Arizona Wins Job Creation Award

Area Development magazine has recognized the Arizona Department of Commerce with its “Silver Shovel” award for the agency’s involvement in some of the nation’s top job-creating & investment projects occurring in 2005. Area Development magazine based the award on direct job creation numbers, new jobs per capita, amount of new investment, number of new facilities, & number of projects creating high value-added jobs (3 million to 10 million population category).

"This recognizes the innovation, sustainability, & global competitiveness necessary in building a smarter, stronger more prosperous Arizona," says Governor Janet Napolitano. "We must continue to focus on building an economy that provides higher incomes & exceptional quality of life for all Arizonans."

"This award demonstrates the team spirit in Arizona's economic development arena,” says Arizona Department of Commerce Director Gilbert Jimenez. “The state’s fundamental infrastructure strengths, quality workforce & the commitment of state, local, educational & economic leaders are aligned to offer companies incredible advantage.”

Area Development considered the following projects in recognizing Arizona's achievement.
§ Intel in Chandler, 1,000 new jobs, $3 billion capital investment
§ Countywide in Chandler, 1,400 new jobs, $50 million capital investment
§ Verizon in Chandler, 1,200 new jobs, $14 million capital investment
§ LeNature in Phoenix, 335 new jobs, $200 million capital investment
§ Milgard Manufacturing in Surprise, 300 new jobs, $36 million in capital Investment
§ Pella in Tucson, 300 new jobs, $30 million capital investment
§ Republic Plastics in San Manuel, 100 new jobs, $7 million capital investment

The partnership to attract these companies to Arizona involved city & county governments, Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO), Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), APS, the Copper Corridor Economic Development Coalition, Central Arizona College, & many others.

"Arizona continues to be recognized as a fast-growth, diversified place to do business," says Barry Broome, president & CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC). "GPEC is proud to have worked with our member communities on expansions for several of the projects that earned Arizona this distinction."

"This is a win-win for Arizona & the Tucson region,” says Joe Snell, TREO’s president & CEO. “It exemplifies the working collaboration between TREO, the Governor’s Office, Arizona Department of Commerce, the City of Tucson, and Pima County."

Arizona is getting recognition from other global publications.
§ Expansion Management magazine has ranked Phoenix & Tucson among "America's 50 Hottest Cities" - Phoenix is number 2 - Tucson number 11.
§ Inc. magazine’s “Boomtown 2006” issue ranks Yuma as the top small city citing its 8.3% 1-year job growth rate, & a 32% 5-year growth rate; Phoenix ranks as the 6th-hottest large “City for Doing Business” & Tucson is among the "Hottest Midsize Cities.”
§ Site Selection Magazine's May issue recognizes Yuma's Arizona Clean Fuels & Chandler's Intel among its Top 10 North American Deals of 2005.

For information on Business Development & Attraction in Arizona, contact Jaye O’Donnell at 602-771-1124 or visit the ADOC website at www.azcommerce.com.