PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA – The Chuck Huckelberry Loop is once again nominated for Best Recreational Trail in the nation.

The nomination comes from a panel of experts from USA TODAY, the 10Best.com, expert contributors and other media sources. Last year, The Loop took top spot in the contest and, this year, we are hoping to do it again.

Measuring more than 136 miles, The Loop is the longest public recreation, multi-use path in the United States. The system of paved, shared-use paths and short segments of buffered bike lanes extends through unincorporated Pima County, Marana, Oro Valley, Tucson, and South Tucson. It connects the Rillito, Santa Cruz, and Pantano River Parks with the Julian Wash and Harrison Road Greenways.

If you’ve ever been on The Loop, you’ve likely seen a vast array of runners, walkers, cyclists, equestrians, and other groups enjoying the car-free paths for both leisure and transportation. It’s also a major attraction for out-of-towners, drawing visitors from near and far.

If you love The Loop, vote now! Voting remains open until Monday, April 11 at 9 a.m., and you can vote once per day. To cast your vote, click here.

TUCSON – On Wednesday, March 30, YWCA Southern Arizona’s Women’s Business Center will be celebrating its first group of graduates from the BUILD Academy small business program. Small businesses and entrepreneurs who have participated in a 10-week program to build capabilities in Business Analysis, Human Resources, and Marketing will be recognized at this event, featuring a keynote talk by Marisol Casal, CEO of Pure, Love, Juice; and a showcase offering an opportunity for community members to get to know each of the small businesses who have completed the BUILD Academy program and the products and services they offer – everything from legal document services to party rentals, from building kids’ nature playspaces to planning your next surf trip! YWCA CEO Magdalena Verdugo and Women’s Business Center Director Isabel Georgelos will also speak.

The Women’s Business Center offers workshops, technical assistance, and mentoring to support small businesses and connect them to resources & networks as part of our ongoing focus on economic recovery. Participants in the BUILD Academy small business program have completed a series of workshops geared towards connecting with subject matter experts and mentors, building strong foundational skills, and closing gaps in processes to support continued recovery and growth. YWCA’s Women’s Business Center also offers Orientations every quarter for small businesses at every stage of operation – from business idea to businesses operational for multiple years – and foundational classes including financial management, digital literacy, and developing a business plan. Small businesses participating in Women’s Business Center programs can also access free one-on-one coaching.

“When you spend time with these business owners & entrepreneurs and you listen to their stories, you can’t help but want to cheer them on,” says Isabel Georgelos, Director of the Women’s Business Center.  “When a business owner tells you what they have learned is helping them increase their revenue and grow, you can’t help but want to do more. That’s why we are excited to showcase these business owners who are part of our community driving our economic growth.”

Small businesses are at the heart of our community and important contributors to our economic recovery.  YWCA’s Women’s Business Center recognizes that small business has been transformed by the pandemic, and is committed to helping Southern Arizona’s entrepreneurial community navigate, connect to resources, and build capability in order to grow, innovate, and thrive. In response to the changing needs of small businesses in our community, the Women’s Business Center distributed $9M in small business continuity grants with support from the City of Tucson, and pivoted to offer programs in food service, childcare, and tools of digital commerce to local small businesses struggling to adapt in the pandemic. While most of their participants are, indeed, women, the Women’s Business Center offers support to local businesses owned by people of all gender identities. To learn more about the Women’s Business Center, reach out via email at [email protected] or by phone at 520.884.7810.

CBRE has released a cap rate survey for H2 2022. The report focuses largely on national trends, but certain markets – including Phoenix and Greater Los Angeles – are highlighted throughout.

• Industrial assets are hot and arguably efficiently priced, as the significant growth of e-commerce has elevated property values in the logistics hubs best positioned to benefit. There is little concern about the burgeoning development pipeline. This is exemplified by very low cap rates in Riverside, Calif. and Phoenix. Supply-constrained port markets such as Greater LA, also have some of the lowest cap rates in the U.S. (pg. 12)
• Cap rates for Class A stabilized apartment properties in infill Phoenix have been dropping from 3.25%-3.75% in the first half of 2021 to 3%-3.5% in the second half of 2021. The same holds true for suburban properties. (pg. 24)
• Aside from New York City, Greater Los Angeles (5.5%-7.5%) and Phoenix (5.5%-6%) had the lowest cap rates for full-service resort hotel properties (pg. 25)
• Cap rates for stabilized Class-A office properties in Phoenix have been fairly steady with a slight downward trend (5.75%-6.75 in H1 2021 to 5.5%-6.75% in H2 2021) (pg. 29)
• Cap rates for stabilized Class-A office properties in Greater LA are trending down from 4.25%-5.25% in the first half of 2021 to 4%-5.5% in the second half of the year (pg. 29)
• Cap rates for Class-A neighborhood retail centers in Phoenix have declined from 5.75%-6.5% in H1 2021 to 5.5%-6.5% in the second half (pg. 33)

Full Cap Rate Report is here.