The Process & The Results

SOUTHERN ARIZONA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLE

SOUTHERN ARIZONA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ROUNDTABLE

The Roundtable was held on July 26, 2012 with over 100 attendees representing 5 counties:

• Cochise County• Graham County• Greenlee County• Santa Cruz County• Pima County

Idea

Idea

Idea

Idea

?

?

??

Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation

Area Chambers Fort Huachuca Education: Private & Public (Higher Education & K-12) Elected Officials

- Towns/Cities/County- Councils- Mayors- Board of Supervisors- Industry Development Experts- Economic Developers- Arizona Association for Economic

Development (AAED)- Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA)

County Managers Commercial Developers Businesses Workforce City Managers SouthEastern Arizona Governments

Organization SEAGO Small Business Development Center

(SBDC) Huachuca 50

PARTICIPANT REPRESENTATION

Issues

Answers Reflection

Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation

AGENDA

Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation

What entities in the region could assist?

Funding

What steps should be taken to solve the issue?

✓

5

4

Topics of Discussion:

Advocating for enabling statewide public policy to encourage economic development.

What are the opportunities if the issue is solved?

Funding

What are the challenges? (Identify specific issues within the topic)

Workforce Readiness (educating, training & retaining the current labor pool)

What are the obstacles to solving the issue?

✓

3

2

1

3

2

1

Each group was asked to identify the following:

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

✓

Participants were sent a survey asking for the top three priorities to be discussed prior to attending the session.

the Southern Arizona Economic Development Roundtable was a success with remarkable attendance & a group of professionals ready to pinpoint the most pertinent issues in present-day industries.

Public Policy

Funding

Education & Training

Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation

RESULTS

In an effort to create a regional focus, increase the presence at a state level & understand rural needs & differences:1. Coordinate efforts regionally2. Communicate to elected officials3. Identify resources within communities4. Identify border issues / advantages5. Create new tools & programs specifically to address retention & expansion

Advocating For Enabling Statewide Public Policy to Encourage Economic Development

Transient nature of the region is a reality:1. Education2. Job training3. Knowing labor market needs4. Technical / vocational training5. Internships

Workforce Readiness: Educating, Training & Retaining

1. Access to capital2. Lack of knowledge of available resources3. Alternative funding opportunities

Funding

1

2

3

Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation

THANK YOU!