Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law went into effect a week ago, albeit with its most contested provisions blocked until November, at least. But the law’s economic impact on the state may be lingering. After the law was announced, boycotts of the state sprang up around the country, and officials from the tourism industry worried they’d be hard hit, issuing a statement in May that the law “could easily have a devastating effect on visitation to our state.”  According to at least one metric, the boycotts did make an impact. The Arizona Republic reported this week that fewer companies and organizations are choosing Arizona to host conventions and meetings in the state because of the law:

• Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association chief executive Debbie Johnson says the state has lost about 40 conventions and $15 million so far. And she says that’s “a lowball guess.”
• Johnson says if there’s one bright spot, hotel bookings are up from last year.
• Convention organizers say it will take a lot of work to rebuild the state’s tattered image over immigration.

The state’s reputation was damaged further among the immigrant population, experts said. About 460,000 illegal immigrants wereestimated to live in Arizona in 2009. Hard numbers are impossible to come by, but anecdotal evidence for immigrants fleeing the state is rife in the press. USA Today reported unusual drops in enrollment at elementary schools, while Reuters wrote that many immigrants held yard sales to get rid of their belongings before fleeing. Local businesses are hurting — they have fewer customers and employees as people leave Arizona, according to the Los Angeles Times.  Click here for full report from Washington Independent…