The June Trend Report on Economic Development is out. So, if Economic Development is a Team Sport, I asked our contributors, “How’s our team performing?”
I view economic development as not just a team sport; it’s a game that requires the collective effort of all the players to achieve a successful outcome.
This is one issue you have permission to share with others!
Susan Hyatt Dumon, SVP of Strategy at Sun Corridor, begins by highlighting the importance of a regional team approach, highlighted during the recent site selectors tour of our region in Economic Development: Team Sport—Regional Sport.
A beacon of sustainable development and responsible regional growth in her law practice for the past twenty years, Keri Silvyn points out the transformative potential of zoning reform. In The Intersection of Zoning and Economic Development, she highlights how zoning can help solve the housing crisis while bolstering regional economic development and paving the way for “shovel-ready” projects needed for economic growth.
In A Deep Dive into Real Estate Exchanging, Tom DeSollar, emeritus president of the National Council of Exchangers, reminds us to be creative and not be afraid to think outside the box in down cycles, which empowers us with the belief in our innovative potential.
Broadly, economic development is meant to change one or more financial indicators positively. The Special Report: Rio Nuevo Economic Development as at May 2024 from Fletcher McCusker makes us all feel proud with its 10 to 1 rate of return.
We then expanded our discussion to include the economic initiatives at multiple Chambers of Commerce, the City of Tucson, and Pima County.
Tucson Chamber’s Frank Velasquez, Jr., in Reimagining Workforce Development: How Tucson Metro Chamber is working on workforce woes, tells us how they react innovatively to workforce challenges.
Rob Elias, President / CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber, explains the significant work they have been doing in Driving Economic Development Through Strategic Partnerships and Educational Initiatives.
Amanda Wiggins, President / CEO of the Marana Chamber, presents the explosive and diverse residential, commercial, industrial, and retail development Marana is experiencing at the Marana Chamber of Commerce.
Barbra Coffee, Director of Economic Initiatives for the City of Tucson, discusses the evolution of Collaborative Economic Development in Tucson’s Past, Present, and Future. Plan Tucson is asking community members for input on a 20-year plan to guide the City’s investments, programs, policies, and land-use decisions.
Heath Vescovi-Chiordi, director of the Pima County Economic Development Department, in Southern AZ Team is Winning and Keeping the Momentum, explains how the multijurisdictional consortium is performing, including Santa Cruz County on the team.
Another essential component of successful economic development is higher education.
John Winchester, ASU’s Community Engagement Director, shares the exciting news of why ASU Launched a Microelectronics Workforce Development Hub in America’s Pipeline to Mexico.
This presentation, followed by An Interview with Carol Stewart at the 30-Year Anniversary of Tech Parks Arizona, is a testament to the dedication and collaborative leadership that has spanned three decades of advancing technology and economic progress for the community.
We sincerely thank everyone who participated in this Trend Report issue.
We are also grateful for the Trend Report team: Patti van Leer, Michael Rossmann, Melissa Vucijevic, and Jack Paddock.
We’ve already started work on our next exciting “Mid-Year Issue” – you won’t want to miss this one, but I know I say that every issue.
We also thank you, our readers, for your continued support. As always, we appreciate your feedback and welcome your comments. Come tell us “Hi” at https//trendreportaz.com under the “Connect tab.” Contact me to get your complimentary copy.
Enjoy our Economic Development issue, and don’t forget to share it with someone who doesn’t live here!
Stay Sharp with Actionable Insights!
Karen Schutte,
Trend Report
Managing Editor