WESTMARC
Economic Development Summit 2013
By Bette Sharpe - Glendale Daily Planet
Prominent West Valley
government and business leaders attended the 2013 WESTMARC Economic
Development Economic Summit held this year at the Renaissance Glendale
on Thursday, April 17. The morning consisted of two panels. The first
panel had the topic, "Why the West Valley" and the second
panel’s topic was the "Future of the West Valley".
WESTMACR is a West Valley public, private and educational partnership
that promotes the West Valley, recruits new businesses and
organizations, and enhances its members’ value. The West Valley now
reaches beyond the White Tanks. Developing the "regionalism"
for the entire West Valley will aid in accomplishing these goals.
Members of the panel
represented aerospace and defense, education, healthcare,
manufacturing and renewable technologies. The five categories
represented economically successful organizations in Arizona. All five
business fields are poised to grow.
The second panel told
the audience that the West Valley (WV) was set to grow in both
population and in business. A better job needs to be done in creating
a brand for the West Valley, and planning for the much needed
infrastructure that will be needed to support the projected growth. If
WV cities, counties and state can partner with the private sector,
there could be success. A major event for the entire valley, 2015
Super Bowl, will be a mini test for the amount of growth (population,
housing, industry, healthcare, education, and business) projected for
the West Valley.
Jeff O’Malley,
Vice
Preside of Strategy and Business Developemtn, St. Joseph’s Hospital
and Medical Center. "We
want to keep people healthy." Medical industry is shifting to
wellness and prevention and consolidating health assets with joint
use.
In Glendale, "The
University has invested over $265 million in its Glendale Campus and
is now the home of Arizona’s largest medical school." The
Glendale Campus on 156 acres with 2,900+ students. Midwestern
University is planning to expand its Glendale Campus with the addition
of the first college of veterinary medicine in the state of Arizona.
Since coming to Glendale in 1995, Midwestern University has invested
$265 million in the city.
Barry Broome,
President and & CEO Greater Phoenix Economic Council told the over
200 in attendance at the WESTMARC Economic Development Summit, to
"do a better job representing our own reputation and brand."
The West Valley needs to be prepared for the estimated one million new
residents coming to the area over the next decade.
John Krueger, Vice
President, Business Development, Greater Phoenix Economic Council,
said mentioned infrastructure again as an area that needs attention.
"Infrastructure [is] one or our choke points".
Michael Bidwell,
Arizona Cardinals was the keynote speaker. He mentioned football, of
course, as this is a big week for the NFL. The NFL fall schedule was
announced at five o’clock on the 17th Later in the week it is time
for the draft. The first round draft is April 25th at 8 p. m. EDT.
(According of the NFL web site, the Arizona Cardinals are number 7 in
the Draft Order.) Twelve new players have been added to the Arizona
Cardinals roster.
Talks between the City
of Glendale and then Cardinals, are still on-going, however any
announcements of the Cardinals Spring Training Camp moving to Glendale
has to wait. Preseason starts on Friday, August 9th. The regular
season begins with an away game on September 8th. Twelve new players
have been added to the Arizona Cardinals roster, "we’re pretty
excited", Bidwell said.
After football Bidwell
changed gears and talked about how "everyone needs to be on the
same page."
Bidwell told the
audience that there were things that needed to be worked on, "we
need to get out there and tell our story", he said. There a lot
of positive and good thing have happened in the West Valley. He is a
board member of the ACA (Arizona Commerce Authority) which is an
economic development organization set up by Governor Brewer to
strengthen Arizona’s economy by recruiting out-of-state companies to
come to Arizona. The ACA works with the WESTMARCS of the state.
Bidwell suggested that WESTMARC and west Valley cities formalize
activities to promote the West Valley and therefore Arizona to
northern and southern California. One objective would be to encourage
light manufacturing to the West Valley. "We all win when one of
the cities gets a new company and high paying jobs". Mr. Bidwell
used the Cardinals as an example. Employees of the Arizona Cardinals
and their families live and spend throughout the valley. Bidwell
stressed the concept of regionalism. "When one city gets
something we all benefit" again, Bidwell. "Just because the
city got the training facility all the surrouning cities benefit from
it." Bidwell encouraged members of the audience to work together
for positive outcomes.
We need to start
solving the areas infrastructure problems that will most quickly
impact existing and prospective companies. To do this, will takes
"strong public sector leadership teamed up with strong private
sector leadership". Working together will get things done.
WESTMARC is the perfect place to bring people together to solve
issues.
The West Valley needs
to tell its own story. And one of the big stories or "a great
opportunity" to promote is coming in about 20 months, the 2015
XLIX Super Bowl. "We are going to do this together and we’re
going to put our best foot forward as we host this game."
"We were the It place for the whole week".
In summary, this is a
big week for football. The fall schedule was released on Thursday, and
the Draft begins on April 25th. Michael Bidwell is excited about the
new players and his team. Where the Cardinal’s training facility
will relocation to, is still in discussion. The West Valley should
work with and through WESTMARC to recruit new businesses to Arizona
and to the West Valley and to set regular or formal meetings with the
ACA. City, County and State leaders need to work together to do more.
This is important to improve the infrastructure in the West Valley.
Finally, we are in this together. One big opportunity for the West
Valley is coming in about 20 months, the XLIX Super Bowl.
Bette Sharpe/Glendale
Daily Planet no. 8935.
Panel: Why
the West Valley at the WESTMARC Economic Development Summit 2013.
Panelist are seated in the order of their presentations.
Panel: Why the West
Valley
MODERATOR: Dan Davis,
Economic Development Director, City of Avondale,
AEROSPANCE AND
DEFENSE-- Joe Marvin, President Prime Solutions Group
EDUCATION--Christine
Clouse, Director of Development, Midwestern University
HEALTHCARE-- Jeff O’Malley,
Vice Preside of Strategy and Business Developemtn, St. Joseph’s
Hospital
and Medical Center.
MANUFACTURING-- Bill
Lawrie, Corporate Manage of Manufacturing Engineeing, Sub-Zero
RENEWABLE/CLEAN
TECHONOLOGIES-- Earl Wiggins, Vice Preside Ultracapacitor Operations
–Maxwell Technologies
Bette Sharpe/Glendale
Daily Planet no. 8984.
Nate Nathan, Nathan
& Associates presented a PowerPoint at the 2013 WESTMARC Summitt.
The West Valley is ready to grow in population and the existing number
of houses probably will not be able to meet the need for new homes.
Panel:
Future of the West Valley
MODERATOR: Harry
Paxton, Economic Develop[ment Manage, City of Goodyear,
PANELISTS: John
Krueger, Vice Preside, Business Development Greater Phoenix
Economic Council Nate Nathan, President and Designated Broker,
Nather & Associates;
Keith Watkins, Senior
Vice President , Arizona Commerce Authority
Bette Sharpe/Glendale
Daily Planet no. 9013
Michael Bidwell,
Arizona Cardinals, was the keynote speaker.
Bette Sharpe/Glendale
Daily Planet no. 9020.
Michael Bidwell shakes
hands with Glendale Councilmember Manny Martinez at WESTMARC’s 2013
Economic Development Summit held at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel -
Councilmember Yvonne Knaack looks on...
Bette Sharpe/Glendale
Daily Planet no. 9015.
Art Othom (Peoria)
asks Mr. Bidwell some of the 2015 Superbowl resources coming to the
West Valley, primarily to Peoria. The old model of the legacy gifts to
the community has run its course. About 1.5 million dollars from the
2008 Super Bowl was given to the Girls & Boys Clubs in Glendale
and the West Valley. Mr. Bidwell said he was certain there would be
other impacts from this game; referring to the 2015 Super Bowl which
will be played in Glendale.
Bette Sharpe/Glendale
Daily Planet no. 9016.
Michelle Alcantar, Director, Community Partnerships, Glendale
Community College attended the 2013 WESTMARC Economic Summit on
Thursday, April 18, 2013.
Bette Sharpe/Glendale
Daily Planet no. 8987.
Tom Fannin, Michelle
Rider, President & CEO WESTMARC, and Nate Nathan, President and
Designated Broker of Nathan & Associates at WESTMARC 2013 Economic
Summit in Glendale at the Renaissance Hotel and Spa.
Cardinals Draft Day
Party
Dates & Event
Hours
Thursday, April 25, 4:00PM - 9:00PM (Cardinals Draft Day Party)
Friday, April 26, 4:00PM - 11:00PM
Saturday, April 27, 11:00AM - 11:00PM
Sunday, April 28, 12:00PM - 8:00PM
Ticket Information
Thursday, April 25 - Free Admission (Cardinals Draft Day Party)
Friday, April 26 - General Admission tickets required for entry
Saturday, April 27 - General Admission tickets required for entry
Sunday, April 28 – General Admission tickets required for entry
General Admission Ticket Prices (Friday, Saturday & Sunday)
$6.00 - Adult, General Admission
$2.00 - Seniors, General Admission (60 & Older)
$2.00 - Active & Retired Military, General Admission
Free - Children, General Admission (12 & Under)
