AzBiz.com

New Pascua Yaqui Sol Casinos Hotel and Convention Center targets locals, resorts

When the Pascua Yaqui Tribe’s new southwest side hotel and convention center opens in fall 2011, it will compete with other area resorts for convention business and at the same time target Tucsonans for a new “staycation” experience.

Commercial Real Estate: Speculators complete 21 buildings; vacancies hit 11%

Unlike the office market, speculators were active players in the arena of industrial real estate. Throughout last  year, 21 new buildings totaling 741,175 square feet of product were completed, according to Don Ahee of CB Richard Ellis. 

University of Arizona is striving to talk more 'corporate' these days

When it comes to connecting with the corporate world, there are those who believe the University of Arizona has considered it another foreign language. And one the university hasn’t been speaking very well.

Commercial Real Estate: What little land sold, was grabbed at fire-sale prices

Yawn… 

Pima County puts 14,712 tax liens up for auction

This week, Pima County Treasurer Beth Ford’s office will put out a notice of 14,712 parcels with tax liens that will be put up for auction starting Feb. 24. It’s the county’s annual  tax lien sale.

Commercial Real Estate: Only consumer confidence, cheap money can rally retail

The success of retail real estate depends on consumer confidence and spending. 

Some FAQs if you're thinking about buying tax liens

Any number of organizations will be happy to take your money to explain how the system works and how you can make money from it.

New RV dealer fills vacancy left by cycle dealership

Just two weeks after outdoor motorsports dealer Arizona Honda shut down operations, a deal has been sign to turn the facility into an RV dealership — making it the fifth RV dealership within about a half-mile.

Assessor's valuations drop on properties across county

Property values are down all over Pima County, according to the Assessor’s Office which on Feb. 4 mailed out its annual valuation notices.

College baseball teams come for Spring Training

Four Division 1 college baseball programs will begin their own version of Spring Training starting Feb. 18 at Tucson Electric Park and the adjacent Kino sports Complex, which is being used for the last year by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Paragon gets $1.4M in NASA stimulus money

Paragon Space Development Corporation, 3481 E. Michigan St., has been awarded $1.4 million in a Space Act agreements from NASA using federal stimulus money.

Casino revenues drop 12% to 11.1M in 4th quarter

Revenues from casino gaming in Arizona dropped about 12 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to a year ago but still contributed $11.1 million to the state.

This Week's Good News: Winter training capital

Tucson is gaining ground in at least some sports circles. Today (Feb. 8) Tucson is due to be proclaimed the Winter Training Capital for cycling and running. The proclamation will take place at 6:30 p.m. at TriSports.com retail store, 4495 S. Coach Drive.

The Tucson INSIDER: The Woods rumor

Talk about fast-flying. The rumor emanating from a Melbourne, Australia, newspaper last week about Tiger Woods making a “shock return to competitive golf” at next week’s Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana got spread real quick.

The Tucson INSIDER: Hayworth who?

Tucson’s lessening influence in statewide politics can be expected to manifest itself in a number of ways in this year’s elections. Not the least of which is the race for U.S. Senate where J.D. Hayworth is expected to formally announce his candidacy Feb. 15 in the Republican primary against 24-year incumbent John McCain. J.D. who?

Economic forum to look at Rosemont Mine impact

A forum focusing on the economic impact of opening the Rosemont Copper Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains southeast of Tucson will be held Feb. 16.

Children's Medical Center means $5.5B to economy

The Diamond Children’s Medical Center due to open this year at University Medical Center and the University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center will contribute about $5.5 billion into Tucson’s economy over the next five years, according to estimates from Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO) Inc.

Program for businesses looking beyond borders

ExporTech, a joint project of the University of Arizona Eller College of Management’s Global Business Program and the Arizona U.S. Export Assistance Center, is planning a three-part program that starts this month for firms looking to enter global markets.

Tucson Heart Hospital is a top 100 hospital

Carondelet Health Network’s Tucson Heart Hospital, 4888 N. Stone Ave., was named one of the top 100 U.S. hospitals for inpatient cardiovascular care.

Supervisors vote to put off bond election

The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted against trying to schedule a countywide bond election vote in November.

Giffords outdistances GOP challengers raising money

In the money race among candidates for Congressional District 8, incumbent Democrat Gabrielle Giffords had raised more than five times the amount of the three potential Republicans that were in the race as of the end of 2009 and she still has in the bank more than seven times the amount of the Republicans.

IBM gives learning centers to Flowing Wells schools

As part of its KidSmart Early Learning program, IBM donated 50 Young Explorer computers to the Flowing Wells Unified School District as part of its KidSmart Early Learning program.

Sunquest gives to two non-profit organizations

Bookmans reading contest underway for $15,000 prize

Bookmans Entertainment Exchange launched its fourth Bookmans’ Reading Challenge where one school in the state will receive $15,000 for reading.

Int'l School launches pre-school Mandarin

The International School of Tucson this month opened a Mandarin-immersion class for children ages 3 and 4.

Sunquest receives awards from the National Guard