Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Connecting with Site Selectors

Hello,

Later this month, Winslow Economic Development Director Jack Fitchett and I will attend the annual conference of the Site Selector Guild, the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants.

The influence of site selectors is becoming more critical as companies navigate complex factors from local and state regulations, available talent pools, zoning considerations, and more in the decision-making process.

Idea sharing and cultivating best practices are cornerstones of the conference. Among the topics being discussed this year are battling NIMBY-ism and how small and rural communities are catching the attention of site selectors in the crowded economic development landscape. There’s also the opportunity to have experienced site selectors give you live feedback on your 60-second site pitch.

The primary reason Jack and I will be there is to promote industrial opportunities in northern Arizona.

The Northern Arizona Technology Park, a 31.45-acre parcel close to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, is one of the largest shovel-ready projects in northern Arizona. The site, being developed by Genterra Enterprises, caters to a variety of businesses, including bioscience, advanced manufacturing, light industrial, airport support, research and development, semi-conductor support facilities, and hospitality.

In Winslow, the focus is on I-40 TradePort-Winslow, a 4,600-square-acre advanced manufacturing and logistics park that would be served by the highway, rail, and the Winslow-Lindberg Regional Airport. The project would be part of a the first phase of an interstate effort to leverage clean energy, advanced logistics, and transportation infrastructure to reshape the nation’s supply chain along the I-40 corridor.

Meanwhile, the Camp Verde Opportunity Zone is a 20-square-mile area that includes the community’s historic downtown, the commercial district on Finnie Flat Road and extends west along State Route 260. This past year has brought significant growth in the Opportunity Zone, with a new UPS logistics facility and a 300+ unit housing development already underway. A new hotel will soon break ground, and interest in additional retail development continues to gain momentum.

The Site Selector Guild conference next month gives us an opportunity to show off all the potential of northern Arizona and demonstrate that our region can meet the demands of businesses in terms of location, land, receptive communities, and a talented, ready workforce.

If you have any questions about these developments or other economic opportunities in northern Arizona, please reach out.