SAFFORD — There’s a significant amount of work in the Gila Valley taking place behind the scenes, and the public was given a recap on those projects Thursday morning.
The Graham Economic Partnership presented the State of Economic Development in Graham County during a breakfast meeting at the General Services Building.
Danny Smith, who heads up the Graham Economic Partnership, said the group has done a number of things over the past few years, including working with the Graham County Chamber of Commerce on the Experience the Gila Valley web site, representing the Gila Valley at trade shows as well as learn that the Valley isn’t ready for a permanent location for a business incubator.
The Partnership is made up of Safford, Thatcher, Pima, Graham County, Freeport-McMoRan and the United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties. The managers for the four governmental agencies all presented on happenings in their communities.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Pima Town Manager Vernon Batty talked about work the town is doing to attract new businesses, improve infrastructure and develop parks. He also said his community is growing at a faster rate than the rest of the Gila Valley and is outpacing the state’s growth average.
“So people love coming there for the small town feel, but if we don’t continue to try to move forward economically and continue to grow our tax base, we’re not going to be able to keep up with our infrastructure,” Batty said.
Heath Brown, town manager for Thatcher, talked about the number of recently completed commercial developments in the town — including the new O’Reilly Auto Parts building, Burger King remodel, U-Haul Storage and Rental facility, the new Southwest American Credit Union branch and the new Marriott Towne Place Suites hotel.
He also discussed the projects currently under construction, including the Cosmetology Center and Copper Mountain Clinic-Thatcher both on the campus of Eastern Arizona College, Culver’s and Native Wings restaurants, Palmer and Johnson Family Dental and a new Circle K.
And there are 169 unites of multi-family housing under development, as well as 235 units of single-family housing either under construction or ready to break ground.
Eric Bejarano, Safford city manager, said the city is under new management.
“We have a new attitude, I’ll say, at the City of Safford, and I try to push a new mantra of how do we get to yes,” Bejarano said.
He talked about recent and ongoing development of parks, events bringing shoppers to the Downtown, infrastructure upgrades and possible annexation to the east.
He added that the 2026 Retail Survey is live and can be accessed by clicking here, and that the Community Conversation series will return this year.
Dustin Welker, Graham County Manager, said sales tax revenues have been trending upward over the last seven years across all governmental entities in the Gila Valley.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
He talked about how amenities and quality of life are important components of any economic development package, and the county is doing its part by making significant upgrades at Central Park and Graham County Fairgrounds.
He said the county is the early stages of development of a new action park at the fairgrounds, and the public can review the proposal and offer input at a public meeting June 1, from 5-7 p.m., in the General Services building.
Sean Wenham, manager of Strategic Community Development for Freeport-McMoRan, said Freeport’s Safford mining operation employs about 1,560, which is the top end for employment at the location, and about 300 million pounds of cathode copper comes out of Safford.
He also said Casey Clayton has been named the new general manager of the Safford Operation, following the retirement of Vicki Seppala.
