A Growing Horizon - Volume 3

A Growing Horizon Economic Development Spring 2021 | Volume 3

CASA GRANDE, ARIZONA · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

Meet our Mayor & City Council Craig McFarland Mayor

Robert Huddleston Mayor Pro Tempore

Dick Powell Council Member

Matt Herman Council Member

Lisa Navarro Fitzgibbons Council Member

Donna McBride Council Member

Table of Contents 1 A Message from Mayor Craig McFarland 2 A Message from Richard Wilkie 3 Lucid Motors 4 Industries 6 Casa Grande is Centrally Located 8 Transportation 9 Infrastructure & Utilities 10 General Plan Update 11 Water Resource Plan 12 Casa Grande By the Numbers 14 Casa Grande Subdivisions 15 Arizona Innovation & Technology Corridor 16 Strategic Plan 17 Marketing the City 18 City Amenities 20 Tourism Brings Quality of Life 22 Job Stats 24 Arts & Museums 26 Annual Festivals 28 Education 34 Healthcare 36 Agriculture Business Stats 38 ARIZONA@WORK 40 Business Resources

Produced and published in Partnership with Kramer Media 200 W 2nd St., Casa Grande, AZ 85122 Phone: (520) 836-7461 | pinalcentral.com

Ruth A. Kramer President

Donovan M. Kramer Jr. Co-Publisher/Managing Editor Brian D. Kramer Director of Digital

Jeff Lavender Council Member

Kara K. Cooper Co-Publisher/Advertising Director

Zoe A. Cooper Creative Advertising Manager

Contributing writers: Darren Barakat, Gabrielle Olivera, Melissa St. Aude, Mark Cowling, Bill Coates, Aaron Dorman

Every effort is made to make this publication as accurate as possible. City of Casa Grande and Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. (CGVNI) will assume no responsibility for errors, changes, representations or omissions. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of CGVNI. Users of this publication are encouraged to verify all data and information of material interest to the user. CGVNI make no endorsement, representation or warranty regarding any goods or services advertised in this publication. Unless otherwise noted, all images are courtesy of Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. Advertisements are provided by the subject companies and CGVNI shall not be responsible or liable for any inaccuracy, omission or infringement of any third party’s rights therein, or for personal injury or any other damage or injury whatsoever. Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Photos: Oscar Perez, Nick Arnold, Lucid Motors

A Message from Mayor Craig McFarland

CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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ur City Council and City Staff will leverage the current economic climate, new opportunities and our strong community to improve quality of life, civic pride and quality jobs.

Casa Grande’s strategic location and strongly motivated City leadership will honor diversity and provide opportunities for all residents. By building a sustainable and attractive community, we create a place where people can safely live, work and play.

Our Strategic Goals focus on: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY • Maintaining a sustainable budget that can withstand a 5% revenue reduction • Develop a plan to have 100% of the benchmarked job positions mid-point of the salary range to be competitive with the market • Analyze and evaluate 5 programs or services per year to ensure efficiency/effectiveness against the private sector • Dispose of underutilized City properties QUALITY OF LIFE • Increase positive citizen interaction (using Satisfaction Surveys) • Allocate 5% of the City’s General Fund resources to blight removal and improvement over 5 years (1% per year) • Use impact fees to update and upgrade all City park facilities and amenities • City event attendance demographics match to population • Construct and improve quality of life infrastructure and facilities • Access to internet for 100% of citizens

ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES • Identify and fund a transit plan • Automate Planning Department plan submittal and inspection request process • Update City’s 2030 General Plan • Develop and implement a Water Resources Plan that includes water acquisition and conservation • Widen I-10 between CG and Wild Horse Pass EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT • Increase the number of baccalaureate degrees achieved by Casa Grande residents • Increase the number of students attending postgraduate institutions or vocational education (certificate programs) • Encourage 5 local companies to participate in apprenticeship/internship programs each year • Place 5 interns within City departments each year HEALTHY AND SAFE COMMUNITY • Increase citizens’ sense of security • Advance our Healthy Community Initiative (city website, Mayor’s Roundtables, citizen action groups, volunteers) Our six strategic goals are used by all City departments to develop plans and establish capital improvement projects which in turn implement our strategic plan. Everything from our 2030 General Plan, trail plan, downtown redevelopment, industrial parks, Neon Sign Park, City entrances, infrastructure, City parks, local businesses and local industry help support our citizens and help support who we are ... we Live It, Work It, Park It, Build It, Save It and Love It Casa Grande!

MARKETING • Create a Community Marketing Organization (CMO) that will market the city within Casa Grande and outside of the city (in partnership with the CG Chamber of Commerce) • Continue to re-create and update the “A Growing Horizon” magazine • Create an image to attract residents to visit and live in Casa Grande • Upgrade all city monuments and entrances • Continue to use the City’s social media outlets to enhance and communicate our message

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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A Message from Richard WilkIe

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

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hy is Casa Grande, Arizona, the place to build?

• Location • Land • Infrastructure • Workforce • Connectivity • Incentives • A high quality of life

Located in the heart of the Arizona Innovation & Technology Corridor, Casa Grande serves as the manufacturing, logistics, health care, retail and commercial hub for Pinal County, conveniently located between the state’s major metropolitan areas of Phoenix and Tucson.

Casa Grande is less than 30 minutes from Phoenix and 45 minutes from Tucson, making our City ideal for servicing both markets that boast a population of 5.5 million people.

Casa Grande has thousands of acres of developable land in its Industrial Corridor, pre-zoned for industrial uses and available at a fraction of the cost of metro-area lands. Most of this land has the utilities to the site, immediately adjacent to it or in close proximity.

This reduces upfront costs for project development and construction.

Because of our proximity to the metro areas, companies locating to Casa Grande have access to a highly educated and skilled workforce of over 3 million.

The City works closely with state workforce experts Arizona@Work to help ensure local companies have access to talent needed for immediate and future hires.

In addition, Central Arizona College provides customized training specific to company workforce needs.

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Connectivity plays a big role in why companies choose Casa Grande. It is the only community in the state that is directly served by two major interstates (I-8 and I-10), the main line of Union Pacific Railroad, and is within 1 hour of 3 international airports. The City is also situated less than 8 hours from the Port of Long Beach, 3 hours from the Port of Entry in San Luis and 2 hours from the Port of Entry in Nogales. This provides easy access to markets in California, the rest of the Southwest and Mexico. There is simply no better-connected community in the state.

Our Industrial Corridor is home to numerous manufacturing and logistics companies that are able to take advantage of incentives associated with federally recognized Opportunity and Foreign Trade Zones as well as New Market Tax Credits. The City employs an effective development team approach to all new projects/companies. Our team provides direct access to decision makers who review and approve business plans and permits. We proactively communicate with your representatives to expedite all review processes.

Casa Grande also enjoys a low cost of living, 25%50% lower than metro areas. It provides a high quality of life featuring clean air, beautiful night skies and over 300 days of sunshine to support an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities. It is less congested, allowing you to drive anywhere in the community within 15 minutes.

There are great educational options and a robust health care system, anchored by Banner Casa Grande Medical Center and Sun Life Family Health Center, and includes over 25 specialties.

Casa Grande offers strategic company benefits, workforce solutions and high quality of living. Which is why Lucid Motors and so many other advanced manufacturing and logistics companies have chosen to call Casa Grande “home.” They have all come to the same conclusion — Casa Grande just makes sense!

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

LUCID MOTORS

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ucid Motors’ 900,000-square-foot AMP-1 (Advanced Manufacturing plant) is now operational and will be producing the Lucid Air Dream Edition, which is breaking all the norms of automobiles. The Lucid Air will provide up to an EPA range of 517 miles on a single charge, 1080 horsepower in either dual-motor or all-wheel-drive options and is the most aero-efficient luxury car in the world with a coefficient of drag of 0.21. It has the first of its kind Advanced Driver-Assist System (ADAS) that incorporates 32 sensors — including radar, ultrasonics and the world’s first standard high-resolution LIDAR in an EV. The first phase of AMP-1 will employ upwards of 1,600 employees by the end of 2021. Phase 2, which is already moving forward, will add another 3 million square feet. At full buildout Lucid is projecting to employ over 6,000 people at the facility by 2028-29.

According to Mike Boike, Head of Manufacturing for Lucid Motors, “There are many reasons why we chose Casa Grande. Primarily the infrastructure, the proximity to our headquarters in California, proximity to supply chain.

There’s a lot of great things in Arizona, and Casa Grande is the perfect location for us.”

Source: Lucid Motors

Source: Lucid Motors

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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INDUSTRIES

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s the population of Casa Grande is expected to increase significantly within the next 10 years, so is development.

When the 2030 General Plan was being presented, City officials believed that two homes would have to be built every day from now until 2030 to accommodate the number of people expected to move to Casa Grande over the next 10 years.

In addition to Lucid Motors, other industrial companies that have announced that they will be calling Casa Grande home include Wright Asphalt and Desert Mountain Corp., which will be located in the Central Arizona Commerce Park in the City’s industrial corridor.

These companies join Hexcel (structural honeycomb used in aircraft), Frito-Lay (snacks), and Abbott Nutrition (infant and adult nutritionals), some of the City’s oldest and largest employers.

Mission Royale residents can also keep an eye out for their new neighbors as the City Council approved an amendment to the Mission Royale Planned Area Development that would allow an auto mall at the previous Sam’s Club site. “I’m really excited about the project,” Councilman Bob Huddleston said. “It’s probably the most prime corner in our community.” Mullin360, which has developed auto malls in Scottsdale, Surprise and the East

Valley, is planning on repurposing the old Sam’s Club building and developing the surrounding parcels into a new auto mall complex.

Agriculture has always been a mainstay of the economy, but cotton has yielded much acreage to alfalfa and grains. This has been accelerated by the relocation of huge, more efficient dairy farms from the north to the Casa Grande area. These farms help support some of the City’s food producers that include Daisy Brand (sour cream), Ehrmann Commonwealth Dairy (Greek yogurt), and Franklin Foods (Greek cream cheese).

From a retail and commercial point, there has also been a surge in businesses announcing/opening in the community including Arizona Native Lotions and Soaps (Downtown), Long Wong’s (Trekell Road and Cottonwood Lane), Rili-B’s (Pinal Avenue and Cottonwood Lane), Hideout Steakhouse & BBQ and Rosati’s Pizza (Promenade), Salad and Go (old JB’s Restaurant site) and Texas Roadhouse (Henness Road and Florence Boulevard).

“Casa Grande’s population has doubled since the year 2000, making it the largest city and tax base in Pinal County,” says the City’s website. “Coupled with its rapidly growing economy and industrial sector, there has never been a better time to invest in Casa Grande!”

NUMBER OF PEOPLE EMPLOYED: 24,554 NUMBER OF BUSINESSES IN CASA ARIZONA COMMERCE AUTHORITY GRANDE: 3,064 US CENSUS NEW JOBS FROM 2015-2020: JOBS INCREASED BY 10.5% IN CASA GRANDE. US CENSUS

THIS CHANGE OUTPACED THE NATURAL GROWTH RATE OF 3.1% BY 7.4%

EMSI Q1 2021

Jobs are expected to increase by 1,423 in 2021.

NUMBER OF BUSINESSES IN PINAL COUNTY

3,730

Frito-Lay

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NUMBER OF JOBS IN PINAL COUNTY

57,100

SRP

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

TAX REVENUE THE CITY GENERATED IN 2020

$110,069,227

Abbott Nutrition

DRIVEN BY INNOVATION SAINTHOLDINGS.COM

· HOME TO LUCID MOTORS AND NIKOLA MOTOR COMPANY BRINGING ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANUFACTURING TO PINAL COUNTY

LAND AND BUILD-TO-SUIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR:

· +500,000 POPULATION AND GROWING WITHIN PINAL COUNTY

· · · ·

· +1.5MM PEOPLE WITHIN A 50 MINUTE DRIVE OF CENTRAL PINAL COUNTY · IPAZ IS ADJACENT TO SUSTAINABLE SOLAR ENERGY

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING HEAVY INDUSTRIAL DATA CENTER RAIL-SERVED

· RIGHT-TO-WORK STATE · CAZCP - OPPORTUNITY ZONE LAND

+1 602 282 6300

· MEGA-SITE TO SMALL PARCELS AVAILABLE

Jackob Andersen Bill Honsaker

· CENTRALLY LOCATED BETWEEN MEXICO AND PHOENIX

Jones Lang LaSalle ©2021 Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc. License #: CO508577000 All rights reserved.

· FOREIGN TRADE ZONE (FTZ) CAPABLE

Anthony J. Lydon, CSCMP Marc D. Hertzberg, SIOR

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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CASA GRANDE is CENTRALLY LOCATED AREA

112m

2

O

GREATER CG AREA PHOENIX SCOTTSDALE MESA

10

5

CHANDLER 10

Land area in square miles 2020

8

SACRAMENTO

CASA GRANDE 10

ORO VALLEY 5

CA

TUCSON 19

PROXIMITY CITY, STATE OR COUNTY

DISTANCE

DRIVE TIME

Phoenix, AZ

45 miles

45 min

Tucson, AZ

63 miles

52 min

Nogales, MEX

139 miles

2 h 42 min

San Diego, CA

348 miles

4 h 59 min

El Paso, TX

388 miles

5 h 36 min

Los Angeles, CA

419 miles

6 h 48 min

San Francisco, CA

840 miles

12 h 16 min FLIGHT TIME

Dallas, TX

1,023 miles

2h 20 min

Houston, TX

1,134 miles

2h 30 min

Minneapolis, MN

1,676 miles

3h

Seattle, WA

1,472 miles

3h 5 min

Chicago, IL

1,753 miles

3h 20 min

Calgary, Alberta

1,557 miles

3h 20 min

Vancouver, BC

1,389 miles

3h 30 min

Orlando, FL

2,099 miles

4h 5 min

New York, NY

2,429 miles

4h 30 min

6

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

10

LO ANG PORT OF LOS ANGELES

PORT O SAN DIE

100 MILES OF

TRAVEL

200 MILES OF

TRAVEL

400 MILES LEGEND LEGEND

- CITY MARKER - INTERSTATE - INTERSTATE MARKER - UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD - UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MARKER

OF

TRAVEL

OR

BOISE

ID

84

25 86 84

80

OF EGO

15

25

80

84

80

CHEYENNE

SALT LAKE CITY

CARSON CITY

OS GELES

WY

25 76

15

NV

70

LAS VEGAS

15

UT

15

PALM SPRINGS

8

PORT OF SAN LUIS

CO

10

AZ SANTA FE

25

40

PRESCOTT SAN DIEGO

70

25

KINGMAN FLAGSTAFF 40

40

DENVER

70

WINSLOW

ALBUQUERQUE

PHOENIX

CASA GRANDE 19

25

40

NM

TUCSON 10

PORT OF NOGALES NOGALES

10

EL PASO

HERMOSILLO PORT OF HERMOSILLO

Casa Grande has many hiking and biking trails throughout the city.

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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Transportation

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lue skies, warm weather and recreation may be part of what brought 35,000 more residents to Casa Grande over the last 20 years, but for many of the businesses that came it was something else. Infrastructure.

It’s not as much fun to think about as golfing, hiking or biking, but if you are manufacturing electric cars or aviation parts or operating a distribution center that serves markets throughout Arizona, you need to be able to move materials and product in and out.

“Because Casa Grande is directly served by Interstate 10, Interstate 8, the main line of the Union Pacific Railroad, has a general aviation airport and will be served by the future Interstate 11, you will not find a betterconnected community in the state,” said Richard Wilkie, Casa Grande’s economic development director. Wilkie said those transportation options are “why so many businesses have chosen to come to Casa Grande, and why so many more are looking at possibly locating here.”

Lucid Motors is building electric cars at its new factory on Casa Grande’s west side. The area is served

by Union Pacific Railroad and is home to some of Casa Grande’s largest employers, including Walmart and Tractor Supply Distribution Centers, Hexcel (longtime maker of key aircraft components), Frito-Lay and Abbott Nutrition.

Last year UP “improved several sidings in Arizona to accommodate future growth,” said Tim McMahan, a UP spokesman.

Casa Grande Municipal Airport is another transportation option that serves the City and its growth.

Airport Manager Dave Reffner said the airport’s master plan is being updated for future development.

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“As businesses continue to build in Casa Grande, airport operations increase with some of those projects,” Reffner said. “(The airport) has noticed an uptick in corporate and business aviation traffic, especially since the construction of Lucid Motors.”

The interstate highways also support Casa Grande’s growth as a destination for businesses and people. Right now, I-11 is still just a proposal with no funding and could be years or decades away from being built. However, work to widen I-10 between Casa Grande and Chandler could begin as early as 2023, according to the state’s most recent five-year highway construction plan.

Casa Grande is studying how to further use infrastructure and transportation to its advantage not only to attract more growth, but to serve residents.

The City finished a transit plan in 2019. Now, the City is updating and expanding the plan and studying funding options. The City is also working to improve traffic flow on its streets.

“As Casa Grande continues to experience tremendous growth, there is going to be an increased need for mass transit,” Wilkie said. Public transportation will make it easier for employees to get to work and for people to shop and make appointments. It will “improve the connectivity of the community, helping to bring us closer together and enhance our quality of life,” he said.

The transit plan will include a system of routes that transit vehicles (similar to buses but smaller) will travel each day. Planners are also incorporating ride-share and ride-hail services, said Kevin Louis, Casa Grande’s director of public works.

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

INFRASTRUCTURE & UTILITIES ELECTRIC

GAS

· APS · ED#2 · ED#3 · Hohokam Irrigation & Power

· Southwest Gas · Kindar Morgan/ El Paso Natural Gas Company Source: Kwon Junho/Unsplash

INTERNET

Source: metrocreativeconnection.com

· COX Communications · Century Link · Zayo · Alluvion Communications · Mitrelink

WATER · Arizona Water Co. · Copper Mountain Ranch Water Co. Source: Johnny McClung/Unsplash

Arizona Water Company employees work at one of the local water tanks.

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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General Plan Update

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asa Grande is taking a close look at how much water it will need as it grows and creating a new land-use category to boost activity downtown.

Those are two of the priorities outlined in the City’s new 2030 General Plan that will determine how land is used in the City and is an important guide for the City’s growth. The General Plan was developed using input that was provided by the public, during public workshops and presentations, as well as the input provided by the Technical Advisory Committee and Community Steering Forum. Arizona law requires an update every 10 years.

The new land-use categories include: The “downtown” land-use area will allow “mediumand high-density residential development ... as a tool to energize and promote economic activity in the downtown area,” the plan says.

“Downtown has unique development needs and urban character that warranted its own General Plan land use category,” City Planning and Development Director Paul Tice said. “There also is a belief that allowing new medium- to high-residential development in the downtown

area will bolster existing businesses and bring a new vitality and energy to the area.”

The new General Plan increases the area classified as “community corridor’’ and provides for more mediumdensity residential developments in the “neighborhoods” land-use category.

The “community corridor” land use category is intended for “arterial corridors and key intersections where we want the new development to contain a mix of commercial, service and higher-density residential uses,” Tice said.

“Additionally, development within the ‘community corridor’ land use category is intended to have a specific urban design and character where the buildings are pulled closer to the street to create strong pedestrian connectivity and to make the building architecture the prominent design element.

“The ‘community corridor’ land use category has been applied to portions of Florence Boulevard, Pinal Avenue, Cottonwood Lane and Trekell Road,” Tice said.

Local investment.

Lasting impact.

Working with businesses and community leaders to drive local economies forward is more important now than ever. Together, we can bring new jobs and investments to Arizona, including opportunities to advance the state’s clean-energy future. Learn more at aps.com/economicdevelopment.

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CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

21-APS-0074 Growing Horizon Mag_r02.indd 1

1/27/21 9:51 AM

Water Resource Plan

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he other new element included in the General Plan is the water resource component.

Arizona law requires a Certificate of 100 Year Assured Water Supply (CAWS) from the Arizona Department of Water Resources before land is subdivided for single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums.

This indicates the state government believes water to support the development and its residents or activity exists for at least 100 years.

The City evaluated its growth projections and its water supply while updating the General Plan, said Paul Tice, Casa Grande’s planning and development director.

The City has “approximately 21,808 vacant lots” that have approved CAWS, he said.

“These vacant lots are associated with recorded final plats, approved preliminary plats and townhome/ condominium sites that have their zoning in place. We believe that this supply of vacant lots with CAWS will be adequate to meet our residential growth needs for the next 30 years,” Tice said. The City estimates the population will be 118,395 in 2050. The most recent U.S. Census estimate showed the population as 58,632 in 2019.

“We have included a number of goals intended to achieve water conservation and to develop additional water resources,” Tice said.

The goals include: • Conserving outdoor use of water • Reducing residential and commercial water use per capita by 15% from 2020 levels • Maximizing the use of effluent as an alternative to groundwater • Developing additional water supplies to reduce dependency on groundwater “We are proud of Casa Grande for being one of the first Arizona cities to put water resource management at the center of its General Land Use Plan for 2030,” Arizona Water Company Water Resource Manager Terri Sue Rossi said.

“After nearly a year of development, the City of Casa Grande and Arizona Water Company are implementing SAVE IT CG, a public messaging campaign that is the brand and foundation for the joint demand management program. Casa Grande residents and businesses will be a big part of the success of the demand management program. This year, we will be targeting outdoor water use. Look for ways you can participate whether it’s by visiting the SAVE IT! Landing page, visiting our water conservation experts at local events or sharing your tips for reducing water use. Residents can learn more at: www.saveitcg.com.”

TOGETHER... GROWING THE COMMUNITY SUSTAINABLY

Casa Grande is one of the first communities in Arizona to put water at the center of its General Land Use Plan.The partnership between the city and Arizona Water Company will ensure that growth today can be sustained tomorrow.

A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN: VISIT OUR SAVE IT! PAGE

Pictured, from left: Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland; Arizona Water Company Water Conservation Specialist Raluca Mihalcescu; and AWC Pinal Valley Assistant Manager Ray Murrieta.

520-836-8785 | www.AZWATER.com

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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Casa Grande By the Numbers

POPULATION

AGE DISTRIBUTION

BY AGE RANGE

TOTAL POPULATION: 58,632

75+ 9.4%

U.S. CENSUS

51.3% WOMEN PINAL COUNTY

55-74 21.3%

4,060 VETERANS U.S. CENSUS

20-34 20%

AGE DISTRIBUTION

BY GENERATION GEN Z GEN X

PINAL COUNTY

POPULATION INCREASE FROM 2010-2020

48,571 TO 58,632

20.7% 12

MEDIAN AGE: 38

35-54 21.4%

48.7% MEN PINAL COUNTY

0-19 27.9%

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

MILLENNIAL BABY BOOMERS

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Median Income: $52,841/yr Greater than 50k: 52.3% U.S. CENSUS

Helping everyone in Pinal County live their healthiest life.

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Family Medical Care Book your appointment Pediatrics online or call us at OB/GYN Women’s Health Same Day Sick Appointments 888-381-3446 Walk In Sick Visits SLFHC.ORG TeleHealth Appointments Open to the Public Pharmacy Integrated Behavioral Health Diabetes Programs MAT Program for Pain Management No Cost healthcare.gov Assistance

Creating Stronger Communities Through Health Services THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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Casa GRANDE Subdivisions

C

asa Grande is growing like wildflowers in the spring, and homebuilders are busy trying to keep up. In the last couple of years, the City has experienced a resurgence in residential construction after 10 slow years following the Great Recession.

The City issued 1,107 building permits for singlefamily homes in 2020, 562 in 2019, 256 in 2018 and 114 in 2017. From 2010-17, the City issued fewer than 200 each year, including just 52 in 2012. During the lean years, two companies were building in Casa Grande. Now, 18 companies are building here.

When the housing market collapsed during the last half of the 2000 to 2010 decade, builders abandoned plans to construct homes on thousands of lots in Casa Grande.

In many cases, the work had already begun. Some developments had water lines, sewer lines and paved streets, but no houses. Dubbed “ghost” or “zombie” subdivisions, they blighted the City and sat idle for years.

As late as 2017, the City had 6,000 vacant lots.

“Most of the subdivisions listed on our current builder activity list were subdivisions that were started in the 2004-06 time frame and never fully completed,” City Planning and Development Director Paul Tice said.

However, today builders have flooded back into Casa Grande and have started buying up these subdivisions and building homes. They have returned for several reasons. Casa Grande’s location between Phoenix and Tucson and at the junction of I-10 and I-8 is ideal.

Industry is here, and more is coming. Casa Grande is also attractive to home buyers for its low cost of living.

“Looking at the cost of housing in Casa Grande vs. Chandler,” said Renée Louzon-Benn, president of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce. “Get more house for your money.”

The City made the permitting process easier, reduced development impact fees and changed requirements for financial assurances from builders that they will complete infrastructure.

“City leadership and City management worked with builders and developers to find out what needed to be done to make Casa Grande attractive to growth again,” Mayor Craig McFarland said.

The Census Bureau estimates Casa Grande’s population was 58,632 in 2019. The City projects a population of 75,049 in 2030. To get there, the City is counting on 4,485 new single-family homes, 961 apartment units and 961 manufactured homes, Tice said.

The City issued 11 building permits for multi-family housing in 2020. No such permits were issued from 20132019.

Casa Grande Crossings on Camino Mercado, a 284-unit apartment complex, will soon be under construction, Tice said.

The City issued 63 permits for manufactured homes in 2020.

NEWCOMERS AND NEIGHBORS CLUB Meets second Thursday of each month Central Event Hall, 408 N. Sacaton St., Casa Grande AZ For more information, please visit www.cgnnc.com

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CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

Arizona Innovation & Technology Corridor

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estern Pinal County is home to some of the most exciting green-energy development projects in the country, prompting county officials to market this area to more 21st-century industries as part of the Arizona Innovation Technology Corridor.

The AITC highlights the county’s 21st-century business clusters to promote the area as a place to build and collaborate with similar industries.

Electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors has opened its first factory, a $700 million investment that will create in excess of 6,000 jobs by 2029. The Lucid Air, a state-of-the-art luxury sedan, should be rolling off the assembly line by late 2021.

Another electric vehicle manufacturer, Nikola Motor Company, recently broke ground on a 1-million-square-foot plant where it will manufacture zero-emission heavy trucks.

In the summer of 2020, the county secured contracts with University of Arizona and Arizona State University related to the AITC. The Board of Supervisors approved an agreement between Pinal County and the Arizona Board of Regents for the planning and implementation of the corridor. The agreement gives Pinal County the benefit of University of Arizona’s research, planning and leadership.

“This could be up to a 35-year project … it’ll take that long to develop all the property,” says the UA. “And (we are) talking close to $70 billion worth of high-tech companies we could bring into this corridor.” UA’s study will identify every parcel of land and assess its suitability for the development of high-tech manufacturing.

The county also has a contract with Arizona State University for the Seidman Research Institute to assess the economic potential of an inland port in Pinal County. According to ASU’s written proposal, Pinal County’s strategic location has prompted several discussions about an inland port. An inland port, or dry port, is a distribution hub, usually connected by rail to one or more seaports.

Infrastructure in the Connecticut-size Pinal County includes Interstates 10 and 8 and Union Pacific Railroad, connecting the AITC to numerous major markets.

Three international airports within a short drive mean the country’s major cities are a direct flight away. The county has a website promoting the AITC at azitc.pinal.gov.

The AITC extends down I-10 from Riggs Road, through the Gila River Indian Community, through Casa Grande, on I-8 to Attesa motor sports complex and south to Marana.

Approximately 2.8 million people live in a 50-mile radius of where the two interstates meet.

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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Strategic Plan

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he most recent update to Casa Grande’s strategic plan names six areas of focus for the City’s future, including “quality of life.”

“The strategic plan is the short-term planning document, which outlines goals, initiatives and projects, as well as directs annual budget resource allocations.

The plan is a crucial guide to Casa Grande’s short-term achievements,” City Manager Larry Rains said. In the most recent update, “there was a substantial emphasis placed on quality-of-life initiatives.”

In addition to quality of life, the other five areas of focus are marketing, education and workforce development, fiscal responsibility, economic opportunities, and healthy and safe community.

Under the banner of quality of life, Rains said, “a blight removal program was initiated in the south and west portions of the community. The City obtained ownership and made improvements to Elliott Park, completed several sidewalk projects, completed alley-way cleanups in various locations around town and held several community events.”

Police are targeting graffiti and rounding up unclaimed shopping carts. Efforts to prevent and clean up illegal dumping and homeless encampments also continue.

The City has targeted access to the internet for 100% of residents. Bandwidth was expanded at the library and recreation center. As a result, Cox Communications and Mitrelink are expanding Wi-Fi access throughout the city.

As some of the City’s overall strategic successes from the last couple of years, Rains cited the opening of the Community Recreation Center and improvements to Carr McNatt Park and Rancho Grande Roadway.

16

“Many of our accomplishments are ongoing strategic objectives that will continue into our future,” Mayor Craig McFarland said.

The 2018 plan named “infrastructure” as a focus area, but that was changed to “economic opportunities” in the update. Some of these goals include creating a transit plan, improving traffic flow on the city’s streets and automating the application and inspection process for building permits.

“The focus area has evolved to include not only infrastructural updates but also to include improvements and plans that encourage economic development and expansion,” Rains said. “With the city’s current boom in relation to development in general, we didn’t really have another category that could highlight some of these achievements/projects.”

As part of a healthy and safe community, the City aims to increase residents’ sense of security. Along that line, the Police Department has become certified in the National Incident-Based Reporting System, which opens the department up to more accurate crime statistics.

Supporting efforts for education and workforce development, the City is working to increase the number of students attending post-graduate institutions or vocational education.

To address fiscal responsibility, the City is developing a plan to ensure that employees are paid a competitive salary. This will make it easier to attract and keep workers with the right skills.

The City’s marketing goals are to create an image of the City that residents and businesses rate favorably and to increase presence on the City’s social media sites.

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

Marketing the city

T

he City Council has made marketing a focus and supported the City’s efforts to market and promote Casa Grande to the rest of Arizona and to the world.

“Casa Grande has great potential,” said Renée LouzonBenn, president of the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce.

In previous generations, chambers of commerce, rather than city government, had the marketing expertise and took the lead in promoting a city and its businesses.

So, it’s only natural that the City of Casa Grande and the Casa Grande Chamber are planning to work together in a “city marketing organization” (CMO) to attract new businesses, new residents and tourists.

CMO will include an advisory committee from the City and a committee of local business owners.

“We all have a common purpose,” Louzon-Benn said. “If the City is doing well and the chamber is doing well, we have a prosperous community. That takes partnerships.”

Meanwhile, existing efforts continue to invite the millions of drivers on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson to pull off the freeway and see what they’re missing. Efforts seem to be working. In December, Lucid Motors finished construction on the first phase of an electric-car factory.

The City identified marketing as one of the five pillars of its strategic plan. Some of the components include creating an image of the City that residents and businesses rate favorably and focusing on social media.

The City has reached its goals to deploy “social listening

software” and “generate positive and timely content based on monthly evaluation and sentiment reports,” according to Latonya Jordan-Smith, the City’s public information officer.

Jordan-Smith said the City is “committed to helping people reimagine Casa Grande as a vibrant, safe place to live, raise families and start a prosperous business for generations to come.”

The chamber created a website, CasaGrandeIsOpenForBusiness.com, with help from the City and Arizona Public Service Co. People can use the site to look for local businesses in one place.

The chamber also redesigned its main website.

The site features big, bold video and still images, including one from the Neon Sign Park. Casa Grande is spelled out in colorful, neon-looking letters inspired by the park, which has become a focal point downtown.

“The City’s new branding was largely influenced by the Neon Sign Park,” said Holly Rakoci, director of Casa Grande Main Street. The nonprofit focuses on improving and promoting the City’s downtown. The Neon Sign Park and other downtown initiatives support the goal to “create an image of the City that residents rate favorably” as outlined in the strategic plan.

“The City works to help bring new businesses downtown and helps promote the area — especially the Neon Sign Park,” Rakoci said. “With how many businesses are coming to Casa Grande, I am very optimistic about Casa Grande’s future.”

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

17

City Amenities

W

hether your goal is to curl up with a good book, take part in a vigorous basketball game, hike up a mountain or play a few rounds of golf, Casa Grande’s facilities and amenities aim to provide activities to meet a wide range of interests.

INDOOR RECREATION

COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER, 1905 N. PEART RD. Opened in 2019, the Community Recreation Center includes: • A fitness loft with various workout machines such as treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, free weights and various workout machines.

• A gym with basketball and volleyball courts.

• Group fitness classes such as yoga, group ride classes, barre, Zumba and others.

• A walking/jogging track.

• Community meeting spaces.

• The facility offers regular activities and events, including arts classes, and is home to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sun Corridor.

LEN COLLA RECREATION CENTER, 1105 E. FOURTH ST. The facility is a multi-purpose recreation center with a gymnasium, game room, computer lab and meeting rooms.

It serves as the site for the City’s afterschool kids’ club.

DOROTHY POWELL SENIOR CENTER, 405 E. SIXTH ST. Various programs and activities are offered in a friendly, social atmosphere for people age 50 and older to relax and have fun. The center also serves as the site for the City’s senior meals program.

AQUATICS AND WATER PLAY • •

Carr McNatt Park Palm Island Family Aquatic Park

SOFTBALL/BASEBALL • •

Paul Mason Sports Complex Little League Complex

GOLF

DAVE WHITE GOLF COURSE, 2121 N. THORNTON ROAD. The municipal course is open year-round. Each year, about 50,000 rounds of golf are played on the challenging course, which is set among mature trees and landscaping and mountain views.

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“We pride ourselves on offering a quality golf experience at an affordable price for golfers of all abilities,” Hardesty said. “Golfers love to play Dave White because of the fun layout of the course, the beautiful views and the friendly staff.”

The facility features paved cart paths, a new irrigation system, beverage cart service, new golf carts and well-maintained tees, fairways and greens.

CASA GRANDE PUBLIC LIBRARY

With two branches, the Casa Grande Public Library system has a physical collection of 93,832 reading materials, DVDs, CDs, games and other items. It is part of the Greater Phoenix Digital Library, and patrons have access to a collection of about 159,132 resources.

Additional materials are available through the library’s connection to Hoopla and Cloud Library, which are provided through the Pinal County Library District.

Between all three access opportunities, the City’s 39,386 library cardholders have access to hundreds of thousands of books, audio books, movies, music and other materials.

The library supports the new AARP Foundation Experience Corps tutoring program in which retirees are paired with students needing help in reading.

The two branches are: • Main Library, 449 N. Drylake St. • Vista Grande, 1556 N. Arizola Road.

HIKING/WALKING

The city is home to dozens of miles of hiking and walking opportunities ranging from an easy waterside stroll to a challenging mountainous hike. And opportunities for walking are expanding in the city.

“We are in the process of building our first mile of community trail going from Rotary Park on Trekell one mile east to Peart Road,” said Community Services Director Steve Hardesty.

Casa Grande Mountain Park is a popular spot for hikers. The park includes 17 miles of maintained trails or “single track” trails that are about 24 inches wide and “meant for hiking, mountain biking and equestrian use,” Hardesty said.

Off-road vehicles are not authorized in the park, making it an ideal place for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

At its highest point, Casa Grande Mountain is 2,350 feet, offering views of the city as well as cactus-studded views of the area including rugged, rocky terrain.

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

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The second, on Arica Road, is found by traveling west on unpaved Arica Road to the trailhead.

Walking facilities in the City system include: • A 1/3-mile, 10-foot-wide walkingI-8 track at Carr McNatt Park.

• Single concrete paths that outline the lake at Villago Park, offering visitors a chance to walk or jog with a view of the water, desert landscaping and area waterfowl.

• A 1-mile, 10-foot-wide concrete path that circles a portion of the Mission Valley development.

• A 1.5-mile concrete walking path along the San Carlos Irrigation canal near Casa Grande Middle School.

• ADate: half-mile Export 4/8/2021 asphalt walking path along the San Carlos canal near Palo Verde School.

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The City maintains several facilities where residents may play a variety of court-based sports including tennis, pickleball, racquetball, volleyball and basketball.

• Albert Cruz Park • Burruss Park • Carr McNatt Park • Dave White Regional Park • Eastland Park • Elliott Park • Gilbert Park Casa Grande Mountain Park • Mosley Park • O’Neil Park • Rancho Grande Park • Villago Park

SPECIAL INTEREST FACILITIES • • •

Grande Sports World Leash on Life Dog Park Elzy Pearson Shooting Range

For a complete list of the City’s 19 parks, visit https:// casagrandeaz.gov/parks/.

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

19

TOURISM BRINGS QUALITY OF LIFE 2019 VISITOR SPENDING STATE

$25.6B COUNTY

$779.3M Dave White Municipal Golf Course.

2019 STATE & LOCAL TAX REVENUE STATE

$3.8B COUNTY Don't forget to shop local!

$65.1M

Ed Hooper Rodeo Park. casagranderodeogrounds.com

The Barca Academy at Grande Sports World. grandesports.com

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Job Stats LABOR FORCE: 24,554 ARIZONA COMMERCE AUTHORITY

US CENSUS

RETAIL JOBS: 3,793 EMSI Q1 2021

ACCOMMODATION & FOOD SERVICE JOBS: 1,965

EDUCATION JOBS: 1,887

LOGISTICS/ WAREHOUSING JOBS: 792

US CENSUS

MANUFACTURING JOBS: 1,965 EMSI Q1 2021

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE: 7.4% ARIZONA COMMERCE AUTHORITY

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HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SERVICE JOBS: 3,593

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

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THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

23

ARTS & MUSEUMS

S

tarted in 2008 as a vehicle for bringing more performing arts opportunities to Casa Grande, the BlackBox Foundation has evolved from a small troupe of actors to a full-fledged theater, with acting workshops, classes and several shows throughout the year.

Each year, the nonprofit organization produces several musical and theater productions as well as improv, comedy and musical entertainment. It also offers workshops and classes for adults and young people as well as opportunities for Central Arizona College students interested in the performing arts.

In 2018, the theater moved into the City of Casa Grande-owned Woman’s Club at 407 N. Sacaton St. The group renovated the interior, adding theater seating, expanding the stage and installing theatrical equipment.

The building has been converted into a theater and serves as a base of operations for BlackBox, which also produces shows at Central Arizona College’s Pence Center.

The BlackBox Theater typically hosts the 10-minute play contest, sponsored by the Casa Grande Arts and Humanities Commission. In the contest amateur playwrights vie for prizes and accolades by submitting a short, one-act play. Submissions are judged and the five top scripts are read to an audience as the final act of the competition.

The BlackBox Theater is part of a thriving arts and entertainment community that keeps people busy and involved.

Some of the offerings in and around Casa Grande for getting out and having a good time are listed below.

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LIVE ENTERTAINMENT THEATERS • Paramount Theatre, 412 N. Florence St., in historic downtown Casa Grande. The Paramount Theatre is Casa Grande’s oldest theater, built in 1920. It serves as a venue for shows, concerts and various events. https://triplerrrproduction.com • Pence Center for the Performing Arts. Located on the Central Arizona College Signal Peak Campus, 8470 N. Overfield Road. The theater hosts dozens of community events throughout the year. https:// centralaz.edu/community/community-events-2-2/ • BlackBox Foundation Woman’s Club Theater, 407 N. Sacaton St. in Casa Grande. www.facebook.com/ blackboxfoundation ART • Casa Grande Art Museum, 319 W. Third St. The museum is generally open October through May and features rotating exhibits from local and regional artists. https://casagrandeartmuseum.org MUSEUMS • The Museum of Casa Grande, 110 W. Florence Blvd.

The award-winning, nonprofit museum features historic artifacts, archives, an extensive photograph collection and historic properties that show the development of mining, agriculture, railroad expansion, settlement and technology in the region. www.tmocg.org

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

RECREATION AND ENTERTAINMENT • The Casa Grande Roller Derby team, the Big House Bombers, takes on various teams from around the state during action-packed, hard-hitting bouts held at the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center. The organization also has a facility it leases from the City of Casa Grande for lessons and events at 798 N. Picacho Ave. www.facebook.com/CGRollerDerby/ • Central Arizona Speedway, 512 S. Eleven Mile Corner Road, has a busy racing schedule that generally runs February through November and features fast cars on a dirt track. http://centralarizonaspeedway.com • Harkins Theatres, 1341 N. Promenade Parkway. A modern multiplex with a regular lineup of new releases.

Snacks and beverages may be purchased on site.

Part of The Promenade at Casa Grande, a regional shopping center. www.harkins.com/locations/casagrande-14 • Cotton Bowl Lanes, 1740 N. Pinal Ave. The facility features 12 lanes and times for cosmic bowling, leagues, tournaments and family fun. Snacks and beverages may be purchased on site. www.facebook. com/CottonBowlCG/

AREA ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO SEE • Neon Sign Park, 408 N. Sacaton St. A collection of fully lit, restored signs from a bygone era set in a tranquil park in downtown Casa Grande. www.neonsignpark. com • Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, 17599 E. Peak Lane, near Picacho Peak. Visitors have the opportunity to get up close to ostriches, deer, goats, birds, stingrays and other lovable critters. Monster truck rides are also offered. www.roostercogburn.com • Casa Grande Ruins, 1100 W. Ruins Drive, Coolidge. A national monument and historic site revolving around a two-story structure that once served as the village center for the ancient people who called the area home. www.nps.gov/cagr/index.htm • The Events Center at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, 15406 N. Maricopa Road. The Events Center is a 2,000-seat theater that hosts a variety of musical events and shows throughout the year. www.caesars.com/harrahsak-chin/shows • Coolidge Performing Arts Center, 684 W. Northern Ave. in Coolidge. The venue hosts concerts, plays and shows throughout the year. www.facebook.com/ PerformingArtsCenterCoolidge • Oracle Center for the Arts, 700 E. Kingston St., Oracle.

Home to the Oracle Piano Society, the theater hosts various classical concerts, festivals and cultural opportunities for students and members of the community. www.visitoracle.org/arts-culture

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THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

25

I

Annual Festivals

n Casa Grande and the surrounding area, there is no shortage of festivals, music and special events in the winter and spring months.

CASA GRANDE STREET FAIR A two-day celebration in historic downtown, Casa Grande Main Street’s Street Fair is generally held in the middle of January. The event is free to attend and features continuous entertainment, a beer garden, food courts and more than 200 arts and crafts vendors and exhibitors as well as a car and motorcycle show. It’s a fundraiser for the Casa Grande Main Street program.

AGRI-COUNTRY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Music fans and performers from across the country travel to the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center every January for two days of toe-tapping bluegrass performances held on two outdoor and one indoor stage. Besides music from top bluegrass bands, the event includes a classic car show, vendors, crafts, model trains, antique tractors, a quilt show and other activities.

GOLD CANYON ARTS FESTIVAL The Gold Canyon Arts Festival is a free event sponsored by the Gold Canyon Arts Council at Gold Canyon United Methodist Church, 6640 S. Kings Ranch Road in Gold Canyon. Held in January, it generally features a juried art show with the work of nearly 90 artists in a wide variety of genres and styles from throughout the state as well as entertainment and a food court with a variety of food and beverages.

ARIZONA CLASSIC JACKPOT & FARM SHOW Livestock animals are shown and judged every February during the Arizona Classic Jackpot & Farm Show. The event is the largest livestock show in Arizona. It’s held at the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center.

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WUERTZ FARM’S ANNUAL GOURD FESTIVAL The annual Wuertz Farm Gourd Festival, featuring the “Running of the Gourds,” is held each February at the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center. The festival brings together gourd artists, vendors and fans and includes a competitive event for gourd artists. Attendees will find gourd displays, live music, a farmers market, games and more.

TOWN OF FLORENCE HISTORIC HOME TOUR Usually planned in February, the historic home tour is a chance to explore one of Arizona’s oldest towns and highlights the history and architecture of Florence, dating back to territorial days.

CASA GRANDE COWBOY DAYS & O’ODHAM TASH Casa Grande’s annual two-week celebration of the Western lifestyle is usually held in February and includes two weeks of various rodeos and roping events, a parade, music, chuckwagons, a pony express event and other activities. Most events are at Ed Hooper Rodeo Park, 2525 N. Pinal Ave., but the parade is held on Florence Boulevard. Visit casagrandecowboydays.com for information.

CACTUS FLY-IN The Cactus Fly-in is sponsored by the Arizona Antique Airplanes Association. This event is one of the earliest fly-ins of the year. The desert lets them get an early start, even though it’s still winter. This fly-in usually takes place in early March.

ARIZONA CITY DAZE Arizona City’s annual community celebration takes place every year on the cross streets of Sunland Gin Road and Alsdorf Road. The event attracts more than 3,000 attendees each year and includes live performances throughout the day, a kids’ zone, more than 100 vendors and a parade.

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

CASA GRANDE ART ASSOCIATION ARTIST STUDIO TOUR For those who ever wanted to peek inside the studio of a working artist, the tour, held every spring, is the chance to do so. The tour features self-guided visits to various art studios in which several artists of various genres will be working. More information and a map will be available online prior to the next event: www. casagrandeartassociation.org.

FINE ART EXPLOSION The annual Fine Art Explosion, a juried art show, is every March in Peart Park. The two-day outdoor event attracts dozens of artists and vendors from Casa Grande and the surrounding area as well as from across the state and region. Visitors to the event may look at and purchase fine art pieces from dozens of artists.

PINAL COUNTY FAIR Held at the Pinal Fairgrounds and Event Center at Eleven Mile Corner, the Pinal County Fair is held every year in midMarch. The five-day event highlights livestock animals, entertainment, rides, food and other events. For more information, visit www.pinalfairgrounds.com.

LOST DUTCHMAN DAYS The three-day Lost Dutchman Days is held in February in downtown Apache Junction. The event features a parade, arts and crafts fair, mustang adoptions, entertainment, a rodeo and other activities.

COPA SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL Talented filmmakers and screenwriters from around the world and across the country submit their best works for the Copa Shorts Film Festival, held every February in Maricopa. During a two-day event, attendees may watch each of the top-rated submitted films.

ARIZONA RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL AND ARTISAN MARKETPLACE Featuring jousting, live entertainment, carnival rides, games, food and and an artisan marketplace, the Arizona Renaissance Festival is held each year in Gold Canyon.

The festival runs for nine weeks and is a tribute to a storybook version of the 16th century.

COUNTRY THUNDER Generally held in April in Florence, Country Thunder attracts music fans from across the country who enjoy three days of music on several different outdoor stages.

The event generally features well-known and much-loved country music entertainers.

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27

EDUCATION T

hirteen schools encompass the Casa Grande Elementary School District, led by Superintendent Dr. JoEtta Gonzales.

The district comprises three middle schools, nine elementary schools, and one preschool where students within the city of Casa Grande attend. Currently, there are about 6,000 students enrolled in the district.

CGESD’s mission is “Success for Every One — The Responsibility is Yours and Mine,” which guides and focuses all that the district does. This has helped to bring about significant gains in academic achievement for students at all performance levels.

During the summer of 2020, Gonzales was named the Arizona School Administrators’ Distinguished Superintendent for 2020.

The title is given to active members of the ASA who are recognized by their peers for outstanding service to their profession and to the students and communities they serve.

According to the district, it has increased investments in staff training, curriculum development and student assessment that have helped to produce substantial improvements in student learning.

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The district has been recognized in recent years with various awards and other honors, including the Raymond Sterling Kellis Leadership Award, Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Business Leadership Award, the Latino Esperanza Award, the Council of Administrators of Special Education’s Laura Ganoung Award, the Council of Exceptional Children’s Teacher and Administrator of the Year Award, four Rodel Exemplary Principal Awards, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science and six Arizona A+ School and Program Awards. In fact, the Casa Grande Elementary School District has more A+ schools and more A+ programs than any other school district in Pinal County.

The district has also been recognized by the Rodel Foundation for its success in improving academic achievement. The district’s performance-based employee compensation plan is recognized across the U.S. as a model.

In addition to the core curriculum, the district also offers subjects like vocal and instrumental music, visual arts, drama, health, physical education, dance, Spanish, chess, mock trial, computer science and social emotional learning.

CGESD offers after-school opportunities such as individual stringed instrument instruction, competitive sports, cheerleading, robotics, National Junior Honor Society and Student Council.

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

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Highly Qualified Teachers Top AzMerit Scores in County Concurring Enrollment College Classes on Campus Digital Arts, Drama and Music Programs Only competitive ESports Program in Casa Grande Competitive Sports: Football, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Men and Women’s Basketball, Wrestling, Men & Women’s Soccer, Baseball, Softball, Cross Country and Track.

Youth Entrepreneurs Program and Senior Internships Relationship with CAVIT Program A wide variety of clubs and extracurricular activities AVID Site of Distinction

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29

EDUCATION T

he Casa Grande Union High School District is comprised of two comprehensive high schools and during the 2020-21 school year, added CGUHSD Online Academy, a virtual high school.

The district has about 3,650 students between the two high schools and receives students from the Casa Grande Elementary School District, Stanfield Elementary School District, Toltec Elementary School District and Sacaton Public Schools each year.

Between the two major high schools, about 800 students graduate annually and about half of them go on to college.

The district offers Advanced Placement classes in Language and Composition, Literature and Composition, Human Geography, Psychology, United States Government and Politics, United States History, World History: Modern, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Computer Science Principles, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics 1: Algebra-Based (Physics A), Physics 2: Algebra-Based (Physics B), Spanish Language and Culture, Spanish Literature and Culture, as well as dual enrollment courses.

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HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OR HIGHER (OVER AGE 25): 83.4% PINAL COUNTY

Across the district, there are various Career and Technical Education programs for students to participate in.

The director of career and technical education of CGUHSD, Steven Sipes, shared that different CTE programs are available at both high schools.

Students who take the CTE courses in high school see higher earning, including a 3.2% wage increase for CTE concentrators.

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

The district also allows students to go to the Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology in Coolidge, POST SECONDARY which offers numerous programs such as Vet Tech, Law EDUCATION Enforcement, Fire Science and Cosmetology.

CERTIFICATE Students have the opportunity to graduate high OR DEGREE school with certain certifications such as an Adobe (OVER AGE 25): 27% Certified Associate, OSHA 10 and First Aid Certification.

Besides the CTE classes the district offers, · ASSOCIATES: 11% CGUHSD offers elective classes in fine arts, Junior ROTC, · BACHELOR'S: 10.4% physical education and world languages. · GRADUATE OR The schools have been recognized for their PROFESSIONAL: 6% US CENSUS community performances and competitions in choir, drama and dance.

Some of the more traditional CTE programs Both schools are members of the Arizona offered at Casa Grande Union High School are Agriculture, Interscholastic Association.

Culinary, Early Childhood Education, Construction, “It is the mission of CGUHSD to inspire excellence Engineering and Bioscience. by providing globally competitive educational and career Vista Grande High School offers some of the same opportunities for all students,” Superintendent Dr. Steve traditional programs as well as others such as Stagecraft, Bebee said.

Marketing, Automation & Robotics, as well as Graphic Design.

Both campuses will introduce the newest CTE program for the upcoming academic year: Education Professions.

CASA GRANDE UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT Integrated Technology

Increased Student Engagement

In the classroom to enhance teaching and learning

Through highly effective instructional strategies

Workforce Development

Inspiring Excellence Developing the workforce of tomorrow

PERSONALIZED LEARNING Every student is unique and deserves the power to shape their paths toward success.

520.316.3360 | WWW.CGUHSD.ORG THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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EDUCATION entral Arizona College C President Dr. Jackie Elliott describes a typical

scenario at many schools: a student might see a banner hanging somewhere, such as the student foyer, highlighting a relationship with a company.

“You might say to admin: ‘how is that partnership going?’” Elliott said. “‘Oh, you know, 10 years ago we got a check from them. Haven’t done anything in a while.’”

In part to avoid that kind of scenario, Elliott said, CAC’s approach to workforce development is special.

Over the past decade, CAC has taken a proactive role in making sure students are strong fits for work within the region. Recently that has culminated in direct partnerships with companies like Sundt Construction and Wilson Electric.

“We’ve been very intentional in sitting down with our partners and developing specific curriculum for their needs,” Elliott said. “Our students get a feel for what is actually happening in the workforce rather than being with a faculty member who worked in the industry ten years ago.”

According to Elliott, when the college had discussions with Sundt in 2016, the company was directly involved in creating courses, and the school even hired Sundt employees as adjunct instructors. When Wilson Electric approached CAC, it wanted a program designed in a similar manner.

Since then, hundreds of CAC students have gone on to jobs at those companies.

“We co-design what a program is going to look like and then we co-develop,” Elliott said. “We consistently engage with our partners, we don’t just meet with them once a year.

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We sit down with them and ask, what do we need to change?”

Elliott says that philosophy of more targeted coursework has caused a major shift in CAC’s programs and allowed students to find work locally.

“We know our students don’t want to leave their state,” Elliott said. “We work hard to make sure a program makes sense for students who are essentially place-bound by their own choice, which is great for Arizona.”

With newer companies like Lucid and Nikola moving to the region, Elliott hopes to continue to expand programs and potentially grow the robotics footprint. The college is going to partner in coming semesters with Massage Envy, a Phoenix-based company, adding an aesthetics component and giving students hands-on experience so that they will be more employable.

The Arizona Commerce Authority is also working to complete a Workforce Training Center on CAC’s Signal Peak Campus, which will house training equipment for hires of local manufacturing plants.

In a recent column she co-penned for the Casa Grande Dispatch, Elliott and other state community college leaders highlighted the need to reskill learners of all ages for in-demand jobs with training programs. The report also mentioned that almost half of low-income households canceled education plans in light of the pandemic this year.

“Post-pandemic, we need to speed up training,” Elliott said. “There is a huge sense of urgency. The typical reaction from higher education is ‘it’s not our fault’ or ‘you don’t know what you want.’ Let’s check egos at the door and do the right thing for our students.”

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PART OF THE COMMUNITY PAST. PRESENT. FUTURE. Check out our video series on Casa Grande Mining on our YouTube Channel!

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Healthcare

C

asa Grande is a hub for health care in Pinal County. And a big part of that is the 144-bed Banner Casa Grande Medical Center and its affiliated clinics. Its reach extends beyond Casa Grande, Banner Casa Grande CEO Brian Kellar said.

“We’re the only full-service hospital between the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas, and our service area goes from Ajo to Florence,” Kellar said.

If you live in Casa Grande then, a full-service medical center is at your doorstep. Services include maternity, emergency, surgery, wound care, intensive care, gastroenterology and mental health care — to name a few.

And Banner Casa Grande continues to upgrade existing services. The wound center, for one, has expanded into a new building, complete with the latest in wound care.

“We’re just about to finish an upgrade with a stateof-the art emergency medical department,” Kellar added.

It will allow the Level 4 trauma center to better handle a growing community. The existing department is equipped for a town of 15,000. The expansion will be more in keeping with Casa Grande’s current population of some 55,000, as well as future growth.

With the upgrade, the emergency department will also become a certified stroke center.

Newsweek recently included Banner Casa Grande on its annual list of the best maternity hospitals in the U.S., which includes 217 across 36 states.

A number of Banner-supported clinics are within walking distance of the hospital on East Florence Boulevard.

They offer everything from primary care to pediatric and urgent care.

“All conveniently within a block or two of the hospital campus,” Kellar said.

While Banner Casa Grande thinks big, it hasn’t forgotten its roots, Kellar added. Or the people it serves.

“We’re here to take care of the people wherever they’re from,” he said. “We’re a small-town presence … but offer the expertise and high expectations a major health care organization provides, in a small-town setting.”

A staple for family care in Casa Grande is nearby.

Sun Life Family Health Center has a primary care and dental clinic on North Arizola Road, just west of Banner Casa Grande. It has a women’s and children’s clinic just to the east, on Florence Boulevard.

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Like the Banner organization, Sun Life is nonprofit.

Its website speaks of Sun Life’s Circle of Care.

“At Sun Life, you will be a part of a team made up of providers, medical assistants and health professionals that help coordinate your health care.. This is your Circle of Care, at which you are the center.”

If it’s just vaccinations you need, the county clinic on North Trekell Road might be a good place to start.

Immunizations are available for children and adults, said Marcela Salinas, clinical division manager for Pinal County Health Services. “We have a vaccine for children program and a vaccine for adults program,” she said.

“We’re a small-town presence … but offer the expertise and high expectations a major health care organization provides, in a smalltown setting.”

— Brian Kellar CEO, Banner Casa Grande Medical Center

Adults and children with insurance are welcome.

Uninsured children, or children not covered for immunizations, are not charged for vaccines. Uninsured adults might also get free immunizations under Arizona’s vaccines for adults program.

The immunizations protect against a variety of illnesses, including chicken pox, hepatitis A and B, and flu.

The Pinal County clinic also offers family planning as well as testing and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases.

In addition, Salinas said, “we have a well-woman healthcheck program. That allows us to … screen for breast and cervical cancer.”

Patients with injuries or illness can be referred to Banner, Sun Life or other providers.

“We definitely want them to be served and be sure their needs are met,” Salinas said.

Casa Grande has a primary care clinic for veterans, run by the Southern Arizona VA Healthcare System of Tucson. It offers health care screening, optometry, mental health care and disease management — among other services.

The Casa Grande VA clinic is just east of the hospital.

--• Banner Casa Grande Medical Center, www.bannerhealth. com/locations/casa-grande/banner-casa-grandemedical-center • Sun Life Family Health Center, https://www.slfhc.org • Pinal County Public Health, www.pinalcountyaz.gov/ publichealth/Pages/home.aspx • Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, www.tucson. va.gov

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

Cardiology Services Emergency & Trauma Imaging Services Inpatient Care & Intensive Care Occupational Health Primary Care: Adult & Pediatric Rehabilitation Services Retail Pharmacy Sleep Lab Surgical Services: Gastroenterology General Surgery Gynecology Orthopedic Urology Vascular Urgent Care Clinic Women & Infant Services Wound Center ….And Growing!

$130K

Community health services

$30M

$12.6M

Free health services & financial assistance

$99.5M

Public programs with unpaid costs

Total investment in the Casa Grande community

$261K

Subsidized health services

$56.5M

Casa Grande employee salaries

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

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Agriculture Business Stats CATTLE & CALF SALES: $283.2M

COTTON & COTTONSEED SALES: $92M

OTHER CROPS & HAY SALES: $79.1M

MILK SALES: $268.2M

NEARLY $1.1B IN SALES

$372.8 IN VALUE ADDED TO THE COUNTY

WEATHER AVERAGES

86° AVERAGE HIGH

PINAL COUNTY

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56° AVERAGE LOW

CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

MORE THAN 5,200 JOBS

9

”

AVERAGE PRECIPITATION

THINKCASAGRANDE.COM · CITY OF CASA GRANDE

37

ARIZONA@WORK J

oel Millman, workforce director for Pinal County’s Economic and Workforce Development Department, says Pinal County’s Arizona@Work has a mission that remains the same: To connect people who want to work with employers who want to hire. To provide training and other assistance to job seekers who want to match their skills with what’s required by employers.

Many people know Arizona@Work by its former storefront in downtown Casa Grande, before its move to the Pinal County Complex on Cottonwood Lane. Here, case managers do the work of connecting applicants to employers.

Each county has an Arizona@Work employment office. And each county runs its own program. Pinal County’s is overseen by a 19-member board of employers, educators, union representatives and at least one city official.

Liz Harris-Tuck is the board chair. She owns Career Horizons, which provides employment training and workshops.

One of the board’s major goals is “to develop a talent pipeline,” she said. “We have a lot of new businesses coming on board,” she added. “Lucid Motors is one.”

Lucid has begun production of high-end electric vehicles in Casa Grande. Arizona@Work had a hand securing the labor to make it happen.

“We helped facilitate the hiring of over 250 Lucid employees, working closely with Lucid,” Millman said.

It’s part of Arizona@Work’s mission. Laying the groundwork in matching workers to needed skills.

First off, “we screen the applicants,” Millman said.

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Case workers assess an applicant’s basic skills, along with reading and math levels. If job seekers meet an employer’s need, Arizona@Work will forward their resumes.

If they fall a bit short, Arizona@Work can help them out.

“We can work with them to create an employment plan,” Millman said. “Education assistance, support services … transportation, child care and assistance with the internet.”

The agency partners with Central Arizona College for job training — from nursing to construction. All at no cost to the client.

The federal government picks up the tab, Millman adds. The Arizona Department of Economic Security distributes the money. Arizona@Work in Pinal County received about $3.3 million this fiscal year.

The funding covers youth employment programs, adult job seekers, older adults, veterans and others with barriers to employment.

Judging by Arizona@Work’s own databank, it’s a job seeker’s market. The state has 70,500 job openings on file, along with 12,000 resumes.

Those are big numbers. And growing, at least in Pinal County. The workforce board is working to meet them, Harris-Tuck said. At the moment, Casa Grande has the only walk-in office. But planning calls for satellite sites, staffed by roving case managers.

“We are really working to beef up our virtual services,” Millman said.

Applicants can use an online assessment tool.

“We can walk them through that while we’re on the phone,” Millman added. “Also connect them to a targeted provider.”

Arizona@Work can be reached at 520-866-3600, or

by Googling Arizona@Work Pinal County.

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Business resources

T

hese can be trying times for businesses.

The City of Casa Grande and the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce are here to help.

In February, the City announced a reboot of the Paycheck Protection Program. The City’s Economic Development website noted that qualified PPP applicants were eligible to receive up to $20,000 for rent and other expenses.

The chamber keeps members informed about this and other available assistance.

“The minute word comes out, we send that to our members,” said Renée Louzon-Benn, the chamber’s executive director. “When it comes to new resources … you can’t let people know fast enough.”

Despite the challenges of COVID-19, it remains a good time to do business in Casa Grande, said Richard Wilkie, the City’s economic development director.

Industry has thrived, Wilkie said. He points to the newest — and perhaps most prominent — industry to locate in Casa Grande. Namely Lucid Motors, which manufactures high-end electric vehicles.

It’s the kind of business that attracts more business, he added. Businesses to support Lucid, as well as their 2,000plus employees.

“Success drives success,” Wilkie said. “With all the housing that’s going up,” Wilkie added, “that’s also going to be a driver for all the retailers.”

A few new restaurants plan to take advantage of that. Hideout Steakhouse announced a February opening at The Promenade at Casa Grande. Texas Roadhouse, another steakhouse, will soon break ground at Florence Boulevard and Henness Road.

Other small businesses prefer downtown. Arizona Native Lotions & Soaps opened shop on Second Street, a few doors down from the CookEJar restaurant.

As new businesses move in, the City is ready to help, along with the chamber and Central Arizona College’s Small Business Development Center.

For industries like Lucid seeking to locate in Casa Grande, the City can help find a suitable site. Or help companies take advantage of financial incentives offered by the City, county or state.

Major transportation infrastructure is already in place. Interstates 8 and 10 run through Casa Grande, as does Union Pacific’s main rail line. Major airports are within an hour’s drive.

“You can’t find a better connected community,” Wilkie said.

Smaller businesses, he adds, can work with local real estate agents to find a place to set up shop.

“Or they can contact me and I can try to help them out, too.”

Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce President Renée Louzon-Benn pictured in front of the chamber office.

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CITY OF CASA GRANDE · THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

He encourages business owners to “drive around the community and find that area that they would like to be in.”

The City issues business licenses for operations in city limits.

For retail opportunities, the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce at 575 N. Marshall St. is a good place to start.

“We have a directory we give to all our new residents, if they call or come into the chamber,” LouzonBenn said. “It’s just a great referral for our businesses.”

In addition, RV parks receive directories to hand out to visitors, many here for the winter.

The chamber also offers monthly networking events, currently virtual.

“Business to business to consumer,” Louzon-Benn said.

When a new business opens its doors, she added, the chamber invites it to join and take advantage of the chamber’s marketing outreach. Its classy new website opens with a widescreen slide show and videos of Casa Grande on the move. Casa Grande as a place to live, work and enjoy.

One drop-down menu has information on everything from education to economic development. The member directory is also available online.

The CAC Small Business Development Center deserves mention as well. The center provides free services to anyone who owns or operates a business or plans to start one.

That includes one-on-one advice, live training sessions, in-depth classes and online webinars. Other resources include market research, tips and recommended reading, the center’s website says.

Online workshops offer information on marketing in a COVID environment and on COVID relief.

CHECK OUT OUR A GROWING HORIZON VIDEO ABOUT CASA GRANDE AT THINKCASAGRANDE.COM

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