Gilbert Sun News; August 2015 - Community

Back to school Chance Lopez gives a ‘thumbs-up’ to firefighters Jesse Flocken and Justin Hawley.

Gilbert High student rubs elbows with first lady

BY PATTY TALAHONGVA

Fifteen-year-old Josiah Lester is reveling in a summer vacation that most adults would envy. The Gilbert High School student spent the summer learning how to be a TV news anchor, visiting France and Germany and then returning stateside to attend a meeting in Washington, D.C., where he was hugged by first lady Michele Obama who also offered words of encouragement.

“‘Keep your grades up,’” Josiah recalled Obama telling him. “‘Don’t ever give up on what you want to be.’” Josiah is Navajo and was part of the first White House Tribal Youth Gathering held July 9 in Washington, D.C. He was one of more than 1,000 youth from 230 tribes and 42 states who attended the WHTYG. This See STUDENT page 6

Town wants drivers to stay safe

BY KEN ABRAMCZYK

Gilbert officials have started a public safety awareness campaign to curb accidents caused by distracted drivers.

The campaign reminds motorists to “Speed down. Eyes up. Drive Safely.”

Mayor John Lewis said Police Chief Tim Dorn came up with the idea for the campaign when Dorn noticed the number of distracted-driving traffic collisions increasing.

“Thirty-three percent of accidents were due to distracted driving,” Lewis said.

In conjunction with the campaign, the Gilbert Police Department stepped up traffic enforcement on the Santan Freeway corridor between Val Vista and Williams Field roads, and along the Val Vista corridor between Baseline and Elliot roads.

The chief created the idea based on the suggestion of a Gilbert youth taskforce

who recommended a “don’t text while driving” campaign, Lewis said.

Sgt. Jesse Sanger said he did not know why collisions increased in the two designated areas on Santan Freeway and Val Vista. “They are highly populated with more traffic,” Sanger said.

He cited as an example two vehicles

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14 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Home for Sale

GILBERT, AZ - According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the eleven most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale.

Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 14 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That’s why it’s critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away

altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you’re looking for, and knowing what you’re looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

To help homesellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled “14 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection” has been compiled which explains the issues involved.

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7 Things You Must Know Before Putting Your Home Up for Sale

Gilbert, AZ - A new report has just been released which reveals 7 costly mistakes that most homeowners make when selling their home, and a 9 Step System that can help you sell your home fast and for the most amount of money. This industry report shows clearly how the traditional ways of selling homes have become increasingly less and less effective in today’s market. The fact of the matter is that fully three quarters of home sellers don’t get what they want for their homes and become disillusioned and - worse - financially disadvantaged when they put their homes on the market. As this report uncovers, most home sellers make 7 deadly mistakes that cost them literally thousands of dollars. The good news is that each and every one of these mistakes entirely preventable. In answer to this issue, industry insiders have prepared a free special report entitled “The 9 Step System to Get Your Home Sold Fast and For Top Dollar”. To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report, call toll-free, 1-800-303-3049 and enter 8009. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Get your free special report NOW to find out how you can get the most money for your home.

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Fire engine part of fun at Groves’ community day

The Groves Bar and Grill will hold a family/community appreciation day Aug. 8, complete with Gilbert Fire Department engines, games, raffle prizes, hot dogs and more.

The restaurant, located at 323 S. Gilbert Rd., has scheduled the event for 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Games include balloon darts and toss,

face painting, bobbing for apples and a ring toss.

Owned by Chris and Tony Edwards, The Groves Bar and Grill was established more than six years ago and specializes in homecooked, made-from-scratch meals in its plantation setting.

For more information, call (480) 307-8477 or visit www.thegrovesbarandgrill.com.

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Pregnancy Care Centers planning fall banquet

The Pregnancy Care Centers of Gilbert and Chandler are hosting their fall banquet Thursday, Sept. 17, with guest speaker Claire Culwell, a pro-life advocate.

Starting at 6 p.m., the event will be held at Bella Rose Estate, 1380 S. Price Rd., Chandler. Ticket prices are $50 or $450 for a table of 10 and can be purchased by calling (480) 374-2994.

The Pregnancy Care Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that assists women and girls facing an unplanned pregnancy. PCC provides the following free services: pregnancy tests, options counseling, referrals and ultrasounds.

Clients who choose to parent can also participate in the Learn and Earn program. This program includes prenatal, parenting

and life skills classes. They earn credit toward acquiring new baby items from the centers’ boutique.

The Pregnancy Care Center opened a second center on June 8 in Gilbert. The address is 894 E. Warner Rd., Suite 103. The Chandler location is at 590 N. Alma School Rd., Suite 20. The pregnancy centers are funded through community donations, private donors and fundraising events.

that collided on Val Vista after one of the motorists ran a red light because she was distracted. Drivers turning left often rush to get through yellow lights, and they are hit by motorists who have a green light, Sanger explained.

“They get in accidents because they are in a hurry or they are distracted,” Sanger said.

The distractions go beyond using electronics like cellphones.

“They could be eating, putting on makeup or looking at a child in the back seat. We’re trying to eliminate every type of distracted driving,” Sanger said.

Lewis said most parents tell their children not to text and drive, but teenagers certainly can take the responsibility to tell their friends, too. “If they are texting and driving, they can say, ‘Hey, knock it off,’” Lewis said.

Sanger said officers are conducting traffic stops and, sometimes, educating the drivers, rather than writing tickets. The message often is to slow down.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries and tragedy that could have been avoided,” Sanger said. “Pay attention. When you drive through a light at 45 or 50 miles an hour, it’s pretty dangerous.”

“They know they can’t drive distracted, yet they still do it. It’s still an issue.”

Diamondbacks’ support

historic meeting came after President Barack Obama and the first lady visited the Standing Rock Sioux reservation last summer in North Dakota. There they met privately with six youth and said they were shocked to hear about the challenges Native youth face every day such as extreme rates of suicide, behavioral health and housing issues.

The president directed his cabinet members to hold listening sessions on tribal reservations to discuss economic opportunity, education, cultural and other issues. Last December the president announced the formation of Gen I, short for Generation Indigenous, and the summit.

“We want to give young Native Americans like them the support they deserve. We have to invest in them, and believe in them, and love them,” the president said at the time. “And if we do, there’s no question of the great things they can achieve, not just for their own families, but for their nation and for the United States.”

The gathering was aimed at youth and young adults up to age 24. Each Native youth at the event had to first accept the Gen I challenge to do something positive in their community. “Mine was reducing greenhouse gases and converting to more renewable energy,” Josiah said.

He made a personal commitment to reduce his use of fossil fuels and encourage others to do the same.

And while the president didn’t attend, the first lady did and she was greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation.

“I really liked the first lady’s speech,” he said, “how she was talking about overcoming challenges.”

The first lady also told the youth that she and the president “had their back” and talked about the importance of Native American cultures and traditions.

After her speech, Obama stepped down from the stage to shake hands with dozens of youth and Josiah was waiting for her. But instead of shaking his hand, the first lady reached around and hugged him. That’s when she whispered advice in his ear.

Josiah admitted to being a little shocked at not only meeting the first lady but also getting a hug and personal words of encouragement.

“I just smiled and said thank you.”

He did regain his composure quick enough to snap a selfie with the first lady in the background and immediately sent out text messages to his mother, aunts and friends.

Besides Obama, the youth also heard from several of the president’s cabinet secretaries, including Julian Castro

from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Sally Jewell from the Interior Department; and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Dr. John Herrington, the first tribally enrolled astronaut also addressed and encouraged the youth to stay focused to achieve their dreams.

Josiah’s trip to the WHTYG was funded by the Forward Promise College and Career Readiness Program, sponsored by the Phoenix Indian Center.

His trip to the nation’s capital left an impression. Although he’s toyed with majoring in culinary arts, mass communications or dentistry, he’s added another option to the list.

“Ever since seeing all the politicians, I’ve been thinking of something more for the community, even politics,” he said.

This taste of Washington politics came after spending a week at Northern Arizona University where he studied mass communications and anchored a high school student-produced newscast.

“I thought it was really interesting and I learned a lot more things about interviews and cameras,” he said.

He returned home in time to pack for a school trip to Europe. Josiah spent 10 days visiting cities such as Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Hamburg and Paris.

“I’ve been on a plane before but that was my first time going to another

country. I really liked the landmarks and the history,” he said.

He enjoyed learning about history while standing in the streets where the events happened.

“I liked the wars,” he said and then explained, “I learned more about Napoleon and the French Revolution.”

He also admired the architecture and the art.

“We went to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe.”

In Germany he enjoyed the food.

“I really liked their sausages,” Josiah said with a laugh. “They have all kinds of different sausages.”

Much of his travel was also possible because of fund-raising his family did by selling Navajo tacos. He was also thankful for people who sent him donations to travel.

“This summer was the best I’ve had so far,” he said.

He doesn’t know how he’s going to top this next summer, but he’s already thinking about what’s next. First though, he said he’s busy writing thank-you notes.

Arizona Corpsman deploys to Middle East

Since June 17, 1889, sailors of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps have been providing lifesaving care to the men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps. Marines have no medical services organic to their branch, but Navy Corpsmen have fought in every clime and place, right along their sides.

Petty Officer Third Class Ryan Holmes, platoon corpsman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central Command, continues this 117-year tradition of providing medical care to Marines in combat.

Holmes first considered joining the military his senior year at Higley High School. He was accepted by many colleges, but didn’t have an idea of what he wanted to study. He said the military seemed like the best option for him while he figured out his future education plans.

“I remember a friend of mine wanted to join the military and asked me for a ride to the recruiter’s office,” he said. “While my friend wound up not being able to join for medical reasons, that’s how I got started talking to recruiters.”

Holmes explained that when he joined the delayed entry program he chose search and rescue swimmer as his military occupational specialty (MOS).

Unfortunately he found out during his time in the program that he was color blind, requiring him to change his MOS.

“I chose corpsman because it was another lifesaving MOS,” he said. “I wanted to be able to take pride in the fact I was helping other people. Being responsible for other people’s lives seemed like it would be worthwhile.”

Holmes shipped to Navy recruit training aboard Naval Station Great Lakes, Aug. 14, 2011, where he became a basically trained sailor.

Upon graduation from recruit training Oct. 7, 2011, Holmes attended Navy Hospital Corps School, also aboard Naval Station Great Lakes. There he learned basic medical techniques and procedures across a broad spectrum of medical disciplines.

“When you graduate from corps school, you choose what field you want to specialize in,” Holmes said. “Many of my instructors through corps school were infantry corpsmen, which influenced my decision to become a field medical technician. Since choices are based on your class grade point average and I had one of the higher GPAs in my class, I got my first choice.”

Holmes then went to Field Medical Training Battalion (FMTB) aboard Marine

Third Class

platoon corpsman

Lima

Marine Corps Regiment, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central Command, fires his M4 Carbine during a recent buddy rush training exercise in Southwest Asia. In addition to their mission of training allied nations in the CENTCOM Area of Operation, Marines with the SPMAGTF regularly conduct these training exercises to maintain their combat readiness. Submitted photo

Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from May to July 2012. FMTB takes the basic clinical knowledge sailors learned in corps school and applies it to a field environment.

There is a higher focus on emergency trauma care such as gunshot wounds or lost limbs, and simulating combat situations by forcing corpsmen to provide competent care in stressful situations.

“We got Doc Holmes just before the workup for this deployment,” said Lance Cpl. Trevor Meador, rifleman and team leader with Lima Company. “He came to us when we had our old corpsman, ‘Doc’ Stuggal, who handpicked him to join our platoon.”

“We kinda look at him as the ‘son of’ our old corpsman,” Meador added. “He had all the same qualities as our old doc, so he fit in right away.”

Medicine isn’t the only thing Holmes learned in FMTB, however. Because field medical technicians, or “green-side docs” work with Marines, they must also cover some of the same training Marines go through in their recruit training. This includes Marine Corps History, customs and courtesies, marksmanship training and close-order drill.

Holmes’ first duty station was at Naval Hospital Bremerton, Washington, from July 2012 to July 2014, where he worked in a family medicine department.

Meador explained that the Marines of his platoon see Holmes as very loyal which is a quality they like to see in their corpsman. He is very knowledgeable as a corpsman and is eager to share that knowledge with his Marines as well as learn infantry skills from them.

Holmes explained that if he had to do it all over again he would without a doubt make the same choice.

In July 2014, Holmes received orders to Marine Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, where he was attached to Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, and 7th Marine Regiment, which is currently deployed with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central Command.

“Joining the military was the best decision I ever made in my life,” he said “It gave me five years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, where I wanted to go, and figure out who I am more. If I didn’t join I would have just stayed at home and wasted time. This way I have been able to figure out what I want to do while still being productive. I now have college paid for, and am just a betterrounded person in general.”

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Gilbert Fire & Rescue helps kids with back-to-school shopping

Firefighters and civilian members of Gilbert Fire & Rescue assisted 50 children with their shopping before these kids headed back to school. Each child received a $100 gift card to purchase clothes and shoes from Kohl’s in Gilbert and also received a new backpack filled with school supplies. GSN photos by Tim Sealy

Town to hire 500 enumerators for special census

BY KENNETH LAFAVE

Gilbert’s growing pains will send 500 people to the streets come October, when a special census gauges the town’s population increase in the last five years.

“We estimate Gilbert has grown by at least 30,000 residents since the last census in 2010,” said Justine Bruno, management support analyst for the Town of Gilbert.

Though the official U.S. Census takes place only once every 10 years, special censuses are designated when a metropolitan area has evidenced substantial growth.

The U.S. Census gave Gilbert an official population of 208,453 in 2010. Gilbert’s population last year, based on other data, was estimated at just under 240,000.

Partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau, Gilbert is looking to hire 500 people for temporary full-time and part-time jobs canvassing the town. The canvassers will knock on the doors of some 93,000 Gilbert households—more than 180 households per worker, on average.

Gilbert will initially recruit 1,300 workers. The reason for the overhire is steep attrition in the training process, Bruno said. Those hired are administered a

test that not all pass, and have to undergo a three-day training process that results in some hires walking away.

Census takers—called “enumerators”— will be required to ask residents a series of questions.

“It’s about a 10-minute survey,” Bruno said. “The questions include how many people are in the household, male or female, what sort of unit they live in, how they are related to each other—spouse or child or boarder, for example—residents’ ages and what race or ethnicity.”

A new wrinkle in census-taking since 2010 is the issue of gender as a given, or as chosen. Bruno said the enumerators will accept the subject’s stated gender. The same will hold true for race.

In addition to traditional one-family homes, enumerators will visit “nursing homes, multi-family homes, and group homes.”

At the same time that Gilbert conducts its special census, one will be taking place in Chandler, as well. Chandler’s 2010 population was 236,326, with last year’s estimate coming in at 249,400. Though slightly larger than Gilbert, Chandler has not experienced a rate of growth over the

decades to equal its neighbor’s. In 1980, the census showed only 5,700 people living in Gilbert, compared to 30,000 living in Chandler. Since then, Gilbert has exploded to more than 40 times its population, while Chandler’s increase is closer to 8 times the 1980 figure. In addition to enumerators, the special census will require administrators, crew leaders to coordinate canvassing and

supervisors to run the operation. Hourly rates of pay will range from $12.25 and $19.25. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen and have a valid driver’s license.

To apply, contact Gilbert’s Human Resources Department via email at CensusJobs@gilbertaz.gov or call (480) 503-6522.

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Gilbert Police launch family violence unit

In May 2012, Gilbert experienced one of the worst incidences of loss of life in the town’s history.

J.T. Ready, a Gilbert resident, murdered four people, including a small infant, and then took his own life.

At that time, Police Chief Tim Dorn made a commitment to the community that his department would examine best practices in policing and domestic violence prevention. Dorn said he wanted to enhance police procedures and develop community partnerships to obtain services for victims of domestic violence and to identify offenders who demonstrate a potential for future acts of violence.

In January 2014, Gilbert police started a domestic violence lethality assessment program on all intimate partner domestic violence cases. The DVLA program was based on a recommendation made in 2013 by the East Valley Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team to address the potential risk of future lethal violence to a domestic violence victim. The program creates a risk assessment based on information gathered from victims regarding the controlling behavior of suspects.

St. Xavier hosts ribbon-cutting, celebration

The doors of St. Xavier University’s Gilbert campus are open after a ribboncutting ceremony and celebration. The long-anticipated campus in the heart of the heritage district is the first university in Gilbert and the first satellite campus for the Chicago-based Catholic university. During the grand opening ceremony, university President Dr. Christine Wiseman thanked Gilbert officials for their partnership and assistance in building the relationship that brought premier higher education to the area.

“It was not a business enterprise, it was really a relationship,” Wiseman said. “As leaders we embody that mission and as leaders of the town they embody the mission of the town and we couldn’t have found a better group of people to work with.”

Since the program’s implementation, there have been several success stories and accolades from judges, victims and advocates. To further address domestic violence concerns, the police department requested—and the Town Council approved—two police officers positions in the 2014-2015 budget and a sergeant position in the 2015-2016 budget to establish a Family Violence Unit. The unit was implemented in July.

Family Violence Unit officers Vic Perez and Brandon Wilson, under the leadership of Sgt. Mark Worden, have more than 30 combined years of law enforcement experience and will work with counselors assigned in Gilbert’s Youth and Adult Resources to provide investigative services and DVLA reviews on domestic violence cases in Gilbert.

The goal of the Family Violence Unit is to address domestic violence through a multidisciplinary approach and collaborative effort with the assistance of GYAR counselors, victim advocates and service agencies.

Gilbert police officials are confident the implementation of the Family Violence Unit will lead to success in addressing domestic violence in Gilbert.

Mayor John Lewis speaks during the ribboncutting event for St. Xavier University. Submitted photo

The building, located at 92 W. Vaughn Ave. (Saint Xavier Way), features modern classrooms, meeting spaces, testing centers and more. The school will start offering a variety of degree completion and graduate degree programs. Enrollment is open and students will start classes there this fall.

For more information about St. Xavier University or to register for classes, visit www.sxu.edu/gilbert.

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Sonora Quest offering Direct Access Testing statewide

BY TAMARA JUAREZ

In response to HB 2645, Sonora Quest Laboratories is providing the public with a new way to demand a variety of medical tests previously excluded from the Direct Access Testing List managed by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

“Sonora Quest Laboratories is excited to help consumers play a more active role in their health by offering laboratory testing in a convenient, efficient and confidential way,” said Sonora Quest Medical Director Dr. Robert Stern.

“One of our top priorities is to provide innovative solutions to drive improved health outcomes for our patients and their families.”

To accomplish this, Sonora Quest Laboratories introduced My Lab ReQuest, a new method of ordering and checking the status of Direct Access Tests. With My Lab ReQuest, consumers can order tests from an extensive menu, which includes screening for environmental/pollen allergies, diabetes, heart health, immunity and infectious diseases.

work with their health care providers to ensure that they get the most value and information out of their laboratory results.”

Within the past 20 years, Sonora Quest Laboratories expanded its reach, establishing 70 patient service centers throughout Arizona, serving consumers in rural and metropolitan areas. Sonora Quest Laboratories conducts more than 57 million diagnostic tests per year and is accredited by the College of American Pathologists, the gold standard in laboratory accreditation. All Direct Access Tests are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and ensure accurate patient diagnosis.

“Health care is rapidly evolving and we are committed to remaining the premier provider of innovative diagnostic testing and to continually evaluating new and innovative solutions for Arizona,” Stern said.

Sonora Quest Laboratories, part of the largest integrated laboratory system in the United States, serves more than 23,000 patients daily throughout Arizona.

“All tests are available via an easy online ordering form on our website or at any of our 70 patient service center locations, and are fully transparent with price clearly indicated for each test,” Stern said.

“Once completed, consumers have the choice of retrieving their results online through Sonora Quest’s Patient Portal or having them sent by email or postal mail. Once a test is ordered, average turnaround time on testing ranges from one to five days depending on the test and the method of delivery.”

Test prices range from $7 to $213 and depend on the type of test selected.

Sonora Quest Laboratories is committed to empowering consumers in Arizona to take control of their health and has prepared for the new age in health care consumerism and shifts in relationships between laboratories, patients and doctors. According to SB 2645, health care providers are not required to review test results, and private health insurance companies are not required to cover costs. Despite the controversy surrounding these points, Sonora Quest Laboratories is not worried about possible abuse from any party involved. Stern emphasized the importance of collaborative relationships.

“We remain convinced that the management of personal health is most effective when it involves a health care provider and see direct access testing as a tool that patients may use to take a more active role in understanding and managing their health,” Stern said.

“We actively encourage patients to

DELVING INTO SB 2645

The new Arizona health care law, effective July 3, allows consumers greater access to medical testing and control over their health. The law states various limitations and conditions:

• Consumers can order any lab test directly from licensed labs without a physician’s order

• Health care providers are not required to review or act on results of a lab test that the health care provider did not request, nor will they be subject to liability or disciplinary action for failure to review or act on test results not authorized by the health provider

• Private health insurance companies are not required to pay the costs of tests ordered by an Arizona resident.

• Test results must be delivered directly from the lab to the patient.

• Clinical laboratories are prohibited from filing claims for reimbursement for tests conducted without a health care provider’s request or written authorization.

Flake to meet with area businesses

BY KENNETH LAFAVE

Members of nine East Valley chambers of commerce will meet with Sen. Jeff Flake during an Aug. 28 breakfast at the Conference Center of the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Phoenix-Gilbert, 1800 S. San Tan Village Pkwy., in Gilbert.

Hosted by the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the SRP Good Government Series, the event will also include representatives from the chambers of Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Queen Creek, Carefree, Fountain Hills and Apache Junction. Admission for chamber members is $35; invited guests are $50 each. Breakfast will be served at

7:15 a.m., followed by discussion with the senator from 7:40 a.m. to 9 a.m.

“I am looking forward to speaking with members of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce,” Flake said in a statement.

“The Chamber does a great job advocating for business and commerce in Gilbert and the East Valley, and I appreciate the opportunity to hear from them.”

The breakfast promises “a candid, informational discussion on a variety of business-related topics.”

Kathy Tilque, president and CEO of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce since 1996, said the breakfast is the latest in a series of annual visits Flake has made to the assembled East Valley chambers.

“He’s an East Valley guy, so we’ve had a good relationship over the years,” Tilque said.

Born in Snowflake, Flake later lived in Mesa and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, representing Arizona’s sixth congressional district. The Republican remained in the House until 2012, when he was elected to the Senate, replacing Jon Kyl.

Staying aware of Washington politics is important to local businesses, Tilque said.

“We need to keep abreast of the bills and legislation that’s going forward. We

are very pro-active both with Sen. Flake and Sen. McCain.”

The breakfast affords a chance for East Valley business owners to meet with Flake, one on one.

“This allows Sen. Flake to meet with actual business people who are living and breathing the laws being passed in Washington,” Tilque said.

A good example of a federal law important at a local level is the ExportImport Bank reauthorization bill.

“We (the East Valley chambers of commerce) have been working with Sen. Flake on this,” Tilque added.

The Export-Import Bank is a federal institution that assists businesses with loans.

“It’s a federal bank for businesses that do exports. When banks limit loans, the Export-Import Bank can help out.”

Its existence is necessary, Tilque said, because many foreign competitors enjoy a similar kind of underwriting. The ExportImport Bank maintains a level playing field for American businesses.

“This is just one example of a very important issue that doesn’t get a lot of headline attention, yet is vital to businesses. Many have to have this line of credit to keep growing their businesses.”

And continued growth is the goal of every chamber of commerce.

“What events like this do is keep us in touch with how we can grow our economy, to not just keep jobs, but expand them. We need to work all the way up to the federal level to make that happen.”