There are 22 cities and two counties in central Arizona that are part of GPEC. The Greater Phoenix Economic Council offices are at 2 N. Central Ave. No. 2500 in Phoenix.
A $19,320 one-year contract renewal for economic development services from Greater Phoenix Economic Council was approved for the city of Apache Junction.
The Apache Junction City Council voted unanimously July 2 on a consent agenda with other items to approve the agreement with GPEC, retroactive to July 1. The vote also appointed Councilmember Peter Heck as the city’s representative to the GPEC board.
The membership renewal with GPEC of $19,320 is based on $0.4897 per capita for Pinal County population of 39,051 and $0.4897 per capita for Maricopa County population of 402, Economic Development Director Patrick Ainsworth wrote in a staff report.
GPEC assists with strategic economic development initiatives such as business recruitment, expansion and attraction, he said at a June 17 council work session.
“(H)ow great it is to work with this organization. It’s kind of like having 35 additional staff members to help with numerous things. And their staff is highly skilled, highly trained,” Ainsworth said to the council. “Very appreciative of all their help. And they’ve really helped, everything with even gathering data for our downtown master plan; it helped with business attraction, business retention; and a lot of regional efforts that bring jobs to the Apache Junction community.”
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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