SAFFORD — The next Graham County Chamber of Commerce mixer will give small business owners the opportunity to learn how to take their business to the next level.
The Chamber will host the mixer Thursday, from 5-7 p.m., focusing on Moonshot.
“If you’re an entrepreneur, if you’re someone who has an idea for a project, if you’re someone who is interested in mentoring entrepreneurs, or maybe you’re doing business and you would like to connect with individual entrepreneurs, come to the mixer,” said Chamber board Vice President Royce Hunt-Bell.
Moonshot is a statewide nonprofit with the goal of helping small business owners expand their businesses or get a business off the ground.
During the local competition, which is open to owners of businesses registered in Graham or Greenlee counties, entrepreneurs work with coaches on how to “pitch” their business, refining the pitch to a final five-minute presentation that will then be judged by the coaches. The winner of the local event will receive a cash prize for their business, and move on for a chance at $10,000 at the state final Oct. 24 in Phoenix.
The local Moonshot competition will take place July 23 in the Lee Little Theater at EAC, and is co-sponsored by the Chamber and the Small Business Development Center at Eastern Arizona College.
Thursday’s mixer, with more information about Moonshot, is free to attend for Chamber members and $20 for non-Chamber members. Representatives from Moonshot, the Arizona Community Investment Corporation and Arizona Commerce Authority, as well as the Chamber and SBDC will be on hand to answer any questions.
Previous Graham/Greenlee Moonshot winners:
- 2023 — Royce Hunt-Bell, owner of Roycycled Treasures decoupage papers, stencils, art journals and instruction
- 2024 — Matthew Artman, owner of Arcane Gear hunting accessories
- 2025 — CIO John Whitman and CEO Steven Taylor, Nexus Health AI LLC
Editor’s note: Royce Hunt-Bell is the wife of reporter David Bell. This story was updated at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2026, with the location of the local Moonshot competition.
