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ARF- 3942

Regular Agenda Item 3. E.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	09/06/2016
Submitted For:	Don McDaniel Jr.	Submitted By:	Don McDaniel Jr., County Manager
Department:	County Manager
Fiscal Year:	2016-2017	Budgeted?:	Yes
Contract Dates Begin & End:	2016-2017	Grant?:	No
Matching Requirement?:	No	Fund?:	Renewal

Information

Request/Subject

The Town of Payson (Town) requests an economic development grant to support the activities of the Greater Payson Area Economic Development Strategic Plan.

Background Information

At its September 17, 2013 Regular Meeting, the Board of Supervisors approved an economic development grant with the Town of Payson in the amount of $43,400 for funding for sponsorship of a fiddlers contest, sponsorship of the Mountain High Games, sponsorship of a soccer tournament, and funding for a northern Gila County economic development publicity program, a regional web site/software, and a regional economic development plan.

In May of 2016, the Town met individually with each member of the Board of Supervisors to present and discuss the $16M Greater Payson Area Economic Development Strategic Plan. A letter was submitted at that time which requested consideration and funding for several initiatives (May 23, 2016, request letter attached).

Evaluation

The County has limited funds in the adopted 2016/2017 Gila County Budget for Community Agency and Economic Development projects.

The Town decided in 2009 to withdraw from the County sponsored Northern Gila County Economic Development Corporation (NGCEDC) and establish its own Payson Regional Economic Development Committee. The NGCEDC has since discontinued operation and no longer receives funding.

Each of the six (6) incorporated communities and many of the unincorporated communities in northern and southern Gila County continue to seek ways to improve upon the economic condition of their own areas by establishing economic development activities. Gila County government is concerned about the economic well being of all of its citizens throughout the County whether incorporated or unincorporated. This was best demonstrated by the County funding both the Northern and Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporations for several years.

Conclusion

It is important for Gila County to show fair and equitable support for economic development activities throughout the County. While the County should and will continue to provide economic development grants to cities and towns for specific projects (fiddlers contest, mountain high games, park development, way finding projects, etc.), a unified and coordinated approach to economic development planning is required County-wide.

Gila County has proposed Vision 20/20-The Foundation for Retention and Expansion of Commerce in Gila County. This vision establishes a structure of government leadership, business leadership and administrative leadership from all areas of the County. The new structure would allow for coordinated economic planning of the entire County, while allowing for the differences of the individual communities. Otherwise, County funding of economic development planning is not based upon a plan, but rather based upon the arbitrary and random approval requests from those who know to ask.

Until the County is successful in gaining support for this more comprehensive approach, it is appropriate to continue to fund such projects as the request to begin phase I of the grading and landscaping for the American Gulch Project for $8,500. The American Gulch Project will provide road access in and through the American Gulch with the probable positive impact of improving economic development opportunities on the west side of Payson including unincorporated areas of Gila County.

Recommendation

Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors approve an economic development grant to the Town in an amount not to exceed $8,500 to begin phase I of the grading and landscaping for the American Gulch Project; and, further for staff to return at a future meeting with the appropriate Intergovernmental Agreement for Board consideration.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to approve an economic development grant to the Town of Payson in an amount not to exceed $8,500 to begin phase I of the grading and landscaping for the American Gulch Project, which the Board of Supervisors determines will improve or enhance the economic welfare of the inhabitants of Gila County, and instruct staff to return to a future Board meeting with the appropriate Intergovernmental Agreement for Board consideration. (Don McDaniel)

Attachments
Payson Request Letter 2016