Breaking News - Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation

Summit Eyes Economic Recovery

Jan. 20th, 2010
William Roller

What's next for the economy in Yuma County? Seeking an aligned strategic vision for the next three years, Yuma business and civic leaders convened Wednesday for the Yuma County Workforce and Economic Development Summit. The event was hosted by the Yuma Private Industry Council, a nonprofit that matches workers with employers' needs. Several dozen community leaders, including new Yuma Mayor Al Krieger, attended the forum at the Main Library. Development Summit II aimed to expand on ideas initiated at the first summit in 2001, said John Morales, YPIC executive director. "We know there's a turnaround from the current recession. So we want to focus on how we can best reposition Yuma for the new economy because a lot of the old jobs have disappeared. "We want to work together, private and public sectors, to increase wealth and make things better for working people." In 2001, Yuma was in the middle of a decade's growth curve, but the bubble burst beginning with the home mortgage crisis, Morales said. To expand prosperity, YPIC formed a partnership with the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corp. (GYEDC), the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Western College and Northern Arizona University-Yuma, as well as the Yuma city and county administrations. Despite chronically high unemployment, peaking at over 25 percent sometimes, the per capita income for Yuma has increased by 35 percent since 2001, while Arizona's per capita income increased only 25 percent, according to Roger Dale, principal of Natelson Dale Group, economic and financial consultants. Summit II wanted to examine a plan for the best way forward, he added. To do that, Dale posed five critical questions to answer: • Prior to recessions what was working and what was not? • What opportunities emerged from Yuma's growth? • What did the recession reveal about Yuma's weaknesses and strengths? • What are some corrective measures/marketable assets? • What other issues need to be addressed? On the plus side, some of Yuma's successful development has been new home construction and increased home value, additional retail, upgrades of infrastructure and a nascent solar industry, Dale pointed out. He also cited specific projects such as the new Main Library, Gila Ridge High School, the Aquatic Center, the General Motors test track at Yuma Proving Ground and Marine Corps Air Station Yuma's F-35 project as the type of initiatives Yuma needs to expand upon. But Dale cautioned that Yuma, despite its rich historical legacy, is still not a destination point for tourists. And while Yuma retains a rural feel with city amenities, is expanding health services at Yuma Regional Medical Center and has excellent public schools, it still lacks a truly four-year destination university. What needs to be addressed is the "brain drain" and offering greater incentives to keep home-grown professionals in the community, Dale said. There needs to be more arts and culture opportunities, and they need to be more extensively promoted. Also, local employers need to work on improving customer service skills because visitors are often critical of employees. Julie Engel, president of GYEDC, noted that new companies in Yuma have demanded higher level skills and they have created training and employment opportunities that did not exist before. One such success she cited is the Newlight solar project slated to begin construction this spring that is expected to be a $1 billion project. Both GYEDC and Yuma County have persuaded Newlight to assure the hiring of local subcontractors. Another boon to development has been the increase of short-term courses expanding at AWC as opposed to semester classes, Engel added. "AWC has really stepped up to the plate through its certificated programs and met the needs of local business. Yuma needs to embrace the big picture, and all its residents need to be the best ambassadors it has."

William Roller
Sun Staff Writer
The Sun
Jan. 20th, 2010

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