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How’s the economy? It all depends on how you look at it. About ASBA
by Rick Murray, Chief Executive Officer, ASBA
A recent report from the Brookings Institute shows that Phoenix has the highest gross metropolitan product (GMP) growth in the nation, with Tucson a
The Arizona Small Business Association
close second. The GMP is the total value of goods and services a metropolitan
(ASBA) is the largest trade association
area produces.
in the state representing 11,000+ member businesses and over 1/2 million employees in all 15 counties. ASBA
The report, which looks at 2013 first-quarter data on economic progress for the
members enjoy access to significant
country’s 100 largest metro areas, shows an output increase of 1.2 percent in
group discounts, countless opportunities
Phoenix and 1.1 percent in Tucson during the first quarter. Housing and
to do business with each other, a wide
healthcare have been the major players in Arizona’s recovery. In Phoenix, healthcare is responsible
array of insurance products, and active
for 12.2 percent of jobs created since the end of the recession, an increase of more than 2
advocacy efforts on public policy issues to protect their businesses. Discover more at www.asba.com. Join ASBA. Be amAZed®
percentage points. And the housing market led the nation with a statewide average increase of more than 18 percent in sales prices. Pretty good news on the surface, but there’s more to the story. I will be the last to tell you that everything is just fine. It is easy to get on the band wagon and extoll the virtues of a recovering economy. It is all positive, and things are moving in the right direction; but despite the positive recovery performance in Phoenix and Tucson, both have a long way to go to reach pre-recession
in this issue Political Climate Benefiting Arizona Businesses ? . . . . . . . . . . pg. 2
Resource Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 4 Give Yourself a Power Boost by Building Business with Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pg. 7 Central Arizona 4600 E. Washington Street, Suite 340 Phoenix, AZ 85034 f. 602.306.4001
Arizona is leading the nation, while it’s good news, there is still a lot of work to be done. So what can you do to keep the momentum? Work smarter and more efficiently. Most of us, when but you quickly realize it really means you are the complaint department), but we also needed to be the accountant, the property manager, the human resources manager, payroll supervisor, technology expert, marketing and advertising specialist, and everything else in between. With all of that on our plate, how in the world are we ever going to find time to make a little money? Add to it the challenges the economy has thrown at us, and we quickly realize how important it is for small businesses to be more efficient. That’s why the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA) is here: to help you keep more of the hard-earned money you make. We have leveraged the buying power of our 11,000 member businesses to bring you huge savings on products and services you are currently using. ASBA offers discounts on things like office products; UPS shipping services; credit card processing; hotel rooms; health, life and dental insurance products for you, your family and all of your employees; and
Southern Arizona 4811 E. Grant Road, Suite 262 Tucson, AZ 85712 p. 520.327.0222
have a lot further to go than almost every other state. So when these reports come out showing
we went into business, didn’t realize that not only did we need to be the CEO (sounds like a cool title
Small Business
p. 602.306.4000
levels of employment and output. Arizona was hit particularly hard, so to achieve a full recovery, we
f. 520.327.0440
© 2013 ASBA. A publication of the Arizona Small Business Association. For more information or to join ASBA, please contact us at www.asba.com. Section designed by the Arizona Small Business Association.
much more. If you haven’t taken a look lately at some of our offerings, I would encourage you to visit asba.com and click on the “member benefits” tab. With the uncertainty of the economy, and the daily struggles each of us faces to make payroll, isn’t it nice to know that you have help? Take advantage of all we have to offer. Let the Arizona Small Business Association work for you!
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