Pinal County cities join Valley economic group

In another indication that the definition of greater Phoenix is expanding, the first two cities in Pinal County have joined the Valley’s primary economic development organization.

The cities of Apache Junction and Maricopa have joined the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, a public-private group that attempts to attract and retain major employers in the Valley.

Since its founding in 1989, membership in GPEC has been limited to communities in Maricopa County. But an amendment to the council’s bylaws approved earlier this year made other communities eligible to join.

The addition of Apache Junction and the city of Maricopa brings the number of member communities to 18.

GPEC President Barry Broome said the organization, which is based in downtown Phoenix, isn’t attempting to recruit new members, but he said some Pinal County communities are interested in joining to take advantage of the development of Williams Gateway Airport in east Mesa.

“The primary economic development asset in the East Valley region is Williams Gateway, and the success of Apache Junction and Maricopa will be tied to the success of Williams Gateway,” he said.

As members of GPEC, they will be included in the organization’s efforts to recruit companies to the region, and they will have access to research data compiled by the council.

“We brand and market our communities in Europe, Canada, Asia and across the United States, so it is a nice bargain for a small community,” Broome said.

Apache Junction hired its first economic development director - Steve Filipowicz - in February, and has been stepping up its economic development efforts. GPEC membership will tie into that program, Filipowicz said.

“We will get access to additional leads we would not otherwise get,” he said. “And beyond that we will gain access to a joint marketing effort with them. We don’t have the resources on our own to let people in Seattle, or New York, or Tokyo or Frankfurt know where Apache Junction is.”

So far Apache Junction does not have large tracts of land developed for business parks, but that is expected to change in a few years as plans are laid for state-owned land east of the Maricopa-Pinal County line, he said.

The rapidly growing city of Maricopa, located about 18 miles southwest of Chandler, wants to provide more local employment and break out of its bedroom community image, said Management Assistant Danielle Casey.

“Most of our residents are commuting now, but they now are getting more involved in the community and want to be able to live, work and play in the community,” she said.

The population generally is well educated, and the city is ideal for high tech and agri-biotech businesses, she said.