By Jodie Newell | Casa Grande Dispatch
The area economy is healthy, but challenges remain with a shortage of skilled workers, housing availability and skills training, Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce Biz Outlook Luncheon attendees were told Friday.
The panel was comprised of Richard Wilkie, Casa Grande economic development director; James Smith, Pinal County economic and workforce development director; Andrew Clegg, career and workforce training executive director for Central Arizona College; Trey Davis, Pinal County specialist for Land Advisors Organization; and Andrew Haas, vice president of engineering for Arizona Water Company.
Moderator Kevin Connors of the Central Arizona College Small Business Development Center asked the panel a series of questions regarding subjects such as land and industry development, water issues and skills training.
In response to a discussion on workplace and educational training, Smith said that as much as 80% of the Pinal County workforce is traveling to another county to work.
“We have a huge percentage of people that leave Pinal County every day to go into another county to work so it’s 80% throughout the county. In parts of San Tan Valley it’s 90%, in Maricopa it’s 84%, so we’re really losing a lot of our people,” Smith said. “I tell companies that you if you become an employer of choice in Pinal County, you have an opportunity to keep those people here.”
