Digital divide narrows

A spike in technology adoption by foreign-born and Spanish-dominant Latinos has helped ease the digital divide between U.S. Latinos and other groups, according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center.

In just a few years, Latinos helped close the divide through greater use of the internet, higher rates of computer ownership, greater use of smartphones and cell phones and increased use of social media.

Between 2009 and 2012, the share of Latino adults who say they go on-line at least occasionally increased by 14 percentage points, rising from 64 percent to 78 percent. Among whites, internet use rates also increased, but only by half as much to 87 percent in 2012.

Over the same period, the gap in cell phone ownership between Latinos and other groups either diminished or disappeared. In 2012, 86 percent of Latinos said they owned a cell phone, up from 76 percent in 2009.

Other findings:

Fully 86 percent of Latinos say they own a cell phone, a share similar to that of whites (84 percent) and blacks (90 percent).

Among adults, Latinos are just as likely as whites or blacks to own a smartphone – 49 percent versus 46 percent and 50 percent, respectively.

Latino internet users are more likely than white internet users to say they go on-line using a mobile device – 76 percent versus 60 percent. Meanwhile, Latino and black internet users are equally likely to access the internet from a mobile device at 76 percent and 73 percent, respectively.

Among internet users, similar shares of Latinos (68 percent), whites (66 percent) and blacks (69 percent) say they use social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, at least occasionally.

The digital divide still exists, however, driven by computer ownership rates. Nearly three out of four (72 percent) Latinos say they own a desktop or laptop computer, which is less than the 79 percent ownership rate for the general public.

Overall, whites have the highest desktop/laptop ownership rate at 83 percent. By comparison, 70 percent of blacks say they own a desktop or laptop computer. Computer ownership rates are highest among Latino adults with annual family incomes of $50,000 or more, some college education and annual family incomes between $30,000 and $49,999.

Small biz confidence 

Eighty-four percent of entrepreneurs said they are confident or very confident in their companies’ prospects for profitability in the next 12 months, according to the first-quarter 2013 Kauffman/LegalZoom Startup Confidence Index.

Confidence among early-stage business owners increased by one percent from the fourth-quarter 2012 survey. Among the youngest entrepreneurs – those 18 to 30 years old – confidence rebounded, with 96 percent reporting that they were confident or very confident that their businesses’ profitability will increase in the year ahead, a 3 percent jump from the fourth-quarter 2012 survey.

Confidence levels among other age groups fell as the entrepreneurs’ ages increased. Nevertheless, even entrepreneurs aged 61 and older – the oldest category – expressed 73 percent confidence in 2013 profitability.

“These reports provide a more granular feel as to how an entrepreneur’s experience with consumer demand and perceived outlook on the economy may impact the decision to hire,” said John Suh, CEO of LegalZoom.

Small business capital

The startup, survival and growth of small businesses is often directly related to the amount of capital they have on hand or have access to.

Not surprisingly, women- and minority-owned businesses consistently start with relatively low levels of capital compared with other groups. And that disparity persists through the life of the business, finds a study commissioned by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The study probed how the youngest small firms operated and were financed during the evolving financial environment of the recent Great Recession, with a particular focus on high-tech firms and businesses owned by women and minorities.

Although access to capital is a major constraint to business growth, and ultimately success, some avenues that could help to offset the inadequate capital issue for small business owners include the following:

• Skill development and training could play a critical role in improving the economic performance of women and minority entrepreneurs; targeted initiatives might help them build more viable businesses. 
• Encouraging enrollment in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines is another option for prospective female and minority entrepreneurs.
• Developing and expanding networks can help women and minority business owners access needed resources, such as financial capital.

Building the nest egg

Recent studies and media reports about how the majority of U.S. workers are failing to save enough to enjoy a comfortable retirement may be alarming to some but, for Hispanics in general, a well-funded retirement has never been a given.

What’s alarming is how widespread the challenges of saving enough is for all Americans. A study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) found that a mere 18 percent of respondents were “very confident” that they were putting away enough for their retirement nest egg and 38 percent were “somewhat confident.”

But, more than a quarter (28 percent) of respondents had “no confidence” they would eventually have enough money for a comfortable requirement, the highest level in the survey’s 23-year history. Another 21 percent reported they are “not too confident” they would amass enough.

The results also revealed that a shocking 57 percent of the U.S. workers surveyed had less than $25,000 in total household savings and investments, excluding their homes. In 2008, only 49 percent reported saving so little. And, only about half of the 1,003 workers and 251 retirees surveyed said they were sure they could come up with $2,000 if an unexpected need were to arise in the next month.

Meanwhile, 45 percent of workers surveyed had not done a systematic retirement-needs calculation. Eighteen percent indicated they did their own estimate and another 18 percent asked a financial advisor, while 8 percent used an on-line calculator and another 8 percent read or heard how much was needed. 

Workers who have done a retirement-savings-needs calculation tend to have higher savings goals, and are more confident, than workers who have not, concludes EBRI.

Latino confidence

The lack of confidence that people feel about their retirement nest eggs doesn’t translate to a lack of confidence in other areas.

A 2012 survey by the Pew Hispanic Center revealed that Hispanics have grown more satisfied with the nation’s direction and more confident in their finances since 2011.

More than half (51 percent) of the respondents expressed satisfaction with the direction of the country, a 13 percentage point increase over 2011, when just 38 percent indicated that they were satisfied. One-third (33 percent) now report that their finances are in “excellent” or “good” shape, up from one-quarter (24 percent) who reported the same in 2011. Looking forward, Latinos have grown more optimistic about their family’s finances in the next 12 months, with three out of four respondents (73 percent) expecting improvement, up from 67 percent who expressed similar optimism in 2011.

The present heightened confidence may say more about the low starting point for Latinos, who suffered greatly as a group from the Great Recession. Driven mainly by the collapse in the housing market, median household wealth among Latinos declined by 58 percent between 2005 and 2010, more than that of either whites (18 percent) or blacks (54 percent). In 2007, for the first time, the number of Latino children in poverty surpassed the number of white children or black children living in poverty.

Housing comeback

Homeowners, who endured years of declining home values, will discover that the game has begun to change in their favor.

With low mortgage rates and rising home prices gaining momentum, an increasing number of buyers are selling. The good news for sellers: the inventory of homes for sale is shrinking, so they have less competition and more control of the situation.

As more distressed homeowners regain equity in coming months, many with high-interest loans will be able to re-finance and, perhaps, cash out some equity. 

One sign that the housing sector is getting back on track in Arizona is the number of jobs added in the construction industry, which had a 7.1 percent increase from March 2012 to March 2013.

Joblessness dips

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the jobless rate for U.S. Latinos declined slightly to 9 percent in April, down from 9.2 percent in March.

The slight decline is a reflection of the improving economy, say economists, but the Latino rate is still higher than the national rate of 7.5 percent among all workers. The national jobless figure was a four-year low and an improvement from the same period a year ago when it stood at 8.1. percent. The Latino rate was the lowest it has been since November, 2008, when it was 8.6 percent.

Generally, economists consider an economy running at full employment when the rate is 5 percent or lower.

African Americans continued to have the highest jobless rate at 13.2 percent, while Asians had the lowest at 5.1 percent. Non-Hispanic whites had a rate of 6.7 percent. 

Click here to read this story in our Digital Edition

My introduction to our state legislature was uncomfortable. While an undergraduate student at Arizona State, I served as a majority intern in the House of Representatives. The discomfort came from being a Democrat working for Republicans, and only one of two Latinos doing so.

I took the internship hoping to improve my chances of getting into a top-tier graduate school. I was equally immersed in the community and my studies and, while most of my fellow interns wanted to become lawyers, my dream was to become a social science researcher. I was certain there was a strong relationship between policy-makers and those who research social problems.

My motivations were my surroundings. The neighborhood I grew up in was the scene of demographic change and, along with it, the sights, sounds and smells of Maryvale were changing. Ice cream trucks still patrolled the block but now tamale vendors did too. The tunes of Van Halen and Michael Jackson were now occasionally drowned out by Ramon Ayala. Don’t get me wrong, growing up on the Westside there were always Latino elements, but now they were increasingly prevalent and Mexican. It made some folks uncomfortable, even those who recognized that we shared a heritage with our new neighbors.

Despite the changes, I was still comfortable in my ubiquitous John F. Long home. Still, I knew things could, and should, get better, much better. Our schools, neighborhood safety and economic position all needed to improve drastically to avoid slipping into irrelevance. At that point in 1995, I swore I’d never leave the ‘Vale; I wanted to be a servant to my community.  

My internship showed me immediately that I had it all wrong. I learned quickly that there was little connection between policy and research and, for me, that was very disappointing. But, I also learned that trust, diplomacy and efficiency are valuable qualities because most issues are too complicated to convey completely. You never know who your allies will be and, with regard to programs, cost always outweighs effectiveness.

Obviously, I got over being uncomfortable. My internship was over 17 years ago and I have worked in government relations full-time ever since.

If you’re wondering why it is important for you to know about the legislative process, I have two good reasons. In the first place, laws are more than policies; they are moral documents that convey a society’s priorities.  

Second, in order for the Latino community to make itself a priority, it must be engaged in improving our educational system, public safety and economic development. When you are not engaged, you forfeit your political power by making those who do engage in the process more powerful.

Legislative advocacy for Latinos is critically important because of the huge gap between our lack of civic engagement and our growing population. Arizona’s Latino population in 1980 was only 16 percent. Currently, Latinos make up 30 percent of Arizona’s population and, by 2030, Arizona’s population could reach “majority-minority” status. However, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, while Latinos are 17 percent of the population of the United States, they only comprise 10 percent of voters. Latinos could, however, account for 40 percent of the electorate by 2030. If Latinos increase voter participation to the level of other groups, the number of votes cast by Latinos could double in the next two decades.

To become engaged it helps to know the legislative process. As for how a bill becomes law, I could try and explain every nuance, but what readers need is an understanding of the legislative process that can be applied independently. There are two basic components to passing a bill: the introduction and the process. 

The motivation behind bills, much like my own motivation for applying for the legislative internship, isn’t always obvious or transparent. But there is always a problem, incident or disagreement behind the genesis of every bill. 

Bills can come from both malicious and positive intentions but, with 1,395 total bills introduced last year, the malicious can go unnoticed. Keep in mind that one person’s special interest group is another person’s advocate.  

See this story in print here:

Click here for iPad optimized version

]]> http://latinopm.com/business/briefcase/every-latino-can-be-a-legislator-16800/feed 0 http://latinopm.com/business/briefcase/arizonas-telecommuting-program-16552 http://latinopm.com/business/briefcase/arizonas-telecommuting-program-16552#comments Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:27:44 +0000 Jonathan J. Higuera http://latinopm.com/?p=16552 The decision by Yahoo, Inc.’s chief executive officer, Marissa Mayer, to end its telecommuting program ignited a firestorm of controversy and criticism from the tech community, and it has also sparked a deeper look at telecommuting policies in general.

There is no disputing that many companies believe telecommuting is a viable option, both in terms of worker productivity and providing needed flexibility to attract and keep good workers. American Express, Best Buy, Dow Chemical and other companies have concluded that teleworkers can, indeed, be more productive than their peers in office cubicles.

Recent figures from the Telework Research Network show that about 3.15 million people worked primarily from home in 2011. The figure did not include the self-employed or unpaid volunteers. That’s an amazing increase of 73 percent from 2005, when about 1.82 million people considered themselves full-time telecommuters. In addition, another 16 million employees work at home at least one day per month.

One needs to look no further than the Arizona state government, which has been providing a telework option to some of its workers for the past two decades, to see a robust telecommuting program in place. In 1993, the state  established a telework program through an executive order. Back then, the main reason was to reduce employee travel in order to combat Maricopa County’s poor air quality.

In 1996, then-governor Fyfe Symington asked all state agencies to reach the goal of having 15 percent of its Maricopa County workforce telework and, in 2002, former governor Jane Dee Hull increased the goal to 20 percent.

With the increasing acceptance of telecommuting, in 2003, former governor Janet Napolitano re-affirmed the 20 percent telework mandate and cited its value as a business strategy that increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and turnover, and attracted quality employees to state service. By 2007, state agencies were reporting meeting this mandate for its Maricopa County workforce.

To combat the perception that home workers are getting a better deal than office workers, the state emphasizes that a teleworker’s arrangement can be ended at any time by a manager. The guidelines also make it clear that working from home doesn’t substitute for child care; workers with small children must make suitable child care arrangements.

As many teleworkers are surely aware, the work-at-home arrangement comes with drawbacks. Some studies indicate that home workers are more likely to be passed up for promotions and other forms of company recognition. It turns out that there is value in physical interaction with colleagues around the water cooler and in the hallways.

In Yahoo’s case, Mayer defended her move as necessary to stimulate innovation and creativity through collaboration. Yahoo faces dire times as a company and Mayer was brought in to turn around the company’s fortunes. Drastic times require drastic actions. However, there is no concrete evidence that better ideas come more often from a conference room than from a bedroom office.

See this story in print here:

Click here for iPad optimized version

The result has been billions of dollars delivered to programs and projects in 180 countries as part of these commitments. In 2011, the initiative added CGI America, which is devoted to job creation and economic recovery here in the U.S.

Now, U.S.-based Latino small business owners could become the beneficiaries of Clinton’s philanthropic vision.

CGI America’s commitment to unlocking new investment capital to grow local economies and promote thriving neighborhoods has led to an investment expected to catalyze $70 million to community-based, small business districts in predominantly Latino neighborhoods. Collectively, the consortium expects to create 4,000 jobs by supporting the start-up, or expansion, of 1,500 small businesses in Latino communities. Among the lead partners is Arizona’s own Community Development Corporation, Chicanos por la Causa, Inc. Other lead partners are San Antonio-based National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, Acción Texas, Inc., also based in San Antonio, and Valley Economic Development Center in Los Angeles. Collectively, they, along with a national network of non-profit organizations, will:

Provide culturally- and linguistically-relevant, small business development services to 5,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs;

Supply $50 million in small business lending (loans above $50,000);

Leverage $15 million in financing for economic development projects in neighborhood-based, small business districts;

Provide training and technical support to 200 non-profit practitioners to advance the readiness of specific entrepreneurship-related programs and projects.

“Latino entrepreneurs are an important pillar of the U.S. economy and a key to on-going economic recovery,” said Noel Poyo, executive director of the National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB). “Our ‘Commitment to Action’ to CGI America will generate small business growth, create jobs and galvanize the NALCAB Entrepreneurship Program started in 2011.”

The Initiative is a testament to former President Bill Clinton’s commitment to use his influence to support important causes and to ensure that his legacy extends far beyond his presidency.

The CGI has brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, and major philanthropists to develop “Commitments to Action.” To date, CGI members have made more than 2,300 commitments, which have improved the lives of over 400 million people. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at more than $73.1 billion.

See this story in print here:

Click here for iPad optimized version

The expenses you incurred while doing charitable work are deductible. For example, if you used your car to carry out the work, you can deduct up to 14 cents a mile. You also can claim supplies you bought for the charitable endeavor.

If you spent any time looking for a job, the costs associated with that search could be deductible. This applies even if you are currently employed. The exception would be college students seeking their first job. Examples of deductible costs include resume preparation fees and outplacement agency costs.

Be aware, however, that the total value of these costs, along with certain other itemized costs, must exceed two percent of your adjusted gross income before they can be claimed. 

The Child and Dependent Care Credit helps cover the costs of after-school day care for your child or children, but, did you know you can also claim the costs of summer day camp? The proviso is that the summer camp is for day camp, not overnight camp costs. Also, if you have adult dependents who need care so you can work, those expenses also can be claimed.

Medical costs are a reliable source of deductions if the taxpayer can reach the 7.5 percent threshold of adjusted gross income. Self-employed taxpayers, who are not covered by other employer-paid plans, can deduct 100 percent of their health insurance premiums.

Moderate- and low-income taxpayers can claim tax savings for contributing to a retirement account, such as an IRA or a workplace retirement plan. The Retirement Savings Contribution Credit offers a tax savings of up to 50 percent of the first $2,000 you put into such accounts. This could result in a $1,000 tax credit for you. Eligibility is based on your adjusted gross income. The income limits to qualify are $57,500 for married filing jointly, $43,125 for head of household filers and $28,750 for single filers or married filing separately.

Don’t forget to investigate various education credits that offer tax-saving options, including the Lifetime Learning Credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit. Some filers will be able to claim up to $4,000 through various education credits.

See this story in print here:

Click here for iPad optimized version

The Colorado River meanders 1,450 miles, out from the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and down through Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California. 

The river crosses the border with Mexico where it forms a delta at its hydrological termination point in the Sea of Cortez. However, because of heavy usage of the water upriver, the flow now ends about 75 miles short of its former route. The Colorado River Delta’s demise has turned the once-lush habitat into a large, dry mud flat.

However, a new, historic water-use agreement between the United States and Mexico seeks to change that scenario and restore the delta, to the delight of environmentalists in the U.S. and Mexico who had a hand in creating the pact.

“The delta at one time was enormous. If it were in existence today, I would speculate that it would be one of the eight wonders of the world; it was that massive and impressive a place,” says Patrick Graham with the Nature Conservancy in Arizona.  

The Colorado is an important water source for urban areas, agriculture and recreational use by almost 40 million people on, or near, the watershed. The flow is controlled by a system of dams, reservoirs and aqueducts. 

The majority of the time, the delta is dry, as it has been since the Glen Canyon Dam in Page started holding back water in 1960. The new agreement will add a thousand times more water to the delta over the five-year period of the pact. The river could begin delivering more water to the delta as early as spring, 2013. 

That’s welcome news to Mexican conservationists, like Francisco Zamora, who directs the Sonoran Institute’s Colorado River Delta Legacy Program in Tucson. The Sonoran Institute also has offices in other western U.S. states and in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. He’s already seen how the delta can flourish when the water flows. His volunteers planted trees in the area last year, irrigated them with just a little water and watched as the trees quickly bloomed. 

Conservationists in both countries predict that the increased flow will produce wetland habitat for many fish, birds and mammals, like bobcat and beavers. Zamora is optimistic  that commercial fishing and recreation in the delta will undergo a resurgence. 

The bilateral agreement is also an excellent example of two countries being good neighbors for their mutual benefit, Zamora adds. “And that’s why the delta is a good example of hope,” he says.

See this story in print here:

Click here for iPad and Android optimized versions

Kayenta, Arizona. When you flip on a light switch or open a faucet for water, you are probably unaware that your electricity and water come directly from coal mines and aquifers on the Navajo Reservation in northeastern Arizona. 

 Millions of city residents in Phoenix, Tucson, Las Vegas and Los Angeles don’t know, and likely don’t care, that Navajo natural resources from the Black Mesa coal mine near Kayenta are used to generate electricity for their city lights. 

In addition, this electricity is sent to U.S. Bureau of Reclamation facilities, which use it to power the Central Arizona Project that delivers water to our household taps, as well as to irrigate the fields where the vegetables and fruits we eat are grown.

However, some Navajo Reservation residents and activists do care. They claim they are getting sick from breathing the hazy air that drifts across their land from the smokestacks at the Navajo Generating Station (NGR) near Page.

Activists and their allies also worry about the depletion of the Reservation’s aquifers and the Colorado River water they need for their families to drink and for growing their own crops. 

These fears have motivated the formation of coalitions among Black Mesa area residents, local grassroots groups, such as the Black Mesa Water Coalition (BMWC), and national organizations, such as the Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Trust and Indigenous Environmental Network. 

These groups and others are working together to develop a vision and action plan for a sustainable future.

Seeking Latino allies

Now the Navajo activists are uniting with Latino organizations, such as Puente and Tonatierra in Phoenix and similar advocacy groups in Tucson. Latinos comprise 41 percent of Phoenix city residents and 41.6 percent of Tucson residents. Latinos comprise 34.1 percent of the population in the Phoenix metropolitan area, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. 

“In December or January we have a mural project planned in Phoenix to draw attention to our situation,” says Jihan Gearon, executive director of the Black Mesa Water Coalition. 

She adds that their long-term strategy involves engaging the Latino community to use their growing political power to achieve some major changes for the Navajo people. 

While the immigration issue gave Latinos the motivation to vote in record numbers in the 2012 election – putting many swing states with high Latino populations in President Barack Obama’s win column –  Native American activists believe that their issues concerning clean energy and economic parity on the Reservation will become the hot issues of the future for Latino voters in Arizona and nationwide. 

Navajo coalition members realize that the time is right to seize opportunities to make the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner electricity-generating sources, such as solar and wind.

The potential of generating clean energy from renewable resources presents tribes with an opportunity to create jobs, as well as to protect the natural and cultural resources on reservation lands. 

According to a report from the National Tribal Environmental Council and Intertribal Council on Utility Policy, Southwest tribal lands have the potential to produce 17.6 trillion kilowatt hours of electricity annually from solar power, about 4.5 times the total amount of electricity generated in the United States in 2004. 

The coalition is introducing a new concept they call the “Just Transition Plan” to the Navajo Tribal Council and to residents in small town meetings in Navajo communities.

The “Just Transition Plan” focuses on the interests of the Black Mesa community members instead of those of the big corporations. The blueprint calls for the development of solar and wind energy facilities to replace coal-fueled power plants. 

“Our goal is to not just shut down the coal mines,” says Wahleah Johns, the Black Mesa solar project coordinator for the BMWC, as we drive in a van toward the Black Mesa coal mine on winding, washboard-rutted dirt roads. “We understand that there has to be a transition to something more sustainable.”

The elevations on the Navajo reservation range from 3,900 to 6,500 feet. The stark geography consists of multi-hued flats, buttes and mesas dotted with juniper and pine woodlands. Winds brisk enough to snatch baseball caps off heads sweep from the hills through the flat valleys.  

Johns says that the corporations pay millions of dollars in royalties to the Navajo tribal government to use the tribe’s natural resources. “The tribal government benefits, but it doesn’t get to the people. We want to create a new model of economic development for community members.” 

She adds that sites on Navajo lands are being evaluated for their future wind and solar energy potential. Lands on, or near, the coal mine that have been reconditioned into landfills with grass after the coal extraction can be used as locations for solar panels to generate electricity. Johns says the reclaimed land is no good for grazing cattle and sheep because the animals get sick. Moreover, the landfills already have roads leading to them. 

“We want to create a model in which a solar developer partners with the people for solar panels, and the people earn money by selling the extra electricity they don’t use to the utilities,” Johns says. 

The Navajo tribal government is also looking at developing alternative energy. Eighty miles west of Flagstaff, the Navajo Nation is developing the Big Boquillas Wind Project, with the construction of 48 turbines. 

The tribe also has weather-measuring towers in Cameron and are considering another wind site and possible solar-utility project in the Four Corners area.

Tale of colliding values

Gearon and Johns say there is an important, non-economic imperative that drives their passion to end the coal mining and eventually close down the Navajo Generating Station. 

As Native people with a deep love and spiritual connection to the land and Mother Earth, they need to get back to being stewards of the resources provided by the sun and wind, they say.

High economic stakes

The stakes are high in the struggle between old and new energy sources, old and new economic development models, and the often colliding values of modern capitalism and Native American spiritual values and their special relationship to their lands.

There’s also big money involved. 

The coalition of environmental activists has convinced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to order the Navajo Generating Station to install $1 billion worth of pollution-filtering devices or shut down.The NGS is operated by a group of regional utilities and SRP.

The region could suffer a big economic hit as a result of NGS’ closure

A National Renewable Energy Laboratory report found that, in the past 23 years, the Peabody Coal Co. paid about $50 million annually to the Navajo and nearby Hopi tribes, totaling nearly $1.3 billion. 

In 2010, the total tribal payments for coal royalties were $34.4 million and coal bonuses for the two tribes totaled $5 million. 

The same report found that wages and benefits paid to the 400 Navajo employees was $52 million annually. The average NGS job pays about $35/hour, twice the rate of other jobs in the county. On a reservation where unemployment runs close to 50 percent, these jobs are sorely needed, say tribal government and SRP officials. 

Environmental activists counter that 400 jobs in a tribe with 174,000 members is insignificant. 

A recent study by the William Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University found that the power plant and mine would have a $20.5 billion impact on Arizona through 2044.

Paul Astapuk, SRP general manager of the NGS in Page, said that the three electricity generating units there send out power for millions people served by the utility companies in the plant’s consortium. He said that, in the summer of 2011, Valley households and businesses set a record for electricity use. These consumers and millions of other residents using the electricity NGS sends wouldn’t like it if their power were reduced.

“We are under certain threats that could shut down this plant prematurely,” Astapuk says, referring to EPA pressure to install more pollution controls.  

The NGS spokesman said that SRP has invested in renewable energy sources like wind and solar. 

However, Astapuk says, “Keep in mind that solar and wind is more expensive and less cost efficient right now.” 

He further notes that these two kinds of power generation also impact land and wildlife. Large amounts of land are needed for hundreds of solar panels and wind towers with whirling blades. Some reservation residents have already warned that the wind tower blades will kill birds that fly into them, he says.

There is probably no easy solution to the face-off between reservation residents and environmentalists in Navajo land. 

However, in Arizona, the great potential of tribal land to generate clean energy means that the tribe can take a big role in providing global warming solutions. It also has the opportunity to mark its own path to future energy independence.

See this story in print here:

Click here for iPad and Android optimized versions

Chances are you have read plenty of advice about how to run a business. It’s easy to find helpful hints and inspiring success stories. But, what about the mistakes you should take care to avoid?

As a banker, I’ve seen well-intentioned, capable small-business owners face some of the same challenges in a wide range of fields. To help you learn from their experiences, I’d like to share with you the six biggest lessons these business owners have revealed to us. Each of the six missteps are preventable, from strategic decision-making to everyday banking:

1. Going at it alone

Some entrepreneurs trust only themselves, a partner or a spouse when facing key decisions. However, it’s best to include at least three other people in your decision-making: an attorney, a CPA and a financial advisor or banker. This team of advisors should be dedicated to helping you succeed and communicating with each other to accomplish this goal. Without their specialized expertise, you may not have the experience you need to understand all your options and choose the right path. 

2. Wearing all the hats

“If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself” may sometimes be true and, for a cash-strapped start-up, it’s certainly cheaper. But, as your business grows, it’s essential to get help. Responsibilities, such as bookkeeping, taxes and payroll, take up time you could spend serving your customers. Even more   importantly, getting them wrong can be dangerous. Hiring a professional not only helps prevent errors, but shifts much of the risk to someone else.

3. Keeping your head down

Focus and dedication are watchwords for the successful entrepreneur. But business owners also need to make time to seek wisdom in the wider world. For example, some business owners may not be aware that there’s a fairly simple way to get their website ranked higher on Internet searches. If you are seeking wisdom every day, this is the kind of useful information you will find. Research and planning for the future can seem like secondary concerns, especially when you’re not sure where to go for information. Whether your quest for knowledge includes on-line research, trade shows, Chamber meetings or networking with peers, it’s a vital investment to make. Otherwise, you risk missing out on ways to improve your business, such as funding opportunities for small businesses or educational resources to help you tackle tomorrow’s challenges.

4. Running lean on cash

Small businesses need at least three months of cash flow in reserve to be ready for seasonal fluctuations or the inevitable dry spell. It is often difficult to do so, especially if you developed frugal habits when you were just getting started. Making a commitment to put cash away monthly can help, and so can a line of credit. Think of it as a sort of insurance policy: if you don’t make the investment, the results could be devastating.

5. Avoiding credit applications

This mistake is a close cousin to the one above. Minimizing your debt may be a good goal for your personal life, but most businesses will require some level of borrowing capacity at some point. Applying for credit before you actually need it, and making a point of tapping your credit regularly and repaying promptly, will help you build a solid credit history and a source of ready cash when you do need it. In many cases, if you wait until you actually need credit, it can be harder to get.

6. Combining accounts

Not separating business and personal accounts is a common error. It’s an easy one to make when you’re starting out and want to “keep it simple.” However, comingling your credit cards and bank accounts makes it nearly impossible to get a sense of your business cash flow. It’s even worse for doing your taxes, let alone justifying business expenses in case of an audit. Establishing dedicated business accounts lets you start building a credit history in the business’ name, which can make it easier to secure financing.

Do any of these sound familiar? To avoid these and other pitfalls, take a long look at the way you work, and make sure you are following business practices that will keep your business headed towards success.

Milton Dellossier is an assistant vice president and regional diverse segments manager for Wells Fargo. He relocated from Juarez, Mexico, to Arizona in 1999 to pursue a degree in business management from Arizona State University. He serves on the board of directors of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Arizona State University Hispanic Business Alumni, Community Housing Resources of Arizona, the Arizona Foreclosure Prevention Task Force and the Hispanic Women’s Corporation.

See this story in print here:

Click here for iPad and Android optimized versions

What about nationally? In observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), the U.S. Census Bureau compiles a collection of statistics drawn from several sources within its demographic and economic data sets to help set the backdrop, and provide context, for the celebration. Here are some select facts and figures. 

Population

52 million

The Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2011, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or racial minority. Hispanics constituted 16.7 percent of the nation’s total population. In addition, there are 3.7 million residents of Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory.

Source: 2011 Population Estimates 

1.3 million

Number of Hispanics added to the nation’s population between July 1, 2010, and July 1, 2011. This number is more than half of the approximately 2.3 million added to the nation’s overall population during this period.

Source: 2011 Population Estimates: National Characteristics: Population by Sex, Race, and Hispanic origin

2.5%  

Percentage increase in the Hispanic population between 2010 and 2011.

Source: 2011 Population Estimates National Characteristics: Population by Sex, Race, and Hispanic origin

132.8 million  

The projected Hispanic population of the United States by July 1, 2050. According to this projection, Hispanics will constitute 30 percent of the nation’s population by that date.

Source: Population Projections 

50.5 million

The number of Hispanics counted during the 2010 Census. This was about a 43 percent increase from the Hispanic population reported in the 2000 Census, which was 35.3 million.

Source: The Hispanic Population: 2010

2nd  

Ranking of the size of the U.S. Hispanic population worldwide, as of 2010. Only Mexico

(112 million) had a larger Hispanic population than the United States (50.5 million).

Source: International Data Base

63%

The percentage of people of Hispanic origin in the United States who were of Mexican background in 2010. Another 9.2 percent were of Puerto Rican background, 3.5 percent Cuban, 3.3 percent Salvadoran and 2.8 percent Dominican. The remainder were of some other Central American, South American or other Hispanic/Latino origin.

Source: The Hispanic Population: 2010

Names

4

The number of Hispanic surnames ranked among the 15 most common in 2000. It was the first time that a Hispanic surname reached the top 15 during a census. Garcia was the most common Hispanic surname, occurring 858,289 times and placing eighth on the list, up from 18th place in 1990. Rodriguez (ninth), Martinez (11th) and Hernandez (15th) were the next most common Hispanic surnames.

Source: Census 2000 Genealogy

See this story in print here:

Click here for iPad and Android optimized versions

]]> http://latinopm.com/business/briefcase/lets-go-over-the-numbers-15051/feed 0