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Sunday, February 2, 2020
Downtown Mesa’s revolution in full throttle BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
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ne year after The Grove on Main began in fall 2018, as a giant hole hidden behind a fence, the retail-residential complex looms over the eastern edge of downtown Mesa. Together with a complete renovation of the interior and grounds of the Mesa Arizona Temple, a $75 million “urban neighborhood” breaking ground later this month and the start of construction of Arizona State University’s building, The Grove on Main Street is the most striking indication yet of the revolution coming to the downtown landscape. The Grove is well on its way to putting its stamp on the change. “It’s our first crane in the air in downtown Mesa, which is an exciting time,’’ said Jeff Mc-
see MORMON page 4
BUSINESS .............. 20
Dobson girls make mark in hoops
The Grove on Main Street is rapidly rising on the eastern edge of downtown Mesa. Together with an exhaustive renovation of the Mesa Arizona Tempe grounds, construction of Arizona State University’s building and a nearby new “urban neigborhood”, The Grove will radically transform the downtown landscape. (Courtesy of City Creek Reserve)
City wants to boost post-high school learning BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
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esa plans to join a statewide effort to boost post-graduate educational attainment after a report found the city lags behind the statewide average for residents with either a college degree, a certificate or a license. The report found about 35 percent of Mesa’s population has such a credential, compared to the statewide average of 45 percent – which still falls well short of Achieve60AZ’s lofty goal of 60 percent attainment by 2030. “We are not re-starting the, ‘you have to go to college’ conversation,’’ said Amy Trethaway of Mesa Achieves Higher Education, noting welders, diesel mechanics and cosmetologists are all considered credentialed under the Achieve 60AZ program. “This is a workforce-development program
related to education,’’ she said. She noted Mesa and other Arizona cities needing a trained workforce to attract major industries and good jobs. In Mesa, an email authored by Trethaway found 45,000 residents have no education beyond high school and 75,000 started a postsecondary education program, such as taking a class or two at a community college, but never finished. “As the second largest city in the State, Mesa has 21,599 adults who need to obtain a GED, 45,000 adults who need to enroll into a postsecondary education (they have graduated high school but no college) and 75,000 adults who have SOME college but no degree or certification,’’ Trethaway wrote “Mesa must intentionally engage in workforce development right now for the future of Mesa’s economy because the lack of a skilled workforce will impact the City and its services
heavily. Right now, on average, Mesa’s workforce will see a reduction in qualified workers as early as 2025.’’ The recommendations include establishing a Mesa Achieve 60AZ steering committee with representatives from the public, educational institutions and the business community, along with a Mesa education dashboard and a Mesa Promise campaign. Trethaway said the cost of such a campaign is estimated at about $200,000 a year, or $1 million for five years. The goal is to encourage students to fill out federal applications for financial aid and to take other steps toward either enrolling in post-secondary education or continuing a program. Mayor John Giles backed the program immediately, along with council members Jen
see EDUCATION page 3