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City News
TSMC Begins Hiring for North Valley Plant
By Jenna-Lee Neff
TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY (TSMC) HAS BEGUN THE HIRING PROCESS, LOOKING TO FILL A NUMBER OF POSITIONS INCLUDING PROCESS INTEGRATION ENGINEERS, EQUIPMENT TECHNICIANS, MANUFACTURING SUPERVISORS, AND FACILITY PROCESS GAS AND CHEMICAL ENGINEERS.
The hiring comes as the next step in the multi-billion-dollar project that will eventually see TSMC producing 5-nanometer chips in Arizona. According to TSMC’s website, the size is the most advanced circuitry in today’s products and a fraction of the size of a human hair, which measures between 80,000-100,000 nanometers.
The City of Phoenix approved a $12 billion deal with TSMC late last year. After the approval, the company bought 1,128 acres of land in north Phoenix that will be home to a new semiconductor fabrication plant and signed a lease for a 46,735-square-foot office located at the Canyon Corporate Plaza office campus. “The semiconductor industry set up shop in Arizona back in 1949, long before Silicon Valley became a thing,” the TSMC website states. “This means the ecosystem for a fab is already in place when it comes to work force, supply chain and public policies.”
According to Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, the project is expected to create approximately 1,900 high-tech jobs and foster thousands more related jobs in the semiconductor supply chain ecosystem.
TSMC plans to attract a workforce from in and out of state, explaining on the website that, “Because the Arizona fab will ultimately employ well over 1,000 engineers, we need to go beyond tapping the existing Arizona workforce.” TSMC’s careers website cites a low cost of living, outdoor activities, professional sports and an average of 299 sunny days a year as assets that will help the company attract college graduates and engineers early in their careers to putting down roots in the Valley.
The anticipated schedule for the project puts design completion and the beginning of construction later this year, according to the City of Phoenix website. The plant is expected to be in production by 2024.
For more information on careers with TSMC, visit tsmccareers.com/tsmcarizona.
Jenna-Lee Neff is a freelance journalist, digital audience analyst, and nonprofit public relations professional. Learn more about her work at jennaleeneff.com.
Free Virtual Job Fair Offers Hundreds of Jobs Across Arizona
UNMET JOBS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ARIZONA COMMERCE AUTHORITY (ACA), IS HOSTING A VIRTUAL HIRING EVENT FOR BOTH EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEK-
ERS ACROSS THE STATE. The event, which is free for both the companies and job seekers, goes until April 15. The goal of this first-time event is to maximize the hiring experience for all attendees by providing a personalized, yet virtual, networking experience for job seekers and recruiters amid COVID-19.
“Job hunting has never been easy and COVID-19 has made it even more difficult to find employment,” says Emily Ahrens, chief marketing officer of UNMET Jobs. “During UNMET Jobs Arizona 2021, jobseekers will have access to hundreds of employers and thousands of local job postings. Companies will have the opportunity to review resumes from candidates that have recently graduated as well as more seasoned professionals.”
According to Ahrens, the platform is inclusive to all levels of experience and features internships, entry level and mid/senior level positions. UNMET Jobs is powered by Largely©, which is a job matchmaking platform focused on improving the job search experience. Largely humanizes the hiring process by combining the traditional resume with personal videos, highlighting human traits that a resume can never provide: a job seeker’s personality, energy, and uniqueness.
HOW UNMET JOBS WORKS:
• Job seekers will upload video introductions and answer a questionnaire that explores their personal and professional attributes, together acting as a virtual resume. • Employers are then able to filter from the pool of applicants by selecting various criteria while also being able to browse through recommended lists of applicants. • Employers may then use the platform to contact job seekers directly and set up virtual interviews and invite them to webinars or info sessions.
The platform also offers advice, tools and insight on developing an online resume, virtual interview hacks, and answers to frequently asked questions for both employers and job seekers.
“Arizona’s educational institutions are producing the workforce of the future, and we’re proud to partner with UNMET Jobs to highlight our state’s impressive talent pool through this virtual event,” says Sandra Watson, Arizona Commerce Authority President and CEO. “By leveraging technology, we’re able to facilitate a greater number of meaningful connections between Arizona job seekers and job creators.”
To sign up for free, visit unmetjobs.com.
City News Farewell and Thank You
By Vice Mayor Thelda Williams, City of Phoenix Council District 1
PHOENIX VOTERS GAVE ME THE GREAT HONOR TO SERVE THEM AS THEIR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE FROM 1989 TO 1996 AND AGAIN FROM 2008
TO 2021. Following each election and three times being appointed interim mayor, I swore an oath to faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of the office according to the best of my ability; an oath I took seriously. I am proud to say that I have done my best to serve you well.
While in office I’ve had the opportunity to hear from residents through phone calls, emails, letters, council meetings, budget hearings, community town halls, monthly breakfasts, meetings in my office, block watch meetings, in the grocery store, when I walked down street and knocked on doors, during ribbon cuttings, at community events, and much more. During those countless contacts, I got to know our residents and came to appreciate the hopes and frustrations in our community. These personal contacts are treasured and one of the things I will miss most.
Representing our residents has been exciting, rewarding and sometimes even heartbreaking, but together we have been able to achieve great accomplishments:
• Strengthened animal cruelty laws to prevent animal abuse including animal hoarding, horse tipping, tethering and keeping dogs off hiking trails when it reaches 100 degrees. • Ensured that our police and fire departments have the tools and resources they need to protect our neighborhoods including more police officers and public safety personnel, body cameras, added fire stations, and improved benefits. • Created, attracted and retained more jobs; we’ve earned the nickname ‘Wall Street West’ due to high number of financial and insurance service jobs along the I-17 corridor. The Deer Valley business corridor is booming and soon, the world’s second largest semiconductor manufacturing company will break ground on a multi-billion dollar site in this
council district, creating thousands of jobs over the next five years. • Transportation expanded with late night bus and
Dial-a-Ride service while we added bus routes and light rail tracks, we worked aggressively to pave over crumbling streets and improve maintenance. Light rail will soon cross over the I-17 into Metrocenter, pumping access and jobs into the heart of the city. • We planned for Phoenix’s critical water needs including added resources for renovation and replacement of pipes, treatment plants, pumps, reservoirs and wells with a financing plan that moves water to needed areas in north Phoenix.
Everything that was difficult prior to the pandemic is magnified now and there are new priorities and tasks ahead for our community. Working together with Councilmember Elect O’Brien and our talented city employees, this community can accomplish much.
Later this month my term will end, and I will turn off the lights in my office at City Hall and close the door for the last time. I’ll have more time to spend with my family and even though my elected time in office is complete, as a private citizen I will continue to find ways to serve residents in this great city. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.
Phoenix Hosting Virtual Budget Hearings in April for 2021-22 Budget
By Jenna-Lee Neff
EACH YEAR, THE PHOENIX CITY CHARTER REQUIRES THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL OF A BALANCED BUDGET AND COMMUNITY INPUT IS CONSIDERED A VALUABLE PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
This year, the City of Phoenix is holding the community budget hearings virtually.
The 2021-22 trial budget and the 202126 preliminary capital improvement program were presented to the City Council at the March 16 policy meeting.
Virtual community budget hearings for the proposed 2021-22 budget will take place starting April 2 and will run until April 20. This period of hearings provides residents with the opportunity to learn about proposed spending for the coming fiscal year and gives them options for providing feedback and commentary before the budget is finalized.
District 1 Meeting Dates:
• Monday, April 5, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. –
District 1 • Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. –
Spanish Community-wide • Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. –
Youth • Friday, April 9, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. –
Senior • Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 10 a.m. –
Spanish Community-wide • Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 10 a.m. –
Community-wide • Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. –
Community-wide
A list of all citywide dates along with more information on the proposed budget is available at phoenix.gov/ budget.
Residents can watch the hearings on PHXTV (Cox Cable channel 11), online at the phoenix.gov homepage, or a recording can be viewed the next day at youtube.com/cityofphoenixaz. The option to listen by phone is also available. Comments on the proposed budget can be submitted through phoenix. gov/budget/contact-us, by email at budget.research@phoenix.gov, by phone at 602-262-4800 or through the FundPHX online tool. Follow the #PhoenixBudget hashtag on social media for the latest information and updates regarding the 2021-22 budget process. The final budget will be presented at the May 4 City Council meeting.
City News
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Opens for 2021 Season
SIX FLAGS HURRICANE HARBOR, LOCATED AT 4243 W. PINNACLE PEAK ROAD IN GLENDALE, JUST OPENED BACK UP FOR THE 2021 SUMMER SEASON.
Last year, the popular Valley attraction had closed down due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“We are excited to welcome guests back to Hurricane Harbor. The health and safety of our guests and team members remains our top priority and we appreciate the support of Governor Ducey as we’ve worked to create a fun and safe environment for everyone,” says Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix General Manager Donald Spiller.
The park employs an online reservation system to manage attendance, schedule guests for entry by day, and stagger arrival times to minimize proximity exposure.
Other new technologies include:
• State-of-the-art thermal imaging for temperature checks; • Advanced security screening technology for touchless bag checks and • Expanded mobile food ordering.
The park’s reopening plan, which the company developed with its epidemiologist consultants, meets or exceeds federal, state and local guidelines for sanitization, hygiene and social distancing protocols, according to the park. “We have developed a comprehensive reopening safety plan that includes best practices from theme park and waterpark industry experts, along with top destination parks from around the world, which will allow guests to experience our parks in the safest possible way. This ’new normal’ will be very different, but we believe these additional measures are appropriate in the current environment,” says Six Flags President and CEO Mike Spanos.
A new attraction this summer is Paradise Island, a 12,000 square foot activity pool with water volleyball and a water basketball court.
To learn more, visit sixflags.com/phoenix.
The City of Phoenix Approves Funding to Make Streets Safer; A Roadway Safety Action Plan In The Works
MAYOR KATE GALLEGO AND MEMBERS OF THE PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL HAVE RECENTLY APPROVED A NEW, MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT TO MAKE PHOENIX STREETS SAFER TO WALK, BIKE, AND DRIVE.
“The current rate of traffic crashes and pedestrian and driver fatalities is too high,” says Mayor Gallego. “This is not a new subject for us – we created an Office of Pedestrian Safety in 2018, but that is only one part of a comprehensive safety plan. The allocated funds will help save lives and get this problem under control.”
The investment includes the allocation of $3 million in Street Transportation Department’s Transportation 2050 funds; $3 million in General Funds over five years; and five additional staff positions funded by Arizona Highway User Revenue Funds. “There are too many pedestrian fatalities and vehicular collisions occurring on Phoenix streets—and we are committed to finding ways to better protect pedestrians and drivers,” says Councilwoman Debra Stark. “This new investment and comprehensive approach are important steps toward making our streets safer.”
This action authorizes the Street Transportation and Police Departments to develop a Roadway Safety Action Plan, focused on reducing the number of injury and fatality crashes. Although it could take a year to develop the full plan, short-term actions can now be implemented quickly. Those actions include additional street signage, roadway striping, and cutting back vegetation that intrudes onto the roadway. Mid-term and longer-term projects can include new pavement, new traffic signals and reconstruction of particularly dangerous intersections.
The mayor pointed out that the city has already completed extensive work to improve safety, including the installation of 68 HAWK signals (High Intensity Activated Crosswalk signals – the flashing red lights that cause drivers to stop when a pedestrian is crossing the roadway). Plans call for the city to increase these installations to an additional ten to fifteen HAWK signals each year. The city’s Streets Transportation Department operates 1,158 traffic signals throughout the 520-square mile geographic area of the city of Phoenix. For more information, visit phoenix.gov.
City News
FTC Sends Nearly $50 Million in Refunds to University of Phoenix Students
THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION IS SENDING PAYMENTS TOTALING NEARLY $50 MILLION TO MORE THAN 147,000 UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX (UOP) STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN LURED BY ALLEGEDLY DECEPTIVE ADVERTISEMENTS.
The refunds stem from a lawsuit the FTC filed against UOP alleging that it used deceptive advertisements that falsely touted its relationships and job opportunities with companies such as AT&T, Yahoo!, Microsoft, Twitter, and the American Red Cross. The FTC also alleged that UOP’s advertising gave the false impression that the online school worked with those companies to create job opportunities for its students and tailor its curriculum for such jobs. In addition to the nearly $50 million in direct payments for some students, the $191 million settlement includes $141 million to cancel unpaid balances owed directly to the school by eligible students. Other debts, such as federal and private student loans or military benefits, are not affected by this settlement. If you have questions about debt canceled by the school, contact UOP at UOPXFinance@phoenix.edu or 1-800-333-5305.
The FTC is mailing 146,804 checks and issuing 677 PayPal payments to students who:
• First enrolled in a master’s, bachelor’s, or associate’s degree program at
UOP between October 15, 2012 and
December 31, 2016; • Paid more than $5,000 with cash, grants, federal and private student loans, or military benefits; • Did not get debt cancellation as part of this settlement; and • Did not opt out of UOP providing the student’s contact information to the
FTC.
People who get a refund via PayPal will have 30 days to accept the payment. People who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 90 days. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund payment or to cash a refund check. If recipients have questions about the refunds, they should contact the FTC’s refund administrator, Rust Consulting Inc., at 1-877-310-0487.
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City News
Deer Valley “Supermom” Shares Her Secrets for Success in Debut Book
SEVENTY TWO PERCENT OF MOMS SURVEYED FOR THE NEWLY RELEASED BOOK “SECRETS OF SUPERMOM: HOW EXTRAORDINARY MOMS SUCCEED AT WORK AND HOME & HOW YOU CAN TOO!” REPORTED TIME AND BALANCE AS THEIR BIGGEST STRUGGLES.
Amid career requirements, video meetings, homeschooling, non-stop meal prep, and keeping the house afloat, working moms are more strapped for time than ever. Without clear strategies to manage these competing priorities, many are simply drowning.
“I wrote my book during the pandemic while working full time and homeschooling three of my four kids,” says Phoenix native and first-time author Lori Whitney Oberbroeckling. “I felt prompted to share these strategies now because I know that moms are more overwhelmed and burned-out than ever.”
Oberbroeckling surveyed nearly 200 moms in preparation for the book. She asked where they struggled as well as where they excelled. Her new book provides short chapters and quick tips to teach how extraordinary moms succeed in their careers and with their family.
The book includes actionable exercises, inspiring stories, and fast, how-to steps. Each chapter covers a secret that supermoms know with strategies to apply it, be it the secret of confidence, happiness, or productivity. At the end of each chapter is a one-page wrap-up, so even those with the most limited time can benefit from the book.
“Secrets of Supermom” explains why perfect balance is simply a lie. Additionally, the book covers the four secrets every working mom must know, how to prioritize the mind and body for the highest energy leading to top performance, and the critical skills to create a life to love both at work and home. “I believe, with the right tools, moms can have extraordinary careers while at the same time have extraordinary home lives–without sacrificing either,” she says. To learn more about Secrets of Supermom, follow @ secretsofsupermom on Instagram or visit secretsofsupermom.com.
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City News
Arizona Balloon Classic Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary April 30-May 2
THE ARIZONA BALLOON CLASSIC BY ARIZONA EVENTS GROUP WILL BE HOSTING ITS 10TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL
FRIDAY, APRIL 30 THROUGH SUNDAY, MAY 2. Gates are open Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sunday from 6 a.m. to noon. Admission is free on Sunday for all ages.
This socially distanced and outdoor event will feature shows and activities throughout the day and evening for the whole family. The Arizona Balloon Classic will be held at the Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S Ballpark Way in Goodyear.
“This is our 10th anniversary for the Arizona Balloon Classic, and we couldn’t have done it without our amazing community partners,” says Tim Matykiewicz, President and CEO of Arizona Events Group. “We are thankful for our attendees for helping to contribute to our fundraising efforts for Valley of the Sun United Way. One of our favorite parts of the classic is our nighttime balloon events, and we are thankful to be able to make the sky glow for the 10th year with our AlaskaUSA Federal Credit Union partnership. We have put a lot of thought into this year’s event to make it not only fun for the family, but also socially distanced.”
THE SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDES: The Arizona Balloon Classic
On Saturday, May 1, 2021 and Sunday May 2, from 6:35 to 7:45 a.m., the sky will be filled with brilliant blues, purples, oranges, and reds as the hot-air balloons participate in thrilling “Hare & Hound” races from the grassy fields of the Goodyear Ballpark for a spectacular sight of mass and color. Spectators can walk on the field right next to the balloons and experience the inflation and lift off. Photo taking is invited. to 9 p.m., come experience a field full of tethered, illuminated, hot air balloons glowing in time to music.
Saturday night will feature a Pilots Parade with a constant burn of purple, green, red and yellow flames from the balloons. A firework show and the AlaskaUSA Federal Credit Union Desert Glow will follow after the parade.
AlaskaUSA Federal Credit Union Desert Glow
On Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1 from 6:30
Additional Activities
Throughout the weekend there will also be several different festival-style type activities. A Family Fun Zone will have free and paid activities including hot air balloon rides and tethered rides, inflatable games, stunt bike shows, fireworks (Saturday only), live entertainment, sampling, and more.
Each day there will be a Street Foodfest with a beer and wine garden and local food trucks, live music stage, and more. A new, daytime exhibit has been added, the Desert Wind Kite Festival by My Wind Stuff. Show kites larger than semi-trucks, windsocks larger than motorhomes, and a 50-foot Mega Fish Kite will be flying high in the sky on both Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2. There will also be candy canons, paper rocket making and launching, and parachute racing for all ages. Kites for all ages and abilities will be on hand for sale including single line, dual line sport kites, and quad line stunt kites.
Admission
One day general admission tickets purchased online for Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1 are $20 for adults and $10 for seniors (ages 55+). Children 12 and under, active duty military, and veterans are free. Admission is free for all ages on Sunday, May 2. Tickets purchased at the gate are $25 for adults and $15 for seniors on Friday and Saturday. Group ticket packages are available. General parking is $5. Tickets are available at abcfest.com.
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City News
Dinner for a Good Cause: Visit Texas Roadhouse on April 15 to Support Local Charities
By Emma Wolff
ARE YOU CRAVING SOME OF TEXAS ROADHOUSE’S WARM, DELICIOUS ROLLS AND ITS AMAZING CINNAMON
HONEY BUTTER? Do you also want to help several nonprofit organizations in the Valley? On April 15, you can do both by attending the Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation’s local fundraising event.
The Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation is joining with Texas Roadhouse, located at 2600 West Happy Valley Road, to raise funds for several Valley charities. Texas Roadhouse will donate 10% of all food purchases made between 3 and 10 p.m. when an event flyer is shown on Thursday, April 15 to the Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation. To make sure the 10 percent donation is made, visit pmc.foundation/ event/texas-roadhouse-restaurantfundraiser and print out the flyer. (You must show the flyer to participate in the fundraising efforts.) “The Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation implements restaurant fundraisers throughout the year,” says Jason Bressler, founder of the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce. “The restaurant fundraisers advance our mission to support local nonprofit organizations through fundraising, volunteer efforts, and charitable partnerships.”
Through these restaurant fundraisers, Valley residents are able to supporting local businesses while also supporting nonprofit organizations. The Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation has made it a goal to work with the community to make a direct impact on the lives of children, families, veterans and pets in Arizona.
In just two years, the Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation has helped 20 organizations, including Helping Hands for Freedom, HopeKids Arizona, OCJ Kids, North Valley Symphony Orchestra, Youth for Troops, Arizona LEOS, and many others. Through these fundraising efforts, the foundation has donated over $55,000 to nonprofit organizations across the state.
If you needed a reason to treat yourself to a nice meal, this is it! Join the Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation to have delicious food while supporting great Arizona foundations. To help the Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation further, you can make personal donations, attend additional events, volunteer, or contribute to their Amazon Smile list. For more information, email admin@pmc.foundation or visit pmc.foundation.
HomeAid Phoenix Raises More Than $100,000 in Donations Through Unique Fundraiser
HOMEAID PHOENIX, THE LOCAL NONPROFIT AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL HOMEAID AMERICA ORGANIZATION THAT FOCUSES ON IMPROVING HOUSING RESOURCES FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING
HOMELESSNESS, IS NEW TO TOWN. And for an organization that thrives on philanthropic support and support from the local home building industry, launching a presence in Phoenix in the middle of a pandemic presented a bit of an obstacle.
Because of social distancing measures, traditional fundraising events like in-person galas and luncheons, were off the table. Forced to be creative, HomeAid Phoenix organized a socially-distanced charity trap-shooting tournament, held in two parts at Ben Averay Clay Target Center. And that creativity was well-received. The two-part tournament, which began in February and concluded just a few weeks ago, sold out and generated more than $100,000 in donations.
“HomeAid is an established nonprofit organization nationally, but we’re new to Phoenix,” Sam Leyvas, executive director at HomeAid Phoenix, says. “Our programs rely on community and philanthropic support, so we needed to think outside the box as newcomers and as COVID greatly restricted our ability to host typical fundraising events.”
Funds raised from the tournament, involving 64 teams and 320 professionals from the Phoenix home building industry, will benefit HomeAid’s housing development and outreach programs that are designed to connect the skills and passions from the Phoenix building community with projects that will increase housing inventory and other supports for those experiencing homelessness.
HomeAid America operates through a network of 19 affiliates in different markets across the country, each relying on their local home building communities to fund efforts to improve resources for those experiencing housing insecurity. After 30 years of service, HomeAid has completed more than 1,000 housing projects worth $280 million, of which nearly 50 percent was donated by the building industry.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more than 10,000 Arizonans were experiencing homelessness prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the alliance expects that count to change given the economic toll the pandemic has had on families. For Leyvas, the first fundraiser for HomeAid Phoenix couldn’t have gone better, given the circumstances. And the support couldn’t be more valuable.
“Homelessness is a complex issue and the full impact of the pandemic is still unknown,” Leyvas says. “Solutions work when the approach is varied, comprehensive and built on innovative community partnerships. HomeAid Phoenix is ready to be a part of the hard work of addressing homelessness in the Valley.”
To learn more, visit homeaidphoenix.org.
