Two new food innovation centers are redeveloping a former . The centers will focus on food distribution, research, development, and innovation, creating a food epicenter in the heart of the city of Phoenix called the

“Access to healthy food is still critical. This is not something we can just wake up one day and say, ‘We have got to get moving on this,’” , director of Phoenix Community and Economic Development. 

The project will be constructed in . The first phase of this project includes building a  20-acre park, the wholesale food distribution center, and the development and research space. The latter part of the project will include the building of a permanent farmers market where small or local businesses are able to set up booths to sell their food products and other items.

Overall, the project is expected to cost about $200 million. Robert Kline, managing director of debt and structured finance for the Southwest region for Colliers International in Phoenix, “there are about a dozen lenders considering financing the project, which still has a few approvals to receive from the city before construction can begin.” Kline said that for the project they are looking to obtain funding for about 60%-65%, and that the partners will bring in some funding of their own as well.

Not only will this development create about 1,500 jobs in the Valley once fully completed, but it will also put Arizona as a new hub for food distribution. 

“That large-scale distribution doesn’t exist anywhere else in the central part of the southwestern U.S.,” said Todd Hardy, one of the four founders of Arizona Fresh Holdings, the group behind the redevelopment plans for the South Phoenix Del Rio landfill. “The time is right to produce this kind of distribution center for the distribution of food.”

Not only will this project revamp the landfill, but it is also going to reuse the former Kmart store near Interstate 17 and Northern Avenue. This building will be turned into a food production center that will focus on job training and education. 
also plans to open a food business incubator in South Phoenix. This comes after receiving a $100,000 grant from the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation. That building will be located at 3146 E. Wier Ave.

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Arizona, the nation and the world are starting to see some economic recovery on the tails of a global recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Now, keeping that momentum going will rely on two major factors, including the willingness for governments to lend a helping hand to those who need it most, top economic experts said Wednesday during the s annual Economic Outlook 2021 sponsored by Cox Communications. 

The other major factor is how well countries can keep the virus in check, said presenters Elliott Pollack, CEO of Elliott D. Pollack and Company; Matt Stephani, president of Cavanal Hill Investment Management, and Scott Horsley, chief economics correspondent for NPR.

All three spoke about the impact of the virus and what lies ahead for the Phoenix region, the nation and the world. 

Here are some of the key takeaways:

New round of relief is essential for the “have nots”  

The U.S. has had more coronavirus cases per capita than most other countries, but it has been able to weather much of the financial toll because of the federal CARES Act passed in March. 

Through the Act, Congress has provided $3.1 trillion in relief for businesses and individuals, which has carried both the “haves and the have nots” throught the financial turmoil, economist Pollack said. 

But recent gridlock on a new round of relief could upend life for the “have nots,” placing them in a position where they are unable to pay monthly bills, he said. 

“Congress, the House and the Senate, have let politics get in the way of the need of the public and they have essentially muted the benefit from the $3.1 trillion.” 

He and Stephani both worry that Congress likely won’t act until after the election. 

Virus makes forecasting difficult 

The other major factor in recovery is the virus itself, the experts said. 

“In just a matter of months, the coronavirus has spread to every corner of the globe and almost everywhere economic contraction has followed in its wake,” Horsely said. “This is the first time in 150 years so much of the planet has suffered a recession at virtually the same time.”

Countries like China, which has taken “draconian” steps to shut down society to keep the virus at bay, are seeing stronger recovery. China’s movie box office sales, for example, are now almost to where they were pre-pandemic, Horsely said.

But others like Mexico and India that are seeing surges in cases do not have the resources or the willingness to provide stimulus relief. Their future is less certain. 

Personal savings to jump start recovery 

Stephani, who spoke from a national perspective, was optimistic about a fairly quick recovery for the U.S. over the next year and a half.

Americans have piled up record levels of personal savings and money market assets under stay-at-home orders, he said. The nation’s personal savings rate is averaging about 24 percent. Coming into the pandemic, the rate was only around 6 to 7 percent. 

In dollar terms, bank deposits are up $2 trillion from pre-COVID levels, Stephani said. Money market assets have risen from $3 trillion to $4.5 trillion.

If a vaccine or effective treatment arrives within the next year, consumer activity should explode with all that available cash. 

“That is dry powder that is going to come into the economy and when it does, it will move the economic needle,” Stephani said. 

Phoenix metro fastest growing major market 

Meanwhile, the outlook for the Phoenix region is very promising, Pollack said.

For the most part, the recovery of jobs in metro Phoenix has been “miraculous,” he said. Phoenix has recovered more than half the jobs lost when due to the pandemic. 

“While the United States was losing 98 percent of all jobs created between the last recession and February, greater Phoenix only lost 41 percent,” he said.

Many factors are responsible for the region’s healthier outlook, including federal relief from the CARES Act, a thriving economy prior to COVID-19, and Arizona citizens who have been masking up and social distancing to reduce the spread of the virus.  

Millennials and people over 65 will be buying homes 

Moving forward, most industries in the Phoenix region should see full recovery over the next two years. 

Housing will continue to be one of the strongest sectors, in part due to the virus, Pollack said. 

COVID-19 is causing people to want to leave high rents in small apartments in big cities to buy homes in more affordable locations like Arizona. 

Demographics will also benefit the Valley and the state as the two largest population groups, millennials and people over 65, seek to purchase houses over the next decade. 

Prospects for tourism, hospitality, restaurants 

Industries that have been hardest hit, meanwhile, will come back in force once  Americans can fully participate in the economy again, the experts said. 

Prop. 208 tax hike biggest threat to growth

One potential drawback for recovery would be passage of Proposition 208 in Arizona in the upcoming election, Pollack said.

Known as the “Invest in Ed” initiative, it would put the state in the top-10 of the highest income tax states in the nation. Under the initiative, Arizona’s top income tax rate would be raised from 4.5 to 8 percent – almost an 80 percent increase. 

In addition to deterring economic development here, thousands of small businesses that file their taxes under the individual tax code would be impacted. Many might not survive.  

“I’m not saying education doesn’t need more money; I’m saying, this isn’t the way to do it. Besides the inequity, you’re going to hurt economic development,” Pollack said. “We would go from the 15th lowest marginal personal income tax rate in the country to the ninth highest.

“It’s something that would come back to bite us.”

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State and local officials Wednesday announced the upcoming opening of the new Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway in Phoenix, adding 22 miles to the metropolitan area’s existing transportation system.

The South Mountain Freeway begins where the existing Loop 202 meets Interstate 10, with southwest Chandler to the east and the Phoenix neighborhood of Ahwatukee to the west, and travels west before turning north through Laveen and reconnecting with I-10 at 59^th Avenue.

The announcement, which took place at the new freeway bridges over the Salt River, marks the culmination of the largest single freeway project in Arizona’s history. The project was completed three years ahead of schedule and with $100 million in savings through an “innovative partnership,” according to the Office of the Arizona Governor.

Gov. Doug Ducey was joined for the announcement by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego; Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community; John Halikowski, director of the Arizona Department of Transportation; Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell, who also serves as chairman of the Maricopa Association of Governments; Karla Petty, Arizona division administrator for the Federal Highway Administration; Michael Bidwill, president of the Arizona Cardinals football team; and a number of other local officials, legislators and transportation stakeholders.

“Decades in the making, this opening marks a historic achievement for Arizona,” Ducey said. “Arizona has benefited from the foresight and innovation of past leaders who have positioned our state as a trade and transportation hub.”

This latest segment of the Loop 202 has been designated the Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway, named in honor of the first Latino elected to represent Arizona in Congress. Pastor passed away last year at 75; members of his family were present for the freeway announcement.

“It took over 30 years to make this dream a reality and a lot of people coming together,” Gallego said. “This will be a major corridor for improved transportation, housing, and high wage jobs. Investing in road infrastructure is so important and part of a regional transit plan that also brings more resources to light rail, buses, walking and biking paths, and safety measures.”

“Arizona has solidified its reputation as a state that is open for opportunity, and as we welcome hundreds of new residents, every day we are making sure our infrastructure remains some of the best in America,” Ducey said. “This Loop 202 opening represents a big step forward in connecting the East and West valleys, as well as prioritizing safety for drivers.”

Loop 202 dates back to 1983, when the proposal for a freeway on the south side of South Mountain was first introduced; it was originally called the Southwest Loop Highway.The transportation corridor has been approved by voters twice as part of the Maricopa Association of Governments’ Regional Transportation Plan — through Proposition 300 in 1985 and Proposition 400 in 2004 — but construction did not begin until 2016, after more than a decade of planning, coordination and study.

“This has been a long time in the making,” said Arizona State Sen. Sean Bowie, LD-18, who was born the year after the freeway was first proposed. “It’s a historic day for Ahwatukee. We’re excited to finally see this freeway open and connect the East Valley to the West Valley and, hopefully, alleviate some of the traffic that folks endure on the I-10 getting back and forth to downtown Phoenix.”

Bowie said that because the freeway project has remained on the table for so long, Ahwatukee residents who purchased their home within the past few decades have been aware of the potential new transportation corridor for a while. He said design changes were made in response to concerns from local residents, including an interchange at 32nd Street, near Desert Vista High School, that was not in the original plans.

“I got a tour of the freeway a couple weeks ago and got to drive the entire stretch of it, and I think when it’s done– I think it’s a pretty nice freeway,” Bowie said. “A lot of folks, I think, are going to be happy with it.”

Bowie said his priority in the coming weeks is to work with ADOT to address lingering issues expressed by local residents.

“This new highway — the largest highway project in state history — represents Arizona’s continued commitment to 21^st century infrastructure that will enable our state’s growth for generations to come,” Ducey said. “My thanks go out to the many federal, state, local, tribal and community partners who have worked tirelessly over the past decades to help make this vision a reality.”

Header photo of Loop 202 sign property of .

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The quest for increased traffic safety on Phoenix streets took a hit last week when the Phoenix City Council opted to end its contract with the city’s intersection camera technology provider.

A to extend the contract with Glendale-based Redflex Traffic Systems for $800,000 failed by a 4-5 vote Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Arizona has the highest rate of red light running fatalities in the United States, by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The foundation was established by the American Automobile Association in 1947 as a charitable research organization with a mission to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by researching their causes and preventive strategies.

“Deaths caused by red light running are on the rise,” said Jessica Cicchino, vice president for research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, in a earlier this year. “Cameras increase the odds that violators will get caught, and well-publicized camera programs discourage would-be violators from taking those odds. Camera enforcement is a proven way to reduce red light running and save lives.”

Barb Hoffman, executive director of the , said her group was disappointed with the Council’s vote.

“From research that we’ve seen, red-light-running cameras do reduce the amount of deadly crashes in intersections,” she said. “We do support the camera technology; we think it does save lives.”

Hoffman, who joined the Alliance in 2004 after her 14-year-old son Michael was killed by a red-light-runner in Mesa, said the Council is listening to a vocal minority that opposes the technology. 

“I think what happens a lot of the times is the people that are not law-abiding citizens, who run red lights and get their picture taken, are the most vocal because they’re angry they got caught,” she said. “They should realize they’re lucky they got caught doing that and not killing somebody. I have no patience for the people that complain to me about getting a ticket.”

Councilman Sal DiCiccio he voted against the proposal because he considers it a “continuous money grab” alongside other municipal services that have recently increased in price, including garbage removal and ride-share trips to the airport.

“There wouldn’t be any ‘money grab’ if nobody ran red lights,” Hoffman said. “If your picture’s not taken in the middle of the intersection, you’re not going to get a ticket in the mail, [and] you don’t have to pay a penny.”

The Associated Press that Councilman Michael Nowakowski said he voted against the extension because he was never provided with information on the extension that he had requested months before.

The City of Phoenix currently has stationary red-light cameras at 12 Valley intersections and a number of mobile speed enforcement units that can be placed in school zones and other closely watched areas, according to the AP.

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In a move that surprised the Arizona business community and dealt a blow to relations between Phoenix and Mexico, the Phoenix City Council voted down a proposal Wednesday to reopen the city’s trade offices in Mexico City and Hermosillo, Sonora.

By a 3-6 vote, the council rejected a recommendation from city staff to reopen the offices and award a contract to manage the offices to public affairs firm Molera Alvarez, which held the previous city contract.

The council voted in July to shutter the offices while competing bidders contested the city’s new contract with Molera Alvarez.

Members of the business community testified before the council Wednesday in favor of reopening the offices and fulfilling the contract with Molera Alvarez.

Arizona �߲�ֱ�� of Commerce and Industry president and CEO Glenn Hamer discussed the importance of maintaining the offices as the United States, Mexico and Canada near the adoption of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. The accord would maintain tariff-free trade between the three nations, which Hamer said would benefit Arizona greatly.

“We need to be doubling down with our friend, ally and neighbor, Mexico,” Hamer said. “This is not the time to retreat.”

Mike Huckins, vice president of public affairs for the Greater Phoenix �߲�ֱ��, also urged the council to keep the offices open.

“The offices [in Mexico] have put Phoenix on the map in ways we never were before,” Huckins said. “The trade offices provide Phoenix and Phoenix business owners with exposure and resources in one of the world’s largest markets.”

Councilmember Thelda Williams, who voted to adopt the staff recommendation, said she is concerned about the message the city’s action sends to Mexico and Hermosillo, one of Phoenix’s sister cities.

“What concerns me now is we kind of got caught up in politics, I think,” Williams said. “And I’m very worried that Mexico — Hermosillo — doesn’t understand what’s going on here, and the fact that they think we’ve abandoned them.”

No members of the public testified in opposition to the staff recommendation that the offices should be reopened and the contract be awarded to Molera Alvarez.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego voted against the staff recommendation but did not offer an explanation.

Photo: Azwatchdog/Flickr

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The nation’s largest nuclear power plant, Palo Verde Generating Station west of Phoenix, provides 70 percent of the state’s clean energy. No carbon emissions. No air pollutants.

Year after year, Arizona’s nuclear power plant is recognized among the best in the nation for safety and reliability by the industry’s Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

These are a couple of facts the plant’s Chief Nuclear Officer Robert Bement wants the public to know. As CNO, Bement is responsible for everything “nuclear-associated” at the plant.

The former nuclear-trained submarine electrician and licensed senior reactor operator spoke with �߲�ֱ�� recently during a tour of the plant, during which one of the three reactors was undergoing a shutdown for refueling.

Bringing in the light

The tour is part of the plant’s efforts to open up its doors to make the public more aware of how important Palo Verde is to Arizona and the Southwest, Bement said.

“We used to run nuclear power plants like the Navy. Run silent. Run deep,” said Bement, who started his career in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear-submarine electrician.

As renewable energy has become more of a topic in the political arena, facts about how renewable and nuclear energy complement each other to benefit the environment and ratepayers is often lacking, Bement said.

“What we do is so important. People sell fear of nuclear plants, but millions of lives have been saved by clean nuclear energy,” he said, referring to nuclear’s zero carbon emissions.

Now, the plant reaches out regularly to the media, schools, science teachers and others to educate and excite people about potential careers in the nuclear field.

A peek inside

With the reactor down for refueling, the news media were invited to take a peek inside the 4,000-acre Palo Verde complex.

Reactors are shut down every 18 months to be refueled and undergo preventive maintenance. The process takes about three months and involves about 3,000 employees.

Media outlets were able to tour the site where nuclear waste is stored in steel-and-concrete columns — earthquake proof. They were also allowed to enter the containment area where the reactor sits in a large, square concrete enclosure.

One-third of employees are veterans

Like Bement, about one-third of Palo Verde employees have military backgrounds. It shows.

Every procedure must be completed with military precision and care.

Safety and security measures are intense, with armed guards and the company’s own fire department on site. Visitors must go through metal, explosives and radiation detectors when moving through the complex. Delivery trucks undergo two inspection stops. An is always on-site.

Scientists, politicians, Bill Gates go nuclear

Many scientists and others consider nuclear energy an important solution for climate change. Business moguls like Bill Gates, utilities like Westinghouse Electric Company and members of Congress from both sides of the aisle have been pushing for more innovation and investment in nuclear energy.

There are many reasons to be excited about nuclear energy, Bement said. Here’s why…

Nuclear power saves lives

Palo Verde is the largest producer of clean-air energy in the nation, serving more than 4 million people in the Southwest and generating more than 32 million megawatt-hours of electric power annually.

Power generation operations to date at Palo Verde have offset the emission of almost 484 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking up to 84 million cars off the road for one year; more than 253,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide; and 618,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxide, according to the operator of the plant.

Minuscule waste from nuclear energy

For its massive output, nuclear energy produces a miniscule amount of waste.

If all the nuclear waste were collected from one person’s use over a lifetime, it would only fill one soda can, Bement explained.

All of the nuclear waste collected at Palo Verde over the past 30 years is stored on-site. The waste is currently stored in cement-and-steel containers that take up a space the size of a football field.

Only plant in the world not on a lake

Palo Verde is the only large nuclear power plant in the world that is not located near a body of water. Instead, it pumps treated sewage from nearby cities and towns to treat it and reuse it for the plant’s cooling needs.

Self regulation and federal oversight working

After the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, when a reactor suffered a partial meltdown, the industry stepped up and created a self-regulating body, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO).

INPO sends experts to conduct plant evaluations at nuclear stations and identify strengths and areas for improvement as a method to share best practices and common weaknesses.

Since INPO started, plant safety has gone up dramatically across member institutions, Bement said.  Palo Verde consistently receives the most favorable score, called an “INPO 1.”

The NRC also oversees the plant through licensing, inspection and regulatory enforcement.

Palo Verde financial boon for West Valley

As the nation’s largest energy producer, Palo Verde provides an annual economic impact of more than $2 billion to the state, Bement said. Of that, $55 million is property taxes, and over half comes from ratepayers outside the state.

Throughout the year, the plant employs about 2,500 full-time employees. During shutdowns, an additional 800 to 1,000 employees are hired.

Learn more facts about nuclear power from the federal .

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The recently appointed Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix, the Honorable Jorge Mendoza Yescas, was welcomed by the Phoenix community earlier this week.

Consul Mendoza is from Sonora and has worked in Tucson, Texas and most recently Vancouver before his appointment as Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix.

The Arizona-Mexico Commission (AMC) hosted a reception at the Phoenix Country Club to welcome Consul Mendoza.

Leaders and community members who champion the Arizona-Mexico relationship joined in welcoming him.

“I was appointed by the president of Mexico as the Consul General of Mexico in Phoenix to serve Mexicans… to strengthen our important relationship,” Consul Mendoza told attendees.

In his role, Consul Mendoza will support Mexicans in the greater Phoenix area in a variety of ways.

“The role of consul general is basically to represent the foreign estate here in the area in the consulate district, right? Also, it’s to serve over the best interest of Mexican nationals who are living in the consulate district and also who might be a tourist,” Consul Mendoza told �߲�ֱ��.

He said he will also work to establish commercial and economic relationships.

In addition to representation, the Consul General will work to meet the needs of Mexican citizens, such as passports, birth certificates and more.

“The main one is the passports, we issue passports for Mexican nationals need to do something like any process they may have in the state or in the country here in the U.S.,” Consul Mendoza said.

He said, “We provide birth certificates to Mexican nationals and also legalizations of U.S. documents [that] can be validated and used in Mexico.”

The welcome reception was held at the Phoenix Country Club on the evening of Wednesday, June 5, and was hosted by the AMC, which works to improve the economic prosperity and quality of life for Arizonans through collaborations with Mexico in advocacy, trade, networking and information. This year, the AMC celebrates its 60th anniversary.

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Arizona Center, the mixed-use shopping center in downtown Phoenix, was constructed in 1990 to jump-start the city’s revitalization of its urban core.

Now, the work-shop-play hub has a $25 million renovation, transforming Arizona Center into a modern, functional destination for local students, families and businesspeople.

“When we looked at first acquiring Arizona Center, we saw what we thought was a generational opportunity to acquire a 16-acre ‘super-block’ in an urban center, and that’s very rare anywhere in America,” said Matt Root, CEO and managing partner at San Diego-based , which acquired Arizona Center in 2015.

Among the additions to the property are a 60-foot LED screen on the northeast corner of Van Buren and Third streets, all-new landscaping and water features, additional lighting and signage, new colors, more bike racks and a stage for live entertainment.

The Grotto, a three-acre park at the center of the property, features new seating and cleanly remodeled fountains; the original Arizona Center frog statues are still standing.

“People want to move to cities with a high quality of life and cities that have long-term job formation, and Phoenix is really at the top of that list,” Root said. “There’s a big growing movement to restore the vibrancy and really enhance the experience of urban life for people; that’s really what we’ve been working off of.”

The “city of the future” is one that values walkability and a variety of uses, and the “right urban mix” of utility and entertainment draws more residents, creating a denser city center, Root said.

“That density raises values, and that vibrancy attracts investment capital, and that’s what you’re seeing in downtown Phoenix today; all those things are happening,” he said.

The establishment of Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix Campus, which houses the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, was the catalyst that kicked off more than a decade of refurbishment and revitalization in the area, and a number of developments followed.

Other nearby attractions include CityScape, a high-rise mixed-use development completed in 2012; , another high-rise mixed-use project at CityScape slated for completion later this year; , an urban arts district that features local artists, musicians and food vendors at its monthly events; and the , which completed its most significant expansion yet in 2008. The Translational Genomics Research Institute (), a state-of-the-art nonprofit genomics research institute, is from the Arizona Center.

“Employees today, they desire a work-life balance and something that encourages community-building, collaboration and engagement,” Root said. “We think of that as ‘place-making’ — creating a sense of place where people want to encounter each other and share daily life; walkability, creating urban environments that people can live, work, shop, learn without having to rely on cars; sustainability — always big — and then a mix of uses.”

Several large sports, music and entertainment venues are within walking distance, including Chase Field, home to the baseball team; , home to the Phoenix Suns basketball team; Herberger Theatre; Phoenix Symphony Hall and the Orpheum Theatre.

Urban areas filled with an engaging variety of activities can generate 24/7 activity, Root said. The new-and-improved Arizona Center features “great restaurants, health-and-wellness amenities, an immersive cinema experience, amenities that really create a more personalized experience and help employers attract and retain talent and help employees want to go there.”

The new Arizona Center launched in January 2019, bringing more than 40 local small businesses and farmers to the Grotto every Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

New tenants in the retail space include Freshii, a fast-casual nutritious food joint, Bosa Donuts, a popular local shop with locations across the Valley, and Kwench Juice Café. ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management has leased office space, too.

The AC Hotel by Marriott will in May of this year on the east side of Arizona Center. The “urban-inspired” hotel will stand 13-stories tall and comprise 199 “classic, yet modern” rooms, as well as a fitness center, rooftop bar, pool and lounge.

Palm Court Tower, a 31-story, 350-unit luxury residential complex is by North American Development on the northwest corner of Van Buren and Fifth streets later this year. About 10 percent of the units in Palm Court Tower will be designated affordable housing, according to the Arizona Center.

The existing AMC Arizona Center 24 movie theater is 90,000 square feet and has 24 screens, which Root said is an “outdated” model. A cinema about half its size will be constructed in its place, and additional retail and residential space — possibly student housing — will eventually be attached on the theater’s north side.

“We have a number of regional and national theaters right now that we’re finalizing negotiations [with], including our existing operator, AMC, to redevelop that whole footprint into a more immersive theater that changes the way we experience film,” Root said. “Think of in-cinema dining, bar offerings, reclining seats, really just a great experience to bring people together.”

Root estimates the coming development will have an impact totaling $300 million to $400 million. He said he believes the changes will create a “tremendous economic boom” for downtown Phoenix.

The key to the Arizona Center’s future success is in creating an authentic community atmosphere in a public space that makes people want to meet each other and “feel the joys of daily life,” Root said.

“You don’t want to force it; you want to make it happen organically,” he said. “You want to feel like, ‘I want to go there,’ and it’s an engaging, immersive experience, and I think that’s what’s happening at Arizona Center.”

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Global electronics giant Avnet announced it now accepts cryptocurrency for all products and services. It joins a small list of large corporations that accept digital currency.

The Fortune 500 company partnered with BitPay, the world’s largest provider of Bitcoin payment processing services, so customers can make purchases with bitcoin and bitcoin Cash from their smartphones and laptops.

Avnet has already closed several multi-million dollar cryptocurrency transactions within the first month, company officials announced March 19. This includes a project with Bitcoin.com to develop a new hardware wallet to enable cryptocurrency storage and provide a higher level of security for transactions.

The two American companies say they are building faster, cheaper and more secure transactions.  

“We’re working with BitPay to facilitate secure blockchain payments for all types of customers so they can focus on developing their products, not how to pay for them. Whether it’s bitcoin or bitcoin Cash, we can handle it,” said Sunny Trinh, Avnet’s vice president of demand creation.

Avnet has more than 2 million customers worldwide. With approximately 250,000 Bitcoin transactions being made every day, it was time to provide this convenience to clients, Trinh said.

Bitcoin acceptance can be options, especially for cross-border payments, BitPay Chief Commercial Officer Sonny Singh said.

“Not only is paying with bitcoin easier and faster than with credit cards and bank wires, it is less expensive and acceptance of it is growing,” Singh said.  

When Avnet customers use the BitPay system to pay an invoice, they agree on a conversion rate from digital currency to American dollars, pesos or other currencies. The system then automatically converts it. The rate is valid for 15 minutes. If no action is taken, a new rate is generated.

BitPay should appeal to current and new customers who are already in the cryptocurrency industry, Singh said.

BitPay, one of several cryptocurrency platforms, processed over $1 billion in payments and added new customers including Dish Network, HackerOne and the state of Ohio in 2018, the company said. The BitPay wallet also added integrations with major gift card brands, allowing users to buy gift cards in-app for travel, food and shopping with bitcoin and bitcoin Cash.

While more companies worldwide are accepting cryptocurrency, it continues to struggle to break into the mainstream.

Avnet, which offers end-to-end technology solutions for automotive, communications, energy, wearables, and other industries, is one of a number of large corporations to take on the digital cash.  

Other large businesses that accept bitcoin include:

Microsoft Microsoft accepts bitcoin for use in its online Xbox Store.

Dish Network Dish is the first subscription-based TV provider to adopt Bitcoin.

Overstock The internet retailer accepts bitcoin and other kinds of cryptocurrency.

Newegg Inc. is an online retailer of items including computer hardware and consumer electronics.

Cheap Air Cheap Air accepts bitcoin for flight purchases.

Shopify The e-commerce company is an online selling platform for merchants.

Amazon Amazon does not accept bitcoin but the Purse.io platform allows people to buy Amazon items at a discount if they pay with bitcoin.

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A vision to fill in the dusty stretches of the Salt River with teeming development, recreation and wildlife refuges is becoming a reality step by step.  

The dream was something two elder Arizona statesmen, U.S. Sen. John McCain and U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, worked their entire careers to nurture.  

Both passed away recently, just months after a historic meeting March 31, 2018 where all the necessary parties – tribes, cities, state and federal agencies, non-profit and business groups – committed in writing to make it happen.  

Called Rio Reimagined, the project’s first year was a blockbuster.

In addition to winning a coveted federal urban waters partnership, the Corps of Engineers has agreed to help with several projects. There is broad-based public and private support.

Riverfronts are also bustling with new multi-family residential, corporate and industrial development, particularly in Tempe Town Lake and Mesa.

Residential, hospitality and beautification projects are also moving forward in Goodyear, Buckeye and Avondale.

Suddenly, investors are interested in long ignored “brownfields” along the river, former landfills, mining pits and other areas that have been cleaned up and are suitable for development, said Melissa McCann, Director of the Arizona State University Exchange that is acting as a coordinator for Rio Reimagined as it takes root.

Much of the interest is due to most of the river’s corridor, roughly 70 percent, within federally designated opportunity zones, McCann said. Approved by Congress last year, the Opportunity Zone program is designed to bring capital investment into underserved areas. Investors receive reductions on capital gains taxes.

“ for innovative solutions for those sites,” McCann said. “It’s enticing for them to think that investors are interested in brownfield sites along the river that they wouldn’t have considered before.”

Rio Reimagined wins coveted ‘river city’ partnership  

Rio Reimagined also just received a highly sought after prize. It is now one of 20 river cities involved in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Urban Waters Federal Partnership.

The Partnership offers many rewards: preference for grants, an ambassador position to coordinate the project for four years, and assistance from 20 federal agencies and 19 nonprofits that support the 19 other urban river systems. Intended to revitalize waterways and promote economic, environmental and social benefits, it also builds on local efforts to stimulate local economies and new jobs.

Arizona’s congressional delegation stepped in to nominate and win this coveted opportunity that will elevate the project’s potential exponentially. Sen. Martha McSally met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler to promote Arizona as an ideal fit for the partnership.

Industry and non-profits help carry dream forward

Many business and nonprofit groups also are involved in supporting and assisting Rio Reimagined. The non-profit Arizona Forward, which brings together business and civic groups to promote environmental sustainability and economic vitality, held its first Sustainability Summit to get a starting framework for the project.  More than 200 experts shared ideas and developed recommendations.

“This was an important first step in a major multi-generational project,” Arizona Forward CEO Lori Singleton said after the summit. “When we brought in folks from the San Antonio Riverwalk and the Los Angeles River Revitalization and showed that these types of projects take a long time but have results that last generations, everyone got excited. We recognize this as an incredible opportunity to leave a meaningful legacy for future generations.”

Among the many groups supporting Rio Reimagined are:

Arizona Forward

Valley Partnership

Arizona Audubon

Salt River Project

Greater Phoenix Leadership

Greater Phoenix Economic Council

Lower Gila River Collaborative

Kyl Center for Water Policy

Team Rubicon

Sonoran Institute

WESTMARC

Rio Salado project’s evolution   

Rio Reimagined is the next step in the evolution of the original Rio Salado Project started in the 60s by Arizona State University Design School students and staff.

Last year, fueled by the wish of Sen. McCain, eight river communities signed a letter of intent to coordinate to revitalize a 50-mile stretch of the Gila and Salt rivers. The rivers’ path slices through eight communities: the Gila River Indian Community, Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, and the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community

The project has multiple objectives: public open space, environmental and water quality, housing, transportation, economic development, workforce development, community sustainability and resilience for the future.

To see a map of the river, go to:

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