by Melissa Johnson | Rose Law Group Reporter
Revitalization and transportation were among the top priorities discussed at Friday’s Pinal Partnership monthly breakfast.
City and town officials from Maricopa, Coolidge and Florence said the main issue they are facing is to get transportation in order to bring more development to the areas.
Vice Mayor Micah Powell of Eloy said Eloy updated its 20-year general plan a couple years ago and plans to maintain it and hope for a huge growth.
“We have easy access, we have good infrastructure. One of the main things we are working on is improving what we already have. We have shovel ready land,” Powell said.
Maricopa Vice Mayor Marvin Brown Brown discussed Maricopa’s immediate issue is to resolve is the AMTRAC/347 relocation.
Mayor Christian Price told CopaMonitor late last year the price tag of doing so is what’s holding that process up.
“In a budget as lean as ours, there’s not going to be a lot of places to find 200 grand,” Price said.
Shawn Gibson from Florence Chamber of Commerce said that while there is new growth in Florence the town is excited about, it faces the challenge of not being near a freeway or having buses and cabs to provide transportation, both of which are key to bringing in more new residents. She also said the town needs more areas to start building commercial spaces.
Gibson added Florence has new buildings that have the look and feel of historic Florence but with a modern twist. Flower boxes down Main Street help to revamp the town’s image.
Coolidge Mayor Jon Thompson echoed Gibson’s comments about disadvantages of not having a freeway but said Coolidge is working with the region to see what can be done. He said the biggest challenge is how to keep what the city has and move forward.
Pinal Partnership’s goal is a united vision among Pinal County communities.
