Iām going to start out your Monday morning with some good news. This isnāt a column about Russian meddling in the election. Itās not about a looming trade war. Itās not about North Korea.
Instead Iām pleased to announce the launch of a new digital news platform that will focus on Arizona business news that too often gets overlooked by other media outlets, but that is critically important to understanding whatās driving todayās economy.
THEREāS GOOD NEWS OUT THERE IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK FOR IT
The media landscape is changing. You already know that. The likelihood that you picked up a newspaper from your driveway this morning is a lot lower than it was 10 years ago.
But our need for good, reliable information hasnāt changed. Weāre consuming news from dozens of outlets of every day to understand whatās happening in the world, the nation, and our neighborhood.
And yet newsrooms are shrinking, which means there are plenty of stories that are slipping through the cracks. A lot of that is good news about whatās happening in the business world: the innovations that are improving our lives, the leaders who are emerging to shape the future, the jobs being created in entirely new industries.
These stories donāt always get the airing they deserve. Thatās too bad. Theyāre important. They need to be told.
But Iām not talking just about the stuff that shows up in company press releases. Iām talking about the policies that are being debated each day that will determine whether Arizona enhances its competitiveness, or whether it makes growing a business here more difficult and more expensive.
Thatās why Iām so excited to announce today that the Āé¶¹¹ŁĶų Foundation is launchingĀ , your online destination for news and commentary from Arizonaās business community that will cover the issues and stories important to Arizonaās job creators.
We will unapologetically tell these stories through a Chamber perspective. Job creation is good for all of our citizens. Companies invested in Arizona are the backbone of our civic and volunteer life. If youāre looking for cynicism and clickbait, weāre not your source.
CHAMBER BUSINESS NEWS: BUSINESS IS OUR BEAT
Each afternoon, youāll get a brief email that looks at whatās happening in business and policy. I know youāre busy. I promise it will be a quick read. But it will also have a distinct voice and viewpoint that makes clear that enterprise, investment, and job creation is something worth talking about and worth celebrating. It will contain original reporting from our stable of writers, as well as a digest of stories from other news outlets. From technology, to tourism, to trade, weāre covering the issues driving our state.
And donāt worry, loyal readers. Youāll still get my regular commentaries on what Iām seeing from my perch as the leader of the Āé¶¹¹ŁĶų of Commerce and Industry. In fact, thereās even more Hamer content to come. Weāre launching a new online video show, Ham(m)er Time, where Iāll sit down for a freewheeling conversation with some of Arizonaās most fascinating business and policy leaders. Weāve already got a few episodes that will be released in the coming weeks that I know youāll enjoy.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK
I truly believe Āé¶¹¹ŁĶų is needed. All across Arizona every day, entrepreneurs are taking risks, established businesses are making big investments, and policy leaders are pulling levers to position our state for success.
Their stories arenāt always getting told, though. Āé¶¹¹ŁĶų will fill that gap and celebrate Arizonaās good news.
Thanks in advance for reading. Drop me a line and tell me what you think and tell me what stories you think need to be covered.





