ELOY, Arizona — The long awaited construction of the new City Hall in Eloy is finally underway as a ceremonial groundbreaking and related functions were held last week.

After a collection of officials that included Mayor Joel Belloc, City Council members, city staff and project managers turned the first shovels of dirt, the function moved across the street to Main Street Park, where refreshments were served and City Hall matters were discussed.

This City Hall has been a long time coming with two years of design and planning, as well as discussions for many years before that.

“The employees will enjoy working in a new facility, citizens will enjoy conducting business in this new facility and we’ll be proud of this facility for many years to come,” said City Manager Harvey Krauss.

Once all personnel have moved into the new City Hall, the existing City Hall will be renovated for the Police Department and the Justice Courts. When the Community Development Department moves out of the Public Works building into the new City Hall, the Public Works staff will have more space as well.

City officials are proud of the fact they paid for the overall project without raising taxes.

“The project is being funded from three sources, impact fees, excess tax bonds and cash reserves, and I am happy to say that the total design and construction is being done without any tax increase to any existing or future Eloy residence or businesses,” Krauss said.

Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc., City of Eloy Partner to Bring Economic Development, Jobs to Sun Corridor and State of Arizona

(PRESS RELEASE) – Eloy, Arizona — Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc. (TREO), in partnership with the City of Eloy, announced Thursday that the United States Department of Commerce has approved its application to establish new Foreign Trade Zone (“FTZ”) magnet sites in Pinal County. The U.S. Dept. of Commerce approved two new sites, one in the city of Eloy and one in the county. Located within the strategic north-south distribution corridor known as the CANAMEX Corridor, the new FTZ magnet sites will play an important role in helping the State of Arizona improve cross border trade with both Canada and Mexico and attract manufacturing jobs to the state.

Under federal law, any business located within an activated FTZ will receive relief from trade barriers, including certain taxes and interventions from customs authorities. The magnet sites, which span more than 640 acres, include two industrial properties within Pinal County’s economic development and employment zone, Red Rock Industrial Park and Sunshine Industrial Park. The sites are enhanced by their proximity to rail, ground and air transportation as well as having the size and entitlement infrastructure to accommodate large scale industrial users. Both sites are owned and/or managed by the Walton Group of Companies of Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Combined with our strategic location along the east-west trade route between Texas and California and the north-south CANAMEX Corridor, these two FTZ industrial sites represent a significant addition to our competitive assets,” said Joe Snell, president & CEO, TREO. “The new magnet sites will expand TREO’s involvement in the Sun Corridor and help bring even more jobs, businesses and economic development to the region. We want to thank the City of Eloy and Walton for partnering with us to achieve this great win for the Sun Corridor and the State of Arizona.”

“With our prime location along Interstate 10, the City of Eloy is poised for tremendous economic development and growth and these new FTZ sites will help us attract even more businesses and quality jobs to our city,” said Mayor Joel Belloc. “We appreciate the State, TREO and Walton’s work to get these sites designated and look forward to continuing to work together to achieve even more great wins for our city, region and state.”

Sunshine Industrial is a partially developed, 277 acre site with water and sewer access, located in the city of Eloy. The property includes multiple access points to key infrastructure that make it well positioned for freight distribution to major markets by both truck and rail. Red Rock Industrial is a 367 acre property located adjacent to the Red Rock Interchange with approximately two miles of frontage along Interstate 10. It also fronts the Union Pacific Railroad’s Sunset Route and is adjacent to a proposed rail classification yard.

“Walton is proud to partner with TREO and the City of Eloy to bring economic development opportunities to the Sun Corridor and the State of Arizona,” said Rob Leinbach, Chief Operating Officer for Walton’s U.S. operations. “We thank TREO, the City of Eloy and the Foreign Trade Zone administrative team for their leadership. We are also grateful to Arizona’s entire congressional delegation, especially Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, for helping make this FTZ a reality.”

Members of the City of Eloy Planning and Zoning Commission are discussing construction projects at Robson Ranch, the proposed site of a new Family Dollar store, planned improvements to the medical marijuana building, the adoption of new fire codes, and the annexation of 160 acres of undeveloped property owned by Robson Ranch.

Construction workers are still currently working on the clubhouse at Robson Ranch, but also plan to build a new golf pro shop soon as well. The city recently approved the plans for the new golf pro shop.

According to interim Eloy City Managers Harvey Kraus, construction has also begun on 80 casita-style homes at Robson Ranch. Phase one of the casita homes has already sold out.

The city is reviewing plans for a Family Dollar store at the northeast corner of Shira and Frontier Streets. Krauss said those plans are very close to being approved.

Officials from Jamestown Center, the medical marijuana building, submitted plans to complete tenant improvements within the interior of the building with a possibility of expanding in the future.

City staff is in the process of annexing 160 acres of vacant Robson Ranch-owned property at the southeast corner of North Toltec Buttes Road and Florence Boulevard.

“Toltec Buttes is a dirt road but there are power lines going out there and it’s about a little more than a mile from the proposed PhoenixMart location,” said Krauss. “Robson Ranch already started construction of its homes and they acquired this property after they filed for annexation in 2006, so this piece of property never was annexed. This is to bring all of their holdings into the city.”

Robson Ranch officials haven’t done any land planning but it’s probably most likely going to be commercial or multi-family because of the location on Florence Boulevard and proximity to PhoenixMart. Krauss said it’s doubtful anything built at this location would be single family.

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