Prescott Bluegrass Festival - The 32nd Annual Prescott Bluegrass Festival will be held on June 22-23 on the Courthouse Plaza in downtown Prescott.  For complete information visit www.prescottbluegrassfestival.com and 'like' the Festival's Facebook page.

NEW!  Check out Chamber for Good!  Chamber for Good is a comprehensive list of non-profit organizations that serve the greater Prescott area.  All 501(c)(3) organizations will be invited to post their needs for funds, volunteers or other means of support.  Any one is able to sign up for weekly emails that provide you with the latest information and needs from the non-profit community. www.chamberforgood.com/prescott

Arizona a Top State in Which to Start of Business  In a recent report entitled the “Ten Best States for Starting a Business,” Arizona was one of the ten best!  The report stated that “Arizona shows signs of increased economic momentum.  Under Gov. Jan Brewer, the state has sought to bring its budget back into balance, hold the line on business taxes, phase out temporary sales tax increases, and continue directed investments into technology and innovation.”  In some of the sub-categories, Arizona ranked 5^th in infrastructure, 7^th in business climate an 8^th in innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Prescott in Top 25 Places to Retire  Money magazine has once again recognized Prescott as a top retirement area, listing Prescott 22nd out of 25 cities in the United States.  While we appreciate the attention, we are quick to point out that Prescott is a great community for any age group--not just retirees!

City Election Process  The Prescott primary election is Aug. 27, and potential candidates are gathering signatures on petitions to run for office.  Completed paperwork from prospective candidates must be submitted no later than May 29th.  The four available seats up for election are the mayor (2-year term) and three Council seats (4-year terms).  So far, Mayor Marlin Kuykendall has turned in petitions to run for a third term and Lindsay Bell plans to be a candidate for Mayor as well.  Seven potential Council candidates are circulating petitions:  incumbents Steve Blair and Len Scamardo, along with five potential challengers (Alan Dubiel, Eleanor Laumark, Greg Lazzell, John Vallentine and Jean Wilcox).     

Prescott in Top 10 for Business  According to Jack Schultz, author of "Boomtown, USA," Prescott has made his top ten list of the "Best Small Towns for Business."  In American Express Open Forum, it was noted that "Many small business owners are no longer tied to big cities or particular geographic locations with access to large numbers of customers or a skilled workforce."  Come discover what Prescott can offer your business!

Prescott Cost-of-Living Below National Average  Prescott's cost-of-living is below the naitional average.  Annual figures for 2012 peg the local index at 98.6 versus the national norm of 100. Other Arizona cities participating in the cost-of-living survey and their composite rankings were:  Scottsdale (115.4), Flagstaff (111.6), Lake Havasu City (104.3), Yuma (105.2), Sierra Vista (102.5), Phoenix (96.8) and Tucson (95.5). 

Prescott Area Young Professionals PAYP is an affiliate of the Chamber with programs and networking opportunities specifically for business men and women between the ages of 21 - 40. Employees of Chamber members can join PAYP for $25 annually. For membership information and a schedule of coming events, check the PAYP website.