The Council announced the release of its biennial 2020 Vote TechSmart voter’s guide. The guide assigns a letter grade (A – D) to each candidate in the state’s 30 legislative districts. The Council backs only those candidates who support a technology agenda.
Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, joins major leaders across industries in applauding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision rejecting the Trump administration’s attempt to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Zylstra has been a powerful voice in urging Congress to provide protections for DACA recipients.
The Council’s Public Policy Committee researches candidates thoroughly to determine whether they provide ongoing support of the technology agenda. Endorsements are focused on candidates for the state Legislature in Arizona’s 2020 elections and the Council backs only those candidates who support a technology agenda, so some districts may have no recommendations.
Veyo, the nation’s first and only full-service, tech-enabled non-emergency medical transportation broker, has announced the creation of a specialized fleet of drivers who will transport COVID-19 infected/suspected patients to and from life-sustaining medical appointments, with the aim of alleviating the extreme stress that has been placed on the non-emergency ambulance industry.
The Maricopa Community Colleges, in collaboration with the Healthcare Education Department and the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation, are using 3D printers for manufacturing and donating Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). PPE will be delivered to healthcare providers and first responders across the Valley to bring relief to the Arizona community and assist those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The House and Senate are currently negotiating additional funding in response to COVID-19. While associations are included in some of the recently passed CARES Act’s programs, many trade and professional associations are experiencing severe revenue losses during the current pandemic and unfortunately were excluded from the beneficial Paycheck Protection Program. Make your voice heard….advocate for future legislation to assist associations!
Honeywell will open a new protective mask manufacturing facility in Phoenix and looks to hire up to 500 people to meet demand as the COVID-19 pandemic spreads throughout the United States.
Arizona Corporation Commission Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson issued a letter calling on her fellow Commissioners to pass a policy that would require regulated electric utilities to generate 100% of their power from clean energy resources by 2050.
The Business Journal’s staff members are experiencing the same feelings that you are. Most of our employees are working remotely from home, and for some of them it’s a strange adjustment while getting used to that odd feeling of lack, of separation from the office and home environment. But know that we are with you. More than ever, we know we need to give our loyal readers the unvarnished view of what the business community is going through.
Public policy—the process and the players—are critical components of the Council’s mission to support Arizona’s technology community. It’s about investing in people who care about the same things that we care about, like supporting policies that contribute to making Arizona one of the nation’s tech hubs and supporting our P-20 education system. That means working together on legislation that can benefit the entire state.