High quality jobs will bring with them additional economic development. So, what are your plans to bring quality employeers to Maricopa; jobs that are not limited to low wage retail and service jobs.
Attracting companies that bring high quality jobs is a multi-faceted effort. It takes many different things that culminate in an attractive location for a potential new locate or relocation of a company. Among the things a company will be looking for are:
Quality K-12 education
Higher Education
Low crime rates
Appropriate Real Estate and lease costs
Tax / Financing Incentives
Competent, educated work force
Recreation facilities and programs
Advanced Internet access including high-speed connectivity
Entertainment activities such as restaurants, fine arts, movie theaters, a bowling alley, golf course, etc.
Available mid-level shopping (Kohl's, TJMaxx, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.)
Transportation Connectivity (Major airport, rail, inland port, freeway access)
Health Care services including specialized health care and hospital care
As you can see this list includes more than what just the City of Maricopa can provide. The real task is to make the development of these things easy and create a culture of improved business development.
I have suggested, and will be presenting to the City Council at our Strategic Planning session this next week my four initiatives that are all focused on improving the economic development climate in Maricopa. My entire platform is centered around the ability to attract development and create jobs.
The YES initiative is a shift in customer service philosophy from an "organization first" to a "business first" mentality at City Hall. It is impossible to remove the retail/service sectors from consideration when you are looking to attract higher level employment. I believe that we have inherent processes that scare the service sector companies from pursuing opportunity in Maricopa after they initially meet with the city. This has to change.
My ProjectConnect program is essentially the task of bringing a master developer on staff at the city. A master developer will have both the engineering and economic development expertise to bridge the gap between those departments at city hall. They will also have experts to help in facilitating and engaging private entities who would partner with the city to make development of city projects move faster as well as finding alternative financing options to help with budgetary constraints.
347 NOW proposes an incentive-based program to jump start the 347 corridor development, going so far as the city potentially purchasing property and doing a development for lease to lower lease rates along the 347 and make the other developments more competitive. It is just as frustrating for me to see businesses close in Maricopa and until there are comparable opportunities, current owners will charge inflated prices. This goes to the heart of bringing both mid-level shopping and entertainment to Maricopa. Each is absolutely essential to attracting higher level employment.
Finally my Charter City idea gives the city the best opportunity to create incentives for businesses and gives us flexibility to act quickly on planning and zoning issues. Currently we are a Title 9 city and are bound by very strict state requirements. Cities like Tempe and Chandler, which are both Charter Cities can do much more because they have written it into their city charters. The state grants charters more flexibility because the citizens are highly involved in developing the charter and it requires a city-wide vote to pass.
There is no magic bullet to attracting good companies with good jobs. It is a list of things that companies look for and we are currently in the process of bringing many of those things online. For over three years I have championed getting all of our city projects moving. Banner has broken ground on the health center. Central Arizona College is breaking ground in December. The city has hired the Construction Manager at Risk for the City Hall complex and we are beginning the staging of the Sports Fields/Multi-Generational center at Bowlin road and 347.
As Mayor, I will continue to press for a more expeditious process in getting these amenities completed. I will also engage the education community and continue to develop essential partnerships with MUSD, Charter Schools, Home School families, and Central Arizona College. I will be proactive in developing incentive strategies that make sense for both companies and the city and will seek new, never thought of options.
My biggest goal for the next two years is to get Maricopa attractive. We must put our best foot forward.
