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Southern Arizona Economic Development Roundtable. The Process & The Results. 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
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Southern Arizona Economic Development Roundtable The Process & The Results
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
Participant Representation • 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 Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation
Agenda Participants were sent a survey asking for the top three priorities to be discussed prior to attending the session. Topics of Discussion: Advocating for enabling statewide public policy to encourage economic development. ✓ Workforce Readiness (educating, training & retaining the current labor pool) ✓ 1 ✓ Funding 2 Each group was asked to identify the following: What are the challenges? (Identify specific issues within the topic) ✓ Funding 3 ✓ What are the obstacles to solving the issue? 1 ✓ What are the opportunities if the issue is solved? 4 2 ✓ What steps should be taken to solve the issue? 3 5 ✓ What entities in the region could assist? Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation
Public Policy Education & Training 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. Funding Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation
Results Advocating For Enabling Statewide Public Policy to Encourage Economic Development In an effort to create a regional focus, increase the presence at a state level & understand rural needs & differences: Coordinate efforts regionally Communicate to elected officials Identify resources within communities Identify border issues / advantages Create new tools & programs specifically to address retention & expansion 1 Workforce Readiness: Educating, Training & Retaining Transient nature of the region is a reality: Education Job training Knowing labor market needs Technical / vocational training Internships 2 Funding Access to capital Lack of knowledge of available resources Alternative funding opportunities 3 Sierra Vista Economic Development Foundation