted on the city’s website. “We have to look at our surroundings and be connected to what’s happening around us.”

Tensions high 

No one wants a repeat of the lifesaving battle taking place on the Navajo reservation where COVID-19 made a deadly entrance last month, spreading quickly where people were believed to be exposed at a church event. 

As of Saturday, the nation, which spans multiple counties in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah, had confirmed 1,540 cases. Fifty-eight people have died.  

So far, most rural counties and tribal nations have seen few deaths. 

In countries like Gila, Graham, Greenlee and La Paz, there are less than a handful of confirmed COVID-19 cases. But their economies are straining under stay-at-home orders. 

In the Lake Havasu area that relies on tourism, Lake Havasu Area Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce President Lisa Krueger stated that the order could be devastating for Havasu’s service industry.

“Every business is at risk,” Krueger told Havasu News after two cases were confirmed in Mohave County last month, resulting in social distancing across Mohave County. “This has never happened in Havasu before, and we don’t know how this will affect us in the long term.”

Tensions have been high. In Lake Havasu City — and towns and cities everywhere — police continue to respond to calls that some public places are not abiding by the order. Duel petition drives to keep nearby Lake Havasu open or closed have circulated, dividing the community. 

For now, the lake remains open under the jurisdiction of eight local, state, tribal and federal agencies. Even so, tourism and camping numbers are far below average. Events are being canceled.

Lake Havasu’s new casino, resort reopening canceled 

Last week, Chemehuevi Tribal Chairman Charles Wood that the tribe is delaying a planned reopening in early May of its new Havasu Landing Resort and Casino on the lake. 

Chairman Wood said he wanted to avoid any “lingering possibility of a second outbreak of the virus.”

The tribe’s action to abide by the shelter order may have saved lives, he said.

“It is imperative that we wait and flatten the curve as much as possible so we do not reopen only to have to close once again,” Wood said. “We cannot predict when sanctions will be lifted, so let’s all do the best we can. We want to emerge in a safe and sustainable way.”

Second Paycheck Protection Program may ease anxiety 

Some of the anxiety being felt among small businesses across the state could ease some with the announcement that the federal Paycheck Protection Program ) has reopened for a second round to help businesses hurt by the pandemic. Businesses can apply for forgivable loans to pay for up to two months of operating costs like payroll, rent and utilities. 

Many small businesses felt shut out of the first round that quickly ran out of money, said John Courtis, executive director of the Yuma County Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce.

“The frustration is mounting from Main Street Yuma that many businesses got shut out of the first round of the PPP, and many of them have not received their stimulus check,” Courtis said.  “Many that I have talked to are losing confidence in the system and feel it is rigged against them. We are doing our level best to communicate a calm future.”

Courtis said it has been heartbreaking to see how many small businesses have been hurt, particularly in border towns like San Luis where the border’s port of entry has cut back hours because of the coronavirus. 

Several San Luis businesses made the decision to close for good, he said. 

A member survey completed Thursday indicates that 5 percent of businesses will not be able to reopen after the stay-at-home order is lifted, he said. Nearly 80 percent said with the proper safety protocols in place, they would be ready to open May 1.

Rural chambers rush to aid broken businesses   

Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­s of commerce have been rushing in to help their members, connecting them to loan programs, grants, financial assistance and other . They are helping connect them with loan institutions, and hosting virtual meetings and trainings with members. 

“Everyone is working overtime to keep this liquidity moving and to make sure businesses will be here in the long run,” said Julie Pastrick, president and CEO of the Greater Flagstaff Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce.   

The chamber has opened two web portals to help local businesses understand all the government assistance and other programs available. It also has joined forces with the Arizona Small Business Association, Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of Commerce and Industry to provide a that gives novice and experienced businesses support in getting approved for the second round of PPP funding. 

Pastrick said the impact in Flagstaff has been tough as retail, restaurants and hotels face closure and major attractions shut down. 

The Arizona Snowbowl in Flagstaff, which generates $50 million into the local economy each year, was closed at the peak time for the season, April 1. Ninety minutes north of the city, Grand Canyon National Park closed April 1. Normally, the park welcomes 6.3 million visitors that spend $947 million in nearby communities. 

A look at communities across the state reveals that every situation is different:

Mining towns could be impacted 

Across the state, large industries are also being affected. For example, the largest employer in Greenlee County, Freeport-McMoran, the owner of the Morenci Mine, is reducing its operating expenses worldwide due to the pandemic. 

According to a news issued Friday, Freeport states that revised operating plans for 2020 will result in a $2.2 billion reduction in estimated operating costs, capital expenditures and exploration and administrative costs. Layoffs and furloughs are expected.

Border communities lose revenues as cross traffic restricted   

Border communities like San Luis and Nogales are suffering from lost revenues as businesses close during the pandemic. Border crossing hours have been reduced and traffic restricted to slow the spread of the virus. 

A flare up of COVID-19 in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, which borders San Luis, is stoking fears. 

Yuma-area border mayors and elected officials are speaking virtually with federal agencies seeking support including testing that can be made available at the border for those traveling into the U.S. 

Meanwhile, the shutdown of small businesses and restricted borders are draining the economies. 

City collections are dropping, Nogales Mayor Garino said. When the sheltering order came, Nogales businesses were still recovering from the border restrictions placed during the migrant humanitarian crisis during the past year.

The Nogales-Santa Cruz County is taking various approaches to help businesses revisit their business plan by creating various strategic plans that can help sustain business in the upcoming months, chamber officials said Friday. 

Summer fun put on hold, second home owners asked to stock up 

Other smaller towns that rely on tourism like Payson are slashing their budgets as revenues from tourists and visitors are being lost.  

Many outdoor areas have been shut down. Some are advising visitors to delay plans and second home owners to stock up on supplies before leaving home. 

On April 18, the Pinetop-Lakeside Â鶹´«Ă˝Ół»­ of issued a letter to visitors and second home owners to stock up before they come for an extended stay due to limited supplies at grocery stores and limited services at restaurants. 

The chamber also is encouraging potential visitors to wait until “this crisis has subsided.”

“This virus has spread very quickly and until Arizona is successful in controlling the spread, we ask you to do the right thing and delay your visit until it is safe to come. We will be waiting to welcome you with open arms at that time.”

While every city and town is feeling the impact, local officials report many industries and jobs remain intact. 

Yuma agricultural finished the season with sigh of relief 

In Yuma, the agriculture sector supplies almost all of North America’s green leafy vegetables in winter months. As the stay-at-home order went into effect, Yuma farmers were finishing their last harvest of the season. Economic harm from the virus has been minimal. Strenuous measures to protect laborers are in place, Mayor Nicholls said.  

“We see that workers and business leaders in these industries are rising to meet unprecedented challenges by maintaining high food safety standards and protocols,” the mayor said.

City leaders’ bigger concern is for restaurants, bars, gyms, and retail that have been impacted by closures. 

Nicholls is hosting virtual Zoom meetings to talk with local Yuma business owners to gather feedback on what they believe needs to be included in the governor’s plan to re-energize the economy. 

“There is no one-size-fits all approach, and it is key for me to listen to different business impacts and viewpoints so we work unitedly on the next steps,” said Mayor Nicholls. “From the meetings with business owners in Yuma, I gathered valuable input to give to Governor Ducey, as he requested, and will continue to host these meetings in our community. We look forward to energizing the economy, and to support our local business efforts to keep their employees and customers’ wellbeing a mainstay.” 

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