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March 27 | Announcement

Bullhead Chamber • March 27, 2020

A Word From The Chairman

Hello Fellow Members,

I wanted to reach out to our community and inform you all of the following during these unprecedented times we are in right now. It’s my hope that small businesses and individuals can benefit from the resources that are now available, and that we can ALL come out the other side of this together and even stronger than before.

The recent announcement by Governor Ducey limiting the operations of certain businesses to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the Mohave County area. This is solely to protect the individuals of our community, and keep a safe environment as Mohave County is unique in a couple of ways. We have a large elderly population, and we sit in between Las Vegas, Phoenix, and California, and because of this, we must take care to protect our elderly citizens.

If you have questions on what is considered an “Essential Business”, please visit the website listed below for a complete list of businesses and services that are allowed to maintain operations and stay open during this time.

https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2020/03/list-essential-services

As most of you probably already know, on Wednesday, The Senate passed a $2 trillion stimulus package to stabilize the American economy during the Coronavirus crisis.

IMPORTANT KEY NOTES FOR BUSINESS OWNERS REGARDING THE STIMULUS PACKAGE

  • Eligible businesses would be able to defer their payroll taxes until 2021 and receive small-business loans to continue paying employees. Nicole Kaeding, the vice president of policy promotion and an economist at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, told Business Insider that employers could delay paying payroll taxes for 2020, then pay 50% in 2021 and the other 50% in 2022.

  • The $2 trillion stimulus package passed by Congress late Wednesday, which includes more than $370 billion for small businesses could bring much-needed help. The bill will allow banks to lend directly to businesses, and those loans will be backed by the Small Business Administration. And although there are restrictions, some of the terms are less onerous than other programs administered by the S.B.A.

  • Under the new program, individual lenders will be able to use their own paperwork to process loans and can expect S.B.A. approval within two weeks. Banks will not disburse the loans until the S.B.A. assures them that each is fully guaranteed against default.

  • Unlike other S.B.A.-backed loans, business owners won’t have to provide personal guarantees or use all their available assets — from real estate to equipment — as collateral. There are no fees, and interest rates are capped at 4 percent.

Most, if not all of us will be (if not already) affected by closing our businesses. The government is working very hard to help the small business owners and its employees during this time by offering SBA loans. You may refer back to the email sent out yesterday for more detailed information on applying for these loans.

For a large collection of resources and more information for homeowners, employees, small businesses, students and others struggling financially or with limited resources as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, you can now tap into a large collection of growing resources at ArizonaTogether.org.

There are links to dozens of businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and others stepping up to help get workers reemployed, businesses stay afloat, assist homeowners with monthly bills, and more. Among the resources found through the website are low interest loans for small businesses, and nonprofits. Small businesses, and nonprofits in Arizona with losses that have occurred due to the Coronavirus crisis can apply for low-interest loans to keep operations running and employees paid.

Affected companies may apply for up to $2 million through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. For additional information about the loan program, visit: SBA.gov/Disaster.

Banking assistance for businesses, and households.

Nearly all financial institutions serving Arizona consumers and small businesses have enacted policies to respond to the Coronavirus outbreak. Most ask that customers or businesses contact customer service if they are unable to pay bills or are facing hardship due to the virus.

A number of banks offering assistance include: 

  • Bank of America – Customers who need help can contact the Client Assistance Program. For those facing financial hardship, the bank will work on a case-by-case basis to find a solution. For those who need help making credit card payments on time, they can submit an online request for a payment deferral.

  • Capital One – Customers are encouraged to use digital banking tools. If customers are facing financial difficulty due to COVID-19, they should contact the bank’s customer support as customers may be eligible for assistance such as minimum payment assistance, deferred loan assistance or fee suppression.

  • Chase – Customers are encouraged to use digital banking tools. If customers are facing financial difficulty due to COVID-19, they should contact the bank’s customer support number. In the past, Chase has supported customers, including small businesses, through times of crisis by issuing fee waivers, changing due dates, and extending credit lines. As of right now, Chase will work with customers on an individual basis to determine financial assistance.

  • Citibank – Through April 9, customers can contact Citibank for assistance that includes fee waivers, waived penalties and credit line increases. Bankers are also available for extended hours to support small business customers.

  • WaFd Bank – All WaFd Arizona branches are offering small businesses affected by the coronavirus lines of credit of up to $200,000 interest-free for 90 days. The bank will also expedite the processing of new credit applications for companies in operation for at least two-years that demonstrate at least a ten percent revenue reduction due to the coronavirus.

Major utilities, cable and cell phone providers helping customers.

Major utilities, internet and cellphone companies, government agencies and other corporations and nonprofits are also offering assistance such as waiving late fees, not charging for data overage and reducing minimum payment amounts. More information can be accessed through the website at Arizona Together.

For restaurants and small businesses hit hardest by the sudden downturn, something as simple as purchasing a gift card, merchandise, or a takeout dinner can help.

List of Restaurants offering Carryout:

Most importantly, take care of yourself and your family. I know this is a challenging time for ALL of us, but we WILL get through this and we will be better because of it. If any of you need additional help that these resources are not able to provide, please reach out to us so we can put our heads together and work to find a solution. It is so important to note that we are all here for each other and helping as much as possible. If anyone has any creative and positive ideas that may help businesses stay afloat during this time, we encourage you to share!

Sincerely,

John Hassett

Chairman

Apples & Oranges

By Jim Hinckley • June 3, 2021
If you are in search of a new place to call home, have you considered Bullhead City on the banks of the desert oasis that is the Colorado River? Yes, summers are warm. In fact there are a couple of months when it gets downright hot. But in Bullhead City you can beat the heat with a forty five mile drive to Hualapai Mountain Park. This pine forested oasis in a sea of desert is laced with miles of scenic hiking trails, and there is an excellent RV Park. And there is Hualapai Mountain Lodge with an event center and rustic stone cabins built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Unlike Minneapolis, Duluth, or Schenectady, New York, it seldom snows. In fact snow in measurable amounts is so rare it is deemed an historic event. Still, if you happen to miss the white stuff, again, Hualapai Mountain Park is just forty five miles away. And unlike Seattle or San Francisco there are seldom cloudy or rainy days. The United States average is 205 sunny days per year. With an average of more than 345 days of sunshine annually Bullhead City is ideally suited for a home that taps […]

A Visit To The Land Down Under

By Jim Hinckley • May 23, 2021
Visitors or residents know that when it comes to recreational fun on the Colorado River, Bullhead City is the place to be. Few, however, know that Bullhead City is centrally located to a vast and diverse array of all season outdoor recreational opportunities. But one of Bullhead City’s best kept secrets is that with a short scenic drive it is possible to beat the heat with an adventure in the land down under. Mitchell Caverns in the Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is less than 85 miles to the west. Mitchell Caverns had been used by the Chemehuevi Indians used for ceremonies and food storage before the arrival of Spanish and American explorers. Bones of a Pleistocene-age ground sloth found near the entrance indicate that the caverns had provided shelter to people more than a thousand years ago. Mitchell Caverns is actually a system that consists of three caves. They are “El Pakiva,” or the Devil’s House, and “Tecopa” named for a Shoshone chief. The deep and nearly vertical “Winding Stair Cave” is deemed to dangerous for general public admission. It is off limits except for previously approved and authorized scientific explorations. In the 19th century prospectors visited the caverns in […]

In All Seasons

By Jim Hinckley • May 5, 2021
The weeks of early spring are an ideal time to explore the scenic wonders of northwestern Arizona. Mornings are cool, even in the Colorado River Valley, with a touch of rain the harsh desert is transformed by the bright colors of wildflowers. But even in the midst of summer with soaring temperatures the opportunity for outdoor adventures abound. Bullhead City is centrally located in an adventurers paradise for all seasons. As an example, the Mohave & Milltown Railroad Trail near Fort Mohave follows seven miles of an historic railbed from the foothills of the Black Mountains to the Colorado River Valley. The Bureau of Land management lists this as a motorized and non motorized trail system With the exception of washouts, hikers and mountain bikers travel along the actual railroad grade for most of the way. OHV and equestrian users follow a route which does not lie on the grade, but parallels and frequently crosses the railroad bed. The BLM notes that the best season is anytime from September through May. The railbed is a tangible link to an obscure chapter in Mohave County history. The narrow gauge was built in 1903. But the seventeen miles railroad was short lived. […]

In The Beginning

By Jim Hinckley • April 25, 2021
Before there was a Davis or Bullhead City, before Hardyville, the Colorado River Valley was the home of the Pipa Aha Macav — “The People By The River.” Today our neighbors are better known as Mojave. The Mojave are the most northern of the Yuman tribes. The traditional homeland stretched along the Colorado River from Black Canyon near the present site of Hoover Dam to the Picacho Mountains below Parker Dam. The tribe lived in three groups or clans. The northern Matha lyathum clan lived along the river from Black Canyon to near the present site of Mojave Valley. The central Hutto-pah inhabited the central Mojave Valley. The southern clan, Kavi lyathum, lived in villages between the Mojave Valley to a point below Needles Peaks. The Mojave masterfully used the the regular overflow of the Colorado River to irrigate crops planted along the banks. Foods grown were supplemented with wild seeds, roots, mesquite beans, fish taken from the river with nets and traps, and game hunted in the mountains along the river. There is increasing evidence that the Mojave, and tribes in northwestern Arizona, were prolific traders. A trade route that was later incorporated into the Mojave Road across the Mojave […]

Driving U Bananaz Escape Room

By BHC Chamber • April 1, 2021
Bullhead City, AZ –The Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce and the Laughlin Chamber of Commerce helped commemorate the grand opening of Driving U Bananaz Escape Room in Bullhead City this week. Owner Juan Lizarraga has been in the area for many years running Thunderbird Taxi and has now been able to open a second business that will bring entertainment to the tristate. Driving U Bananaz Escape Room want players to know the satisfaction of escaping that can be achieved by teamwork and participation in a safe and sanitized environment. Each Session is 45 minutes with two rooms to choose from. Among those attending and pictured are Lizarraga, City Mayor Tom Brady and Chamber Ambassadors, Board Members and staff including George Smith, Carey Fearing, Terri Sponder, John Hassett, Ellen Brown, Yvette Pursley, Tristan Johnson, Todd Levitt, Nicole Diaz, Mary Schramm and Jeanette McCartney and Laughlin Chamber staff members Jackie Mazzeo and Val Gabaldon. Also pictured are Rosa Sandoval, Maria Adams, Amalia Guerrero, Bianca Bedoya, Mathew Najera, Seth Najera, Vanessa Sandoval, Charisma Silvestre, Ximena Perez and DJ Loki. The business is located at 2160 Hwy 95 Suite 6, Bullhead City, AZ 86442 and is open 1 pm – 9 pm on Thursday […]

Day Trip

By Jim Hinckley • April 1, 2021
There is never a dull weekend for visitors or residents of Bullhead City on the Colorado River in western Arizona. Day trip, and even half day trip, options abound. Each is unique and fascinating. Each has a special charm. Each is a memory making odyssey. As an example the historic community of Needles, California is only a short drive south on highway 95. At a Colorado River crossing for a Native American trade route the survey expedition of Lieutenant Amiel Weeks Whipple of 1854 labeled the jagged peaks along the river as “The Needles.” The Atlantic & Pacific Railroad established a station and small construction camp on what is now the Arizona side of the river at this crossing in 1883. A post office under the name Needles opened there in February of that year. In conjunction with plans for construction of a division point, the railroad relocated the tent city to the California side of the river On October 11, 1883. In the early 20th century, the National Old Trails Road, and then Route 66 added a new chapter to the city’s history as a transportation hub. Both of these early highways followed Front Street parallel to the railroad tracks […]
A large building with palm trees in front of it

Pick Your Season

By Jim Hinckley • March 20, 2021
Before the COVID 19 pandemic an increase in opportunities for remote work was transforming American migration trends. Often these new migrants abandoned large metropolitan areas and relocated to progressive rural communities. And communities that could offer a diverse array of recreational opportunities became a primary focus. Bullhead City, Arizona on the Colorado River is ideally suited to capitalize on this trend. It is at the center of recreational opportunities for every season and interest. And it is also conveniently located in proximity to major cities such as Las Vegas, Nevada, Phoenix, Arizona and the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. With Bullhead City on the Colorado River as the center point, within a radius of 100 miles are a diverse array of attractions, recreational opportunities and cultural activities. As a bonus, a resident of the upper Colorado River Valley can literally pick their season with a relatively short drive. As an example, during the months of winter when the temperatures along the Colorado River are moderate or even warm, it is a drive of less than seventy miles to Hualapai Mountain Park. Snow is common on the peaks around Hualapai Mountain Resort that offers fine dining, an event center and motel. […]

Choose Our Charities RatherThan State General Fund, Chamber Urges

By admin • March 18, 2021
Bullhead City, AZ – “Giving the money to a deserving local charityrather than to State to use on anything in its general fund is the best way to invest in our quality of life,” said JoElle Hurns, Executive Director of the Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce. “Look, if you owe the state taxes, they will get it one way or another. If you donate to the charity of your choice – a number of nonprofits from bridge to bridge – you decide to how to meet the needs of ourof residents at risk, our youth programs and our population with disabilities. You get a dollar-for-dollar deduction on your tax bill, even if you don’t itemize.” Hurns is referring to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, aunique and straight forward way to direct tax dollars back to local communities. Between 2011 and 2016, Arizona donated upwards of $35 million to nonprofits and foster care programs through this allowance. ​The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit is intended to spur donations to charitable organizations that provide a significant number of services for Arizona residents experiencing financial insecurity. ​For most Americans preparing federal taxes, donations made to charitable organizations offer minimal financial benefits, tax-wise. That is because of the higher standard deduction implemented through the 2018 Congressional changes to the tax code. Charitable giving is not gone from the tax code, but it has been rendered almost […]

Land of Sunshine & Opportunity

By Jim Hinckley • February 21, 2021
While much of the country is being battered with record low temperatures and a wave of snow storms, here on the shores of the Colorado River we are enjoying sunny days. During times such as these I am reminded of a story told about Ed Edgerton of Ed’s Camp on Route 66 near Oatman. When asked why he had immigrated from Michigan to Arizona, purportedly he simply said that at least I will be warm when I starve to death. I have little information about the employment situation in the area during the post WWI economic recession. However, I do know that today Bullhead City is the land of opportunity. And I also know that it is a modern, progressive community with an eye on the future. In the pre COVID world several companies had begun experimenting with the concept of employees working from home. Some employees were even working from city’s far from their office. GIG workers and independent contractors were also becoming an integral part of the work force. COVID and the resultant quarantine measures dramatically escalated the evolutionary speed of work place transformation. The United States Department of Labor estimates that last year an astounding 62 percent […]

There Is Gold In Those Hills

By Jim Hinckley • February 5, 2021
Before there was a Davis Dam, a Bullhead City or a Bullhead City Chamber of Commerce, prospectors, speculators and investors were discovering that there was gold in the hills above the Colorado River Valley. Soldiers stationed at Fort Mohave often passed off duty time by prospecting the hills along the river. They would return from their prospecting trips with tantalizing traces of gold. Organized mining operations in the area of Union Pass as well as modern day Katherine’s Landing and South Telephone Cove commenced in the 1860s. High grade ore from the Pyramid and Gold Cycle mines near South Telephone Cove, the Homestake Mine across the river in Nevada and the Sheeptrails Mine in Union Pass initially was shipped by paddle wheeler down the river on the first leg of a long trip to processing at a smelter in Swansea, Wales. A small mill for the processing of ore was built at the Sheeptrails Mine in an effort to curtail costs and make the mining of low grade ores feasible. A road built to the Sheeptrails Mine from the river landing passed by a distinctive granite knob that protruded from a flat rocky desert plain. Acting on a hunch in […]
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