THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
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This Week
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The Voice of the West Valley for 32 years
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February 7, 2018
Meck: Nikola move a ‘huge asset’ By Connor Dziawura
Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck is looking forward to his partnership with Nikola Motor Company, a hydrogen-electric semi-truck manufacturer that is moving to the city. “Honestly, I’m thrilled to be working with a cutting-edge company like Nikola Motors,” Meck said. “We have a great working relationship with Nikola already, and one that would not be possible without our partnership with El Dorado and the JDM Partners.” Gov. Doug Ducey announced on January 30 during a press conference at the Arizona Science Center that the Utah-based company was moving its headquarters, research and development and manufacturing capabilities to Buckeye. “This is a great day for the city of Buckeye, as the seventh fastest-growing city in the country,” Meck said. “Nikola is a huge asset for us.”
West Valley impact
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The new 1-million-square-foot facility, which will sit on 500 acres of land at the Sun Valley and future Wintersburg parkways, is expected to bring a $1 billion capital investment and nearly 2,100 jobs to the city by 2024. This is an exciting prospect for Meck. “Eighty percent of our people leave in the morning going east now for jobs,” he said. “We want them in Buckeye. They
Buckeye Mayor Jackie Meck speaks to media after a press conference during which Gov. Doug Ducey announced Nikola Motor Company was coming to the city. (West Valley View photo by Josh Susuras)
work and play where we live.” An estimated $840,000 in direct and indirect revenues will be generated annually. Additionally, an estimated 4,000 jobs generating a $421 million impact will be created during construction.
“Having Nikola’s headquarters and advanced manufacturing facility allows us to meet several of our economic goals: to bring advanced manufacturing
Nikola...continued on page 8
Goodyear academy permanently closes unexpectedly By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Discovery Creemos Academy students were left without a facility to attend when the Goodyear school abruptly closed recently. Parents like Ciara Moodyman received a late-night email citing the reasons for the closure. “It was 11 at night,” Moodyman said.
“My daughter was already in bed. We just happened to be up and my husband heard my phone go off. He read it and said, ‘What the heck?’ He was supposed to take her to school in the morning.” According to the email, signed only by “school leadership,” the school had been hurting financially.
“While this was nearly an impossible decision to make, it is the right one,” the email read. “Most of you are aware that school operations and finances have been troubled over the last few years. We have fought so hard for solutions but we
Academy...continued on page 2