Investment in entrepreneurship through a Southern Arizona Public Bank would be a great boon to the local economy and would foster creation of new businesses at the University of Arizona Tech Park and across the region. Spin-off businesses from the UA offer some of the best jobs in the area. With all of our scientists, artists, musicians, academics, environmentalists, and activists, Tucson could be the “Athens of the West”– instead of the “Dusty Pueblo”– if we harness the power of public banking to grow our own local businesses by playing to our community’s strengths.
This is an excerpt from a talk at the Unitarian Universalists Church of Tucson on Sept. 6, 2015. Pamela Powers Hannley announced her candidacy for the Arizona House in this speech.