Inside Tucson Business, May 21, 2021

Nonprofit Perspective Would your business benefit from lower energy and water costs? | Page 2 May 21, 2021

Volume 29• Number 11

InsideTucsonBusiness

An Outpouring of Optimism

@AZBIZ

www.InsideTucsonBusiness.com

TECH TALK

Engineering Awards, Solar-Powered GoKarts and Martian Volcanoes | Page 6 Local venues are once again scheduling shows and opening their doors

LOCAL STARTUPS

Margaret Regan Inside Tucson Business / Page 10

UA researchers study how to cure bad breath in dogs

‘HOWL-ITOSIS’ Page 4 FEDERAL FUNDING

VENUE GRANTS

Sen. Kelly tours Rialto, highlights aid program

Page 8 BOOK OF LISTS

THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS Art Galleries

Page 14

PEOPLE IN ACTION

REAL ESTATE

New promotions, hires and awards Page 3

Tucson ranks among hottest rental markets in nation Page 5 ON THE MENU

Culinary Confluence

Zio Peppe fuses classic Italian with flavors of the Southwest

Page 7

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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MAY 21, 2021

Inside Tucson Business is published 26 times per year (once every other week on Fridays) plus the Book of Lists in January.

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NONPROFIT PERSPECTIVE

BY MICHAEL PEEL

SPECIAL TO INSIDE TUCSON BUSINESS

LOCAL FIRST ARIZONA

Would your business benefit from lower energy and water costs?

L

ocal First Arizona’s sustainability programs can lend a hand in helping businesses save energy and improve the bottom line.

Our Southern Arizona Green Business Leaders program has recently helped more than a dozen local businesses achieve savings. Here are a just a few examples: • Tucson Clean and Beautiful upgraded to a new location and became more resilient by updating their sustainability policies, and created a plan to install passive rainwater infrastructure.

• Literacy Connects signed up for a water audit, which resulted in hundreds of dollars in savings annually and improved their resiliency planning in order to continue serving frontline communities.

• House Trevethan developed a resource which compiles statistics on the benefits of offering flexible remote work options to employees to reduce their team’s carbon footprint.

• Western Sky Communications installed a rainwater harvesting system and sources almost all services and materials locally.

• Humanity Hub Network launched locally sourced food and retail subscription boxes, partnering with small-scale local entrepreneurs and nonprofits.

• K Newby Gallery & Sculpture Garden connected with their local community, donating to charities and advocating for electric vehicle charging and more walkable

streets in Tubac.

The Southern Arizona Green Business Leaders program focuses on both businesses and community to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions and make Arizona more sustainable.

With the support of Tucson Electric Power, City of Tucson, Tucson Water and other regional partners, the program has just completed its first year providing businesses and nonprofits in Pima, Yuma, Santa Cruz and Cochise counties with an entry point to learn about and adopt cost-saving sustainability practices through an easy-to-use checklist.

Throughout the program, businesses receive individualized consulting and support and, upon completion, receive marketing promotion and recognition for their leadership in sustainability. Strategies covered include energy and water conservation, transportation emissions reduction and waste reduction. We also touch on community social impact strategies and connect businesses to resources offered by municipalities, utility companies and community organizations to help reduce energy waste.

The program has 14 current participants and will add 12 more, in partnership with the YWCA of Southern Arizona.

The additional participants will primarily be women entrepreneurs of color.

Current participants cover more than 65,000 square feet of commercial building space, and combined employ

To connect with the certified Green Leaders: Tucson Clean and Beautiful, tcb@tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org, tucsoncleanandbeautiful.org Humanity Hub Network, hello@localboxaz. com, humanityhubnetwork.org K Newby Gallery & Sculpture Garden, info@ NewbyGallery.com, www.NewbyGallery.com House Trevethan, heidi@ housetrev.com, https:// housetrevethan.com Western Sky Communications, info@westernskycommunications.com, http://www.westernskycommunications.com Literacy Connects, hello@literacyconnects.org, literacyconnects.org

150 Southern Arizonans.

The program pivoted to virtual walkthroughs to maximize safety for the community during the pandemic, and hosted 18 Green Leaders Virtual Happy Hours with guest speakers. Attendees heard from City of Tucson representatives who filled them in on publicly available rebates, incentives and audits in the areas of water, environment and transportation.

Continued on P12

WEEKLY TOP

BY LISA LOVALLO

Boost traffic to your business website

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or many businesses, a website is the starting point for getting a customer interested in a product or service and inquiring to learn more. But in a sea of digital information and competition, how do you get customers to notice your business and not only visit your website but also stay longer and engage with it? Try out these tips for getting your website noticed and driving more sales.

1. Set up analytics. Utilize tools like Google Analytics to start tracking where visitors are coming from and better understand what is working and what is not. If no one is clicking to visit your website from your marketing emails, it’s time to refresh your email content to boost engagement.

2. Implement SEO. Go through each webpage and boost SEO by incorporating popular search words throughout the copy. Using great keywords will help get your website seen in Google search results and increase the chances of a customer clicking to read more.

3. Create a blog. Share industry trends and insights through a website blog. This is an excellent way to get noticed by potential new customers if you share valuable content with great SEO. For example, our Cox Converge blog offers many resources for consumers—from a beginner’s guide to social media, to the lowdown on smart security systems.

4. Write compelling content. If your website provides useful information that customers are looking for, they are likely to stay on your site longer and come back for more. Take the time to think about what problems you can solve for your customers and include useful tips throughout the site.

5. Don’t forget mobile.

Many customers will be using their smartphone or tablet to

visit your business site. Test out your website on a mobile device to make sure it is user-friendly with no glitches.

6. Promote your content. Set aside a budget for advertising on social media platforms like Facebook to drive customers to your site.

You can also engage relevant social media influencers to help promote your business to their followers.

7. Use interactive images and videos. Images and videos captivate readers’ attention, and provide the opportunity to elevate key promotional messages in an exciting way.

Research production services such as those offered by Cox Media locally.

8. Look for inspiration, but don’t copy. Create your own distinctive identity that is unique to your brand. Take a look at what your competitors are doing with their websites, but resist the urge to just copy what is working for them.

Customers love businesses who are original and authentic.

9. Publish everywhere.

When you write blog content, be sure to publish everywhere you can to attract new traffic to your website. Sites like Medium, LinkedIn and Reddit are great places to publish content with links to your website for more.

10. Host a giveaway.

Nothing pulls customers in faster than something free.

Consider hosting an enticing giveaway or sale that attracts customers to your website and have them enter their email to participate. This will allow you to retarget them after the giveaway is over, a win-win for the both of you.

Lisa Lovallo is the Southern Arizona market vice president for Cox Communications, leading a team of 250+ Southern Arizona Cox employees. Cox is honored to serve thousands of Tucsonans and to provide students with internet and Wi-Fi access. Reach her at lisa.lovallo@cox.com.

INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

PEOPLEINACTION

Teresa D. Underwood

The Pima County Consolidated Justice Court has appointed Teresa D. Underwood as a court administrator, with responsibilities of overseeing the non-judicial operations of PCCJC. Underwood previously served as Chief Executive/Clerk of Court of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio, where she oversaw the day-to-day administrative operations and non-judicial functions for the Howard M. Metzenbaum US Courthouse in Cleveland. Underwood joined the bankruptcy court as a Supervisor in 2003, was promoted to Operations Manager in 2004, and Chief of Staff in 2013. Finally, she became its Chief Executive in 2017.

“We’re excited to have Ms. Underwood join us as PCCJC administrator,” said Pima County Presiding Judge Kyle Bryson. “She brings a wealth of experience and will be a dynamic administrative leader for this important court.”

Underwood earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University. She was a member of the Board of Governors of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Clerks and a Faculty Coach/Mentor for the New Supervisors’ Development Program at the Federal Judicial Center, the research and education agency of the judicial branch of the US government.

Gabrielle Mintz

Lauren Ochoa

Jim Mentz

Carondelet Hospitals

University of Arizona College of Medicine medical student Gabrielle Mintz has won the Shirley D. Curson Medical Student Scholarship, a two-year scholarship worth $30,000 for a student’s third and fourth years of medical school.

According to UA Health Sciences, the Curson scholarship is a merit-based award that recognizes Jewish students with a history of social or civic responsibility, community involvement and service. While Mintz was pursuing her bachelor’s degree, she volunteered as a math tutor for low-income high school students.

“I feel very honored, very grateful, and I am just excited about it,” Mintz said.

Tucson Values Teachers has awarded 8th grade science teacher Lauren Ochoa with their Teacher Excellence Award. Ochoa works at the Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 school in the Marana Unified School District. Ochoa is in her first year of teaching after working towards a degree in microbiology.

In addition to teaching 8th grade science, she teaches the coding elective for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. She was nominated by Syed Shah-Batiz, one of her 8th grade students and vice president of the student council. This recognition honors the “extraordinary level of excellence and commitment” that Ochoa demonstrates in class.

Tucson Values Teachers has awarded longtime PE teacher Jim Mentz with their Teacher Excellence Award.

Mentz has taught at Palo Verde High School in the Tucson Unified School District for 25 years. He has taught in Southern Arizona for more than 30 years.

Mentz was nominated by multiple high school students for his enthusiasm, encouragement and support of student athletes. As Palo Verde High School principal Eric Brock said in his nominating video, “Jim Mentz is Palo Verde.”

Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital and Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital recently earned an “A” rating in The Leapfrog Group’s Spring 2021 Hospital Safety Grades.

The Leapfrog Group is a nonprofit watchdog organization for health care consumers and purchasers. Their Hospital Safety Grades evaluate more than 2,700 hospitals on how well they keep patients safe from harm, including medical error prevention, infection rates, and communication.

Both Carondelet locations earned “A” grades, while Tucson Medical Center and Banner University Medical Center earned “C” grades.

Northwest Medical Center and Oro Valley Hospital also earned “A” grades.

MAY 21, 2021

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EMAIL YOUR PEOPLE IN ACTION DETAILS TO JEFF@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM

University of Arizona Awards Outstanding Graduates The University of Arizona awarded seven undergraduate students with four university-wide awards for their service to the “community, academic accomplishments and perseverance.”

Enrique Alan Olivares-Pelayo (pictured, graduating with a dual BA in English and creative writing) won the Provost Award, which goes to an outstanding graduating student who transferred to UA from an Arizona community college. According to UA, Olivares-Pelayo is a member of both the Honors College and the English Honors Program.

Precious Craig (graduating with a BS in public health) and Brennen Feder (graduating with a BS in literacy, learning and leadership) both won the Robie Gold Medal, which goes to those who demonstrate “personal integrity, initiative, cooperation, enthusiasm, willingness to give more than required, and a love of God and country.”

Alyssa Jean Peterson (graduating with a BS in molecular and cellular biology and a BA in biochemistry and religious studies) and Akshay Nathan (graduating with a BS in biochemistry) won the Robert Logan Nugent Award, which goes to those who display a record of accomplishments that exemplify the high ideals of former UA executive vice president Robert Logan Nugent.

Nikita Ganesh (graduating with degrees in psychological science and Chinese) and Daniel Robert Wieland (graduating with a BS in biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology) won the Merrill P. Freeman Medal for outstanding character.

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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MAY 21, 2021

Local startup studies the science behind freshening dog breath Jeff Gardner

Inside Tucson Business

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e ask our dogs a lot of questions, and oftentimes “Who’s a good boy?” is second only to “Oh no, what did you eat?” Oro Valley’s bioscience industry has gained a new member with uPetsia, a University of Arizona startup that has developed a bacteria strain to quell bad breath in dogs. uPetsia’s technology was developed by two associate professors out of the UA’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The idea dates back to a Thanksgiving with friends. Co-founder Eric Lyons recalls friends and family sitting around a campfire with their dogs, and everyone started talking about how dogs had horrible breath. Eventually this turned into guessing whose had the worst breath, and if breed or body size affected their breath.

“And I thought to myself, I bet we can come up with some technology to solve bad breath in dogs,” associate professor Lyons said. “I kept thinking about it when I got back to the office. That was the genesis of this technology, which is to screen and cultivate, and look at the naturally occurring bacteria in the mouths of dogs. Looking for ones that are safe and effective that we can work with in the lab that don’t carry antibiotic resistance genes, and see if we can genetically engineer some synthetic pathways to produce nice aromas like mint smell.”

Lyons submitted his idea to UA, and caught the attention of the university’s commercialization office,

batch of dogs, these were our dogs,” Lyons said. “While the University was incredibly stringent in terms of their safety and control, the real person I had to contend with was my wife.”

Lyons says they used four testing methods to detect the bacteria’s presence in their dogs’ mouths: using scientific instruments to detect the bacteria themselves, recovering the bacteria out of the dogs’ mouths, and using molecular markers as an additional Left to right: UA assistant professor Eric Lyons (left) and business development professional Scott Zentack in confirmation of bacteria. their new lab space at the University of Arizona Center for Innovation at Oro Valley.

But in addition to these Photo by Paul Tumarkin/Tech Launch Arizona. more advanced processes, the classic sniff test also Tech Launch Arizona. TLA called in longtime collabora- this is often due to overuse of played a role. They were tor Scott Zentack. then gave uPetsia a business topical pain-relief products. able to detect the special“As soon as he told me development grant to move “We basically synthetically ized bacteria and methyl the idea, I thought it was from concept to research. engineered this pathway, and salicylate production for phenomenal and was onuPetsia’s argument is that then we optimized it for use 90 minutes to two hours after feeding the dogs. Of board,” Zentack said. “That within these bacteria, and traditional breath fresheners are only effective in the course, this time range can was almost three years ago, ordered stretches of DNA minutes after use, but intro- and it’s been a really fun that contain the genes that we be reduced by dogs quickly ducing bacteria that produce ride… It comes down to want to, and stitch them to a scarfing down their treats. mint smell can last far longer. the fact that it persists, and “Our main concern with plasmid and put that plasmid “With toothpaste and persists longer than other in the bacteria,” Lyons said. this bacteria is, because we’re mouthwash, you have fresh products. Ideally, we’d like “It’s very similar to thinking going in there and re-engineering to divert their breath for about 20 minto get to a point where you about it in terms of a comutes. It’s the same thing for feed a treat to your dog in puter code: there’s the bacte- internal metabolic energy dogs,” Lyons said. “When the morning, and it still has rial program running on the to produce mint smell, it’s they chew on something, it going to make them a little fresh breath when you come bacterial chromosome, and then we have this little tiny scrapes the plaque and tartar home from work.” weaker,” Lyons said. “Bacoff the teeth. Some products The mint smell in question program made up of a couple teria are constantly battling of genes that is there to make it out on animals, so if you have mint to help give them is methyl salicylate, an orbring in one that’s a little fresh breath. But as soon as ganic compound commonly methyl salicylate.” used for fragrance and flavor.

To test the aroma-produc- weaker, how fast are they that clears the oral cavity, uPetsia co-inventor and fel- ing capabilities of the new going to get outcompeted?” that freshness diminishes Looking ahead, uPetsia very quickly. The difference low associate professor David bacteria, Lyons and Baltrus Baltrus scanned through measured out a set amount (which comes from the word here is that our bacteria “hundreds if not thousands” of bacteria, put it on treats eupepsia, meaning “good establish small colonies in digestion”) aims to increase the mouth, and during their of bacteria to find a type with and fed them to dogs, then swabbed the dogs’ mouths the longevity of their bacteria, lifetime that lasts about two the correct properties to engineer the production of immediately and every potentially by three or four hours, they are producing the minty methyl salicylate. few hours after to find out hours. that mint aroma.”

The engineering is done in how long the bacteria stuck “Our ultimate goal is to Lyons realized that to be make a product that’s made successful, he’d need to work the bacteria’s plasmids, small around.

“The University has a very for pets and the people with a business professional DNA molecules similar to chromosomes. While methyl stringent program for how who love them,” Zentack who can translate scientific advancements into a salicylate has been linked to to work with animals. But said. “Dogs are part of their market-ready product, and cases of toxicity in humans, when it came to the first families and our families,

so we want the consumers to understand that we’re being very safe.” uPetsia recently gained a major business boost in winning the University of Arizona Center for Innovation’s Sponsored Launch Fueled by the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce competition, which grants uPetsia business support and one year of admission to the new Center for Innovation in Oro Valley.

“It was perfect. We were looking at lab space at the time this came up, so we did a pitch for the competition and were selected,” Zentack said.

UACI has hosted multiple Sponsored Startups throughout the region, partnering with the likes of Perkins Coie law firm and the Town of Sahuarita. uPetsia recently moved into the Oro Valley office, which includes office space and lab space for research and development. The Center for Innovation at Oro Valley serves as a business incubator and connection between UA and Oro Valley’s own bioscience industries. The Center, located in Oro Valley’s Innovation Park, is located close to Roche Tissue Diagnostics and UA’s new veterinary school, providing opportunities for collaboration throughout the region.

“We’re working on the bacteria. We don’t want to be a treat producer or a food producer. So we’re working with people that can help us understand how to incorporate this into pet foods,” Zentack said. “Our plan is to grow this bacteria in bulk and supply it to a treat maker, then they would incorporate it into their manufacturing process.” ITB

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MAY 21, 2021

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

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EMAIL YOUR REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS TO JEFF@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM

Tucson ranks among hottest rental markets in nation occupied with an average of 14 prospective renters per apartment, placing Tucson t’s no news that Tucson’s as the 15th most competitive housing market is firmly in rental market in the nation. sellers’ hands; houses for This ranks Tucson alongside sale can receive more than cities like Colorado Springs, a dozen offers in their first Boise and Sacramento. days on the market, often Apartments in Tucson for tens of thousands more were also found to be vacant than their asking price. But a for an average of 31 days. new report from RENTCafé This is more than a week less indicates that mid-sized mar- than the national average of kets such as Tucson are also 39 days. Nationally, 94% of leading in rental competirentals were occupied with an tivity, fueled by the housing average of 11 renters competmarket. ing per apartment.

The market report, “The largest markets and “The Hottest U.S. Rental surrounding exurbs show Markets: Mid-sized Hubs renters are distinctly looking Take the Lead in Competto get more square footage itivity,” found that 96% of or more amenities for the apartments in Tucson are same price, within these hubs

Jeff Gardner

Inside Tucson Business

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and close to them. Residents from large gateway markets are ‘trading up’, and with work-from-home policies, exurb locations close to these areas are also benefitting from this behaviour,” says Doug Ressler, manager of business intelligence at Yardi Matrix, a real estate data company. “The current climate increasingly points to the economy growing in 2021, providing significant and risk-averse potential for the apartment market.”

Phoenix also made it to the ranking, the report continues. The Arizona job hub’s rapid growth has attracted an increasing number of renters from surrounding states over the past few years. Most

recently, the market’s rising tech sector has prompted a new nickname for the area, the “Silicon desert,” while the local economy weathered the pandemic better than in other large markets.

Sales Equilibrium QOZB II D, LLC purchased 10,500 square feet of retail space located in downtown Tucson, in the Historic Fourth Avenue District. The four locations, 600, 602, 604 and 606 N. Fourth Ave., were purchased from Ten Fifteen Two and Four Partnership for $465,000.

Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR handled this trans-

Rick Borane of VOLK Company represented The Estate of Thomas C. Avery action. Greg Furrier, Retail in the sale of approximateSpecialist, represented the ly 15,000 square feet of seller; Allan Mendelsberg land with approximately and Conrad Martinez, 2,910 square feet of buildMultifamily Specialists, ing improvements located represented the buyer. at 1024 South Plumer Avenue to 1024 South Plumer Tin Cup Properties, LLC Avenue LLC for a purchase purchased 6,400 square feet price of $275,000. of industrial space located at 500 E. 29th St. in Tucson.

DavRiCO, LLC purThe commercial property chased 1.66 acres of was purchased from Helen commercial land located L. Cooke for $401,000. at 3901 and 3941 S. Kolb Ron Zimmerman, PrinciRoad. The vacant land pal, and Industrial Specialist parcel was purchased from with Cushman & Wakefield Kolb Boneyard, LLC for | PICOR, represented the $145,000. Ron Zimbuyer in this transaction. merman, Principal, and Timothy Bathen with AriIndustrial Specialist with zona Acquisition Strategies, Cushman & Wakefield | represented the seller.

PICOR Continued on P11

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MAY 21, 2021

TECH TALK

Engineering Awards, Solar-Powered Go-Karts, and Martian Volcanoes projects for the college’s annual Craig M. Berge Design Day. Unlike previous years, for 2021 the 99 ith a major student teams presented research univertheir projects over video. sity right in our But similar to previous backyard, a strong military years, multiple student presence and innovative teams took home large companies throughout the awards for this work. This metro region, there’s often year, more than $46,000 a plethora of interesting sci- was awarded to various ence and technology news to student teams working be found in Southern Ari- with industry and univerzona. Here’s a breakdown of sity sponsors. The winners the most interesting recent of the $7,500 Craig M. developments.

Berge Dean’s Award for Most Outstanding Project Design Day. Senior created a “solar-powered, students in the Univerautonomous rover” to sity of Arizona’s College monitor Oso Grande, of Engineering recently which is Tucson Electric presented their longtime Power’s wind turbine faJeff Gardner

Inside Tucson Business

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cility in New Mexico. The rover prototype is based on an electric all-terrain vehicle and has devices to autonomously record wind turbine efficiency, wind speed and direction. Other winning projects included a sensor system enabling Reid Park Zoo animals to switch on fans and misters for themselves; a device to capture grasshoppers and remove the pests from agricultural fields; shortof Arizona mechanical engineering student Daniel Lansdown sits next to his team’s Windfarm wave infrared beacons that University Inspection Rover, which won the Award for Most Outstanding Project at UA’s College of Engineering Design Day. can be deployed by a drone Courtesy photo. to mark targets in the field; and a system to maintain positive pressure in a information, visit icap. maker karts are for teams in the past 50,000 years closed habitat, potentially engineering.arizona.edu. who build the kart from — a long time for humans, for crew quarters on the the ground up. Ultimately, but a far cry from what Moon and Mars. For more Solar-Powered GoSalpointe High School’s was previously believed to Karts. On Saturday, April standard kart ranked as the most recent volcanic 24, 56 Arizona high school the grand champion, while activity, some 3 million students gathered at the Pinetop-based Blue Ridge years ago. Using data from Musselman Honda Circuit High School’s maker kart satellites orbiting Mars, south of Tucson to race won the innovation award. the researchers identified the solar-powered go-karts In the Standard Kart a previously unknown volthey designed and built Division, the Efficiency canic deposit that is eight as teams, with the help of Award went to Tanque miles wide and located in coaches and community Verde Solar Flares, and the Elysium Planitia plain mentors. The solar-pow- the Endurance and Speed near the planet’s equator. ered race is hosted by Awards went to the Center “This may be the youngest the Southern Arizona for Academic Success. In volcanic deposit yet docResearch, Science and the Maker Kart Division, umented on Mars,” said Engineering Foundation, the Efficiency Award went lead study author David who took the project’s to Salpointe High School, Horvath, who previously helm in 2019. According and the Endurance and served as a UA postdoctoral to SARSEF, nine teams Speed Awards went to Sur- researcher, and is currently from six schools comprise-based Shadow Ridge a research scientist at the peted at Race Day 2021.

High School.

Tucson-based Planetary SciTeams were evaluated on ence Institute. “The young the presentation of their Redder Planet. New age of this deposit absolutely design and build process, research out of the Univer- raises the possibility that participation throughout sity of Arizona’s Lunar and there could still be volcanic the school year, and the Planetary Laboratory inactivity on Mars.” performance of their kart dicates comparatively new The study, “Evidence during the race. Students volcanic activity on Mars, for geologically recent raced both standard and raising questions about explosive volcanism in maker go-karts. Standard how recently the planet was Elysium Planitia, Mars” was karts use a pre-fabricated habitable. The eruption in published in the science steel frame chassis, while the study likely occurred journal Icarus. ITB

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MAY 21, 2021

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ON THE MENU

Zio Peppe fuses classic Italian with flavors of the Southwest

The Prickly Pickle pizza at Zio Peppe, a new restaurant co-owned by Tucson natives and longtime chefs Mat Cable and Devon Sanner. Courtesy photo.

said Cable. “He never talks before he thinks and there’s a certain seriousness in him, ll it took to connect even when he smiles.” the Rillito River to When Sanner officially the Mediterranean met Uncle Joe, his impression was consistent with the Sea was a shared respect for Old World wisdom and image portrayed through the series of vintage Sotan abiding love of hometown, plus a little inspira- tosanti photos that adorn tion from Uncle Joe. the restaurant walls.

This confluence of “He still carries that culinary cultures is now 1970s De Niro swagger,” on display at Zio Peppe, a said Sanner. new restaurant co-owned So how do you get a

by Tucson natives and trailblazing spirit, a serious longtime chefs Mat Cable kind of smile and a certain and Devon Sanner. The swagger on a menu that name of the eatery at 6502 marries Sonoran and Italian customs? I’m glad you E. Tanque Verde Road asked. was inspired by Cable’s Zio Peppe’s Elote AranciUncle Joe (Zio Peppe in ni is a Sonoran take on the Italian), Joe Sottosanti, who opened Tucson’s first classic Sicilian street food.

Charred corn, queso fresco Sicilian pizzeria four decades ago. and lime crema are the “Uncle Joe is a trailblazer,” chefs’ hometown touches to Matt Russell

Special to Inside Tucson Business

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these fried risotto balls that have defined Sicily’s culinary story for generations.

“We knew we were going to do both arancini and street corn on different parts of the menu, but when we put them together in experimenting with this dish, we looked at each other and said, ‘Well, that settles that,’” said Cable.

The Lasagna Sonorense is another dish that Sanner said “works through analogues.” In place of the traditional veal and pork Bolognese and marinara, they use house-made chorizo and red chile sauce, along with poblano chile con queso, spinach, and ricotta.

“This lasagna has a little earthiness from the guajillo chiles and richness from the poblano chile con

queso that give it a slight piquancy along with some depth,” said Sanner.

The centerpiece of the Zio Peppe space is a unique gas and wood-fired oven with a rotating stone hearth, which tells me that pizza is a central part of their story. And several of the Neapolitan-style pizzas symbolize the Sonoran-Italian connection.

The Prickly Pickle pizza is one example, topped with prickly pear cactus pads, or nopales, cholla cactus buds, red onion escabeche and guajillo chile crema.

“I’ve done pickled cholla buds in other guises for some years now, and Mat and I decided to do some-

thing fun with them,” said Sanner. “We ended up using pepperoncini brine in the pickle, and it was like magic when we tried it. The natural artichoke and asparagus flavor profile of the cholla buds played well with the sharpness of the brine.”

Cable concurred. “When we pickled the first batch of cholla buds in that brine, we probably ate about $30 worth of them, one after the other,” he said. “They were that good.”

Cable and Sanner are as much about praxis as they are about playfulness, and several dishes on the menu are intended to suit more traditional palates, such as their classic Margherita

pizza, Fettuccini Alfredo, and Caesar Salad.

Zio Peppe is open for takeout and delivery, with plans to open the dining room this summer as staffing allows.

You can access the menu at www.ziopeppeaz.com.

As noted, Uncle Joe never talks before he thinks.

After sitting down with Mat Cable and Devon Sanner, I’d suggest the same is true for Zio Peppe.

Contact Matt Russell, whose day job is CEO of Russell Public Communications, at mrussell@ russellpublic.com. Russell is also the publisher of OnTheMenuLive.com as well as the host of the Friday Weekend Watch segment on the “Buckmaster Show” on KVOI 1030 AM. ITB

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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MAY 21, 2021

Sen. Kelly highlights shuttered venue grants Christina Duran

Inside Tucson Business

S

en. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz) visited the Rialto Theatre this week to highlight federal funding designed to get local music venues open again.

The federal government allocated more than $16.2 billion to the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant for live venues, live performing arts organizations, museums and movie theatres, as well as live venue promoters, theatrical producers and talent representatives.

But when the small Business Administration opened the portal for the first-come, first-serve program on April 8, the demand from venue owners and other eligible participants crashed the system. Two weeks later, Kelly and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz) joined many of their Democratic colleagues to send a letter to SBA urging them to reopen the application portal before “more independent businesses are forced to shutter permanently or file for bankruptcy.” SBA announced it would reopen the portal on April 24 and the Rialto Theatre was one of the venues that applied for funding.

“We’ve got 550,000 small businesses in the state of Arizona, many of which have been closed for a long period of time, through no fault of their own. Venues like the Rialto are a lot different than a restaurant. Restaurants, many of them, are open and in business, reduced capacity, but they can generate some revenue,” said Kelly. “A Tucson icon like the Rialto or the Fox Theatre down the street or

Mark Kelly and Gabby Giffords at the Rialto Theatre Gallery Project Photo by Christina Duran.

the Van Buren in Phoenix, I mean so many of these places have been closed for over a year now, and these are valuable small businesses. So the purpose of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant is to make sure that these businesses can get open and provide these good jobs that hundreds of thousands of Arizonans depend upon.”

The Rialto Theatre, like other venues, closed since last March and had to cancel shows and events.

Rialto Operations Manager Mark Martinez said they need the help as they have gone a year without any income, but continue to pay a mortgage and also have staff waiting for the reopening.

With the venue closed, Martinez said they had to let go of more than 100 full- and part-time staff members.

“They’re waiting patiently, hoping that we can get back here,” said Martinez, who expects the Rialto Theatre will open up again in the fall. “We can’t wait either.”

Kelly and his wife,

Gabby Giffords, are no strangers to the Rialto.

They reminisced about their favorite shows seeing acts like Calexico and Snoop Dogg as they strolled around the Rialto Theatre Gallery Project before its opening day on Friday, May 7. One of the only events the Rialto has offered since closing its doors at the start of the pandemic, the gallery showcases the photos of the many acts that have graced the Rialto’s stage by C. Elliott and Martinez, along with concert posters by Ryan Trayte.

Kelly and Giffords, a regular Rialto show goer since she was a kid, said the community would not be the same if businesses like the Rialto were to close.

“Tucson would be a much lesser place if the Rialto or Fox were not able to remain in business,” said Kelly. “It really is an important part of what brings us together as neighbors and to have the opportunity to enjoy a venue like this is one of those things that makes places like Tucson really special.”

Martinez hopes the venue will “let people know that we’re still here, we’re not going away and just to show a little bit of history because all the photos here were created here in the theater, and it’s a history that brings back memories for people.”

KELLY VISITS CBP TENT FACILITY

O

n his visit to Tucson, Kelly toured the tent facility for undocumented minors in Tucson, which opened Friday.

The “soft-side facility” constructed in the Tucson Sector, mobilized at a projected budget of $34.5 million, will hold people while undergoing processing, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Kelly, who visited the site on Monday morning, said the site is currently holding around 50 unaccompanied minors, with possibility of holding 150 and, if not for COVID-19, “maybe 500.”

“It’s part of the process we’re going through right

now to make sure the Border Patrol has what it needs to handle this crisis at the border,” said Kelly.

According to Kelly, Border Patrol has a challenging job, but “they did a good job thinking through what they needed to support these kids.”

As someone who has visited the southern border multiple times and speaks with Border Patrol on a regular basis and spoke with Interim Chief Patrol Agent John R. Modlin Monday morning, Kelly feels he understands the difficulties CBP face.

“Just hear about the challenges they face. It’s a difficult challenge, the numbers are up right now.

They’re trying to make the best decision they can with the resources they have,” said Kelly.

According to Kelly, Border Patrol will have 262 additional staff from the northern border to “provide some relief in the office, to allow Border Patrol agents to get out in the field to be able to do their jobs.”

Kelly said he feels “a

little bit better” about how they’re handling the processing of children, with children to be held for a maximum of 48 hours.

However, Tucson Ward 6 Council Member Steve Kozachik, who assists Casa Alitas, the migrant welcome center that provides short-term housing for asylum seekers, feels the tented facility is “an absolute waste of money.”

“What we are doing right now is we’re putting families up in some hotels here locally and we’re scratching and clawing to get reimbursed for the money that we’re coming out of pocket on,” said Kozachik.

“We can do it in a more humane way, using some of our local partners and hotels here.”

To this criticism, Kelly said he and Sinema recently passed legislation that allotted $110 million to reimburse NGOs for the costs involved in housing migrants. He is referring to the additional funding FEMA awarded to the National Board for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in mid-March.

“It’s up to Washington D.C., not communities in Arizona,” said Kelly. “Let me make that really clear, the federal government has failed the state of Arizona on this issue for decades now and it’s on Washington to get this right. It needs stronger border security, more technology at the border. Border Patrol needs the staffing to do this job.

Also a positive development would be if we had more judges at the border. I’d like to see that happen. So we’ve seen some improvements, but we can’t get our eye off the ball.” ITB

INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MAY 21, 2021

9

Coming Full Circle: Rialto Theatre names Cathy Rivers executive director for me to leave KXCI, as the staff and board of directors are really rock-solathy Rivers has id right now,” Rivers says. worked with com“They are ready to move munity radio for 10 on without me. We had years. Soon, she will be to learn to go from live involved with music in a broadcasting to remote different format. broadcasting. Once we In June, Rivers starts her learned how to pivot like job as the Rialto’s executhat and keep KXCI doing tive director, taking over really well, it made it feel for Curtis McCrary, who fine to now move on.” worked at the theater for Rivers is passionate 16 years. about animals, the arts Along with serving as and music, so she wanted executive director since her next job to be in one 2015, Rivers worked as of these sectors. She says a program director and the Rialto was a good fit DJ for KXCI. Rivers says for her background and she’s ready to move on, but interests. she wanted to be sure that “When the opportunity KXCI was in a good place. presented itself, it just “It was the perfect time seemed perfect,” Rivers

Laura Latzko

Special to Inside Tucson Business

C

says.

With her new job, she will help reopen and bring music back to the Rialto stage. She says like her, audiences are ready for live music again.

“I think once we get to a safe place in our community, people are going to be so excited to get out and experience art and music together,” Rivers says.

She says that reopening the Rialto will be a collaborative effort.

“There’s a great team just waiting to get back to the Rialto Theatre. The success of the year before COVID is owed to them, and they’ll come back. I’ll be overseeing all of that, but we will have managers

in their departments and talents.”

Right now, the Rialto is focused on “The Rialto Theatre Gallery Project,” an introspective show featuring posters and photos from past events.

The show is open to limited-capacity audiences.

As executive director, Rivers will work with the Rialto’s various departments on programs like educational programming, foundational development and local and national grant funding.

“The Rialto had a stellar year before COVID, with great music and great staff supporting the theater.

So, now my job will be to round out the founda-

tion,” Rivers says.

She knows there will be financial challenges because of COVID-19, but she is ready to address them.

Arts opportunities were integral to Rivers’ education. She says it is important for youth to form bands, learn to run sound, share ideas and collaborate in other ways.

“I was fortunate enough growing up that I had a lot offered to me in my public school system, which is why my résumé looks the way it does,” Rivers says.

“I think the Rialto can offer those opportunities to those young people as well that may not have the ability to get trained. If

you don’t a music class, and you pick up a guitar for the first time and decide to play electric guitar, it is much easier now. But then you really lose that community element of being in class with other students.”

Rivers is looking forward to forming relationships with other Downtown organizations and businesses.

“Some of the excitement is getting to know the new neighbors that are in and around the Rialto and will be coming to Downtown and being able to work with them and partner with them,” Rivers says.

See Rialto, P13

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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MAY 21, 2021

An Outpouring of Optimism: Local venues are once again scheduling shows and opening their doors Margaret Regan

Special to Inside Tucson Business

H

amilton is on its way.

That’s proof that the arts are coming back. Or so we hope.

The highly prized musical, written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, is scheduled to play in Tucson Nov. 17 to Dec. 5, this year, at Centennial Hall.

The hip-hop/jazz/R&B musical about the early years of the American Republic has been a smash hit on Broadway from the day of its debut in January 2015. Last year, though, the pandemic shut down the New York and Chicago shows, as well as all the traveling versions, including the one that was scheduled to come to Tucson in 2020. Stages went dark everywhere, and actors and musicals all over the country packed up and went home.

Broadway in Tucson has more than once postponed Hamilton and other musicals since the terrible spring 2020. But in a joyful—and confident—press release last week, the company announced that Hamilton will arrive in Tucson, just six months from now.

Plus, the group put together a lineup of other coveted musicals that will

through.

Despite those troubles, the company, which also performs in Phoenix, has bravely scheduled a stretched-out season beginning in September 2021 and ending June 2022. Three plays and three musicals are on the menu.

First up is the musical My 80-Year-Old Boyfriend, starting Sept. 25.

In April, the play Justice examines the friendship between two female justices of the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Arizona’s Sandra Day. The season ends with How to Make an American Son, opening June 4. For the full season, see arizonatheatre.org.

The Rialto, dark for more than a year, perked The hit musical “Hamilton” was postponed multiple times from Broadway In Tucson due to the pandemic, but is up this spring with a clever on schedule to debut November 17. Courtesy photo switch to visual arts. Instead have exciting news to share!” only vintage films outdoors. of leaving the 101-year-old keep the theatre busy from They are not the only ones And the indoor movies are theater empty while waiting October clear into for the musicians to come rejoicing. Call it spring fever brand-new and newly resummer 2022. or vaccination magic, various leased. For more informa- back, the Rialto mounted Among the 10 other a photo exhibition of porarts groups around town are tion visit loftcinema.org. shows, My Fair Lady and Wicked will hit town next cheerfully announcing their Arizona Theatre Com- traits of rock-and-rollers reopenings.

January, Hadestown goes pany likewise declared last shot by house photograLast week, for examon the boards in April week “We’re SO excited to phers, C. Elliott and Mark next year, and Come From ple, The Loft blasted an announce our 2021/2022 A. Martinez, along with concert posters by Ryan Away alights in May 2022. exuberant all-caps message Season!” The troupe Trayte. The show will end For a complete list, see in bold letters: “MOVIES had to decamp from the when the music begins broadwayintucson.com.

RETURN TO THE LOFT Temple of Music and Art again.

Bursting with enthusiasm CINEMA!” in March 2020, and the And that should be soon, at putting plays on the stage The theatre opened up its theater has been dark ever inshallah. Gritty Dirt Band once again, Broadway in since. A plan to reopen giant indoor movie screen is scheduled on Aug. 25 Tucson told patrons that “we after months of showing in January this year fell

and Old Blind Dogs, a Scottish traditional band, is lined up for Sept. 3. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears are at the satellite venue on 191 Toole on Aug. 20. For more information, visit Rialtotheatre.com.

T

he rollout of the vaccine is the biggest factor.

Those doses in people’s arms are up to 95% effective, meaning that 95% of the people vaccinated will not get the virus if they are exposed to it. And the 5% of vaccinated people who catch the disease mostly get mild cases.

With the comfort of those statistics, plenty of the vaccinated are already out and about, seeing friends, eating on restaurant patios and even braving the indoor dining rooms. The art organizations are calculating that art lovers are will soon come flocking inside to plays, concerts, museums and art galleries.

Ironically, arts groups usually worry that too many of their patrons are old and too few are young.

But now that age issue is a plus: Tucson boomers went out in droves to get the vaccine.

Of course, the downside is that not everyone wants to get vaccinated. As of last

INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MAY 21, 2021

11

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION Continued from P5

represented the seller in this transaction. Julian Willetts and John Hamner, CCIM, with RE/MAX Excalibur, represented the buyer.

Friday, May 14, roughly 357,000 of Pima County’s 1 million residents were fully vaccinated, although almost 420,000 had received at least one shot.

But after 14 months, most people know the protocols that reduce the chance of infection from the virus.

And the arts groups are taking no chances. By planning for maximum safety, they can more readily coax fans back inside.

The Loft has already posted its COVID rules.

Indoors, only the large theatre is open; the two smaller rooms are not in service.

Only 77 patrons are allowed in, just 21% of the usual numbers. Reserved seating will keep moviegoers apart. Everyone must wear masks, and reserved seating will keep moviegoers apart.

Everyone must wear masks, taking them off only when seated and eating or drinking. Only six people at a time can be in the usually bustling lobby. When the film is over, people will leave through the emergency exit doors, to keep people from crowding the lobby.

Fox Tucson Theatre has been hosting outdoor music singers in April. Dos Sueños

| PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Juan Pantoja with Grimm Commercial, represented the tenant.

VOLK Company agents Brenna Lacey and Joey Castillo handled the sale of an approximately 9,175 square foot multi-tenant retail building located at 1570 East Tucson Marketplace Boulevard within the Tucson Marketplace at the Bridges development. Fullerton Tucson Marketplace, LLC sold to R & P Properties, LLC for a purchase price of $3,075,000. The shops are located next to Costco on the main road within the project and tenants included NextCare, GNC and AT&T.

Broadway Boulevard for use as a family restaurant.

Evans Insurance & Financial Services, LLC leased 897 square feet of office Debbie Heslop, CCIM, space from LLJ Holdof VOLK Company repings, LLLP, located in La resented O’Reilly Auto Officina, 8750 E. Speedway Enterprises, LLC in the Blvd., Suite 120 in Tuclease of approximately son. Molly Mary Gilbert 8,000 feet located at 1535- and Ryan McGregor, Office 1543 West St. Mary’s Road Specialists with Cushman & from Tucson St. Mary’s Wakefield | PICOR, reprePlaza, LLC. The Landlord sented the landlord in this was represented by Dave transaction. Rosemary Lacy Hammack of Cushman & with Long Realty Company, Wakefield | PICOR. represented the tenant.

HDPE Fusion, LLC leased 1,500 square feet of industrial space from Tic Tac Properties, LLC, located in Tucson Inplays the last event scheddustrial Center, 4141 E. uled, this Friday, May 21, Tennessee St., Suite 171 in Tucson. Cintya Denisse from 3 to 6 p.m., across Angulo Garcia, Commerthe street at the intersection cial Specialist with Cushof Stone and Congress. man & Wakefield | PICOR, But Fox’s gorgeous southrepresented the landlord in Joey Castillo of VOLK west art deco interior may this transaction.

Company represented the soon shine with music and landlord, Montesa Plaza, comedy.

Acceptance Insurance L.P., in the lease of ap“Hope is on the horizon Agency of Tennessee, Inc. proximately 900 square for the return of live perleased 1,365 square feet feet located at 50 South formances,” the Fox says. of retail space, located in Houghton, Suite 150, withSo far there are six groups Speedway Center, 3021 E. in Montesa Plaza to Robert on that horizon this fall, Speedway Blvd. in Tucson, D. Chasan II for use as an and a few gigs are already from Mahoney Family insurance office. scheduled for 2022.

Debbie Heslop, CCIM, Partnership. Greg FurriBig Bad Voodoo Daddy, of VOLK Company reper, Principal, and Retail Incandescent Skin, LLC a swinging jazz band, is set resented Prince Road Pro- Specialist with Cushman & leased 986 square feet of to play Sept. 11. Comedian fessional Plaza, L.L.C. and Wakefield | PICOR, repre- office space from El Dorado Paula Poundstone is on for 2020 Prince Road Profes- sented both parties in this Ventures, LLC, located in Oct. 28. Altan, the Irish sional Plaza, L.L.C. in the transaction.

El Dorado Square, 1200 trad band that fled back to sale of an approximately N. El Dorado Pl., Suite Ireland to escape the virus 2,337 square foot building Jeramy Price of VOLK D-410 in Tucson. Thomas just before their planned located at 2020 East Prince Company represented the J. Nieman, Principal, and show at the Fox last March, Road to 2020 E. Prince, landlord, Peart Plaza LLC, Molly Mary Gilbert, Office is rebooked for Nov. 21.

LLC, for a purchase price in the lease of approxSpecialists with Cushman & of $220,300. The purimately 2,023 square Wakefield | PICOR, repreFoxtucson.com. chaser was represented by feet located at 1485 East sented the landlord in this Like The Loft, the Fox Jon O’Shea of Vast ComFlorence Boulevard in Casa transaction. Christopher has COVID rules already mercial Real Estate.

Grande to ATI Holdings of Irvin with Mark Irvin Comin place. Fans must wear Arizona LLC. mercial Real Estate Services, masks, and a pod system represented the tenant.

Leases in the seats will ensure Brademann Corp., d/b/a social distancing; the staff West Coast Wheel Acces- Connect Chiropractic, Joey Castillo of VOLK will get their temperatures sories renewed their lease leased 1,190 square feet of Company represented taken regularly and keep with Costa Verde Investoffice space from JGBST Chickadees of Tucson, LLC the place sanitized. ments, LLC, for 1,500 Trust, located at 5719 E. as tenant in a lease with Fingers crossed that all this square feet of commercial 5th St. in Tucson.

Ryan Broadway/Camino Seco, effort will keep the arts going. space located in RomeMcGregor and Molly Mary LLC as landlord for an As the Fox marquee has it, ro-Prince Business Park, Gilbert, Office Specialists approximately 1,392 square “The Show Will Go On!” ITB 3538 N. Romero Rd., with Cushman & Wakefield foot building at 8555 East

Cafe Tacvba performs at the Rialto Theatre on April 17, 2013. Images of past shows such as this are available to view and purchase at the Rialto Theatre Gallery Project, which opened to the public in April. Photo courtesy Rialto Theatre.

Suite 160 in Tucson. Ron Zimmerman, Principal, and Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction.

Oil Changer Acquisition Corp., d/b/a Oil Changers, leased 710 square feet of office space from Rodgers Investment Fund II, LP, located at 2231 N. Indian Ruins Rd., Suite 4 in Tucson. Ryan McGregor and Molly Mary Gilbert, Office Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction.

Scott Rosen Insurance Agency, LLC leased 604 square feet of office space located at 2292 W. Magee Rd., Suite 130 in Tucson, from Magee Marquez, LLC. Molly Mary Gilbert, Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction.

Jeramy Price of VOLK Company represented 646 Fitness, LLC as tenant in a lease with Continental Professional Plaza, LLC as landlord for approximately 3,093 square feet at 8555 North Silverbell Road. The space will be used as a Crossfit Gym. ITB

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INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MAY 21, 2021

County supes vote to fund childcare program Christina Duran

Inside Tucson Business

T

he Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a $10 million plan to fund early education scholarships for low-income families at last week’s meeting.

On Feb. 16, the county approved a measure to allocate $10 million for the upcoming fiscal year budget to fund full or partial scholarships to parents who wish to enroll their 3- to 4-year-old children (or 5-year-olds not eligible for kindergarten) in high-quality early education programs.

The scholarship program works to help low-income families find reliable and affordable childcare. It’s also designed to address the decline and loss of early childhood programs during the pandemic. “Successful communities support the education of their children, and I’m proud to be part of a community that is giving our children the best possible chance for success through this program,” said District 1 Supervisor Rex Scott.

“The data is undeniable— early education works.

Children who benefit from early education on average do better in school throughout their careers, are more likely to graduate from high school and earn higher wages after graduation.”

The proposed multi-

year Pima Early Education program, administered by Pima County Community and Workforce Development, would provide funding for 1,245 children and begin July 1. The plan includes: • Partnerships with eight school districts and Pima Community College to offer free, high-quality preschool to an estimated 480 children.

• A partnership with First Things First, a state agency focused on early childhood development, to offer 560 additional scholarships to high-quality preschools within their “quality first” system, which includes school districts, daycare centers and home care.

• A partnership with Child-Parent Centers to offer extended-day Head Start preschool programs at 11 locations for 205 children.

It also includes a solicitation of proposals to contract with an experienced organization to develop a three-year implementation plan to develop a scholarship program.

There is a possibility of about $3 million in additional funding for the program from other local jurisdictions and partners, such as the City of Tucson’s $1 million contribution for scholarships for schools within the city and Oro Valley proposing to provide $100,000 for the upcoming fiscal year to support a three-year

commitment.

Supervisors will still have to approve the $10 million in funding during this year’s budget process.

While the plan was approved, Supervisors Sharon Bronson, Adelita Grijalva and Steve Christy voiced concerns over various aspects of the plan.

Grijalva, a Democrat who serves on the TUSD board, and Christy, a Republican who provided the sole vote against the program, had the same concern over the planning for more than one year with possibilities of federal funding that could be allocated to the program without the need for county dollars.

“I would hope that there will be some kind of thought to maybe holding back the process, holding back the expenditures until we see what the current administration is going to provide in this area,” said Christy.

Nicole Fyffe, an assistant to County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, said she did not expect the county to receive any of $39 billion in American Rescue Plan funds for early childhood programs.

“It’s pretty certain that we’re not going to see that money flowing to Pima County into our Pima County preschools in this next coming year,” said Fyffe.

However, “if by some miracle that did happen,” Fyffe said the agreements

that the county has started to work with other school districts or partners have termination agreements in place and the plan requires that the county funding be the “last dollar in,” meaning other funds, like subsidies from Arizona Department of Economic Security or American Rescue Plan funds be used first before using dollars from the county’s general fund.

“I think even in the second year, it’s going to be very questionable that it would remove the need for the county’s participation entirely, but if it did that would certainly be fantastic,” said Fyffe.

Bronson expressed concerns over the transparency of the process as much of the discussion and agreements were made privately without public input.

“We need transparency, we need accountability and we need public involvement. There was no public involvement in this instance,” said Bronson.

“It has every aspect of earmarking, which concerns me. I mean that’s what Congress does, their pet projects. That’s not who we are. We need to include the entire region, and give everybody an opportunity to be able to comment, and express their views, and we did not do that today.”

She noted the internal discussions between school districts and the county, requesting a more than one-year commitment

in order to create more classes.

Fyffe said because of the uncertainty of the pandemic, school districts would “like to start off with a lot more new classes, preschool classes, but are reluctant to do that straight off the bat.”

Further, Christy and Bronson said they would have liked to see more private sector commitment.

Fyffe said that since Feb. 16, the county had conducted “extensive outreach” with school districts as well as with Preschool Promise, the initial advocates for funding early education programs. That coalition included representatives from the private and public sectors, as well as preschool providers, parents and other agencies.

During the meeting, Fyffe said the Tucson Metro Chamber proposed a survey of businesses to identify employee child care needs and identify creative solutions for businesses to support their employees’ child care needs.

But she said the county faced a “chicken or the egg” issue, whereby partners wanted to first see the details of the first-year plan before committing to funding or support.

“Until the county decided to go forward and the partners could see exactly what the plan would look like,” said Fyffe. “It’s a little bit easier to fundraise for a plan when you have something to show.” ITB

Nonprofit Perspective Continued from P2

The program is available in English and Spanish.

Businesses and nonprofits that obtain the Green Business Leaders certification are encouraged to continue to move towards sustainability goals by pursuing other programs available through the Southern Arizona Green Business Alliance, including the SCALE UP program, the Tucson 2030 District Green Champions program, and programs available through Tucson Electric Power, City of Tucson, Tucson Water, and Pima Association of Governments.

Looking to 2022 and beyond, Local First Arizona is working closely with its business members across the Southern Arizona region and state to better prepare them for the effects of climate change. As Arizona faces a hotter and drier climate, this program encourages participants to be more sustainable in all aspects of their operations. To further this pressing community goal, Local First will expand the Southern Arizona Green Business Leaders Program following the successful first year. The program is providing an ongoing opportunity to increase sustainability and resiliency to improve the Southern Arizona community, economy, and environment. ITB Learn more about Local First Arizona’s sustainability programs at localfirstaz.com/environmental-action.

Questions about the Southern Arizona Green Business Leaders program?

Contact Green Business Leaders Coordinator Kelly Liska at kelly@ localfirstaz.com.

Michael Peel is statewide sustainability director for Local First Arizona.

He can be contacted at mike@localfirstaz.com. Learn more about Local First Arizona at www.localfirstaz.com.

INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

by Kiss, Stevie Nicks and Pat Benatar. She doesn’t have much time to perform Continued from P9 live, but music will always be important to her.

“Music is always on in the house, and I’m always a part of it, one way or another,” Rivers says.

After moving to Tucson, she had her start in radio.

She was told she had a voice for radio and her first opportunity came during a voiceover job for a Fourth Avenue thrift store ad. This led to a job with then-classic rock station 97.5.

“I helped [the production director] every day that I could, and eventually I started getting paid $4.25 an hour to do a couple of days a week,” Rivers says.

“And then before I knew it, she was leaving, and I became the production director there. Then, I got my own show. Then, I became music director, and Cathy Rivers will take over as executive director of the Rialto Theatre in that was it.”

June. Photo courtesy of Cathy Rivers Rivers expects she can use those skills with the “KXCI is a little more of She was one of the original Rialto. its own island because we board members for the Mu“I really feel that movfully own our own buildseum of Contemporary Art ing to the Rialto Theatre ing. We do our thing. It’s a Tucson, which was founded is going to allow all of my very different organization. by artist friends of hers. life experiences to come KXCI is radio public. The She has also been on into play. Being a musician Rialto will be a lot more boards for the Reveille myself, having day managed in-person public, working Men’s Chorus and the Ari- bands and knowing what with neighbors in the area zona Broadcasters it is like to be on the road, to help expand and grow Association. knowing the end from a Tucson.”

Hailing from Ohio, marketing and promoRivers brings to her Rivers loved theater since tional standpoint, having new position a wealth of she was a youngster. Her a theater background, I experience in the entertain- parents supported her pas- think everything that has ment industry. For 25 years, sion for the arts and took given me every wrinkle on Rivers worked in radio, TV her to the Cleveland Play my face is going to come and music, doing voiceover House to see productions. into play with this career,” work; booking talent for She did theater throughout Rivers says.

Plush locations in Tucson high school and then went Her knowledge of the Riand St. Louis; releasing to college for drama and alto is vast. Rivers lived in two albums and one EP as voice. a studio apartment upstairs a singer/songwriter and Rivers also played guitar at the Rialto in the ’90s, serving as a day manager for and, in high school, pershortly after moving to the bands Cracker and the formed with a cover band, Tucson, and later married North Mississippi Allstars. where she would sing songs at the theater.

Rialto: Rivers leaves KXCI

MAY 21, 2021

She has attended numerous shows at the theater, seeing artists such as Tom Jones, Snoop Dogg, Los Lobos, Natalia Lafourcade, Brandi Carlile, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Jake Shimabukuro.

“Everything I’ve seen there, I’ve really enjoyed,” Rivers says. “I, like the staff at the Rialto, like a real variety of music. So, I like being surprised, and there have been amazing shows at the Rialto.”

When she lived above the Rialto, it housed people in the arts and music scene.

“When I say studio, don’t think luxury loft.

I’m talking really rundown rooms upstairs that didn’t even have commercial kitchens,” Rivers says. “If I remember correctly, we had a bucket sink in our kitchen.

Each studio had a bathroom and a halfway kitchen. They were really meant for art/ workspaces, not for live/ workspaces, but we all lived up there anyway, and the landlord didn’t really pay attention.”

Rivers remembers how one tenant projected movies on the side of a Downtown building, and other renters gathered at their windows to watch on Friday nights.

Since that time, she has felt a close kinship with the Downtown area around the Rialto.

“I think that really sweet era led to my love for that theater and that whole corner of Congress,” Rivers says. “At one point, I also worked at Café Quebec.

My living radius was Fourth Avenue, Hotel Congress, the Rialto Theatre and Café Quebec, other than the radio station. That was my community.” ITB

13

R T G P

Gary Clark Jr. performs at the Rialto Theatre on May 20, 2019.

Images of past shows such as this are available to view and purchase at the Rialto Theatre Gallery Project, which is currently open to the public by appointment. Photo courtesy of Rialto Theatre.

The Rialto Theatre Gallery Project, which opened to the public in April, showcases the wide variety of performers the Rialto and its affiliates have hosted, as captured by their house photographers C. Elliott and Mark Martinez.

The gallery archive contains more than 5,000 photographs detailing shows since 2004. Rialto and their affiliate venues like 191 Toole hosted more than 400 shows in 2018 alone.

From this massive collection, the Rialto Theatre Gallery Project shows 75 images from their shows, as well as concerts they produced at the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall, and a dozen concert

posters designed by Ryan Trayte. Featured artists in the exhibit include Childish Gambino, Dave and Phil Alvin, Michael Franti, Tom Jones, Elvis Costello, Snoop Dogg and Durand Jones.

Photos are available for purchase, and if bought, the gallery slot will be replaced with another image from the archive. The gallery will also play a soundtrack of some of the artists on display, curated

by Cathy Rivers.

After a month or so of the initial 75-image gallery, Rialto plans to move into special exhibitions highlighting images from the Tucson Folk Festival. ITB For more information, visit rialtotheatre.com/gallery-project

14

INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MAY 21, 2021

Citing Labor Shortage, Ducey Cuts Expanded Unemployment Christina Duran

Inside Tucson Business

A

rizona will no longer provide the weekly $300 federal supplement provided for unemployed workers during the pandemic, announced Governor Doug Ducey on Thursday, May 13.

With his “Arizona Backto-Work” Plan, thousands of Arizonans on unemployment will return to receiving the maximum $240 per week on July 10.

Several states, along with Arizona, announced they would stop taking the federal pandemic unemployment benefits, including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming.

The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, extended in March through the American Rescue Plan, provided the additional weekly $300 benefit to cover freelancers, part-timers and anyone who did not qualify to regular unemployment, and extended the benefit for an additional 24 weeks. The program is set to end on Sept. 4.

Instead Ducey will use $300 million of federal resources to provide a bonus to eligible workers, in an effort to encourage Arizonans to rejoin the

workforce by Labor Day, Sept. 6. The plan offers eligible individuals, who return to a full-time job a one-time $2,000 bonus and a $1,000 bonus for those who return parttime.

People will receive the bonus when they have stopped filing for unemployment benefits and completed at least 10 weeks of work with an employer. The bonus will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis.

To qualify for the bonus, an individual must have already filed for unemployment benefits, meaning anyone filing for unemployment benefits after May 13 will not be eligible for the bonuses.

Individuals must also make $25 per hour or less, about $52,000 a year, at their new job and must begin working by Sept. 6.

“In Arizona, we’re going to use federal money to encourage people to work…instead of paying people not to work,” Ducey said.

He cited the trouble businesses faced with labor shortages and said unemployment benefits should not be a barrier to return people to work.

The restaurant and hospitality industry continues to face difficulties hiring, including Oro Valley restaurant owners, some who have cited unemployment as a deterrent, with

care assistance for people with children eligible for the bonus. Last week, Ducey announced the state would receive an additional $9 million for childcare providers.

The state would also provide $7.5 million for community college scholarships for currently unemployed workers who are eligible for the bonuses and $6 million for GED test preparation and exam fees for eligible workers without a high school diploma.

“We have worked tirelessly throughout “In Arizona, we’re going to use federal money to encourage people to work…instead of paying people the pandemic to ensure not to work,” Gov. Doug Ducey said. Courtesy photo. those who were displaced received the support they Perry notes some indi- have not yet recovered various reasons, needed for themselves “Especially as we see the viduals receive unemploy- from the pandemic, Gov- and their families,” said reemergence of customment, because they cannot ernor Ducey’s decision Arizona Department ers and people shopping, return to work for health to slash unemployment of Economic Security dining, doing all of those reasons, or the family is a benefits is a major blow (DES) Director Michael kinds of things, the need single mom who has kids to thousands of ArizoWisehart. “Now that at home in online school. nans who lost their jobs for workers is extreme,” employers in all sectors “I understand and said Oro Valley Chamber and are still looking for are hiring, we’re ready to respect those positions. of Commerce President work,” said Honest Aritransition and enhance At the same time, the way zona Executive Director Dave Perry. “And it’s our assistance to families, that the economy funcnot just restaurants. It’s Niles Harris. “Leaders job seekers and employhospitality. It’s people that tions is to have people in from both parties voted ers. We are committed to need drivers. All kinds gainful employment and to extend unemployment ensuring the long-term of industries are trying that helps everybody. That benefits for out-of-work strength of Arizona’s to ramp up and they’re Arizonans to help pay helps the worker. That economy to provide having a difficult time helps the employer,” said their bills, provide for self-sufficiency for Arizofinding employees. So, their families and stay in na’s families.”

Perry.

I am supportive of what their homes. This deciBecause of families In March, Ducey also rethe governor is doing like the single mom or sion cuts more than half instated the rule that people and I think that we gotta others unable to return of the weekly assistance must be actively looking for get back to work. We got to work, Honest Arizona, provided to Arizonans work in order to receive to do it and we got to get a progressive grassroots and is a devastating blow unemployment benefits. ITB vaccinated. We have to coalition representing to struggling families.” get people vaccinated and “everyday Arizonans,” Ducey also announced For more information on the that’s how we’re gonna oppose Ducey’s decision. the state would provide program visit https://des.az.gov/ return to normal.”

“While many Arizonans three months of child back-to-work-program.

INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

15

MAY 21, 2021

Art Galleries Rank Business 2021 Address 2020

Phone Company Email Website

Gallery Notable Artists Square Footage

Specialties

Art Formats

Top Local Executives

1

Tucson Museum of Art & Historic Block 140 N. Main Ave. Tucson, AZ 85701

(520) 624-2333 info@tucsonmuseumofart.org www.tucsonmuseumofart.org

30,700

2

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun Museum 6300 N. Swan Rd. Tucson, AZ 85718

(520) 299-9191 cs@degrazia.org degrazia.org

15,800

3

Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson 265 S Church Ave Tucson, AZ 85701

(520) 624-5019 info@moca-tucson.org moca-tucson.org

4

Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery 6872 E. Sunrise Dr., Ste. 130 Tucson, AZ 85750

5

Year Establ.

Locally

N/A

Western art, Latin American art, Modern and Contemporary art, educational programs, community engagement and special events

N/A

Jeremy Mikolajczak 1924

N/A

Southwestern Art and Architecture

N/A

Lance Laber

8,400

Pia Camil, Cecilia Vicuna, rafa esparza, Timo Fahler

Contemporary Art and Art Education

N/A

(520) 722-7798 office@medmanart.com www.medicinemangallery.com

7,000

Maynard Dixon, Maria Martinez, Ed Mell, Howard Post, Glenn Dean, Billy Schenck, Fred Fellows, Ray Roberts, Deborah Copenhaver Fellows, James Cook,

Maynard Dixon Museum, Early western artists, Taos Founders, Native American Antiques, Contemporary Southwestern Paintings Sculpture

Paintings, Sculpture, Wood, Native American Textiles, Pottery, Old Pawn Jewelry

Four Corners Gallery at the Tucson Desert Art Museum 7000 E. Tanque Verde Rd. Tucson, AZ 85715

(520) 202-3888 desertartmuseum@gmail.com tucsondart.org

5,000

Regional Artists

6

Desert Artisans' Gallery 6536 E. Tanque Verde Rd. Tucson, AZ 85715

(520) 722-4412 info@desertartisansgallery.com desertartisansgallery.com

4,000

7

Wilde Meyer Gallery 2890 East Skyline Drive, Ste 170 Tucson, AZ 85718

(520) 615-5222 info@wildemeyer.com wildemeyer.com

8

Etherton Gallery 135 S. Sixth Ave. Tucson, AZ 85701

(520) 624-7370 info@ethertongallery.com www.ethertongallery.com

8

1965

1997

Dr. Mark Sublette Jaime Gould

1992

Southwestern contemporary art; Navajo & Hopi Paintings, Photography, Jewelry, Pottery pre-1940 textiles

Rhonda R. Smith

2013

N/A

Contemporary southwestern art representing over 60 local juried artists

painting, clay, ceramics, stained glassm metal and wood work

Clydean Troner

1987

3,600

Ka Fisher, Judy Choate, Sarah Webber, Jim Nelson

Contemporary original fine art

paintings, sculpture and art to wear

Betty Wilde Mark Meyer

2000

3,000

N/A

A destination for photography lovers since Fine Art Photography 1981, Etherton Gallery is one of the top fine art photography galleries in the United States. The gallery exhibits contemporary and vintage fine art photography with painting, mixed media and prints by top Tucson and regional artists.

Etherton Gallery has placed artwork several museum collections including: The Museum of Modern Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, J. Paul Getty Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, and the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson. Terry Etherton serves on the Board of the Association of International Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) and is an accredited member of the American Society of Appraisers, available for appraisals, absentee bidding and collections consultation.

Terry Etherton

1981

Southern Arizona Arts Guild Gallery (520) 437-7820 of Gifts jgmerideth@aol.com 2905 E. Skylie Dr www.SAAGGalleryTucson.com Tucson, AZ 85718

3,000

N/A

Art, of all mediums, created by 90 artist members from, and around, Tucson. Artists range from professional to emerging. The Gallery hosts educational events, educational workshops and art classes taught by local artists

All types

Jeanie Meredith

1988

10

Madaras Gallery 3035 N. Swan Rd Tucson, AZ 85712

(520) 615-3001 diana@madaras.com madaras.com

2,800

Diana Madaras, John Nieto, Nicholas Wilson, Al Largest collection of Tucson paintings..HandGlann, Chuck Albanese carved serving pieces and animal sculptures, Southwest gifts

original paintings, prints, canvases, sculpture

Diana Madaras

1999

11

Jane Hamilton Fine Art 2890 E. Skyline Drive Ste 180 Tucson, AZ 85718

(520) 529-4886 janehamiltonfineart@comcast.net janehamiltonfineart.com

2,600

Tom Murray,Alexandria Winslow, Brian Paintings,sculpture, ceramics & outside art Beamish,Peter Eisner,Jeannine Young,Francisco Franklin

N/A

Jane Hamilton

1992

12

Gallery 2Sun 100 E 6th St. Tucson, AZ 85705

(520) 360-8074 pbstorm@aol.com gallery2sun.com

2,350

Vera Neumann

Modern & Contemporary Fine Art

Paintings and Scultpures

Athena A. Roesler Justin Busby

2017

13

Chris Bubany Artists Gallery 6538 E. Tanque Verde Rd Tucson, AZ 85715

(520) 855-1966 chrisbubanyartistsgallery@gmail.com chrisbubanyartistsgallery.com

1,000

Chris Bubany, Sara Spanjers, Roni Woolston, Susan Elias, Dee Denton, Debra Little, Jesse Camastro, Mary Sherwood, Jackie Bradley, William Kueffer

An Eclectic Mix of art mediums

ceramics, jewelry, recycled art, fused glass, watercolors, colored pencil, photography, and unique walking sticks and wooden boxes

14

It's A Blast! Glass Gallery 927 North Swan Road Tucson, AZ 85711

(520) 327-7879 gallery@its-a-blast-glass.com www.its-a-blast-glass.com

700

Phil Kindler, Marsha Jacquay

Sandblasted Glass Drinkware, Home Decor, Custom Gifts & Awards

Pottery, Ceramic, Photography, Jewelry, Metalwork, Prints and Visual Artwork

Marsha A Jacquay

1992

15

Hotel McCoy 720 W Silverlake Rd Tucson, AZ 85713

(844) 782-9622 N/A www.hotelmccoy.com

500

Jessica Gonzales

Tucson artists only, commission free program

N/A

Nicole Dahl

2018

16

Monterey Court 505 W. Miracle Mile Tucson, AZ 85705

(520) 207-2429 office@montereycourtaz.com montereycourtaz.com

300

N/A

American comfort food and live music in lovely painting, mixed media courtyard setting

Greg Haver Kelly McLear

2012

CharlaRae Gallery 1302 N Alvernon Way Tucson, AZ 85712

(520) 403-0268 charlarae@fastmail.fm CharlaRae.com

CharlaRae

beaded skulls/oil painting

Charla Rae Van Vlack

2016

0

N/A

Ranked by the total gallery square footage Ranked information is provided by business representatives at no charge and is ranked alphabetically in case of ties. Other businesses were contacted but either declined or did not respond by deadline. There is no charge to be included in Inside Tucson Business listings.

N/A=not provided WND=would not disclose NL=not listed last year NR=listed last year but ranking criteria not provided

2017

16

MAY 21, 2021

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