Executive Summary

The following document includes the 2010 CEDS Annual Report for SEAGO (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010). This document further catalogues the CEDS process for SEAGO occurring between July 1, 2010 and April 11, 2011.

This report is a compilation of efforts by consultants, volunteers and staff who helped research and inventory a comprehensive look at economic development activities throughout the SEAGO Region.

All member entities were involved, engaged and each one was asked to submit their projects to the CEDS process. Nineteen pages of projects are listed in Section IV as a result..

Since September, 2005 when the certification of the 2005-2010 SEAGO Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy document was accepted by EDA, much has changed in the region and within the structure of the member organizations. SEAGO Staff gratefully acknowledges contributions to the SEAGO CEDS 2010-2015 report by all of our member entities and they are:

From Cochise County: Cochise County, Benson, Bisbee, Douglas, Huachuca City, Sierra Vista, Tombstone and Willcox.

From Graham County: Graham County, Safford, Pima, and Thatcher.

From Greenlee County: Greenlee County, Clifton, and Duncan.

From Santa Cruz County: Santa Cruz County, Nogales, and Patagonia.

From the San Carlos Apache Tribe: San Carlos Apache Tribal leaders and authorities.

The SEAGO EDD staff experienced turnover during part of the compilation phase, yet we persevered. Numerous volunteers and SEAGO staff members took part in the CEDS process, their contribution will have a great and lasting impact on the economic development/expansion of the SEAGO Region. For this reason alone each team member must be acknowledged and recognized for this achievement (see Dedication Page and Appendix A).

Implementation Plan is heart of document

Arguably, the most important piece of the CEDS document is contained in the Implementation Plan, however, valuable content, goals, strategies and action steps are located throughout this document.

The national economic downturn has continued to erode the resources of our state and region and has caused a negative effect on the planning and implementation of new projects. The region’s population is cognizant of the downturn, as can be seen across the region in unemployment rates, documented in dozens of articles in local newspapers, and in the high rate of commercial and office space vacancies.

It is the intent of the CEDS authors that the information contained within this document be considered when evaluating SEAGO’s renewal for continued EDA funding and also much needed expansion due to the harsh impact caused by high unemployment and the decrease of sales tax income.

The SEAGO CEDS Process has been long and involved, seeking time and effort from many individuals, groups and organizations throughout the region. This CEDS document is a testament to successful collaboration, volunteerism and outreach.

While SEAGO is home to only 3.6% of the State‘s residents many of the State’s most important agri-businesses as well as manufacturing, industrial and vital military center is also located in the region. The economy is evolving from agrarian, towards commercial and industrial as we continue to adapt and evolve along with the rest of the United States.

Region has many blessings

SEAGO is a region generously blessed with a clean environment, beautiful natural resources, a hardy workforce with an excellent work ethic and a broad range of diverse communities. The single largest city in SEAGO is Sierra Vista, 46,597.

In the following pages the strengths of the SEAGO Region will be presented and explained. In this 2010 – 2015 CEDS document SEAGO intends to showcase what we collectively believe is a Turning Point for this region of the State – what happened in the past, how we have addressed those issues and what we plan to do in the future in order to place this region firmly on a path towards sustainable prosperity.

In 1991 SEAGO was designated as an Economic Development District (EDD) and has served in that capacity since.

Over the course of more than two years the CEDS process pulled together hundreds of individuals representing diverse backgrounds to help shape, compile, draft and finally complete the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for SEAGO that is presented here before you. This Final Report is submitted by SEAGO on behalf of its staff, volunteers and member entities who dedicated countless hours to the process.

Ongoing update process

Since SEAGO was accepted and designated by the EDA, an ongoing process to annually update the CEDS Report was initiated. This made municipalities, organizations and institutions eligible to apply for grant funding. The report, as implied by its name, offers a comprehensive guide to economic development initiatives throughout the region.

The unfortunate economic downturn has not defeated the SEAGO region, in fact we continue to document new projects and initiatives for 2011 and beyond.

The following pages inventory the CEDS process for SEAGO. Each piece of the process and its corresponding information are included in the following sections, all of these sections are outlined in the Table of Contents.