PIMA COUNTY – The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously January 16 to name Supervisor Richard Elías as the new board chair. The District 5 supervisor has served on the board for 15 years, since February 2002, and previously served as board chair from 2006 – 2009.

The board selected District 2 Supervisor Ramón Valadez as vice chair. He has served on the board since 2003 and previously served as board chair from 2010 – 2013.

Chair Elías replaces District 3 Supervisor Sharon Bronson, who had served as board chair since 2014. Supervisor Bronson has previously served as board chair from 1999-2000, and from 2002-2005. The board voted her as acting chair, who serves as chair if the chair or vice chair are both unavailable for a meeting.

The board chair is responsible for, among other things, running board meetings and signing legal documents as required by state statute and County Code.

PIMA COUNTY – The recently formed Arizona Border Counties Coalition has established a list of goals aimed at helping the shared economy of Southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico.

Membership of the Arizona Border Counties Coalition (ABCC) consists of one representative from each participating County selected by the participating County’s Board of Supervisors. This an affiliation of Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma Counties.

The Coalition has earned broad-based, bipartisan support from lawmakers who represent border communities and share the goals of speaking with a unified voice on common economic issues.

“Arizona’s four border counties are united by more than geography. Cochise, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma counties share many of the same economic challenges and opportunities. I applaud the leaders of these counties for their willingness to find common ground and speak with a unified voice on the issues that have a direct impact on their residents’ quality of life. The Arizona Border Counties Coalition is a step in the right direction – an acknowledgment of the bright future that’s possible when the communities along our state’s 372-mile border with Mexico work together toward mutually agreed upon goals,” U.S. Representative Martha McSally.

“My sincere appreciation to the recently-formed Arizona Border Counties Coalition in providing a needed voice for the people and communities of the Arizona borderlands. The complexity and delicacy of the issues facing our communities require the informed and practical expertise of border counties and their representatives. As we approach Arizona borderlands’ needs such as Port of Entry upgrades, more customs personnel, local economic development, environmental protection and security strategy, the Arizona Border Counties Coalition will bring the on the ground perspective so badly needed. I look forward to the productive work ahead and your advocacy on behalf of the Arizona borderlands,” U.S. Representative Raúl M. Grijalva.

The member Counties are represented by the following officials: Supervisor Sharon Bronson (D), Pima County; Supervisor Patrick Call (R), Cochise County; Supervisor Bruce Bracker (D), Santa Cruz County; and Supervisor Marco A. “Tony” Reyes (D), Yuma County.

“The interests of Arizona’s border counties – whether political, social or economic – are inextricably linked. Because we have such close ties, it makes sense that we speak with a unified voice. The Arizona Border Counties Coalition allows us to do just that. I’m honored to have the opportunity to work with our partner counties on the issues that concern us all and to represent the people of Pima County.” Supervisor Sharon Bronson represents Pima County.

“Like other rural Arizona border counties, Cochise County’s economy is struggling.  Increased opportunities to stimulate the economy along our border is an important factor to recovery.  The Arizona Border County Coalition is a positive step in this direction.  It enables our county to have a larger voice in decisions which affect our residents,” Supervisor Patrick Call represents Cochise County.

“Arizona’s border counties need to work together.  Cross-border trade and tourism are integral parts of our economies and we need to coordinate our message to make sure that we make the greatest possible impact for our communities and our local businesses,” stated Bruce Bracker, a member of the Board of Supervisors from Santa Cruz County.  “The Border Counties Coalition is the perfect vehicle to make our voices heard,” Supervisor Bruce Bracker represents Santa Cruz County.

“Yuma County is honored to be a part of the Arizona Border Counties Coalition (ABCC).   The six Arizona Ports of Entry provide market and employment access for companies from the US and Mexico and tourists access to recreational activities and health services.  It is extremely important that the ports conduct business in a way that ensures goods and travelers cross as efficiently as possible.  The ABCC will provide border counties the means to speak in a unified manner, strengthening the focus on these issues common to our region.” Supervisor Marco A. “Tony” Reyes represents Yuma County.

The Coalition, which held an inaugural meeting in March, set the following goals:

• Collect, research, analyze data that supports the mission of the ABCC
• Improve Ports of Entry Efficiency
  • Advocate for the creation of a funding mechanism for border community infrastructure
  • Staffing – Advocate for adequate staffing at all Arizona Ports of Entry
• Identify and support the implementation of innovative inspection programs and technologies that offer gains in effectiveness and efficiency
• Promote multimodal transportation alternatives at the border
• Promote cross border business opportunities
• Partner with like-minded organizations that promote trade and tourism with Mexico
• Increase awareness of the direct economic link between Arizona and Mexico
• Promote programs that enhance the quality of life of the residents of the border region
• Reduce or eliminate costs incurred by Border Counties as a result of federal actions such as incarceration

The primary purpose of the coalition is to create a unified voice to advocate for legislation and actions related to economic development and other shared topics along the Arizona/Mexico border.

In this role, the Arizona Border Counties Coalition will support local, state, and federal legislation and regulations that serve economic development opportunities in southern Arizona. There also will be a specific focus on policies and issues that affect the quality of life and economy along the border.

PIMA COUNTY – Pima County and World View officials Thursday marked the completion of Spaceport Tucson and the headquarters and manufacturing facility the innovative aerospace company will lease from the County.

Pima County entered into an economic development agreement with World View in January to retain the company in Tucson. World View introduced a new, high altitude flight vehicle, the Stratollite, earlier this year. World View was being courted by several other spaceport states in 2015 but chose to stay in Tucson with the stipulation the County construct a building it could lease before the end of 2016.

The County completed construction of the building, 1805 E. Aerospace Parkway, last week and World View received a temporary occupancy permit Dec. 21. Pima County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bronson, District 2 Supervisor Ramón Valadez and County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry presented a ceremonial key to World View founders and principals Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum to commemorate the completion of construction. Chair Bronson also noted the county completed the building and Spaceport under the $15 million budget.

As part of the incentive agreement, World View also will manage and operate the adjacent county-owned Spaceport Tucson, a 700-foot diameter concrete launchpad the company and others will use to launch high-altitude balloons.

World View, as part of the agreement, is expected to lease the building from the county for 20 years, paying from $675,000 to $1.62 million per year in rent, according to county documents about the agreement. The company agreed to grow its workforce from a current level of 25 employees to more than 400 in five years, with average annual salaries greater than $55,000.

Phoenix-based Applied Economics Inc. in 2015 conducted an economic impact study of World View’s proposed operation and estimated the company could have a $3.5 billion direct and indirect impact on the local economy over the next 20 years.

“This collaboration puts Tucson at the forefront of spaceflight technology development. The support from Pima County shows the commitment to innovation and economic development in this region. We are thrilled to be in the building on time and impressed with how collaborative the process has been with all our partners involved to ensure the successful completion of the Spaceport and World View HQ.” said Jane Poynter, CEO of World View.

World View’s innovative flight technologies offer a unique perspective of Earth from the edge of space. World View delivers meaningful insights to enterprises, agencies, and individuals via two primary business segments: Stratollite un-crewed flight systems and Voyager human spaceflight systems. Stratollites are uncrewed high-tech balloons that operate in the stratosphere. These models will be able to successfully complete long-endurance flight over a specific area of interest and safely return to Earth. Stratollites, in operation today, offer low-cost, long-duration, persistent high-altitude flight for enterprise and government agencies. Using advanced stratospheric balloon technology, Stratollite applications include communications, remote sensing, weather, and research.

World View Overview Brochure