Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry today released a draft of the Pima County Economic Development Plan, 2015-2017.
The plan details 13 strategies and 92 specific actions the county
proposes to pursue to improve the regional economy. Among the strategies
are: Protecting and expanding existing major employers; Developing a
logistics, technology and aerospace corridor between interstate 19 and
10 south of Tucson International Airport; Increasing foreign direct
investment in the region, especially from Mexico; and capitalizing on
the research and innovation of Arizona’s three major universities.
“The 2015 through 2017 action plan is designed to guide the county’s
investments and policy actions to grow the local economy, increase jobs
and increase overall community wealth. The recommendations and action
items presented in this plan are steps the county can take in the near
term over the next three years to continue to grow our local economy,”
Huckelberry wrote in the plan introduction.
The plan is an update and expansion of the 2012-2014 Economic
Development Plan released in November 2012. Significant portions of that
plan were accomplished or are in progress. An accounting of the 2012
plan progress is included in the 2015 draft. Some of the major
strategies of the 2012 plan were contingent on public investment via a
successful county bond election. All of those and a few others have been
included in the current draft. A decision by the Board of Supervisors
on whether to hold a bond election this year is expected this spring.
Huckelberry is seeking public comment on the plan through March 20,
although that deadline may be extended. The public can review the plan
and comment by clicking the feedback button on the plan website,
www.pima.gov/economicdevelopmentplan2015.
Public comments will be considered in the crafting of the final draft of
the plan for submission to the Board of Supervisors for consideration
and adoption. All public comments received will be provided to the Board
of Supervisors.