By Heather Smathers | PinalCentral
Announcements of major development projects in recent months begs the question — how do these developers and projects come to Casa Grande?
Richard Wilkie is the economic development director for the city. It’s his job to entice businesses to build or relocate to Casa Grande, but he notes that it’s a team effort to do so.
“I just facilitate it,” he told PinalCentral.
Wilkie works closely with independent site selectors or with other government agencies to attract businesses to Casa Grande. When a business has a project it is wanting to build, it will send in requests for information from cities that might meet the needs.
“There are multiple reasons that businesses might want to relocate to Casa Grande, but the number one reason is location, location, location, as the old saying goes,” he said.
He touts Casa Grande’s location on two major interstates as well as its proximity to Phoenix and Tucson, potentially large hiring pools, as major drivers for businesses.
After a business has shown interest, the real work begins. Wilkie will prepare proposals and provide data to the company to see if Casa Grande makes a short list of sites. If it does, a local face-to-face meeting is where Wilkie said the city will shine.
“The community can sell itself,” he said.
Wilkie said the current and former city councils made relocating businesses to Casa Grande attractive, including updating the infrastructure associated with growth potential.
